Fairytale at Adare Manor: Ryan and Emily’s Enchanted Wedding

You may have heard the saying before: It’s all about who you know. In the case of Ryan and Emily, a string of knowing-someone-who-knows-someone is what brought the two together. At a business dinner, Emily sat next to one of Ryan’s friends. The next day, the same friend told Ryan all about Emily. Interested, Ryan started asking around. When he found a mutual friend, he wasted no time asking Emily out on a date. His persistence paid off. Fast forward: Emily was returning from a trip to the Galapagos Islands. Looking for a place to grab dinner and pass the time during a 12-hour layover in Quito, Ecuador, Emily suddenly found herself inside an empty restaurant – empty, except for a multitude of candles and flowers – and Ryan, down on one knee.

With the magic of their first meeting and Ryan’s perfect proposal, the couple felt certain Adare Manor, adorned with their theme of white, green and a myriad of candles, would be the ideal place to say their vows. The couple booked the venue “sight unseen” and accepted the fact that they wouldn’t see the place until the day of their wedding.

Little did they know their wedding planner (me!) would soon discover they were vacationing in London. With a little coaxing, the couple agreed to take a minor detour. In a whirlwind of 12-hours, Ryan and Emily were swept away by the grandeur of Adare Manor. They toured the venue and the surrounding village, explored after party locations, tasted cake options, and even worked in a hair and makeup trial! It was certainly an undertaking, but if their mind wasn’t made up on Adare Manor before, it certainly was now!

When the day finally arrived, Emily and Ryan stayed true to their color scheme. Emily wore a gorgeous white gown by Zuhair Murid and adorned heels by Manolo Blahnik. Ryan wore a dark green, custom-made suit. Once all the details were in place, it was time for the ceremony to begin. A white horse and carriage arrived to whisk Emily off to the ceremony, where guests were taking their seats amongst the meticulously groomed gardens of Adare Manor.

When Emily felt the horse and carriage pull forward, she began to cry. Her fairytale wedding was in motion. Shortly after, tears of joy were transformed into tears of laughter when she encountered all of her best guy friends in kilts and knee high socks. The invitation had specified “Black Tie or Kilt” and her friends had made sure their attire fit the regulations.

During the ceremony, more laughter ensued when Ryan attempted to follow the Jewish tradition of breaking a glass under his foot at the end of the ceremony.  Surprisingly, it was much more difficult than he had anticipated. After three tries, the glass finally shattered. It was then that Ryan realized the simple drinking glass had been replaced with a nearly indestructible whiskey bottle!

After the ceremony, Ryan and Emily spent some quiet time together, reflecting on their new roles as husband and wife. With so many emotions surrounding the wedding, it’s easy to be swept up in all the special moments. Taking time away from the crowd post-ceremony to meditate on such a monumental day is imperative. In fact, these are the moments many couples will remember the clearest when recalling their wedding day.

When Ryan and Emily returned to their guests, they were met with a wonderland of green and white floral, candles, and all of their family and friends. The atmosphere was absolutely enchanting.

 

Emily and Ryan spent the evening celebrating with all their favourite people under a chandelier of lush white and green florals. The Event Band kept the party going so everyone could let loose on the dance floor. Even Emily slipped into a light and breezy Vera Wang party dress that made it much easier to move. With so much to celebrate, dancing all night felt entirely appropriate!

If you ask Ryan and Emily for their advice, the couple’s first recommendation is to inquire with others who have gone before you. Find out what they did and how they did it. Secondly, the couple advocates strongly for an experienced wedding planner. Emily and Ryan knew they wanted a planner from the beginning, but they couldn’t have known how freeing it would be to have someone take control, help make the big decisions, and be there to navigate any unforeseen bumps in the road.

Emily and Ryan’s wedding at Adare Manor was an absolute vision. The beautiful couple spread their contagious joy wherever they went and their true love was evident to everyone in attendance.

Slán go Fóill,

Tara

Planner & Designer: Tara Fay Events | Venue: Adare Manor | Stationary: Appleberry Atelier| Calligraphy: Sarah O’Dea | Photography: Brosnan Photographic | Hair: David Cashman | Makeup: Christine Lucigano | Cake: MM Cookies | Shoes: Manolo Blahnik | Dress: Zuhair Murid | Florals: The Garden| Linens and Chairs: Total Event Rental | Ceremony Music: Deirdre Seaver | DJ: The Event Band | Entertainment: Orangeworks | Staging and Lighting: Gorilla Design | Sound and AV Production: KCLS

Make Your Irish Destination Wedding Stand Out

Planning a destination wedding is not for the faint of heart. In fact, it requires quite a bit of heart (and a fantastic wedding planner) to pull it all together. If you want to make your Irish destination wedding stand out, it’s truly all in the details. You’ll want to focus on personalisation and infusing your unique story and personality into every aspect of your wedding.

Start with Personal Details

Every couple has a unique story to tell; include it in the story of your wedding day.

  • Maybe it’s a location that holds significance to your family or to you as a couple. Maybe it’s where your grandparents met, where you had a special date, or simply a place that resonates with you.
  • When the day arrives, you can set up a display with photographs of important moments in your relationship, from the time you met to your engagement. This visual timeline can be a touching way to share your journey with your guests.
  • Write vows that reflect your past, present and future. Share anecdotes, promises, and aspirations that are uniquely yours.
  • Incorporate family heirlooms into your wedding attire or décor. This could be jewelry, a veil, or even a piece of fabric from a family member’s wedding attire.
  • Create a playlist of songs that are meaningful to you as a couple. Include both Irish tunes and songs that hold significance to your relationship.
  • Create decorations that reflect your personalities. This could be through personalized signage, table centerpieces that represent your hobbies or interests, or mixing in your favourite colours.

Stand Out with Cultural Elements

If you’ve travelled all this way, Ireland must hold a special place in the hearts of you and your partner. For this reason, incorporating Irish cultural elements will truly make your wedding standout.

  • Include Irish wedding traditions, such as the Claddagh ring, which represents love, loyalty, and friendship. A handfasting ceremony, where your hands are bound together with ribbon or rope, is a beautiful symbol of unity.
  • Traditional Irish music and dance will create the perfect ambiance. Consider having a traditional Irish band or dancers perform.
  • Irish folklore, phrases or blessings in your vows are a memorable way to honour the culture and traditions of the country.
  • Showcase Irish cuisine in your wedding menu. Incorporate dishes like colcannon, soda bread, Irish stew, and seafood. To make it personal, share stories about why certain dishes are meaningful to you.

Great Details Make Great Memories

There are many ways to make your Irish destination wedding stand out. Start with memories that will last a lifetime.

  • Engage your guests with interactive elements that showcase Ireland. You could have a whiskey tasting station, Irish dancing lessons, or a DIY station where guests can learn how to make traditional Irish crafts.
  • Offer guests wedding favours that are tied to Ireland. This could be local chocolates, miniature bottles of Irish whiskey, or small trinkets representing Irish culture.
  • Instead of a traditional guest book, have guests sign a map of Ireland or a piece of artwork that can be displayed in your home as a lasting memory of your special day.

Remember, it’s all in the details! It’s the personal touches that really create a memorable experience for you and your guests. By incorporating the unique aspects of your love of each other and of Ireland, your wedding will truly be a reflection of your journey together.

Slán go Fóill,

Tara

Images by Brett Harkness Photography, Brosnan Photographic, Under The Veil Weddings, Fred Marigaux Photography