Ballyfin
Today’s real wedding blog showcases our fabulous couple Robin & John, who travelled from California to Ireland for An Amazing Wedding Day was Celebrated in an Irish Manor, the beautiful estate of Ballyfin Demesne in County Laois.
The minute Robin and John set foot inside Ballyfin, they knew this was where they wanted to have their destination wedding in Ireland.
From the start of the wedding planning process, the couple knew exactly what they wanted, but were completely overwhelmed by what wedding planner Michelle McDermott had organised for them and over 70 of their closest friends and family members on the day.
This was no one day wedding, it was in fact a four-day celebration taking in the best of Dublin and Laois.
The celebrations begun with a fun Whiskey Tasting at the Teeling Whiskey Distillery, followed by a Welcome party in O’Donoghues Traditional Irish Pub, making it a fabulous first day for the wedding guests in Ireland’s capital.
With most guests staying in the Shelbourne Hotel on Stephen’s Green, the next day’s festivities were only a stroll away, at the amazing ‘Shanahan’s on the Green’ for the rehearsal dinner. Shanahan’s, one of Ireland’s best restaurants is owned by the groom’s parents, the lovely Mr & Mrs John Shanahan! The cocktail reception of champagne and Shanahan’s Irish whiskey was followed by a delicious dinner of Shanahan’s famous beef!
Being woken by sunshine, the big day could not have started better for the couple. Robin wore a stunning ivory dress with illusion sleeves and sweetheart neckline by Monique Lhuillier, as well as custom-made shoes by Jimmy Choo.
Robin and John knew they wanted a contemporary, soft and unique style to be woven throughout the entire wedding celebrations, so they decided on floral arrangements for the church and reception venue which included stunning white peonies, roses and hydrangea with a hint of green Bells of Ireland. All the flowers in keeping with the style of those in their own home in Laguna Beach.
While Robin decided to have no bridesmaids, she was accompanied by two gorgeous flower girls and her father walked her down the aisle to beautiful piano and violin music. After the ceremony, the newlyweds were driven back to their very own Manor in a splendid Rolls Royce.
The reception, which followed, was an elegant, majestic event in the stunning Ballyfin Manor and its breath-taking gardens. A bonus was the amazing sunshine which shone on this April day and provided an amazing sunset over the waterfall while guests had dessert and cheese.
An atmosphere of romance, stylish elegance and authenticity was created beautifully in the ballroom, where the tables were decorated with splendid flowers, luxury linens, bone china and a blanket of amber candlelight.
John’s love for music played a big part on the day with the Frankly Sinatra 6-piece band entertaining during the cocktail reception and again when the group adjourned to the dining room for cake and cheese at the end of dinner. While the 10-piece Brass & Co. entertained the group into the early hours.
The couple’s fabulous 6-tier wedding cake was a detailed masterpiece of chocolate, red velvet and vanilla layers with pearl border and mixed petal ruffles, which picked up on the day’s colour palette of white and ivory.
As a surprise for John, Robin, in conjunction with Michelle, had organised a remarkable firework display overlooking the lake on the grounds of Ballyfin.
Rounding off their celebration, an all-white party was held on day 4, giving the couple and their guests the chance to continue the party at Ballyfin, but in a less formal style. It gave everybody the opportunity to relive the amazing four-day wedding in Ireland – and all agreed it was the best wedding they had ever been to!
The days were emotional, yet completely unforgettable for the newlyweds, who honeymooned in South Africa after their celebrations in Ireland.
We wish them a lifetime of love and happiness!
Dream Team of our Top Wedding Vendors :
Wedding Planner & Styling: Michelle Mc Dermott,Dream Irish Wedding
Reception Venue: Ballyfin Demesne , Co. Laois
Photographer: Woodards Photography
Videographer: Velvetine Studios
Hairdresser: Carolann Mc Quirk
Make Up: Audrey Bourke
Flowers: Lawless Flowers
Cake: Cocoamoiselle
Music: During Ceremony: Piano & Violin – Mary Mc Cague; Singer – Emer Barry
Pre-dinner reception & dinner: Frankly Sinatra
After dinner: Brass & Co.
Bridal Car: Absolute Limos
Fireworks: Emerald Fireworks
Welcome Reception: O’Donoghues Pub, Merrion Row
Rehearsal dinner: Shanahan’s on the Green
Decorations: Gotcha Covered
“JUST Engaged” – contact us now to start the wedding planning!