Emily and Enda tied the knot in the middle of August, 2015 in the chapel in Trinity College Dublin. They both lived in Dublin and wanted a church close to the wedding venue. Having studied in Trinity, Emily saw the chapel coupled with The Shelbourne Hotel as the perfect answer. Photography by Mark Griffin.
Emily met Enda through a friend she met while backpacking around South America. “She shared a house with Enda and on my return, I paid a visit to her to catch up and met Enda. Sharing a lot of common interest, we instantly clicked. Enda had picked up an injury skiing preventing him doing much and boredom (so he says) led him to coming on a night out with us girls. The rest, as they say, is history!”
Enda was working in a practice in Tipperary at the time while Emily was working in Dublin as a speech and language therapist. “We had a path beaten up and down the M7 until, after three and a half years, I decided to take the plunge and to move to Newcastle West where, by then, Enda now has his own practice. It was a dramatic change but on balance, for me country living wins out. I became Enda's hurling team’s number one supporter and their blue and white jerseys inspired our colour scheme.
Enda proposed to Emily in June, 2014, while the pair were on the stunning Croatian island of Hvar. Both avid travellers, they were soaking up the atmosphere of an annual island festival when Enda got down on one knee and Emily gladly accepted. They kept the news to themselves until later, enjoying a bottle of Champagne on the rooftop bar of the hotel.
Emily had her four sisters as her bridesmaids and they helped on all fronts along with her mum. “Mum insisted on making an occasion out of all organisational tasks, whether we were picking flowers, having a dress fitting or a hair trial it was always followed by a cocktail or glass of prosecco or two!”
Emily went to Kathy de Stafford for her wedding dress. “Kathy made my sister’s dress four years ago and she was a dream. She is so experienced, I looked in so many shops and rang Kathy one day and she said she had a dress there just for a show and that it would be perfect on me and it was. She is such a lady to deal with couldn't recommend her more highly. My dress was a polish designer Marguerite. Kathy also made my mum's outfit which was stunning.”
Emily and Enda loved the idea of walking up Grafton Street as a newly married couple. “Admittedly there was some raised eyebrow and a concern about how dirty the dress could get but it worked out and it was one of our favourite parts of the day.”
The pair held their reception in The Shelbourne Hotel. “Everything was top class, and the wedding co-ordinator Cathy O'Shea was very helpful, it started to drizzle when we came out of the church and the doorman sent people down to Trinity, where else would you get service like that? The food was fabulous too.”
“Everyone advised me to make sure that Enda and I took a few moments away just to let it all soak in - we had this opportunity in our amazing Princess Grace suite at The Shelbourne just before the meal - it was our first moment away from everyone just to say, ‘Hello wife, hello husband,’ and that was really important as well.”
The couple had black tie because they loved how they looked in the photographs. “Mark was so fun and relaxed from the minute he walked into the house and I know Bernard was the same with the boys in The Shelbourne. We didn't feel the photographs took over our day they just captured all the life of our wedding and we love our photos so much.”
“I also loved our little flags for the church which I got from Favour Lane, a very helpful website for little quirky bits. We had signature cocktails on the day as well The Mr and The Mrs, which were cool and all the little signs we had around on the day I had made from Eileen Hoyne at Fitzsimons Printers in Limerick.”
“If I had advice for other brides and grooms it's soak in all the moments and enjoy them. Although it might sound cliché it truly is the happiest time and it's important to remember to enjoy it as it is easy to get stressed over little things which are insignificant in the broader context of what's happening. I know people say it all the time about weddings but, ‘those who matter don't mind and those who mind don't matter.’ Have the day you and your fiancé want and try not to get caught up in any stress and pressure, enjoy the process and be as organised as you can be so you can enjoy the whole time around the wedding.”
Vendors: Venue: The Shelbourne Hotel | Dress: De Stafford Bridal | Makeup: Nicola Cuddy via Charlotte Tilbury | Hair: David Cashman | Stationery: Limelight Design | Suits: Aston Formal Wear | Photographer: Mark Griffin | Videographer: DMN Productions | Band: Katie Hughes and The Ratzingers | Church music: The Gospel Project | Cake: MM Cookies | Letters: LovinLetters