Idyllically situated in Co Meath, Tankardstown House is set on an 80-acre estate comprising magnificent woods, courtyards, walled gardens and parkland. Lauren married Daragh in the esteemed manor house on September 21st, 2023, surrounded by lush evergreens and vibrant fall foliage. Photographed by Emma Kenny Photography and featured in the Summer issue of SOCIAL & PERSONAL WEDDINGS, the reception decor is out of this world and a great example of playing with your venue's space and colour schemes to create something breathtaking!
The pair met on a night out in Dublin City Centre on November 27th 2015, through a mutual friend. "We went on our first date about one month later, went on a bar crawl, and stayed out dancing until all hours! We had the best night/ first date, and I don't think a day since then has passed that we haven't spoken."
Daragh proposed on December 30th 2021, on a cliff side, looking down onto a beach in Donegal. "We set out on a hike that morning, and in a true testament to the fact that I had no idea about the proposal and thought it was a casual hike, I wore no makeup, messy hair and not the cutest outfit! I honestly had no idea what was coming, and little did I know he had the ring in his pocket. When we made it to the top, with the most incredible view and backdrop, he turned and got down on one knee and popped the question. I was so shocked I burst into tears straight away and said yes. Many of my family spend Christmas in Donegal, and he planned it perfectly, allowing most of my favourite people to celebrate with us!"
For her beauty journey, Lauren didn't make any drastic changes to her routine; instead, she added treatments and workouts to her already busy schedule. "I did some hydra facials and pilates once a week and looked after my hair with regular cuts for about a year before my wedding date. I just wanted to feel healthy and comfortable!" She decided to stick to the styles she knew suited her for her hair and makeup. "I started by looking at Pinterest and narrowed it down to a few looks; I already had a rough idea of what I did and didn’t want, but nothing specific. I did a hair and makeup trial to test the ideas and changed both for the wedding day! I wanted to wear my hair like I would typically on special occasions, with a Hollywood glam look but a bit softer, as that's how I would usually go! I wanted a soft glam look for my makeup, with orange tones to my shadows to tie in with my hair and the florals. I had a fantastic hair and makeup team; I think the key to a stress-free start to the wedding is having good people with you on your special morning. They were so calm and professional, making me feel at ease and, ultimately, beautiful!"
Lauren's wedding Scent was Miss Dior. It's a delicate floral perfume, creamy and sweet but not sickly. It has a little bit of vanilla and charming rose notes. It’s a staple in feminine floral fragrances and perfect for the regal venue.
Our bride-to-be did not find the process easy; her idea of what she wanted in a dress changed as soon as she started searching. "I wanted a slightly vintage/ glam look, but the detail changed so much, and I agonised over the most minor things in the hunt for my perfect dress. I eventually came across Ivy and White in Belfast and tried on several Made with Love dresses; I knew this was the designer I wanted, but I still felt something was missing. I then noticed a new designer on my Instagram called Cameron by MWL. Straight away, it was at the top of my list to try it on; I made my way back up to Belfast from Dublin to Ivy and White and instantly knew it was the one."
Lauren bought a pair of beautiful statement earrings for her accessories from an Irish supplier called Megan Therese Couture. She paired them with a gorgeous gold and pearl bracelet that Daragh had gifted her that morning. "Then, for something old, my mum gave me her original gold wedding band to accompany my engagement ring. Safe to say, my accessories were extremely special to me."
Daragh knew pretty much straight away that he wanted to wear black-tie attire. "We both thought he should stand out a bit from the rest of the wedding party and agreed that a velvet suit jacket would be perfect for a late September wedding. His suit and the groomsmen’s suits were purchased in Abraham Tailoring Dublin."
Lauren's bridal party consisted of her maid of honour, Emily, and her friends Alannah and Eleanor. "I bought satin halter-neck dresses from ASOS in a champagne shade that I knew would suit everybody's skin tone and hair. I always wanted my bridesmaids in a neutral colour, but I was open to the fabric. The silhouette was exquisite and tied in perfectly with the vintage-inspired style."
Daragh and Lauren were married in a beautiful church near the venue; the whole thing went perfectly, even though the pair were both bundles of nerves! "It was imperative for us to have our family and friends involved in every aspect of our special day. My two brothers and Daragh's sister were involved in the ceremony, praying for the faithful. We also had one of our best friends, Carla, do a lovely reading. Then, two of my cousins, who are extremely close to me, also did readings. Including some of our favourite people in the ceremony was a decision I would recommend to future brides." The pair managed to squeeze in some private time between the ceremony and reception to decompress and prepare for the party, a detail we often encourage couples to plan for! "My favourite part was the car ride with Daragh to the reception venue. It was the first moment we had to talk about our mornings apart and everything we felt. It was the calmest part of the day for us."
For the couple, choosing the venue was less stressful than picking the dress, "We went to view three different venues; Tankardstown House was the first. We instantly fell in love, but I wanted to see other venues before committing. After viewing the two others, I realized it was a no-brainer! I loved everything: the feeling of driving up the long driveway, the calm surroundings, the beautiful old house, the stunning orangery, the accommodation, the gorgeous Bernese Mountain dogs - I could go on!" The decor's colour scheme was neutral tones: whites mixed with taupes and soft rust colours to tie in with Lauren's red hair and play up the soft glam/vintage style she was eager to pursue. "I also knew I wanted to create dreamy clouds in the orangery, and Tina from the Wild Bunch nailed the brief; she captured every detail perfectly!"
Choosing the right entertainment for each stage of their day was a hugely important detail for the pair; for the ceremony and reception drinks, they chose Avoca String Quartet. "We wanted them to play classical arrangements of current songs, similar to Bridgerton. I love the soundtrack, and I adore the idea of mixing old and new. It just fitted the venue and also us perfectly." Then, during the meal and speeches, the had Tropical Storm play, "This was one of Daragh's best ideas. I have to give him credit for this one! They got everyone dancing during the meal, and everyone mentioned them, asking if they could book them for their upcoming weddings." For the post-dinner dancing, the couple hired Spring Break, which was amazing! "We lucked out with the entertainment, and everything was perfect."
Regarding the best decision, Lauren said, "The best decision was the venue and the entertainment. We didn't actually realise it until we sat down and thought about but we honestly don't have one bad decision that we can think of, it was the best day and everyone around us helped make it incredible! We want to do it all over again! I also loved how all my amazing vendors made my vision come to life, from the beginning I knew exactly what I wanted."
- Gráinne