Sophie Flood exchanged vows with Nicholas Lebo in her local church in Cavan last August, followed by a deeply personal reception at her family home that was all about the details.
Photography: Weddings by Kara
The Meeting
Nick and Sophie met in 2011 in Shanghai where they both worked at the time. The couple bid on the same apartment and Sophie confesses that she waited on him outside afterwards.
“Despite Nick winning the apartment, it would be the last one he would have the final say on!”
From Shanghai, Sophie and Nick moved to the states, spending seven years in Denver and Atlanta before packing up and settling in West London one month before the wedding.
The Proposal
Nick enlisted the expertise of a close family friend, famously known as “Gerry the Jeweller,” on the ring design.
“Gerry knows me all too well and knew what I would love. Between the two of them, they found the right diamond, and Gerry created the rest.”
Over Christmas, the couple wrapped up in coats and wellies to walk the dogs in the pouring rain. Sophie turned around, and Nick was down on one (mucky) knee, deep in the woods around Virginia, Cavan— her local town. Despite hailing from Seattle, Nick was very familiar with the woodlands as they had spent many an afternoon getting lost on strolls over the years. It was the perfect spot.
The Dress
After trawling through countless wedding dress shops, Sophie finally found the one in Atlanta’s very cute, and well-curated Kelly’s Closet. Given that the designer Lela Rose had studied in Colorado—an outdoorsy state which Nick and Sophie both loved and considered home for years—it felt right.
“But I was set on adding an Irish component to the bridal look. All the sculptural headpieces (including my mums, the bridesmaids, and my own) were crafted by local, Cavan milliner Davina Lynch. Davina trained at Central St. Martins in London and knew exactly what I wanted.”
The Couple tried to incorporate as many local artisans and businesses as possible.
Wedding Invitations & Artwork
The couple commissioned a family friend, artist Hannah Blake, who’s also local to the area, to watercolour Sophie’s family home for the wedding invitations.
“We wanted the invitations to feel personal and have a deep sense of place, especially as so many guests were flying in.”
Hannah’s exquisite artwork was woven through all the decorative stages of the wedding weekend— including the menus, place settings, signage, and take-home jam jars. Nick and Sophie were absolutely thrilled with the results!
The Venue
The wedding reception and dinner were held at Sophie’s family home in Virginia, Co. Cavan, which, having lived abroad for years, was so special.
“I give my mum, Catherine, full credit for all the labour and vision that went into getting the house and grounds wedding—and wedding guest—ready. Mum has an incredible eye for detail and did a fantastic job.”
The couple wanted a natural, earthy theme that reflected the rural surroundings for the tablescapes. A gang of family friends generously rolled up their sleeves and planted greenery, pulled Laurel leaves for the place settings, and sourced all the eucalyptus for the tables. Many of Sophie’s mum’s friends very kindly contributed in some way, including the cake that was baked and beautifully presented by a close friend.
Entertainment
Sophie’s aunt, opera singer Bernadette Lord, sings professionally with the chorus of The Royal Opera House, Covent Garden.
“It felt only right that she serenaded me up the aisle.”
The bride and groom had a local trad band play throughout the ceremony and continue on during the reception at the house, which went down a storm. Spring Break took over the entertainment at 9pm and played well into the early hours.
The Beauty Prep
In the lead up to the wedding, a close, beauty-obsessed friend amped up Sophie’s skincare routine with hydrating oil cleansers, serums, and a moisturising, overnight facial treatment from Tata Harper that worked wonders.
Three weeks before the wedding, the bride flew to London to get one of Joanne Evan’s deeply nourishing Advanced Vitamin Facials at Skin Matters in Holland Park.
On the morning of the wedding local make-up artist, Deirdre Reilly, did all the girl’s make-up and eyelashes.
The Bridesmaids
Sophie’s younger sister, Eleanor, was her beautiful maid-of-honour and then the rest of the bridesmaids included the bride’s gorgeous cousins, Emma, Louise and Liz, and her now sister-in-law, Kate.
“My two cousins Caoimhe and Alannah, were also brilliant as my flower girls and kept the crowd entertained with their singing that evening.”
The Best Decision
“I’m so happy that we hosted the wedding at home. All of my family and friends have spent so much time around our dinner table and chatting around the fire over the years. My school friends and several extended family members stayed on-site. The whole wedding weekend felt like a homecoming for all of us. It was so special—and it helped that most of the guests already knew their way around.”
The Worst Decision
“Luckily, I don’t have one—thanks, mum!”
