Initially built in 1662, the people of Dublin attended the Smock Alley Theatre seven days a week to be entertained by actors, acrobats and musicians. Now, 350 years after it was first built, the theatre has been carefully and lovingly restored to become Dublin’s Oldest Newest Theatre. An important part of the city's history, the theatre played the role of ceremony hall for concept artist Sophie Ryan and art director Robert Semple's wedding on October 20th 2024, followed by a reception in Roberta’s Restaurant. Photographed by Elaine Barker and planned by Wednesday Wedding Club, we're utterly obsessed with this laidback city celebration!
"I first met Rob briefly when I started an internship at an Animation Company in April 2017. We didn’t talk much; he mostly kept to himself, eating his overnight oats alone, so I nicknamed him Mysterious Oat Boy. He left the company a couple of months later, and that was that. But then, a year later, we ended up carpooling with mutual friends to the Kilkenny Animation Festival, and that’s when I realised just how funny and sharp he was." In 2018, he returned to the company, and it quickly became apparent how similar they were. In no time, the two were great friends bonding over art, food, music, and murder podcasts, and from that point on, Sophie and Rob were inseparable.
Sophie was about 20 weeks pregnant with their son Theo when the two set off on a road trip along the Wild Atlantic Way. On the second day of their journey, the pair visited Strandhill in Sligo for lunch at Shells Café, a walk along the flats and dunes, and a seaweed bath at Voya. "While we were walking, I got a cramp and had to sit down just as the sun broke through the clouds, lighting up a perfect little spot on the dunes. Rob wandered off, but I was too busy enjoying the sun's warmth, listening to the waves and the wind to notice. When I finally turned around, he was down on one knee, holding a little pink Chupi ring box. I think he had been waiting there for quite a while but didn’t want to interrupt my moment! When we got back to the boat, our parents jumped out of the car with balloons and champagne in hand! We spent the evening bringing the boat up the river to a waterfront restaurant for a beautiful dinner. It’s one of my most cherished memories, especially since, just 10 months later, my dad had a stroke. Thankfully, he’s doing well now, but I never realised that trip would be one of the last times we’d be at Lough Key."
Sophie kept the changes to her beauty routine minimal, afraid that her skin, which had finally settled down after the birth of their son, would break out. Instead, she stuck to her usual products like the Skin EssentiA Dual Action Pre-Cleansing oil, The Derma-Lac Lotions and the A, C and E Body Oil. Instead, she turned her focus on her hair, letting it grow out, added highlights two months before the wedding and spent her time practising the perfect Hollywood wave. "On the day, Anne Marie Doherty worked her magic on my makeup and the entire bridal party while Shauna Lawlor took care of our hair. From the moment they arrived, they brought such a calm and fun energy to the morning, making the whole getting ready process feel relaxed and enjoyable. Together, they made me feel like the absolute best version of myself. I honestly couldn’t have asked for a better team to be part of such a special morning."
"I didn’t want to go to loads of different places and get overwhelmed. I knew the overall style I wanted, something simple, silk and not any or much detail, like lace. I went to two boutiques, and it was at the second, The White & Gold in Howth, I found the one. I hadn’t even picked it out online; I had gone in for a different dress entirely. But from the moment I tried on the Prisma gown by Alexandra Grecco, I just knew. It was soft, elegant, and comfortable, pinching in all the right places while still feeling effortless. I paired it with pearl detachable sleeves, a cape by A.B. Ellie, a Chupi pearl necklace, and the ivory Harriot stiletto by Emmy London. On the wedding morning, Rob surprised me with a pair of drop pearl earrings from Chupi. I had my eye on them for so long but couldn't bring myself to buy them after going over budget! It was a lovely surprise."
Rob wore a custom suit from Scott Fraser, an incredible designer in London. The couple flew over for the day in February 2024, where Scott walked them through the design, colours, textures, and measurements, eventually settling on a deep charcoal grey, double-breasted suit with a bit of texture and a wide-leg cut, a nod to the old Hollywood era, which was one of the inspirations for the wedding theme. In April, they flew back for the fitting and while in London, Rob also picked up a shirt from Edward Sexton and black loafers from Crockett & Jones.
Sophie's bridal party comprised one of her best friends, Sinead, twin sister Shauna and younger sister, Steph, who was her maid of honour (Shauna happily agreed once she realised how much planning was involved!). "Finding their dresses took forever because I kept changing my mind about the wedding’s colour scheme. First, I wanted burnt oranges and reds, then greens, then navy… and finally, I just went with my comfort zone, a black-and-white wedding. Once that was decided, black bridesmaid dresses felt like the natural choice. We ordered a few online, but nothing felt right. Ultimately, we booked an appointment at The Suite in Rathmines, where they stock Jenny Yoo, and all fell in love with the satin Ariana gown for all three ladies."
"Our ceremony at Smock Alley Theatre was even more emotional than I expected. I had always felt like Rob and I were already married—we had a house, a child, a whole life together. But the moment I locked eyes with him as I walked down the aisle, I just welled up. The venue was breathtaking. Our ceremony took place in the Banquet Hall on the mezzanine level, a grand yet intimate space. The three stained-glass windows flooded the room with the most beautiful natural light, creating an almost magical atmosphere. The acoustics were perfect, and every note from the harp effortlessly filled the space. We kept the floral arrangements simple yet elegant, soft, all-white blooms arranged in a loose, garden-inspired style. Candles lined the aisle, adding a soft, romantic glow that complemented the historic charm of the venue. It was understated yet stunning, creating the perfect setting for such a special moment. Aisling Lyons played the harp beautifully, and our celebrant, Pat Brown Clarke, was incredible; it felt like we had known him forever. But my favourite part? Walking down the aisle, not just because I was walking toward my best friend and love of my life, surrounded by all the people we love, but because it was such a big moment for my dad. After his stroke, he had to relearn how to walk, and his goal was to walk me down the aisle. Watching him achieve that, combined with the day's emotions, was just everything."
While on maternity leave, Sophie started researching city venues, and Roberta’s Restaurant popped into her head. As luck would have it, they had started hosting weddings, so she reached out immediately. "The venue had the perfect balance. It was big enough to comfortably host 110 guests but still felt intimate. The mix of red brick walls, dark booths, herringbone floors, and a glass atrium gave it such a warm, inviting feel. The lighting was gorgeous. It was all soft and atmospheric, with no harsh downlights, just wall lamps, table lamps, candles, and directional lighting that set the mood beautifully."
"For the drinks reception, we had The Cotton Club Quartet, and they were one of my absolute highlights of the day. Their energy, talent, and vintage jazz vibe matched the venue perfectly. Our wedding theme was A Sunday Kind of Love, a nod to our love for that era of music (and the fact that we got married on a Sunday!), so having a jazz band just felt right. The guest couldn’t stop raving about them all day. For the evening, we booked The MixTape, which offered a full package with a band, sax player, and DJ—which made planning so much easier. They were phenomenal! The dance floor was packed all night, the energy was amazing, and they performed our first dance song beautifully. They even worked around our timing requests so smoothly. We couldn’t have asked for better."
Regarding their best decision, Sophie said, "I think one of the best decisions I made was hiring Emma from Wednesday Wedding Club as our wedding planner. Honestly, I can’t recommend her enough; she was absolutely amazing. She took over about nine months before the big day and thought of every detail. Not only was she incredibly organized and professional, but she was also just such a lovely, fun person to be around. From our first meeting, where we spent over an hour chatting about life and The Simpsons over a cup of coffee, I knew she was the perfect fit. The second best decision we made was choosing Elaine Barker as our photographer. The way she plays with light, composition, and mood is incredible; she perfectly captures the aesthetic we were looking for. She mainly shoots in a documentary style, effortlessly capturing the day unfolding, making everything feel natural. For our solo and couple shots, she guided us through everything so smoothly that any awkwardness disappeared; we had fun with it!"
- Gráinne