Warm-Hearted & Super Stylish Wedding

Jaclyn and Ronan planned their fabulous day from afar and what a location they chose! Anna Carriga in Killaloe, Ireland was surrounded by nature just as they wanted. It was a perfect backdrop for a warm-hearted day with their families by their side on the 24th June 2017.

Firstly, I think we need to take a moment to appreciate how effortlessly cool Jaclyn looks in her Grace Loves Lace dress, who are one of our brilliant Wedding Suppliers members by the way. It was perfect for their church ceremony and light enough to hitch up for dancing later! Ronan doesn’t let the side down either in the style stakes, looking rather dapper in his three piece tweed suit.

The florals seem simultaneously tropical and meadowy, just right for the gorgeous summer’s day this pair had for their nuptials. Along with lots of personal touches, they really make this day a beauty.

Honey and the Moon Photography captured the day, including some really enchanting couples shots which I urge you to take in. Thank you for sharing these wonderful images with us today guys.

The Proposal

Ronan and Jaclyn, who live in Australia, flew to New York City enroute to visiting Jaclyn’s family in Canada. On the last day of their visit, Ronan tried multiple times to find the right spot to propose but New York was not on his side that day. First, he tried to book a trip to Ellis Island but soon realised these trips needed to be booked months in advance. He then substituted with a cruise around the island and the Statue of Liberty. Unfortunately, the cruise boat was filthy and full of screaming children as Christmas school holidays had only started a few days prior. He then booked a table at a fine dining French restaurant in Manhattan. When they arrived they were the only people in the restaurant aside from a group of 15 wild women they were sat beside out on a hen’s night with their penis straws, hen’s games and all. After dinner, Ronan asked Jaclyn to go for a nice romantic walk in Central Park. For those of you familiar with Central Park – to say the least it is not very romantic at night (drugs, homeless people urinating on trees, you name it). Ronan caved in and decided at this stage to head towards Time Square to see if any opportunities to suit the occasion would arise. When they arrived, an old lady took out a newspaper from her shopping cart and offered it to the couple to sit on as it had been lightly snowing. At midnight, the 2 watched an art show that came up on all the screens at once and there Ronan, after stressing and searching for the right place all day, dropped down on one knee and proposed. Jaclyn, without hesitation, drenched in the wet snow, said yes.

The Vision

Jaclyn and Ronan envisioned a wedding where their two families could join and celebrate for a few days. Jaclyn’s family is from Canada and Ronan’s from Ireland, however, after living in Australia for 10 years, many of their friends became family too. They wanted a laid back with no stresses on the day and envisioned a day surrounded by mother earth’s natural beauty.

The Planning Process

Living in Australia, the couple (well Jaclyn) did most of their planning from recommendations of friends and Ronan’s family. Ronan’s mother Margaret went to visit the venue Anna Carriga on behalf of the couple and was astounded by the natural beauty of the vicinity and overwhelmed by the kindness and hospitality of the owners and managers of the village and wedding venue.

The Venue

The venue, Anna Carriga, was located on the Clare side of the picturesque Lough Derg, 5 minutes away from the historical town of Kilaloe. Anna Carriga had a large permanent structure marquee with glass windows the whole way around so all the guests could look out at the lake in front of them. The village comprised of 30-40 villas and town homes that the guests could rent out. As Anna Carriga does one wedding a week, it was a great place for family to stay for a short holiday and have plenty of time to meet in-laws and relatives from the other side with no sense of rush to get out and move on the days after the wedding. By the end of the three day event, everyone was well acquainted and feeling blissful after a weekend of socialising, drinking festively, dancing and of course, playing a traditional game or two of Canadian horseshoes.

The Readings & Music

Loinnir played the church music at St. Molua’s Church in Ogonnelloe and mystified the guests. To this day, Jaclyn and Ronan continue to have guests enquire about the musicians from the church. A family friend, Pat Mac, played the accordion with a friend as guests arrived at Anna Carriga for drinks and canapé hour. In the evening, Gary Lonergan, from Wedding DJs Dublin, entertained the guests till the early hours of the morning. He did a brilliant job accommodating for all cultures present at the wedding and keeping everyone on the dance floor all night. Dances were had, Irish sets were done, bride and groom were up on shoulders to Luke Kelly and the dance floor was packed the entire night.

Your Outfits & Accessories

Jaclyn chose a dress from an Australian designer Grace Love Lace. The dress, titled Alexandria, is a fitted halter-style lace dress with a keyhole back and a slit in the front from the knees down to expose her Dosa heels (also created by Grace Loves Lace). The lace train runs for 120cm and was easy and light to pin up after the photos.

Beauty

Jaclyn had a girls’ day out in Cork City the week before her wedding with Ronan’s two sister, his mother and a family friend. She had her hair trial done at Hair Passion by Dominika, who called out to Kilaloe the morning of the wedding and did hair for seven women. All the women, including the bride, were very impressed with the style and quality. After Jaclyn’s hair trial in Cork, the girls took her to Jo Malone to create a custom scent for her wedding day. In the end she chose a nectarine body lotion with a blackberry perfume over top. Jaclyn’s cousin Tawnya, did the makeup for Jaclyn, her mother and her sister on the wedding day with MAC products. A makeup artist from Galway, Fiona Coyne, came to Kilaloe and did the rest of the bridal team and groomsmen’s partners.

Your Photographer

Jaclyn and Ronan chose photographers Jess and Karoline from Honey and the Moon Photography to photograph their wedding. The couple resonated with the unique photographs the pair had previously shot that captured sentimental and blissful moments, natural beautiful environments and created a lasting memories. The photographers came down from Northern Ireland and started the candid photos early in the morning until a few songs after the first dance. They blended in seamlessly throughout the day and made Jaclyn and Ronan feel comfortable instead of awkward throughout their shoots. The pair took charge and did not need any direction throughout the day. A short while after the wedding, Ronan and Jaclyn received a beautiful wooden box in the post at their home in Australia with all the digital prints (a link online), photos on a USB, 100 of their favourite prints and 1 print in a beautiful frame. Honey and the moon captured every moment of the wedding beautifully.

Your Filmmaker

Robin Wallace, also blended into our day seamlessly from early morning till late evening with his cameras and drones on hand. He too, required no direction, and blended into the background. He created a short five minute clip that captured the day as well as a two hour video that Ronan and Jaclyn watch on their anniversaries. The quality of the video is next to none.

Bridesmaids

Jaclyn had her three bridesmaids’ dresses in three shades of blue made by a dressmaker, Nancy Khau, in Brisbane, Australia.

Groomsmen

Ronan chose to wear a navy blue tweed three piece suit decorated with a copper pocket watch he received the night before from Jaclyn as a wedding gift. His groomsmen and the two fathers wore a three piece navy blue suit as well but not in tweed material. The suits were from a Dublin tailor – Suits You

The Details & Décor

Jaclyn & Ronan chose décor that reflected nature and the outdoors. Lots of wood and lots of flowers. Printed menus and cards were designed and created by Jaclyn’s cousin Danny DuBreil.

The Flowers

The flowers were done by a family friend, Bitte.

The Cake

The beautiful rustic cakes on wooden stumps were done by Ronan’s school friend Siobhan Butler from Tipperary who coordinated beautifully with the florist and the venue manager to take pressure off of Ronan and Jaclyn. She even surprised them with a bottle of champagne on delivery of the cake.

The Honeymoon

Jaclyn and Ronan enjoyed winding down after the wedding for eight days in Belgium and the Netherlands, visiting Bruges, Leuven, Brussels, Geithoorn, Valkenburg and Amsterdam.

Memorable Moments

The entire day!

Advice For Other Couples

One piece of advice the couple received from a friend before choosing their venue, was to choose one where the bar is right beside the dance floor. This will keep everyone together for the entire evening and easy to keep the men on the dance floor too.

Credit Where Credit Is Due

What a fun and fabulous day you had Jaclyn and Ronan, thank you for sharing all the details with us. Rachel x