A bride has shared details of her romantic cottage proposal weeks after her blissful wedding.
Hannah Ryan got married this February to husband Gearoid in Newbridge, where she formerly attended secondary school. The happy couple first met due to their involvement in a musical theatre production known as 'Urinetown', which Hannah admitted wasn't the most romantic of names.
She told Dublin Live: "His brother was our Musical Director that year and convinced him to come to a rehearsal, just to see if he would be interested in joining us for the production that year and the rest is history!"
READ MORE: Dublin groom wows guests with beautiful intercultural wedding suits
Gearoid popped the question near the end of Covid-19 restrictions. Hannah revealed that the two travelled to a serene cottage in Athy, where she was proposed to while preparing a roast dinner.
She said: "Gearoid booked a cute cottage just outside Athy, Co. Kildare for the weekend to celebrate the end of restrictions and me completing an online diploma. On Saturday night, he cooked an amazing roast chicken dinner and just before serving it, he got down on one knee and popped the question with a Chupi promise ring!"
The couple tied the knot on 16 February, with photographer Aidan Beatty capturing the special day on camera. Music played a crucial role in the pair's big day as they are both involved with their local musical society.
Here is Hannah's testimony about her big day in full.
Who is your partner and how did you meet?
My husband Gearoid and I met in 2019 during Newbridge Musical Theatre’s production of “Urinetown” which isn’t the most romantic of musicals- the story centres on a universe where people have to pay to use the facilities and anarchy follows! His brother was our musical director that year and convinced him to come to a rehearsal, just to see if he would be interested in joining us for the production that year and the rest is history!
Tell us about your wedding.
Our wedding was 16th February 2023 and it truly was the best day of our lives. Our church ceremony was in the Dominican College Church, Newbridge, where I went to secondary school and our reception was in the amazing Ballymagarvey Village, Meath.
Gearoid’s groomsmen were his two brothers and my brother and my bridesmaids were my three best friends from school. My dress was custom made by Kathy DeStafford bridal and Gearoid bought his suit from Richie Whelan’s menswear in Naas where we also rented the groomsmen suits. I had bridesmaids outfits (skirt and top) made for the bridesmaids with a local dressmaker, Freda McCormack.
Our hairstylist was Joanne B Bridal hair and makeup artist was Michelle T Makeup, both who travelled to Newbridge that morning for the preparations. Our florist was a local lady, Frances Doyle, who outdid herself with the arrangements in the church and captured the spring-time mood we were trying to create.
The music in the church was very special to us, as we are involved with the local musical society and we also sing in a choir. Our friends from both groups sang at our service on the day and it meant the world to us. Our guests were so impressed with our talented friends and are still talking about it!
Ballymagarvey was incredible and we wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it to anyone looking at wedding venues. Alana and all the team there were so supportive and helpful in the run up to the big day and everything ran like clockwork.
We had Joe Kenny the pianist perform at our drinks reception and Linda Byrne the wedding illustrator sketch our guests at the reception as well. Our band were “Sax the Beat” and kept our guests dancing into the wee hours!
What was the best thing about the build up to the big day?
We made an event out of the little things in the build up to the wedding such as collecting weddings rings and having a celebratory dinner. We also hosted a dinner for the bridesmaids and groomsmen to meet each other properly before the wedding and that was a great night!
What are your tips for other brides?
Try and be as organised as you can and book what you want as early as possible – it will save stress down the line! Try not to get swept up in the madness and stay true to what you and your partner want – people will remember the little touches you include, not what you leave out! We considered what we liked as guests at a wedding and went from there.
Would you do anything differently?
We wouldn’t change a thing! We had an amazing day and wish we could do it again.
READ MORE
- Mother's Day: Last minute gift ideas and discounts
- New food and drink festival Me Auld Flower coming to Dublin city centre for St Patrick's Day weekend
- Donkey at the Oscars was not actually 'Jenny the Donkey' from Banshees of Inisherin
- Oscar winner Richie Baneham congratulated by college as praise rolls in
- Best thrift stores in most Dublin Eircodes
Sign up to the Dublin Live Newsletter to get all the latest Dublin news straight to your inbox.
