A newlywed has shared how she reunited with her now husband four years on from their initial romance.
Hazel Cryan tied the knot with Andrew in a beautiful ceremony in Gloster House, Offaly. The couple first met back in 2016 and went on several dates, but Andrew's plans to work as a doctor in Australia saw the fledgling couple part ways.
Everything changed when the two reconnected during Covid. Andrew moved back to Ireland, allowing the couple to restart the relationship after a four year hiatus.
READ MORE: Dublin bride unintentionally captures proposal on video during Wicklow trip
The couple got engaged in late November after Hazel returned home from a trip to see the house transformed into a decadent winter wonderland. The couple had a daunting timeframe of less than five months to pull off their dream wedding.
Hazel told Dublin Live: "Honestly the ceremony was our favourite part, which is probably unusual to say, but we got a lot of compliments on it. We opted for personal vows which got both of us speaking but getting to input and write parts of the ceremony to include our friends and family really made it."
The ceremony was conducted by Hazel's brother Ross, a touching personal tribute on the day. Here is Hazel's reflections on her wedding in full.
Who is your partner and how did you meet?
My partner's name is Andrew. We originally met in 2016 online and had a few dates before we went our separate ways with Andrew going to Australia to work as a doctor there. During Covid we reconnected, and he came back from Australia. Things couldn’t have gone better since!
Tell us about the proposal.
Andrew caught a lot of flak from our friends for not proposing in Tanzania on safari late last year. I didn't know, though, that he had a plan all along! Shortly after I went on a trip with friends to Madrid. When I came back in late November Andrew had essentially spent the whole weekend decorating the place into a winter wonderland and had my favourite Christmas song playing before he walked me to the Christmas tree and got down on one knee. He designed a beautiful, unique and vintage inspired ring for me and had it under the tree.
Tell us about your wedding.
We had less than 5 months to organise the wedding, so we focused on what was important to us. Ultimately, we wanted a party that everyone could enjoy. We're both raised Catholic but didn't want a church ceremony. Andrew was speaking with a friend, Julie Muir who is an Irish celebrant based in Australia, who suggested she could online mentor someone if we had anyone worthy! We picked my brother Ross and it couldn't have gone better. We had a really lovely, very different and personal ceremony, including our own vows, in the chapel on the grounds of Gloster House in Offaly.
We kept the whole wedding style very simple and elegant with a black and white dress code in the bridal party and lots of gypsophila. We had a string quartet for my entrance and then added some fun by being played out at the end by the new brass kings (who were hiding at the back of the chapel!) while being showered in confetti.
The reception was on the front terrace of Gloster House overlooking their gardens with the new brass kings playing there throughout. We moved into the banquet hall for dinner/speeches before we returned to the chapel which has been transformed into a dancefloor post ceremony. It's such an amazing space with high roofs and we had some huge white balloons with fairy lights lining the walls with the band smash hits there waiting. I've never seen a dance floor fill up so fast and stay full for the whole night!
We had Belfast Woodfired Pizza serving pizzas in the courtyard from late and they went down extremely well with everyone including the coeliacs (myself included!) and vegans at the wedding. Finally, we had a sparkler shot after just gathering the nearest 30 people which turned out great!
What was the best thing about the big day?
Honestly the ceremony was our favourite part (which is probably unusual to say!) and we got a lot of compliments about it. We opted for personal vows which got both of us speaking but getting to input and write parts of the ceremony to include our friends and family really made it. My brother did an amazing job, he also went rogue and included a surprise piece for myself and Andrew on the day which got a great reaction.
What was your dress like/the bridesmaids dresses like?
My dress was a Calla Blanche long sleeve lace dress. As soon as I tried it on, I adored it. To me, it is classic, simple and elegant. I opted for a full-length cathedral veil which we added lace to, to complete the look. I kept my hair and make-up very simple, which would be my style normally.
The main focus for the bridesmaids was to find a colour and style each felt good in. The girls are beautiful, everything looked great on them! We opted for a satin black dress in two different styles.
Generally, a heavy lace long sleeve wedding dress and black bridesmaid dresses would be considered more appropriate for a winter wedding rather than summer. However, I adore the simplicity of black and white and generally prefer to go with my own style and what people feel good in as opposed to a trend or norm.
What are your tips for other brides?
Be organised so you can relax and enjoy the day. Select suppliers based on your personality and style. Ailbhe Lynch did our make-up and Kathy McLean, who owns Pearl is my really good friend did our hair. Niamh Smith was our photographer along with Gavin from Dreamcatchers. Everyone got on so well and worked really well together. We had the loveliest morning getting ready, everyone chatting and enjoying themselves. It set the tone for the day.
Most importantly, soak up every minute and enjoy it.
Would you do anything differently?
Honestly no! It went better than we could have ever dreamed.
READ MORE
Gerry 'The Monk' Hutch still welcome at Spanish restaurant where he was arrested
Irish Eurovision star Roy Taylor dies after Motor Neurone Disease battle
Broadcaster Gareth O'Callaghan shares 'painful but fantastic' journey of learning to walk again
'We were ostracised and criminalised for being gay 30 years ago and new stats show we're regressing'
Stolen motorbikes, ammo and cocaine among items seized in various Dublin raids
Join our new WhatsApp community! Click this link to receive your daily dose of Dublin Live content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
