A Dublin bride has shared details about her heartwarming engagement, made possible thanks to her young daughter.
Amy got married this June to her long term partner Darragh. The couple ended up having their dream wedding in sunny Spain, after their daughter Faye unwittingly played a huge role in helping the couple get engaged.
The bride explained she arrived home late one evening from work and was annoyed to discover her daughter had not been dressed for bed. However, Amy got more than she bargained for when getting Faye into her pyjamas.
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She revealed to Dublin Live: “Little did I know that when I pulled up her top she had the cutest little vest that read “Mammy will you marry Daddy?” on underneath. I turned around and there he was on one knee. Poor Faye still had her top wrapped up around her head while I was screaming with excitement.”
The couple set their hearts on Nerja as the destination for their wedding, as this was where they took their first trip abroad together. They tied the knot in a boutique hotel overlooking the stunning Spanish landscape, with the assistance of a wedding planner.
Amy opted for a non-traditional wedding dress, complete with intricate coloured flowers- both the mother of the bride and the flower girl wore ivory to compliment her beautiful dress. The clothes for the wedding party were purchased in Ireland, with her own dress coming from Alice May Bridal Boutique.
Here are more snippets Amy gave us about her big day.
How did you two meet?
His best friend was dating one my best friends and bridesmaids. We were set us up but neither of us were too bothered. After weeks of cancelling on each other we finally decided to meet up, went for a drink and the rest is history!
Tell us about the wedding.
Our very first holiday together in 2014 was in Nerja. We actually went over to attend a wedding. We instantly knew that if we were ever to get married it would be in beautiful Nerja. In January 2019 we contacted nerjaweddingsbysonya and by June 2019 we had visited and booked the wedding venue of our dreams.
We opted for a venue 40 mins up the hills outside Nerja town. We always wanted a wedding in the sun but more importantly to have a Spanish vibe. The Spanish food, wine and scenery honestly makes for the most perfect wedding abroad. We chose early May so the weather was lovely but not too hot!
We got married alongside 100 of our closest friends and family.
Our ceremony was outdoors overlooking a lake with a drinks reception in the gardens with sangria, Spanish beers, tapas and chocolate covered strawberries, while the sun beamed down on all the guests soaking in the view. We had a house violinist who played alongside our MC, who sang. We hired baby sitters to watch and play games with the children while the adults ate and partied well into the night! A box drum band started off the dancing followed by our MC who doubled as a DJ.
For day 2 we wanted to bring our guests back into Nerja town centre. We booked a fab cocktail bar called Buddah Bar for a nice relaxed BBQ.
I could never have had a Spanish wedding or a wedding abroad without a planner! Sonya Casey is Irish living in Nerja and brought our dream wedding to life!
What was the best thing about the build up to the big day?
We flew over a week before the wedding and stayed with over 35 of our friends and family. It was also the first holiday for a lot of people in over two years so you can imagine the excitement! To wake up every morning knowing they came to celebrate you and your love is a feeling I just can’t explain. We were extremely blessed. The craic we had the week before the wedding was just wonderful ! So much so we’re hoping to all go away again in 2023!
What were your dress and the bridesmaids dresses like?
I always wanted a dress that would go with our outdoor Spanish wedding vibe. I ended up falling in love with a Savin London design from Alice May Bridal. It was covered in coloured flowers! Definitely non-traditional but the second I tried it on I knew it was the one! I matched my bridesmaids dresses to the flowers off my dress. I got their dresses in Folkster, their shoes were Asos (January sales) and headpiece and accessories were rosieanddott (an amazing irish supplier). Mother of the bride was in ivory and my dress stood out perfectly as she walked me down the aisle. My flower girl also was in ivory which looked fab in photos! Everyone thought I was mad letting mam wear ivory until they saw my dress, then they understood.
What are your tips for other brides?
If you are planning a wedding abroad, you 100 per cent need a planner! Give yourself extra time: due to Covid we ended up planning for our wedding longer than intended, but we ended up being able to add extra suppliers and touches that would have been missed if we had pushed for an earlier date. Financially it also was less pressure. If you are going to do it, do it right!
Hire an MC – even with a band and violinist, the MC was the one who kept the party going from the drinks reception, throughout the meal until the very end. Not a single quiet or dull moment. You want your guests to enjoy the day just as much as you. Put on talcum powder 30 minutes before you get dressed, it is worth it. Serve the wedding cake on the second day if you’re going for a longer wedding as more people take notice, it actually gets eaten and you haven’t spent a fortune on it to go to waste!
Is there anything you'd have done differently?
I’m lucky enough to say nothing! The wedding we dreamed about was 100 percent brought to life by the most amazing wedding planner and team of suppliers. Nerja will forever have a special place in our hearts.
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