A Co Down couple have shared a look into their beautiful wedding day at Bellingham Castle in Co Louth.
Ruth, 25, and Matthew, 29, Newell got married on November 26, 2021 at a ceremony at a local church, after being together for nearly ten years.
In Be 's weekly feature Inside My Wedding, couples are delving into their special day to give bride and grooms-to-be some top tips.
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The pair, who live in Annalong, were neighbours as children and their paths crossed again years later.
Ruth, who owns an online jewellery boutique BOHO + BLEUE, and Matthew, who runs Premier Soccer Academy, got engaged on Ruth's graduation day in July 2019.
"Matthew had it planned that my mum and dad would be there to witness the event, which was so special. It came as a genuine surprise to me as I had no idea he was going to propose!" Ruth said.
She has told us all about their big day.
Tell us all about your wedding day!
It sounds so cliché, but our wedding day was genuinely the best day of our lives. Everything went perfectly, we wouldn’t change one detail. We also wanted each of our guests to have an amazing day - from the ceremony, to the service, to the food and thanks to Bellingham Castle, I think they did.
The castle had open fires roaring in each of their drawing rooms. Our string quartet who played at the ceremony also provided entertainment during the drinks reception and created a really warm welcome for our guests.
How did you begin planning your wedding?
When it came to planning, I was so excited to get started. We always knew we wanted a winter wedding. We got together in the month of November so it is always a special time for us. I also love the vibe of a winter wedding, I feel that there is so much scope when it comes to colour palettes and flowers etc. Once we had ear marked our date, 26th November 2021, we approached the vendors we knew we wanted to work with to secure them. For us this was our venue, Bellingham Castle and our photographer, Leanne Magill.
How did you decide on a venue?
Several years ago, we had attended a wedding in Bellingham Castle. It was unlike any wedding we had been to before. From the idyllic surroundings, the decadence of the castle, the staff, the food – we were blown away. I think from that point it became our dream wedding venue. For the time of year also, the interior of the castle provided a really cosy vibe as guests were free to roam the rooms of the castle throughout the day.
We also considered the potential for photographs should the weather not have been suitable for outdoor shots. Of course before booking, we enjoyed visiting a couple of other venues to make the most of the experience, but we always knew Bellingham Castle had our hearts.
Tell us about your wedding dress, bridesmaid dresses and suits!
For me, I had a very clear vision in mind as to the style of dress I wanted. I knew I wanted something very understated, long sleeve, in a crepe fabric. Dresses designed by Pronovias have always caught my eye, so it was a must that I visit La Boda Bridal, Banbridge to view their Pronovias collection. Before booking my appointment they were advertising their new 2021 collection with an image on their Instagram feed - a sketch of a beautiful full sleeve gown with structured waist detailing. It was at that point I thought, “that’s my dress”. The La Boda Bridal team were phenomenal and the ‘Adrienne’ gown by Pronovias which I saw in that sketch was in fact my wedding dress. It was the third dress I tried on, and I knew instantly I had found the one.
When it came to bridesmaids dresses, from the outset I knew the exact style and colour I wanted - velvet gowns in burgundy with exaggerated shoulders. I booked Emma Murnion Design to make them for me. Emma really brought my vision to life and designed them to perfection. She also made my junior bridesmaid and flower girl dresses.
When it came to suits, Matthew also had a clear idea of what he wanted. He wanted quite a traditional but edgy tuxedo look. Statement Menswear created his vision exactly and the service was fantastic.
What was the best part in the build up to your day?
For me, it was making memories with my mum and closest friends. It was such a special time and we loved attending the dress fittings, meeting with vendors and going for coffee dates along the way.
What was the best moment of your day and your other favourite parts?
For me personally, it was the moment I was walking up the aisle. It is something I will remember forever - being on my dad’s arm, seeing the faces of friends and family and joining Matthew at the front of the church. It was exactly at this moment I felt everything was falling into place after all the months of planning.
What would you tell other bride and grooms to plan first and what are your top tips?
I would recommend deciding on your ceremony and reception venue and agreeing dates quite early on. If like us and there is a photographer or florist that you particularly love, get those vendors booked as soon as you settle on your date.
My top tips for brides-to-be is not to stress! Soak up the experience and enjoy every minute as it really will fly in. This is YOUR time, make the most of all the fun and excitement with your girls and fiancé. Also, on the morning of the wedding keep the vibe super chilled and leave extra time to get ready. My bridesmaids started to arrive from 5.45am on the morning, which meant I could really relax and keep the morning calm.
What were the hardest parts to plan?
In all honesty we didn’t encounter many challenges, but the main worry we had was Covid restrictions. Thankfully, the restrictions did not inhibit any part of our day.
What was your theme?
I’d say the vibe of our wedding was very traditional. Our ceremony, music choices and venue were all very traditional, while the overall theme was a very clean look. I wanted everything to have quite a structured silhouette, from the tuxedos to the exaggerated shoulders on the bridesmaids. Even my mum’s outfit by Veni Infantino had a very structured cut.
Would you do anything different or wish there was anything you didn't worry about?
I wouldn’t change a thing about our day, we were so happy with how everything went, even the weather. The forecast didn’t look great, however on the day the weather was dry and the sun shone on us when we came out of the church.
While we were getting our photos at the castle grounds, a huge shower came on but it actually was something really memorable and the photos were amazing. The staff provided blankets, umbrellas, canapes and drinks while we were outside which made all the difference. Just after the rain, some gorgeous golden sunlight came out and the lighting was incredible. Every cloud really does have a silver lining!
Do you want to tell us all about your wedding day? Email be@belfastlive.co.uk to be featured!
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