A NI couple have shared a look into their unique wedding day at The Old Rectory, Killyman.
34-year-olds Colleen Skeffington and Anthony Rafferty from Moy, Co Tyrone got married on May 14, 2022.
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.
Read more: Inside My Wedding: NI couple's big day at Tullyveery House
The construction worker and counsellor got engaged on September 20, 2020, after meeting on a school trip to Lourdes, France in 2004.
Colleen has told all on their special day.
Tell us all about your wedding day!
Our wedding day was everything we ever wished for! It was a day filled with all of our favourite people and all of our favourite things. It is so cliché, but we honestly wish we could do it all over again just to take it all in. It was an explosion of bright, colourful, happy people, just what we envisioned. And the sun shone on the best day of weather we have had this year to date. Amazing.
How did you begin planning your wedding?
We began fixing a date. A big factor in deciding on this was that my brother and sister were living in Australia with their partners and children so we had to try to foresee a time that they would get home to be with us, with Covid-19 just beginning to take hold of certain parts of Australia and border closures. We always knew where we wanted to get married, so venue researching and browsing was never on our to-do-list.
Once we had a rough idea of dates, we contacted our dream venue – The Old Rectory Killyman to secure the 14th May 2022. The order of planning then followed as firstly the date and venue, then a rough guest list for approximate numbers. Then we secured our photographer, florist, videographer, venue stylist and caterer and began planning our wedding party.
How did you decide on your venue?
This was a no-brainer. We knew of this venue as we know the owners, Emma and Paul. We had known of a small number of intimate weddings it hosted and attended a wedding party of a close friend there too. Emma and Paul are two of the most well-rounded people you will ever meet. From the get-go, we loved the idea of our day celebrating local, brilliant, home-grown talent and services. We wanted to support entrepreneurs and businesses we knew and appreciated and Emma, Paul and The Old Rectory fit this brief perfectly. This was the best decision we made!
Tell us about your wedding dress, the bridesmaid dresses and suits!
I always knew I wouldn’t find a wedding dress that would give me 'that feeling'. I adore wedding dresses and admire each and every bride I see in theirs, because it is 'them'. I didn’t think I would find a 'me' dress in any shop, so decided early on really that I would get one made. Again, I chose who would be the person to do this based entirely on them as a person. Una Rodden was just the easiest person to work with. We clicked from our very first meeting, she just got it. She is such a down to earth, no holes barred, straight talking woman and I absolutely loved that. I knew I was in safe hands. My dress was probably the thing that I was least anxious about. I do think it is the best dress I have ever seen, I felt like a queen. Una’s talent is unmatched.
Two of my bridesmaids were in Australia. They weren’t going to be in Ireland until two weeks before the wedding, so getting a dress made for them wasn’t an option. There were a lot of WhatsApp media and links flying about for a while. I had a really particular idea of what I wanted and found something online, eventually. Their dresses were from Coast! It wasn’t just about the dresses though, it was very much 'how can we style these now to make them wow?' So it felt like a bit of a gamble, but we were confident that colour blocking with shoes, makeup and our stunningly bright and colourful flowers would work just brilliantly.
Anthony decided without much consideration that we would get the men their tuxedos and suits from Tony Grew at Nineteen83. Again, a no-brainer and again supporting someone we knew. Tony was second to none in sorting out the men from head to toe. They looked fantastic, tailored to perfection. Tony and his team were so professional. We were delighted with everything!
What was the best part in the build up to your day?
The planning! We loved it, Anthony is so organised and loves a spreadsheet and folder. We really did enjoy the chaos. The hen and stag weekends went down an absolute treat too! Family coming home and being together was just something special. We met a niece and nephew for the first time in the weeks leading up to the wedding that had come from Australia, and re-united with family we hadn’t seen in years.
What was the best moment of your day and your other favourite parts?
The ceremony. Looking out at a crowd of faces we all love, wearing their sunnies, soaking up the rays, smiling and sending us all the best vibes was really special. Our ceremony was so personal, intimate and unique to us, and we just loved it. Emma Bailie, our celebrant, made having an atmosphere of laughs and happiness easy. She was just fantastic.
Our evening was just phenomenal. Justin McGurk and The Boogie Men ensured our dancefloor never settled. They really know how to get a party going - and keep it going until it can’t anymore! Justin was again an easy choice in entertainment and vocals for our entire day, from ceremony to last the tune played on the night. He is a born entertainer and crowd pleaser, and to secure him for our day meant we knew we’d be having a great time!
What would you tell other bride and grooms to plan first & what are your top tips?
We would say secure all the vendors you are wanting as their diaries fill up extremely fast. Some are booked years in advance! Top tips would be to set aside time for each other, alone. Schedules get busy, and it’s easy to get lost in the planning. Regroup and reflect. Remind each other of why this is all even happening. Another top tip – and one we won’t regret ever doing - is to make your day your own. In every possible way, don’t let fear of opinion or whispers put you off. Just go for it!
What were the hardest parts to plan?
We can’t think of hard parts as such, but the ever stressful RSVPs are probably up there. Your photographer will ask you to provide a list of group photographs or specific photographs you want taken on the day – make sure and do this. It saves time, so you don’t have to think on the spot on the day wondering if you’ve forgotten anyone or anything important or special.
What was your theme?
It’s not the easiest to explain – we wanted our wedding to be different, unique to us and one that people will remember. That goes for every aspect – the venue, the flowers, the styling and the bridal wear. Colour – and lot’s of it. On the day, the guests were dressed in every colour of the rainbow, it was amazing to see. Weddings have become run of the mill with regards to all the bits that you can actually personalise.
People can begin with their ideas, only to be swept into the norm of what is acceptable or ‘on trend’. It takes courage to step out of the box and make a wedding your own, inspired by you and what you like. Not what others have done. There shouldn’t even be ‘a box’ to step out of. Your wedding is your own, no one else’s, so we took that approach with it all. We focused less on traditions like a cake for example, and more on introducing our own touches like sand blending during our ceremony with our children.
Would you do anything different or wish there was anything you didn't worry about?
If there was a way we could have slowed the whole day down, we’d opt for that!
All images by Holly and Lime.
Read more: Inside My Wedding: NI couple's beautiful day at Corick House Hotel & Spa
Read more: Inside My Wedding: NI couple's timeless day at Killeavy Castle
Do you want to tell us all about your wedding day? Email be@belfastlive.co.uk to be featured!
