A newly married Irish couple have shared their story of how they met eight years ago while playing for rival GAA teams.
Orla and Caoimhe got married in The Village Barn after getting engaged at Christmas 2020. The couple, who are both employed in Canada, first met each other there while playing for rival GAA teams, Dublin Live reported.
The wedding, which was captured by photographer Aidan Beatty, had a lot of poignant and personal elements to it. They even made their own canvas, with a unique quote, serving as a backdrop during the ceremony.
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Orla said they wanted to transcend some conventions in order to have a relaxed and enjoyable wedding day. Their bridesmaids picked their own gowns, of any colour or style, for the ceremony.
Orla said: "When it came to choosing our own dresses, we decided to steer away from the traditional white wedding dress. We knew it would be a tough task to find two perfect dresses that complimented each other, and the vibe we had envisioned. We came across a gorgeous boutique in Toronto that had exactly what we were searching for."
Here is what Orla said about the biggest day in her and Caoimhe's lives.
Who did you marry and what way did you meet?
Orla's partner's name is Caoimhe.
"We met over 8 years ago in Toronto. We both played with rival GAA teams in the city so it was not exactly love at first sight, but after a few drinks the walls came down and the rest is history," she said.
How did the relationship blossom?
Orla stated that from the start of their relationship, marriage was always going to come, at the right time.
In December 2020, amidst Covid, they snuck off to Montreal for a weekend.
"We climbed to the top of Mount Royal and sat overlooking the city where we exchanged letters and both asked each other the big question," she recalled.
Tell us about your big day.
Orla said: "We knew from the start we wanted a setting with a relaxed vibe, somewhere a little quirky where we could have both the ceremony and reception in the one venue. When we viewed The Village Barn, we knew instantly, we had found exactly what we were looking for. The day itself was amazing and exactly as we had pictured in our mind."
She remembers the morning as "hectic" but there was a lot of "fun" getting ready.
"We had to start at 6am to be sure everyone was ready on time. We got our photos taken before the ceremony, which in hindsight was the best idea as we were first to the bar for the reception drinks," she added.
Orla and Caoimhe enjoyed the ceremony the most. Their celebrant Romy, "just got it so perfect", making them feel so comfortable, with guests "laughing and crying throughout."
"We made sure to have lively music early on so the party atmosphere kicked in right after the ceremony. This set the tone, and throughout dinner and the speeches, it was all about having fun.
"During dinner, we sat at our own table, just the two of us, so we had some time together to reflect on everything from the day so far. From the first dance, the dance floor was packed and it stayed like that for the rest of the night and we honestly had the best time," she said.
How was the lead up to the wedding?
Having a beverage in the airport knowing the time was finally here, they flew from Toronto the week before Christmas.
"It is also so nice reaching that stage when everything is done and all the little bits and pieces have finally come together.
"I was in my element working on our DIY projects leading up to the day. We created a canvas backdrop and frame for the alter that including a personalised quote.
"We also put together our table plan and frame, which was based on all of our favourite places in Toronto. And, we had so much fun designing a personalised set of GAA jerseys with O’Neills to present to our bridal party and family," she said.
They had dinner and drinks with close friends and family the night before.
How was everyone decked out on the day?
Orla said: "When it came to choosing our dresses, we decided to steer away from the traditional white wedding dress. We knew it would be a tough task to find two perfect dresses that complimented each other, and the vibe we had envisioned.
"We came across a gorgeous boutique in Toronto that had exactly what we were searching for. The subtle tones of colour and the flower detailing really complimented the whimsical atmosphere of the venue.
"Again, steering from tradition, we decided to eliminate the stress of finding matching dresses for our bridal party. We wanted our Bridesmaids to wear whatever they wanted, any color or style, once they were comfortable."
What words of encouragement or wisdom do you have for other brides?
She recommends a planner, and doing small things week by week.
"A lot of advice we received was to remember it’s your day so put yourself and what you want first and of course that’s the view you should have," she offered,
Orla also caveated that you "can’t control every little thing", so do not fret if something isn’t working out.
"Also, if time allows get your pictures done before your ceremony so you have more time to relax and catch up with your guests after," she concluded.
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