Laura & Ian Macdonald Hotel & Spa Kinsale September 2018

January 24, 2019

September started with a beautiful day &  we had the pleasure in spending it in at the fabulous MacDonald Hotel & Spa in Kinsale with Laura & Ian as they tied the knot. We caught up with them to find out all about their big day :) 

Wedding Day Film / Wedding Stories by Darren Byrne Photography & Film

Name of ceremony location

Civil Ceremony at The MacDonald Hotel & Spa, Kinsale, Cork

Reception Name & Location

The MacDonald Hotel & Spa, Kinsale, Cork 
https://www.kinsalehotelandspa.ie/

Ceremony Officiant

Rose Mummery, Spiritual Ceremonies
www.spiritualceremonies.ie

Make Up Artist

Beauty By Nichole- Nichole Corcoran Freelance MUA and Hairstylist
https://www.facebook.com/pg/beautybynicholecork/services/?ref=page_internal

Hair Stylist

Beauty By Nichole- Nichole Corcoran Freelance MUA and Hairstylist
https://www.facebook.com/pg/beautybynicholecork/services/?ref=page_internal

Florist

Bloomsday Flowers, Carrigtohill, Cork
http://bloomsday.ie/

Photographer

Klickapic Photopraphy
http://www.klickapic.ie/

Videographer

Darren Byrne Photography & Film

Photobooth/Selfie Mirror

Cherrypick Entertainment
http://www.cherrypickentertainment.com/music-wedding-packages/

Ceremony Musicians/Singers

Delta String Trio
http://deltastringquartet.com/

Wedding Tan

The Tanning Guru on Facebook 
Audrey provides a mobile spray tan service and provides all the bits you need and all the before prep and aftercare advice.
Tan Guru, more like Tan Goddess!
https://www.facebook.com/TanningGuruCork/
 

Band / DJ

J90 and DJ90
http://www.cherrypickentertainment.com/band-j90-cork/

Speciality Entertainment (magician/hypnotist etc)

Gerard Kearney Magician
https://www.corkmagician.ie/

The Loungeman
https://www.theloungeman.com/

How did you meet?

We met at work in February 2014, but Ian didn't think much of me when lunch was ordered for a group of us a 6 inch sub was ordered for him instead of a footlong. I stand by the statement that I only asked what he wanted, someone else placed the order. 

We met again 4 weeks later on a work trip to UK and he was my knight in shining armour. He made me sweat it out a few weeks before texting me when we got back to Ireland though. He blamed the Playstation distracting him until all hours. We are early together 5 years and I can confirm that it is actually the truth haha.

Tell us about the Proposal

We were together 2 years on the day, Easter Sunday 2016 and we were heading away to the Cottages for Couples in Drinagh, Co. Cork. We got in to the (Lassanroe Barn) house and Ian went off around the cottage "to explore" but what I later found out was that he was frantically searching his gearbag for the ring.

We had pulled up outside the door to unload the car and he asked me to go out and move the car since he had driven down. Reluctantly I went out to move the car. When I came back in to the house he called me in to the kitchen and there he was on one knee and got as far as "would you do me the honour...". Of course I said YES and we had a lovely afternoon sitting in the outdoor hot tub soaking up the Easter sunshine, sipping champagne.

Tell us about THE dress :)

The dress is a stunning dress from Australian designer Sophia Tolli. I got it in the fantastic Cinderella's Closet, Cork and it is known as "Lady Pia" on their website.

I hadn't planned on a strapless dress but I absolutely loved it. We made a day out of the dress shopping and my mum and mother in law came with me. My mum chose it and that makes it even more special. I was 99% sure it was my dress but needed by sister (who was working on the day I chose it), to see it. My sales consultant Karen came in especially on her day off to meet me. She listened to everything I had said on the day and then made it more special when she met my sister, my niece and my dad for the second appointment and remembered all I had said about my family. She was outstanding. When I tried on the dress for my family, my sister cried, my mum cried, dad was emotional and my niece said "you look like a princess". My niece then asked me was there glass slippers under the dress. That set me off. Even the sales consultant was crying. 

The staff at Cinderella's Closet are the most amazing, attentive and thoughtful people and I was so glad that I had my 'Say Yes to the Dress" experience there.

Tell Us about the Suits!

All the guys suits came from Simply Suits, Kinsale Road, Cork. 

The team there dressed the groom, groomsmen, fathers, brother of the bride and groom's nephew from head to toe. 

Andrew and the team there really looked after all the lads and they all looked so dapper.

Tell us about your ceremony

We wanted a ceremony that reflected us as a couple. We really loved the idea of a civil ceremony and Spiritual Ceremonies ticked all the boxes. Rose Mummery was our celebrant and she was so wonderful. 

We opted for the Celtic Ring Blessing, as well as the Handfasting Ceremony where we quite literally "tied the knot" and the traditional candle lighting element of the ceremony. You can tailor the ceremony to suit you both and has as many or as little elements as you want.

Favourite Memory Of The Day?

The first look was my favourite memory of the whole day since it was the first time we saw each other all dressed up. We spent the morning pottering around the hotel together so I didn't see Ian for about 2 hrs before the first look. We still took each other by surprise and it was a lovely experience to have. We are both really glad we took the time to do it.

What one piece of advice would you give future brides

I won't say don't stress because you can't help but stress.

Enjoy every single second of the day because the day absolutely flies. Don't get hung up on the little things because once you are there on the day marrying your best friend nothing else matters.

Why Did You Choose Your Photographer?

Our photographer came recommended through the Help I'm Getting Married Facebook Page and the Klickapic Team Adrian and Angelina didn't disappoint. They really caught everything. Angelina was even honourary bridesmaid, holding my dress and bouquet when needed when we went to Charlesfort, Kisale for our photos.

Why did you choose your Videographer?

Our videographer came recommended through the Help I'm Getting Married Facebook Page/Weddingsonline.ie and Darren & Juliana are one in a million. They were discreet, great craic and captured our day while being ninjas at the same time. 

Darren even created a fantastic one off shot in hotel and Adrian our photographer captured it. They were a dream collaboration.

Darren even pinned on mum's floral piece to her dress. Talk about full service supplier.

Why Did you Choose your reception venue?

We wanted to get married near the water and what better place than the MacDonald Hotel & Spa Kinsale overlooking the stunning Oysterhaven Bay. The view from the function room was the perfect backdrop for our ceremony and reception. Alison Walsh is the single greatest wedding co-ordinator/mind reader in the world. She knew exactly what we wanted before we even said it. She made the whole experience so easy. I couldn't recommend her enough.

Tell us about your honeymoon!

We booked our honeymoon through Trailfinders, Marlboro Street, Cork City and Marie took what we wanted onboard and created an amazing experience for us in Dubai and Mauritius. We stayed in the Atlantis on the Palm in Dubai which had so much to do and see. You could genuinely spend all your time there. The resort is the size of 64 Wembley Stadiums. We saw their in-house aquarium, we swam with dolphins and whizzed around the slides in the waterpark. We went on desert jeep safari with Reza Tours and we had a fab evening on the dunes and then dinner and a traditional Arabian experience. We hopped on and off the tour buses around Dubai.

After 3 days in Dubai we jetted off to Mauritius and it was just paradise. We chilled out and spent a week on the white sandy beaches. The all inclusive package is the way to go! I would go back and do the honeymoon all over again but spend 5 days in Dubai and 10 days in Mauritius, we did not want to come home.1

 

That honeymoon sounds amaze balls!! Wishing you both all the luck & love in the world & thank you for having us

 


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