An Irish Castle surrounded by gorgeous autumnal colours – what could be more romantic? After Sydney and Chris’s New York wedding venue fell through they decided to run away to Ireland instead! And what better place to tie the knot than a real Irish castle? Their Barberstown Castle wedding made for a stunning and romantic destination wedding.
Sydney and Chris stayed on site the night before their wedding which made the wedding morning lovely and relaxing. The staff at Barberstwon are also absolute stars, and they were always around to accommodate any request. When there was a mix-up with Sydney’s dress sent over for steaming, the coordinator personally jumped in the car and drove to the nearest town to have the dress fixed in time for the ceremony!
After a relaxing morning Sydney got into her regal wedding dress and spent time with the most important women in her family. Chris was impatient to meet his bride, so we organized an intimate first look in the gardens. I was so touched by how emotional and blissful they both were!
Together, we explored the nooks and crannies of Barberstown Castle. Autumn created some stunning colours, and the foliage adorning the old walls makes for a perfect backdrop. There are gorgeous views onto the castle from the drive-way, as well as intimate inner courtyard for couple portraits.
Sydney and Chris had quite an intimate wedding (by Irish standards) with 50 friends and family. But it only made for a more intimate and emotional day. They included some beautiful rituals – ring-warming and traditional Irish handfasting. But it was the personalized vows they read to each other that brought everyone to tears. Thankfully Sydney’s something old was her grandmother’s handkerchief that came in handy!
Following the American tradition, Sydney and Chris did their first dance before dinner. I love the idea of dancing before a heavy meal! The dance came with a surprise. Sydney’s grandparents were celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary the next day. They had no idea what their granddaughter had organized for them! Suddenly the dancefloor was empty and the DJ put on “Happy Together” by the Turtles – their first dance of 50 years ago! Their faces say it all. There wasn’t a dry eye in the room as Sydney’s grandparents danced cheek to cheek. I’m not crying, you are crying!
