Summer is here! Well maybe not quite the weather yet but it is holiday season. And that means weddings abroad! Weddings in Spain are getting more popular, I’m heading to one in Nerja in July! But first it’s time to recap on one that I was lucky enough to attend last summer! This month’s Real Life Wedding will have you dreaming of a day in the sun! I caught up with Maria for a little recap on the amazing day!
The couple: Maria Vaughan & Padraig Reidy
Ceremony Venue: Pilar de la Horadada Church, Murcia, Spain
Reception Venue: Mar Menor Golf & Spa Resort in Murcia, Spain
Date: 27th June 2014
Dress: Maria’s dress was designed for her by Manu Alvarez, the designer for Franc Sarabia. She loved his 2012 collection so he made her dress based on what she liked. Maria’s shoes were Jimmy Choo.
No of Bridesmaids/Groomsmen: 4 of each. Bridesmaids were Maria’s sisters Jackie & Katrina, her aunt Una and Padraig’s niece Sadie. Groomsmen were Padraig’s brothers Mark, Michael & Timmy and Maria’s brother Jamie.
Bridesmaids Dresses: The bridesmaids dresses were all different as Maria didn’t want to have everything matching. Her favourite colours are pinks and purples so she did different shades to match the flowers. The dresses were all bought in Spain from the flagship stores of Elie Saab and Pronovias and their shoes were Jimmy Choo.
Grooms suit: The groom and groomsmen suits were all made to fit and bought in Ryles Menswear, Tralee, Co Kerry.
Photographer: Brendan Landy, Landy Photography from Kerry and PJ Corbett from Limerick. The videographer was from Scotland, WOW Wedding Media.
Flowers: Peonies, organised by florist Noella in Spain.
Band: The band were a couple that they would normally go and see in the local bar The Bog Road in Spain, Rosie and Noel. Then, two DJs, that are also professional dancers, from the salsa bar in Cabo Roig.
Hair: Maria did her own hair as she is a hairdresser, owner of Urban Angels. Annmarie from her salon did the bridesmaids hair.
Make-up: Maria’s sister Katrina is a make-up artist so she did all the make-up.
Length of engagement: A little over a year.
How did you find planning your wedding?
The planning was fine I guess. I had lots of help from everyone and I had two wedding planners in Spain from Wedding Belles wedding planning, Emma and Francesca but my Mom and my sister Jackie were definitely the biggest help.
Were there any hiccups on the day of the wedding?
Hiccups…yes one really big one…my cake! Lets just say I didn’t get what I asked for or paid for. I was so disappointed I actually burst into tears. I only got to see it when I got to the reception, I had to tell my wedding planner to take it away, I just couldn’t look at it.
Favourite moment of the day?
I can’t choose there were so many. Everything was just so perfect but being cheesy my favourite moment was when the priest said I now pronounce you husband and wife, it was the best part! Also I did love it when we got to the hotel and everyone gathered around the pool outside just drinking champagne.
Do you wish you had done anything differently? E.g. booked something earlier, different supplier, invited more/less, etc?
I wouldn’t change a thing about the whole experience I loved it! Well I might change the cake company!
Anything unusual that you want to promote the supplier?
We brought the photographers with us from Ireland to Spain which was the best idea ever. Brendan Landy from Kerry and Pj Corbett from Limerick. I have to say they were the best fun. We had them for a week so we could take pictures on the beach 3 days after the wedding in my dress again. They came everywhere with us, waterparks and night clubs, which they got really funny pictures of. They really made our wedding week special.
I would really like to thank Ink Pretty for my invitations, they were amazing. Also the help of our friend Ger at the Bog Road in Cabo Roig for getting us all our Dom P and Cristal champagne for the weeks we were there and for having our after party which was one of the best nights ever.
My flowers, what can I say, they were the one thing I wanted perfect. I wanted the one type of flower everywhere which was peonies. I love them, I think they are so pretty and love them even more because they stand for a long and happy marriage. I think the florist did an amazing job considering how annoying and fussy I was. Thanks Noella!
Last but not least thank you to all my family and friend for sharing this experience with us. Some who aren’t with us right now but will always be remembered. For anyone thinking of not having a videographer, for this reason it was the best thing we did. To be able to look back at those moments with people you miss is priceless.
I have to say Maria and Padraig’s wedding was stunning and we had such a fun week in Spain. The detail in the church along with the colour of the flowers and dresses was stunning. And the sun helped! The reception venue was like something out of a movie! Breathtaking!
If you are thinking of having your wedding abroad, do it! As a guest, it is great to go somewhere different and most guests will make it their summer holiday!
Love from my world,
Lisa x