We wanted to tell the story of a dreamy, intimate Irish countryside wedding at an abandoned castle overrun with greenery and ivy. Following their ceremony the bride and groom first have an intimate dinner outside of the castle with their nearest and dearest and then sneak away into the castle to celebrate each other and their commitment to one another with an intimate toast and a stroll around the grounds.
This styled shoot set in Galway Ireland was first and foremost inspired by the castle ruins of Menlo Castle. The hard, rough edges of the stone walls are softened by the lush greenery and ivy crawling up them. We wanted to play off of that with super soft and fluffy florals in varying shades of dusty lilac and lavender. The bouquet and centerpiece from Petal + Vine were made up of the lightest flowers imaginable; sweet pea, butterfly ranunculus, lilacs, clematis, and roses, which gave these details an airy feel, reminiscent of a fairy tale.
When dreaming up the tabletop design, we thought that the textured mustard napkins were the perfect pop of color against the dusty lavender velvet table linen by BBJ Linen. Crisp clean china, glassware and flatware from CaterHire gave the tablescape a minimalist vibe so as not to overshadow the unique color combination and the stunning natural background. Dinner Menus by The Fancy Cat Studio featured place cards affixed by an eyelet punch; a small detail that really makes the whole place setting unique! The mustard color of the napkins was also mimicked in the silk velvet ribbon on the bouquet to tie it all together.
The bride looked stunning in her flowy gown and custom cape from Dream Dresses By P.M.N. and her beautifully styled hair and makeup by Hair by Alise completed the look. The colors and styles of the florals were mirrored in the groom's floral print tie and his light gray suit really stood out among all of the lush greenery. And don't miss out on the beautiful engagement ring and wedding band from Anueva Jewelry, our fave local jeweler! Courtney Bowlden Photography captured each and every step of this day majestically. Don't miss the full feature on Wedding Chicks as well!
Photography: Courtney Bowlden Photography | Event Design & Planning: Willow & Ivy Events | Floral Design: Petal + Vine | Hair & Makeup: Hair by Alise | Stationery & Calligraphy: The Fancy Cat Studio | Jewelry: Anueva Jewelry | Linens: BBJ Linen | Rentals: CaterHire | Wedding Dress: Dream Dresses By P.M.N. | Bride: Anna Stratton | Groom: Kevin Stratton | Venue: Menlo Castle, Galway, Ireland