A romantic and relaxed dream! Mary and Iain tied the knot at the wonderfully magical Ballyvolane House in Co. Cork on a sun-kissed summer day. They booked and planned their rustic, summer country garden wedding in six months and their celebration was brimming with absolutely divine details, we're so excited for you to see them.
Their intimate Irish-Scottish celebration included a breathtaking ceremony in the woods, a drinks ceremony on the glorious grounds and a refined and elegant reception in the country house. Timeless and completely unique to their love, Syona Photography was behind the lens capturing every moment of joy.
Mary and Iain swiped right for true love on Tinder in 2014. Mary is from Cork while Iain is from Melrose in Scotland and they live in Edinburgh. Iain proposed in Paris on New Year’s Day 2018 in their hotel room overlooking the Eiffel Tower. Mary reflects, "He had purchased the ring a few month's prior on a rugby trip in South Africa. He hid it in his rugby bag until then."
The most darling flower girls... From their lace and tulle dresses to their dried flower headbands, their daughter Colette, who also goes by the adorable moniker Coco, and the other little ladies Clio, Mabel and Milly were boho beauties.
They were originally due to have 25 guests but six weeks before the wedding the Covid restrictions changed and allowed for 50. "The couple wanted it to be as stress free as possible and they wanted their guests to have the best celebration possible. "Our friends and family hadn't been together in a long time due to Covid."
The celebrations began the day before the wedding with a drinks reception under the Indian tent which gave a chance for the Irish and Scottish guests to meet and mingle. "This was followed by a gorgeous intimate rehearsal dinner and the attention to detail was extraordinary, personalised menus, beautiful flowers placed all over the table and our personal playlist playing."
"The weather gods cooperated and we got married in the woods beside the house with the sun beaming down on us. The ceremony in the woods was such an intimate, romantic experience. Saying our vows surrounded by nature, the huge trees, green leaves and hydrangeas was something very special."
A very proud moment for Mary was walking down the aisle with her father while carrying her daughter. "She was our VIP guest having her there was so so special to us."
The couple exchanged vows in front of freespirited ceremony arch adorned with foliage, ferns and roses.
Their ceremony reading A Red, Red Rose by Robert Burns is ideal for romantics who love classic literature. Another absolutely magical moment came as the bride's sister sang during the ceremony, "I've a very musical family so having her sing at our ceremony was special."
They actually hadn't set foot in their wedding venue before the wedding (thanks Covid!). Mary had been following Ballyvolane House on Instagram for years and she knew she would love to get married there. "What set Ballyvolane House apart for us was the exclusive hire for the three days, we had the place to ourselves and we felt so welcome and at home immediately. From the second we arrived at the house we were treated like royalty. The house is nestled away in the peaceful countryside of north Cork. The surroundings of this stunning unimposing house are vast and tranquil. We were welcomed to the house with roaring fires lit in each room which made them cosy and inviting. All our guests were personally greeted and shown to their rooms and glamping tents. The house is steeped in history, each room a treasure so comfortable and elegant."
She continues, "The service was impeccable the whole time. We were so well looked after. The venue doesn’t churn out weddings every weekend and only host a small number each year. You can really tell that they go above and beyond to make each wedding perfect and deliver the five-star experience. Ballyvolane House surpassed our expectations in every way and we would highly recommend for anyone to get married here."
Mary's goddess lace gown boasting 3D lace and a scalloped neckline is the Orla Dress by Grace Loves Lace. She accessories with strappy & Other Stories heels, statement pearl earrings by Margaret Elizabeth along with the dreamiest cathedral veil.
Her breathtaking bouquet mixed roses, lunaria, eucalyptus and pampas grass.
They have a wonderful wedding tip when it comes to photos. "Let the photographer know If there’s any exact photos you want taken eg one with your Nana. The day will go so fast and they might not know who certain important people are." She adds, "The morning DOES really fly by so take it all in."
The Ballyvolane House team went above and beyond to make their celebration as magical as could be. "There were so many lovely touches throughout the three days such as Justin (the owner) inviting the children to feed the pigs one morning which made their time there magical. The groom and groomsmen were also driven to the ceremony in a Land Rover through the woods which was hilarious."
"I felt like I was floating all day," Mary says. "It was just such a chilled vibes happy day. The drinks were flowing, the food was amazing, the music was brilliant everyone was happy and having a great time."
"The day was so intimate and personal. We only had very close friends and family. We felt like we were able to chat to everyone and not be under pressure to make sure we spoke to everyone," she explained.
The couple opted for a naked wedding cake which is a beautiful alternative to the traditional white iced tiers.
They put their own spin on their first dance song which was I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles) by Sleeping At Last and half way through it changed to The Proclaimers version.
Mary and Iain continued their celebrations with a mini moon at the elegant Hayfield Manor in Cork. "We had the intention of going on honeymoon the following summer when restrictions lifted and quarantine was no longer a thing. But we ended up having our second baby Sylvie the following summer so that changed our plans. Hopefully we’ll get a honeymoon in, in the next decade. However Hayfield for a mini moon was delightful."
Mary and Iain, your Ballyvolane House wedding was nothing short of enchanting! A very special thank you to Syona Photography for sharing the stunning images, check out the gallery below for more.
Planning your own intimate wedding? Check out 35 Perfect Country Houses for a Small Private Wedding!
