Intimate and deeply personal, this real wedding is as chic as they come. Yana and Denis wed on a sun-dappled May day feeling all the love in the world from 24 of their closest family and friends. Yana is originally from Ukraine and Denis is from France and they paid a beautiful tribute to their heritage. The Dublin-based couple exchanged vows at No. 25 Fitzwilliam Place located in the heart of the city which blends Georgian grandeur and modern elegance.
Planned and exquisitely styled by the bride herself, they wrote their own rulebook for their special day. Their brothers proudly stood by their side as their official witnesses replacing traditional bridesmaids and groomsmen and heart-warming personal touches informed every element of their celebration. You will be captivated by Yana's bridal look which included a breathtaking cape dress and accessories laced with sentimentality. Beautifully lensed by Hannah Jayne Photography, it is impossible not to fall in love with their sensational spring wedding!
Denis and Yana met through work and they quickly realised there was something social between them. They tell us, “We spent a while getting to know each other before we decided to give dating a try. We both knew very quickly that this was it, our forever. While it took us five years to get engaged and eight years to finally get married, we organised everything in just three months once we decided not to delay any longer.”
They both love hiking and Denis knew the perfect spot to propose, atop a mountain in Wicklow. “The weather was a classic misty November day, so foggy we had to trudge through wet bogs to find the trail. But just as we reached the summit, we broke through the clouds and were greeted by sunshine and a breathtaking view. We were completely alone. Denis got down on one knee, gave a beautiful speech, and after I enthusiastically said yes he led me to a view of a heart-shaped lake. It was absolutely magical.”
For the couple, their top priority was to celebrate with their most cherished loved ones. Finding a beautiful venue with fantastic food (and an open bar) was key, along with a talented photographer who would capture all the special moments without any forced posing, and a celebrant who understood them and their love story.
The bride was utterly enthralling wearing an Azazie gown with a scene-stealing cape. Her accessories included heels from ASOS and a family heirloom ring gifted by the groom’s parents.
The adorable flower girl outfits were designed by Yana's grandmother.
The perfect finishing touch for Yana's spellbinding ensemble? A birdcage veil from JewelryOLala, a Ukrainian designer from her hometown.
They selected readings about what makes a good and happy marriage. Yana's brother and Denis's brother read them making the moment so personal and special, The Art of Marriage by Wilferd Arlan Peterson was a real favourite.
"We incorporated a traditional Ukrainian wedding rushnyk, a beautifully embroidered cloth, to honour my heritage," the bride reminisces. Sweetly, her childhood friends from Ukraine who were not able to make it to the wedding sent it as a gift. "It meant the world to us. Our celebrant, Shona Weymes, gave a beautiful description of its meaning during the ceremony, and it was the one moment that made me cry. Standing on the rushnyk as we shared our vows was something I had dreamed of since I was a little girl."
Yana's favourite colour is navy blue and it quickly became their signature shade for their wedding aesthetic, it was even the main hue for their wedding website. When they saw the elegant colour adorning the walls of No. 25 Fitzwilliam Place, they felt like it was meant to be.
Denis wore an elegant Remus Uomo suit and his shoes were by Bugatti. So dapper!
The award-winning wedding filmmakers Sunset Films who are specialists in cinematic documentary videos captured all the magical moments of their ultra-chic city wedding.
The delectable food and wonderful wine selection was a real winning factor for the couple when it came to choosing the venue. "We liked that everything was prepared right next door at the Sussex Street restaurant. The overall feel, convenience, and phenomenal food sealed the deal for us."
"We told our guests on the website that our colours would be blue and white, and they took it to heart. The entire wedding party looked so cohesive and beautiful without any formal planning—it was truly a lovely surprise," they say.
The moment they set foot in the venue, they knew they had found their perfect place to exchange vows. "The atmosphere and look were exactly what we had envisioned. We especially loved that we could have the ceremony, reception, dinner, and dancing all in one place. With guests travelling from different countries, we didn't want the hassle of moving between locations."
To honour Denis's French upbringing they included a selection of French songs during the reception. What a lovely idea!
The blooms curated by Total Flower Designs in a delicate palette of white and the palest blush ensured the reception styling exuded delicate sophistication.
For dessert they chose a scrumptious selection of their favourite cakes from Dolce Sicily.
The couple took to the dancefloor for the first time to the iconic love song At Last by Etta James.
It can be daunting to know where to start when it comes to planning your wedding and the bride says to think about your priorities and budget first and to try to carve out a rough timeline. "Once you find a venue that feels right, they can often recommend all the other vendors, from florists to photographers. If planning a wedding feels overwhelming, this is the easiest and quickest way to get things done. You don't have to do all the research yourself unless you want to. It also helps to be a little flexible with your dates. We got a great discount by being open to moving our wedding around a bit."
The couple stole spent a few nights away in Ireland to relax and soak in all the magic of their celebration. They chose the sun-drenched Mediterranean coast for their honeymoon. "It was the perfect way to have two separate moments of celebration and relaxation."
Thanks so much to Yana and Denis for sharing incredible chic city wedding, and to Hannah Jayne Photography for providing the fabulous imagery! There are even more gorgeous photographs to peruse in the gallery below.
Dreaming of tying the knot in the city? Check out even more fabulous Real Weddings!
