Dancing into forever! Today's fusion real wedding takes place in the effortlessly luxurious surrounds of Tankardstown House as Trudy and Henry celebrated their love in timeless, and unforgettable, style. As a couple they represent four cultures between them, Nigerian-Irish and Ghanaian-Swiss, so they planned a fete that was a graceful marriage of their traditions.
Prepare yourself for Pinterest-able style aplenty from their classic celebration that felt wonderfully fresh. Photographed enchantingly by Eden Creative Photography their special day included an elegant green and white palette, a beautiful first touch, romantic bridal style, a fairytale outdoor ceremony, breathtaking blooms, a dazzling cake cutting, and so much more.
So let's get to know our fabulous couple a bit more. Henry was born in Nigeria and he grew up in the south west of Ireland. Trudy was born and raised in Switzerland to Ghanian Parents.
They met at Zurich's main train station and after having both noticed each other at two separate stores within the station, Henry mustered up the courage to approach Trudy. They explain, "After Henry introduced himself with a joke about the rare occurrence, Henry asked, ‘Are you following me?’, although we’re both very convinced Henry might’ve been the one doing the ‘following’. We had a light conversation introducing each other. After that we exchanged numbers, more like Henry entered his phone number into Trudy’s phone, called himself and said, ‘Don’t worry, I will text you’. Trudy would vow that if Henry hadn’t called himself using her phone, she might never have texted or called him after. Just like that the journey of getting to know each other and the two different worlds we come from began."
Fast forward to their (incredibly scenic) proposal, "We had a beautiful proposal which took place at Uetliberg, a mountain hiking spot at the top of Zurich, overlooking the city and in front of a crowd of Uetliberg visitors and our closest friends and family from Ireland and Switzerland, Henry popped the question. The moment was captured by Henry's friend who is a videographer based in London, Pierre Jermaine Films."
The couple exchanged vows in an outdoor ceremony that exuded romantic elegance brimming with white floral and lush foliage arrangements including a magnificent deconstructed arch at the top of the aisle.
Planning a destination wedding can throw up many challenges and they admit it wasn't easy bringing all their friends from Switzerland, the UK, the States, and Ireland together but they were determined to celebrate their dream day surrounded by all those they cherish.
Prayer was an important foundation of the wedding morning. The bride prayed with her mother and her bridesmaids and the bride and groom shared a private prayer before the ceremony.
The couple opted for a first touch which is a beautiful way to share a private and emotional connection before they saw each other for the first time during their ceremony.
Along with the growing popularity of black tie, we're also seeing a surge in white tuxedos and white dinner jackets and Henry proved just how smashing the trend is wearing a tux by Nigerian label Brand De Zues.
The bridesmaids and groomsmen were gloriously stylish in green complementing the verdant surroundings of the country house wedding venue in the heart of the Boyne Valley.
They wanted an intimate and timeless celebration that exuded "countryside charm and elegance with a touch of royalty" and that was an experience for their loved ones all in all.
Glory to the Lamb, performed by Brighttrayy, was their favourite ceremony song. "The song is very dear to Trudy. It's a celebration of Jesus and his sacrifice. The song also highlights God's power, acknowledging His great and amazing deeds."
Their wedding aesthetic was inspired by the very essence of a timeless wedding. From the style to the flowers and the decor, they aced their brief!
Trudy always dreamt of her wedding venue having a beautiful greenhouse setting so that the reception space could be bathed in natural light. While we were more keen to stay in and around Dublin, they couldn't turn down the proposal of The Orangery by their wedding planner JR Events.
The tablescape styling included sage tablerunners, hints of gold and exuberant white blooms.
Their ceremony arch was repurposed to create a breathtaking backdrop for their wedding cake which also included neon signage for an added dash of dazzle. The sleek two-tier white wedding cake boasted painterly floral icing for a whimsical twist.
As the newlyweds took in all the splendour of their reception space for the first they also shared a private first dance.
Trudy's tulle and lace wedding dress was a true statement of luxury and elegance which she sourced the bridal boutique True Society in Zug, Switzerland.
The cottages just around the corner from the ballroom meant that they could exclusively host their guests there during their celebration. They also fell in love with the beautifully manicured gardens and the luxurious interiors of the main house. "We’re especially grateful for how accommodating and thoughtful the staff were toward all our guests. Their attentiveness and warmth reflect the best of Irish hospitality, and it was a huge part of what made the day so memorable. Of course we also have our wedding planner and decorator to thank, they both collaborated effectively to help us achieve the look and theme."
When it comes to wedding advice, they say to try not to be too overwhelmed by the small details but to stay committed to creating a memorable experience for those celebrating the day with you. "Some things won't matter, some things won't go according to plan (although luckily for us, everything did at our Tankardstown House wedding) but guests and couple will always remember those aspects that made the day unique and brought about the connection for all. To us, at the end of the day, our wedding was really a celebration of our love as well as a celebration of the of the friends and family that have helped us along the way."
Their joy-filled reception included plenty of heartfelt speeches and the Mr & Mrs shoe game which went down a storm with their guests.
The couple would highly recommend hiring a wedding planner or having a wedding day co-ordinator. "We were very lucky to have one. Jr Events and her team did amazing!"
They chose Kindness by Mark Barlow, Isla Vista Worship and featuring Hailey Swagger as their first dance song. "Kindness is a gentle call to remember that grace isn’t a one-off—it’s constant. It speaks to our need for compassionate presence and invites us to dwell in the refreshment of that kindness. The kindness of God."
Tankardstown House played a vital role in bringing their dream of their fusion wedding to life. "Looking back, it truly felt like a meeting of cultures in a space that was both elegant and deeply welcoming."
Trudy delivered Marilyn Monroe levels of glamour with her sparkling second dress.
The celebrations kept going as two days after the wedding they embarked on a week-long cruise on the MSc World America, MSc's newest flagship cruise in America. "We docked from Port Miami and during the week long cruise, we stopped at Puerto Plata, Puerto Rico and Ocean Cay, The Bahamas. After the cruise, we spent a few more nights in Miami. It was the first time in the U.S. for the both of us."
Congratulations Trudy and Henry! A very special thank you to our lovely couple and Eden Creative Photography for sharing today's sublime Tankardstown House wedding with One Fab Day!
Planning your big day? Get inspired with more Irish Real Weddings!
