Rachel and Junior’s summer wedding was the perfect blend of modern glam and light, airy elegance. Set against the stunning backdrop of Tankardstown House in County Meath, the day was filled with timeless white roses, chic bridal fashion, and thoughtful touches celebrating their love and heritage. Wearing an elegant Katherine Tash gown, Rachel looked effortlessly chic as she and Junior exchanged vows in the light-filled Orangery, surrounded by their closest friends and family. Junior honored his Nigerian roots with a traditional agbada later in the celebrations, and their joyful day was filled with warmth, personal touches, music, and dancing perfectly reflecting the couple’s style, personality, and priorities, all beautifully captured by Forever Social.

Rachel, originally from County Armagh, and Junior, from London, spent seven years living together in London before recently relocating to County Armagh.

Rachel and Junior originally met on Hinge. After a few days of texting, they went on their first date — and barely spent a moment apart after that. Rachel tells, "We practically never left each others side after that and firmly believe it was a case of ‘when you know, you know.’"

Junior proposed to Rachel on a beach in Mauritius during their holiday in 2022. With just the two of them present, the moment was, as the bride puts it, “completely perfect.”

Once engaged, they began planning their dream day, carefully designing a celebration that reflected their style, heritage, and priorities, from honoring Junior’s Nigerian roots to creating timeless, elegant décor that complemented the venue’s natural beauty.

From the very beginning, their priority was to spend the entire day together. To make this possible, they hosted a dinner the evening before the wedding, allowing them to connect with friends and family in a relaxed setting. This thoughtful approach ensured they could focus on each other and truly enjoy their wedding day.

Rachel and Junior envisioned a timeless and elegant wedding, letting the beauty of their venue speak for itself with a classic palette of white flowers, candles, and lush foliage. They also celebrated Junior’s Nigerian heritage, with his family wearing traditional Yoruba lace and agbadas, creating a stunning visual highlight. The overall vibe was perfect — their DJ kept the dance floor alive all night, seamlessly mixing 00s RnB, Afrobeats, and 80s dance hits.

The couple chose Tankardstown House, a luxurious Country House wedding venue nestled in the countryside of County Meath, as the perfect backdrop for their dream day. When asked what made it “the one,” they explained that they loved the idea of an indoor-outdoor wedding — practical with Ireland’s unpredictable weather — and were drawn to Tankardstown’s Orangery, which offered a French countryside aesthetic with a bright, elegant, and airy feel that they loved.

As they put it, “The Orangery alone cemented it for us. The whole venue is beautiful, but the Orangery was exactly what we envisioned for our day.”

Rachel and Junior tied the knot on 23rd July 2024 at the stunning Tankardstown House in County Meath, surrounded by 120 of their closest friends and family. Their Humanist ceremony, conducted by celebrant Amy Browne, took place in the bright and airy Orangery at Tankardstown House, perfectly suited to their celebration.

Once the “I dos” were said and the rings exchanged, the newlyweds walked down the aisle as husband and wife to A Sky Full of Stars by Coldplay. As the couple shared, “We both love Coldplay, especially that song — and played by a string quartet, it sounded amazing.”

Rachel wowed in a chic gown with a corseted bodice, designed by Katherine Tash, which she sourced from Ivy & White. She completed her look with elegant bridal shoes from Dune London and delicate accessories by Missoma.

The bride’s makeup was expertly done by Carla Bailie Beauty, while her hair was styled by Natalie Foy, ensuring she was perfectly aisle-ready.

The groom began the day looking sharp in a soft green suit from Reiss, before changing into a custom-made agbada crafted in Lagos, Nigeria, later in the celebrations to honor his heritage. He completed his look with shoes from Kurt Geiger and a Tissot PRX watch from Tissot. The groomsmen looked equally stylish in cream suits from Harry Brown London.

The bridesmaids looked effortlessly chic in neutral satin dresses from Quiz paired with shoes from ASOS, and carried long-stem rose bouquets, complementing the timeless and elegant style of the day. The flower girls looked adorable in outfits from Perfect Day NI.

When asked what made the day really special and personal to them, Rachel and Junior said it was “having everyone we really love and who love us all in the same place.” They added, “People made so much effort to come from all over to attend the wedding and that really resonated with us — we’re still so grateful to them.”

The couple also treasured the presence of their grandparents, who have since sadly passed, saying, “Our grandparents were with us on our day and we cherish the photos we have of them that day.”

The wedding flowers were designed by Frog Prince Weddings, featuring long-stemmed bouquets and elegant arrangements filled with white roses and subtle touches of blush that perfectly complemented the timeless and sophisticated aesthetic of the day.

The couple’s all-white wedding cake, with subtle touches of gold, was beautifully designed by Butterfly Kisses Home Baking, adding a classic and elegant finishing touch to their celebration.

We’re swooning over these stunning keepsake images from Forever Social, capturing a quiet, tender moment just before the reception began.

When asked what advice they would give to other couples planning their wedding, Rachel and Junior said, “As much as you can, don’t stress the small things and remember to have fun — it’s about the both of you, so do it exactly how you want!”

For their first dance, the newlyweds shared a romantic moment on the dance floor to The Best Part by H.E.R. and Daniel Caesar.

For their honeymoon, Rachel and Junior returned to Bali, a destination they had previously visited in 2018 and had always wanted to go back to. As they shared, “We would recommend Bali to anyone thinking about visiting — people are so friendly, it has great places to visit with lots of culture, and amazing food!”

Thanks so much to Rachel and Junior for sharing ultra chic Tankardstown House wedding, and to Forever Social for providing the fabulous imagery! There are even more gorgeous photographs to peruse in the gallery below.

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