Today's real wedding couple Angela & Damien celebrated a stunning summer wedding at Tankardstown House, where natural light and elegant simplicity set the perfect scene. Their outdoor-inspired vibe was brought to life with an American-style celebrant-led ceremony, surrounded by close family and friends. Angela’s dreamy floral-embellished gown from Luce Sposa complemented the chic black bridesmaids’ dresses, while groom Damien rocked a dapper fitted navy velvet suit jacket. Dainty bows, long-stem rose bouquets, and a beautiful Lambeth wedding cake added charming, personal touches throughout the day.
Music was a highlight, featuring the vibrant sounds of Pink Champagne Band and a carefully curated DJ playlist, all beautifully captured by Anna G Photography. From exquisite décor to heartfelt moments, their chic Tankardstown House wedding day was a seamless blend of style, emotion, and celebration.
Angela, originally from Transylvania, Romania, and Damien, from Roscommon, Ireland, are now based in Ashbourne, Co. Meath, making a truly international couple.
Angela and Damien first crossed paths on a dating app called Hinge while they were both living in London. The app matched people within their home radius, and as luck would have it, Damien lived just two bus stops away from Angela. Their first meeting was instant chemistry—a dinner-and-drinks date filled with non-stop talking and laughter, the kind of evening that felt like a happy blur.
Despite the bright spark, the timing wasn’t quite right. Angela was a free spirit, seeking adventure, while Damien was a calm, steady soul, happy to go along for the ride. The bride tells us more, "The spark between us was bright, but it fizzled out quite quickly. Looking back, I think we just weren’t right for each other at that time. I was a bit of a wild cat, looking for a man who could tame me, and Damien was this calm, steady soul, happy to join me on my adventures. After the initial spark faded, we saw each other a few more times here and there but eventually lost touch for almost two years."
"Then one day, I found myself thinking about that fine, blue-eyed man I used to have so much fun with. I was still single - no one had managed to tame me yet - so I decided to reach out to him. When we met again, it was different. We were different - a little more grown up - and from that moment on, we haven’t been apart since."
The proposal was nothing short of a romantic comedy in motion. For Valentine’s Day, Damien surprised Angela with a trip to Paris—though the getaway wasn’t until March. The bride telling, "I’ve always loved Paris , I genuinely feel the magic of love every time I go, but I didn’t have the slightest clue he was planning to propose."
They spent the day wandering the beautiful streets, sightseeing, and even stopping by one of Angela’s favourite designer stores, where Damien treated her to a handbag she’d been eyeing. For Angela, that alone felt like a perfect start to the trip. "Honestly, that was already a very good start to the trip if I say so myself!".
That evening, they headed to an intimate, historic restaurant—white tablecloths and all—which Angela considered the height of romance. What she didn’t know was that Damien had intended to propose earlier in a picturesque park on their way to dinner. But when they arrived, the gates were closed. Playing it cool, Damien continued to dinner, internally panicking as he tried to work out a new plan, while Angela remained blissfully unaware, focused on enjoying the best bread and butter she’d ever tasted.
After dinner, the couple stopped for drinks, but Angela wasn’t ready to call it a night. She led Damien into every lively pub they passed, while he searched for the perfect moment. Eventually, they reached their hotel, but Damien suggested crossing the street to a grand cathedral nearby. There, beneath the Parisian night sky, he dropped to one knee. Angela was surprised, overjoyed, and just tipsy enough to beam from ear to ear before answering with an enthusiastic “of course!” as a group of passing girls cheered them on.
The rest of the night passed in a happy blur. The next morning, they were woken by reception calling to inform them they were two hours late for check-out. "We spent the rest of that day, right up until it was time to catch our flight, floating on cloud nine. I genuinely felt pure love that day - like nothing I had ever felt before or since. Cloud nine really is the best way to put it."
Once engaged, Angela and Damien began planning a wedding in Ireland. From the outset, Angela had one priority: natural light. She wanted the space to feel as if they were outdoors without actually being outside—almost like a sun-drenched destination wedding—but still accessible for all their loved ones. With Ireland’s famously unpredictable weather, that vision seemed a challenge, until she discovered Tankardstown House in Co. Meath. Its beautiful glass ceiling created exactly the atmosphere she’d dreamed of, and she knew instantly it was perfect.
"My second big priority was the décor: I was set on a black and white colour scheme. Finding the right flowers and the decor wasn’t easy, but in the end, I found the perfect people to bring the vision to life. I envisioned my wedding in a palette of white, green, and black. We had white flowers, a white cake, white tablecloths, white blossom trees, and white candles, with green flower stems and black ribbons adding contrast. The gold features of Tankardstown House complemented everything perfectly. The overall vibe was one of classical beauty - a harmonious blend of colours that didn’t overwhelm the eye - simple, elegant, and timeless."
Another key part of Angela and Damien’s vision was to have an American-style wedding. Angela is Orthodox, and traditional Orthodox ceremonies are quite different from Catholic or American ones. Growing up, she was always drawn to the idea of walking down the aisle with a celebrant-led service and all the personal touches that come with it. Since neither she nor Damien are religious, they chose not to have a church ceremony, instead creating a celebrant-led celebration that truly reflected them as a couple—celebrant Janette Wade helped the couple's dream come true.
On the 8th of July 2024, Angela walked down the aisle in The Orangery at Tankardstown to meet her beloved Damien, surrounded by around 100 guests.
For Angela, the standout ceremony moments were the two songs played as she and her bridesmaids walked down the aisle. Performed live by Claire Igoe, the music made the moment feel even more special. The bridesmaids entered to Work Song by Hozier, and Angela followed to Take Me to Church—a clear nod to the couple’s shared love of the artist.
"Even though I’m not religious, I’ve always been drawn to Hozier’s almost gospel style of music. Both songs have such an intensity and gravity to their lyrics and melody that really reel me in. They brought so much emotion to the ceremony and captured exactly the kind of deep, soulful feeling I wanted for that moment", the bride tells One Fab Day.
Angela chose her wedding dress from the label Luce Sposa, finding the perfect gown at MK Bridal Shop. After researching local boutiques and browsing styles online, she was delighted to discover a dress that wasn’t advertised—a wonderful surprise. The moment she tried it on, she knew it was the one, and tears of joy followed. For her shoes, Angela found a perfect Jimmy Choo dupe on Milanoo.com. The lower heel made them much more comfortable, and knowing she’d likely never wear them again, it was a practical choice that didn’t compromise on style. Her bridal accessories were sourced from Nice Cream London Jewellery, featuring the perfect blend of rhinestones and pearls. She completed her chic bridal look with a long-stemmed rose bouquet.
The groom’s suit was from CT2 Suits, with a fitted navy velvet coat that was initially hard to secure due to sizing and timing, but they managed to get it in time for the wedding. His shoes and accessories were both sourced from Tangos Dress Hire, completing his sharp and stylish look.
The bridesmaids wore sleek black dresses from Meshki, paired perfectly with shoes from Linzi.com. The groomsmen were styled in sharp suits sourced from Tangos Dress Hire, complementing the overall sophisticated wedding look.
When asked what inspired their wedding aesthetic, Angela said, "I believe Pinterest! No, I’m kidding - although it definitely played a small part. In reality, my inspiration came from my own personal style. I’ve always been quite a minimalist when it comes to fashion and interiors - I naturally gravitate towards neutral tones, simple cuts, and clean styling - so it was always going to be a white wedding."
"The black ribbons were actually very on trend that year, as was the vintage-style tiered cake, and luckily, they fitted in perfectly with my vision. They added just the right amount of detail and contrast to all the white, without overwhelming the simplicity I wanted."
"One of my favourite details was the white blossom cherry trees placed behind the top table. They gave the space a magical, outdoor feeling - exactly what I love most about cherry trees when they blossom in the spring. I’ve always been mesmerised by them and having them there on the day made everything feel even more special."
The bride adds, "I truly believe everything blended together perfectly - I wouldn’t change a thing if I could go back. Well, maybe just folding the ribbons myself… because I am a bit of a perfectionist!"
What made the day truly special for Angela and Damien were the personal touches woven throughout. Two of Angela’s bridesmaids, along with Damien’s sister Avril, read heartfelt poems during the ceremony, creating an intimate and emotional atmosphere. Sharing the top table with their closest family and friends also meant the world to them. The bride says, "It was incredibly important to me to have my bridesmaids sitting with me at the top table. I didn’t want them tucked away at separate tables, I wanted to share every moment of the day with the most important people in my life, not just meet them later the dance floor."
"There were plenty of funny, perfectly imperfect moments too - like deciding to create a dance routine the day before the wedding (where I was the one who forgot all the steps, not Damien as expected!), and the last-minute panic trying to pin up my dress train before our first dance. It might have been the main stress of the day, but looking back, it just makes us smile."
"And most of all, the best thing we did that day was marry each other. Every time we stole a quiet moment together, we both felt like we were floating on cloud nine - just like we did in Paris when Damien proposed."
When asked what advice they have for other couples, the bride says, "The first thing I would say is to focus on your new husband or wife! Make a real effort to spend time together on the day, because it’s so easy to get pulled in a hundred different directions, and before you know it, you realise you hardly saw each other."
"I would also advise couples to do exactly what makes them happy and follow their own desires. Of course, you want your guests to have a great time, and they will, but at the end of the day, it’s your wedding, and it should reflect you. People will adjust and enjoy whatever you have planned, and if they don’t, that’s okay too."
"Looking back, I realise I spent a little bit too much time trying to make everyone happy, when really, I should have focused more on what Damien, and I truly wanted. In the end, we stayed true to ourselves, and that’s what made the day perfect."
The couple chose to have a child-free wedding, creating an adult-only celebration allowing for a relaxed and grown-up atmosphere. "The only children present at our wedding were my niece and nephew, Emma and Alex. We decided to have a child-free wedding because most of our family and friends have children, and it would have been impossible (and unfair!) to pick and choose who could bring theirs and who couldn’t. Plus, we thought most couples would actually enjoy having a day off from parenting duties, and it turned out to be the perfect choice for everyone."
Music was another major focus for the pair, who spent considerable time searching for the perfect band—ultimately choosing Pink Champagne Band—and carefully curating the DJ playlist to ensure an unforgettable atmosphere. Choosing the best photographer was equally essential, as she wanted to capture memories that would last a lifetime.
For their first dance, Angela and Damien chose Too Sweet by Hozier—an artist very close to their hearts.
Craving some quiet time after the stress of wedding planning, Angela and Damien chose Bali for their honeymoon adventure. They began their trip with a stay at Adiwana Unagi Suites, a beautiful villa tucked away in Bali’s lush jungle—offering the perfect peaceful retreat. "It was incredibly peaceful - except for the rooster that seemed to sing at all hours of the day and night, which honestly just made us laugh!"
"After a few days, we moved on to Rimba Resort, and it was truly out of this world. I honestly can’t recommend it enough. We had the best of both worlds: the culture, jungle, sightseeing, and day trips to see all the main tourist attractions, combined with the luxury of an all-inclusive resort and beautiful beach time. It was the perfect mix of adventure and relaxation."
Congratulations Angela & Damien! A very special thank you to our wonderful couple and Anna G Photography for sharing today's magical Tankardstown House wedding with One Fab Day!
