The December frost glistened as Niamh and Owen, our real wedding pair, prepared themselves for an unforgettable wedding day in Rathsallagh House, Co. Wicklow. They tied the knot in front of 130 of their nearest and dearest in a black-tie affair with an abundance of winter wedding style, a beautiful palette of champagnes, soft pinks and gold and a romantic shoot in the fallen snow. Keep reading to see how Michelle Prunty captured this beautiful day.
We take a trip back to 2014, where Niamh was working at The Ivy House, Drumcondra, serving whiskey to Owen and his pals till the wee hours of the morning. They officially swiped right on Tinder and started talking six months later, upon Niamh's return from a J1. They grew really close after their first date at 37 Dawson Street, and the next 10 years have been among the best since.
Not only is home where the heart is, but it's also where Owen proposed to Niamh in the kitchen in August 2021! "Owen had lots of different plans for an outdoor proposal in our newly renovated garden, but the windy weather had different ideas, so instead he took me by surprise in the kitchen with a proposal. He was pretending that he was giving me an early present the night before our family planned to come over to celebrate my birthday. Owen secretly videoed, which was a lovely memory and some funny moments to keep forever! Owen proposed with a stunning Chupi Promise diamond ring and had booked The Westbury and jewellers the following week to go engagement ring shopping. This, without a doubt, was the best surprise!" said Niamh.
Our beautiful bride, Niamh, opted for Hollywood waves to complement her radiant makeup with a smokey eye. The ladies raised a glass of bubbles during the morning preparations to toast the day ahead.
Owen, our stylish groom, looks striking in a navy tuxedo in lush velvet — ideal for a winter wedding and to complement Niamh's incredible bridal style. A breathtaking sheer bridal coat - the Arabella by Varca Bridal - added drama to her slinky, silky-smooth wedding gown. The couple found their dream wedding rings at Bespoke Diamonds and Appleby's.
The couple shared a first look before the ceremony on the enchanting grounds of Rathsallagh House. Instead of meeting at the top of the aisle, they made their way to the ceremony together. "Having our first look done before the ceremony settled both our nerves a lot," says the couple.
When asked to describe their dream wedding day, Niamh and Owen summed it up as a winter wonderland! "Although it sounds cliched it really was. We had sunny gorgeous weather, but with the ground covered in snow from the week before."
Niamh had always wanted a New Year's Eve or Christmas wedding and with a lot of family and friends living abroad this seemed like a perfect time to bring everyone together. "Our wedding was all about celebrating our love for each other, and importantly making sure it was a fun, sing-song weekend for our family and friends, whilst thanking everyone for their support of our relationship over the years," says Owen.
The bridesmaids showcased pale champagne gowns, blending beautifully with the frost-covered foliage. In keeping with the winter wedding theme, they wore matching fur shawls to stay warm while the bouquets overflowed with eucalyptus and roses in soft neutral shades.
As the wedding was one week before Christmas, there was a subtle festive feel to the day's décor. Pine cones, hurricane lanterns and breathtaking flower pillars adorned the ceremony entrance.
Niamh walked up the aisle to Caledonia, a song that means a lot to the couple and their families. Another really special moment from their winter wedding day was having their nieces and nephews there; "We couldn’t have had the morning and ceremony without them. Seeing our three-year-old niece from Australia and four-year-old nephew from Ireland meet for the first time and walk up the aisle was one of the best moments," they reveal. Jessica Statham officiated their dreamy ceremony.
When it came to choosing their dream location, Rathsallagh House, a family-run country house on acres of breathtaking landscape, came up on top! "We both wanted somewhere that felt just right and had a cosy, wintery feel, with a wow reception venue. The service from Rathsallagh really sealed this. The beautiful grounds and stunning reception room are definitely what made us fall in love with the venue. But we loved the small touches from the team throughout the process of viewing, such as invitations posted to our house to view the venue from Joe the owner, meeting all the staff on our first viewing, and just their overall personality—it feels like a home away from home," they say.
The finishing touches flawlessly complemented the crisp, romantic wedding day aesthetic. "We had always said we wanted it to feel warm, inviting, cosy and candlelit. Wood burning fires, great food surrounded by lots of greenery throughout the venue. We also both knew we wanted it to be romantic and timeless so we chose a black-tie dress code to really give all our guests the chance to dress up to the nines!"
"The florals, stationery, and bridal party dress code all worked from our colour scheme of champagnes, soft pinks and gold. Mary in Finesse and Jenni in The Aisle put together beautiful pieces that all worked together, hinting at a winter theme but overtly so," she adds.
In the cosy Rathsallagh pub, 70 members of the couple's family and friends gathered the evening before for a welcome dinner, live music, and a sing-along. This not only set the tone for the weekend in the best possible way, but it also calmed their nerves. "This was one of our favourite moments all weekend," they say.
Another favourite memory that Niamh and Owen shared was the singing waiter! "He really made the day so much fun. Honestly just got everyone up dancing and letting loose – it was also a surprise for Owen and all the guests," says Niamh.
After the meal and a beautiful dress change for Niamh, the couple popped the fizz to create an epic champagne tower! The Mixtape served up the perfect tunes ensuring the dancefloor was packed all night long. The newlyweds have also offered great advice to those in the midst of planning their wedding day. "Try to not let it stress you; everything works out, and you will have the best day with everyone who loves you celebrating you both, no matter how big or small it is—the feeling is priceless!"
Last but not least, Niamh and Owen concluded their celebrations with a well-deserved staycation, followed by a swoon-worthy Italian honeymoon. "We went to Sheen Falls Lodge in Co. Kerry for four nights after the wedding, and it was pure bliss—we plan to go back again. We had both never been to Italy, so we wanted to travel the Amalfi Coast in June and would 100% recommend it. It was relaxing, but at the same time there was exploring and enough travelling to not get too bored in one place. We love to get some R&R but also like to go sightseeing!"
A very special thank you to the beautiful couple and Michelle Prunty for sharing this dreamy winter Rathsallagh House wedding with One Fab Day. You can see even more stunning images in the gallery below.
Did you love this winter wedding? We have lots more winter wedding inspiration here!
