Our Bridal Muse Ciara

I am so excited to share this wedding with you today. Ciara and I had a ball designing her look for her day and while we did most of the fitting and designing in the mist of lockdowns and restrictions it turned out to be an absolute dream dress – and who doesn’t love a sparkling bomber jacket

What is your best memory of your wedding day? 

We had the most incredible day. To pick a single best memory is just not possible. The magic was in the little moments, the small details. 

I remember everything from the morning with my mum, sister, and the girls, to finally putting on my dress and showing my dad for the first time, waiting to walk up the aisle and hearing my friend Karen singing my bridesmaids entrance song and thinking I love this song, forgetting I planned the music, that this was my day and that this would happen again and again. Looking over to see my friend Sinead played me up the aisle on the harp. Seeing my husband-to-be at the top of the aisle and chatting amongst ourselves during the ceremony. Our priest Fr Brian kept us all laughing and made our ceremony one we remember fondly. Elaine and all the staff at Kilkea Castle were incredible and we couldn’t have been happier to share our day with our twenty-five guests. It felt even more special that everyone had a role, whether it was playing the harp, reading or singing. The whole day from start to end, was just magic. 

What is your advice to a bride to be? 

My advice to future Brides would be:

Make your plans freely, ( forget about the guest numbers until you know for certain what you’re dealing with). Get carried away, plan your dream day. If you must make changes throughout, you’ll quickly find your non-negotiables. 

Find suppliers that understand your vision. Most of my planning happened in level 5 lockdown and somehow, they still managed to pull it off, finding creative ways to go above and beyond surpassing all my expectations. It seemed like nothing was too much to ask. 

If the numbers are disappointing, it might be an idea to consider marking the day on your One Year Anniversary. There were so many we would have loved to share our day with. We plan to do it all again. 

What was your biggest worry about getting your dress made? 

I have never had a dress made before. I suppose that was a worry. I had considered having a dress made but always thought that it would be riskier than going into a bridal shop. I had heard of friends having mixed experiences in bridal boutiques and I had thought that this would be the same with having a dress made. 

I was clear about what I wanted in a dress but wasn’t sure if it would be possible but decided to give it a go. 

I contacted Sarah via email. She set up a call. I shared my pinterest and Instagram folders of dresses, or details on dresses that I liked. I described my dream dress. Within a week I had the most beautiful sketches of dresses posted to my door. She just got it! This starting point gave me great confidence that Sarah understood what I had dreamed up in my head. 

I paid my deposit and started the process. Sarah made a mock up that gave me an idea of the silhouette and fit. I had regular fittings and Sarah always looked for my feedback. I really felt like I could bounce my ideas off her and that her expertise guided me with fabrics and details as to what would work best. She always stayed true to my vision and if something didn’t look as I imagined it would on my shape, it was changed without a fuss. 

What part of the process of having your dress made was most fun for you?  

I absolutely loved the dress design process but the fun for me, was creating my fabulous sparkly veil and matching sheer bomber jacket. I wanted to feel like myself. I love short light jackets. They are a staple in my wardrobe. I chanced asking Sarah if she could design one based on one of my favourites that I own and she did just that. 

She made it all happen. It was such a relaxing, fun experience and I could not recommend her highly enough. If you’re in any way nervous about ‘THE DRESS’ give Sarah a call. You will be glad you did. 

What a dress ! what a day! and what a lady! I love creating pieces for brides that make them feel like themselves. Pieces that they will wear again and piece they can hand down to friends and family and I can see that with this jacket and dress. They are something special . What part of your wardrobe or style would you love to add to your wedding look?

A big thank you to Ciara for sharing her experience with us today 

Ciara’s Dream Team

Photographers: thefennells.ie

Makeup: lynseykeogh_proartist

Hair: claregallagherhairstylist

Venue: Kilkea Castle 

Bridesmaids: thesuitebride

Suits: Dublin formal wear 

Designing Your Dream Dress

How on earth do you get started with designing your own wedding dress with Sarah Foy Couture? For some brides-to-be they never even considered having a dress made. For others, they just couldn’t imagine finding their dream dress in a shop. So today I am going give you the run down on how it works. The first few simple steps I have for designing your dress 

Step 1- Start dreaming 

The sky is the limit with designing your own dress so don’t hold back. Let your imagination run wild – there will be plenty of time later to rain yourself back in. But for now, think big

Think colour, think separates, think outside the box. Look at your wardrobe, what style and shapes do you like to wear. How does this help? If you can get a feel for what necklines, bodice shapes and general looks you like on yourself, they can be translated into a wedding dress style. Or simply give you a feel of what you know looks great on you.

Start asking yourself questions like how do I want to feel on the day? Regal, elegant or maybe you want to feel relaxed and stylish.

Step Two- Consultation

Honestly, this is a chat, a sit done with me (or zoom currently) to chat all about your wedding. I ask a bucket load of questions to get a real feel for your day, your personality and style. It gives you an opportunity to get to know me. Because here is the deal - The relation between a designer and a bride is a very personal one. You need to know and feel they have a clear idea of what you need and want. That you can trust them with your vision.

Don’t panic if you have no idea of what you are looking for or only have ideas for elements of your dress. It’s my job to help you get clear on what you want and what will get you the vision you have in your head.

Step 3- Sketches

After chatting with you and getting to know you and your wedding. I set about gathering ideas. I play around with rough sketches and what I can only describe a doodle, flesh out ideas. I always want to have a dress that is balanced and that works well 365 degrees around. So, making sure that features and elements of the dress you want to include work well together and still gives the overall look you are after

Then I sit down and put together four designs that really work for your wedding dress. Variations of particular features you are looking for. This helps to give you a feel for the options you have with your design. 

Step 4- Your Exclusive Designs 

Your exclusive designs are delivered by post so you will have a lovely sketches in your hand to dream over. When you have had time to look over and digest the designs. We work together to discuss what you love and what didn’t work for you. Mix and matching between the four designs till we get the outline idea of what we want to create for you.

We start to explore deeper into the design with fabric swatches and creating embellishment samples that we may like to work with.

To this day – 15 years on I still adore this process. Yes, you can design your dress and I am here to guide you and make sure it’s the best possible design for you for your wedding day. 

Tell me what your big worries are about getting your dress made. What problems are you having with the vison you have for your wedding day?

Want to book a virtual chat with me? Email info@sarahfoycouture.com

Supplier Love - KinnOir

I believe in Ireland we are a country with deep roots in creativity and design. So to see this beautiful business, not just get through a global pandemic but thrive is fantastic. Today we chat with the woman behind KinnOir, Michelle

Tell me how KinnOir came about and what makes you so passionate about what you do?

My mum made her own wedding dress, veil, silk turban, headpiece and cake. She also made my communion dress from fine lawn muslin, a Carrick Mac cross veil and headpiece. So, I have grown up in a very creative house with an emphasis on practical skills. I could use a sewing machine at the age of 6 or 7. I did wire work and jewellery making as a hobby in my teenage years and made some pieces for friends and family.

It was while I was searching for a beautiful hair accessory for my wedding day that I went back to that hobby to create a unique piece for myself. When I wore my own headpiece I absolutely loved it, knowing it was made to the absolute highest standard - I remade it 3 times until I was 100% happy. It was then I noticed companies re-selling products from Ali Express and it made me realise that there was a gap in the market for luxury Irish hand-made veils and headpieces.

After making bespoke veils and combs for friends weddings, I threw myself into preparing my brand and developing my first collection and all the work behind the scenes that come with opening a business. I officially opened KinnOir in July 2019 and celebrated a year in business last year!

What are you doing in your business and for your clients though this last year and Covid 19?

I have pivoted my business by being able to design pieces with brides remotely. My favourite part is when I send the reveal slide show and the reaction from brides. Then when the luxurious box arrives by post and they get to open their headpiece or veil. 

My collection called “In bloom” which I released June 2020, took a completely different direction to what I had originally planned. I was meant to release it in March 2020 but due to the Coronavirus I put it on pause. Being only in the fledgling stage of a business, it was very hard to be hit with the pandemic. I had just left my day job and for the first time I was able to work from home and walk around my local area taking in the nature, really “see” the flowers and leaves. I decided to take my time with the collection and base it on Irish wildflowers. I was also desperately home sick for my parents and granny and all the places I spent my happiest childhood memories, so there is a hint of nostalgia with vintage style laces and point d’espirit tulle. 

What is your big dream for KinnOir?

I am now working on some 2021 editions for the Signature Collection and Summer Blossom Collection and have a range of crowns coming as well. My bespoke service is the most popular. I work with my brides creating sketches and ideas for their piece. Sending regular photo and video updates so they can see their piece come to life. If it’s a veil I am working on, I send a swatch sample and then they can match it to their dress and give me the measurements and I am able to make it and send it. I have had so many happy brides. I love to create something unique for them that they will treasure and give them a special experience of designing it with me.

My plan going forward is to create new collections and products to build on my bespoke service and expand my stockists in Ireland and abroad. I am looking forward to growing the KinnÓir team and focus on building my luxury brand and putting Irish design on the map! 

 What an inspiring story and  to see how the creative process works for you . Check out KinnOir collections at www.kinnoir.ie and send some social love to @kinnoir

Is Irish design important to you when planning your wedding? I think more than ever there is a focus on supporting and nurturing our small but mighty Irish businesses – Let me know if there is any wedding suppliers that you found particularly amazing when planning your wedding. 

3 Tips for a 2-piece Wedding Dress

If you know me at all, you know I love a change up when it comes to a wedding dress. The day is long and has many different elements to it. You want a classic elegant look for the ceremony, you want to boogie the night away or go full Hollywood glam for the evening party.

The best way to get what you want is to work with separates for your wedding, mixing tops and skirts, clip on trains, jackets and cape styles. Put simply, you can mix and match your wedding outfit to create the dream dress for throughout your day 

Here are my top three tips when you are working with separates for your wedding 

My amazing bride Geraldine rocking her separates . Photo by In Love Photography

Tip 1

How do you want to feel? Bear with me here, I know it sounds a little crazy but how would you like to feel at your first reveal, how do you want to feel at the cocktail reception and what about that night? Do you want to be more relaxed, to be able to sit or dance comfortably and chat with your guests?

This may sound very simple, but it can really help you to decide what you would like built into your outfit. Maybe that looks like a clip-on train to give a regal effect during the ceremony. Then underneath is a simple more red-carpet style skirt for a more glamourous evening look. 

Clip on train on our bride Kate. Photo by Christina Brosnan

Tip 2

I am big into balance when it comes to planning out your wedding dress. And it is no different for wedding separates- in fact it can be easier to play with proportions when you can mix and match your look. For example, you want a beautiful full skirt with a high low hem and side pockets then your top needs to be fitted to balance the proportions. You want big dramatic sleeves? Then pair this with a more fitted skirt. 

Skirt, cami and jacket combination at Sarah Foy Couture. Photo By Butterfly Wedding Photography

Tip 3

Assess your look 365dgrees around – I know, another mad notion but on your day, people will be looking at you from every angle. Make sure everything works well together all the way around your outfit. The side silhouette often gets missed, a small armhole detail can really help here or a hint of lace at the side seam. Ask yourself, do all the elements of the pieces blend and sit well together? Like a jigsaw all the pieces need to fit together even when you move, sit and dance through your day. 

 Separates is a fun exciting option for your wedding plus you have the added bonus of reworking some elements for your dress for day two or anniversary dinner.  So have fun and dream up the perfect combination for your perfect day and of course have fun!

 Looking for more two-piece ideas for your wedding? I have a board dedicated to it over on my Pinterest

A big thank you for our brides that so kindly shared their wedding day pictures with us today. The separates queen’s!

Our Bridal Muse Julieann

Their smile says it all. After months of uncertainty and crossing of fingers it is so lovely to see this wedding going ahead. I love how it’s the little added details that make this dress a show stopper – the bow detail on the strap, the petal detailed veil and of course you know I love a change up so Julieann’s request for an over skirt was music to my ears.

All images by Weddings by Kara

What is your best memory of your wedding day? 

For us both it was ‘The First Reveal’. Seeing each other for the first time in our wedding attire, to chatting about our mornings (mine mostly around hair/makeup and champagne. My husbands about how he won the game of golf he played with his dad and brother) was just so special. It made for an incredible time, just so precious just he and I, to really soak up the day we had been planning together for so long.

All our photos are of us laughing, the happiness of the day just beaming through. If any brides are considering a First Reveal/First Look I would say go for it. It made us both so relaxed, after the first reveal Stephen went off to greet guests at the cocktail hour and I went back to the bridal suite to do any final touches and to remove my outer skirt for the ceremony that was happening in the orangery, we were both so relaxed and really excited for the day. 

What is your advice to a bride to be?

Planning a wedding can be so stressful (especially in a pandemic). There are lots of details to finalise, lots of voices with good intentions. But I think my one piece of advice to brides planning their special day would be to trust your suppliers. Lots of research goes into researching/ shortlisting and choosing all your key suppliers. My mantra on it was, I have chosen these suppliers because I love their work and they are the experts in their field so I explained what I wanted/ vibes/ details (including mood boards in most cases) and then just had to trust that on the day they would deliver and they did. These suppliers live and breath weddings and know the best angles/ lights/ colours/ details. So sit back and relax and enjoy your day 

What was your biggest worry about getting your dress made? 

Before Sarah and I started working together on my bridal vision I had done lots of shopping around in many bridal boutiques around the country and there were lots of different elements that I loved but none that I couldn’t leave the shop without. So when Sarah and I starting working together I had lots of images/ vibes/ visions that to me looked like a big mess but within our first meeting Sarah had identified themes within my mood board that I hadn’t been able to decipher myself (again back to trusting the experts). So my original fear was that all my jumbled images and thoughts wouldn’t end up being what I imagined/ wanted but within my first meeting with Sarah I felt confident we would end up with a dress that was even beyond my wildest dreams

What part of the process of having your dress made was most fun for you? 

I really enjoyed the whole experience of getting my dress made. But I think my favourite part was playing around with ideas and fabrics. Throughout the process Sarah and I discussed all the different elements from the main dress elements; fabrics/ colours/ belt sizes and material/ bow shapes, sizes and material. And then the extras so Sarah created for me the most beautiful petal over-skirt and petal veil. Together we discussed the petal shapes/ positioning/ how they worked together or apart/ how they worked with the main dress. It made the whole experience less daunting because we had choices on all elements and seeing how Sarah brought it all together was so much fun and I looked forward to every appointment to see the process made from the last appointment and to discuss next steps. 

What a wedding to be able to share. If pandemic weddings look like these beautiful, joyful days then I can live with that. A big thank you to Julieann for sharing her day with us and for trusting me to create her dream dress. 

 If you have any questions about getting your dream dress created by me , drop me a line at info@sarahfoycouture.com

Julieannes Dream team

Weddings By Kara Photographers 

BandG Wedding Videographers

MRS Make Up

Lou Merryweather Hair 

Flowers- Frog Prince 

Venue Tankardstown House

Our Bridal Muse

Fancy a little escape into a pre-covid wedding - me too! Things are a little heavy at the moment for brides so let’s find the joy in the little things and dream of when we will all dance at a party again.

I am delighted to finally share this beautiful bride Grainne and her fantastic wedding day

Photographys by Jenny McCarthy

What is your best memory of your wedding day?

The best memory was the whole entire day! I loved every minute of it and didn’t stop smiling from ear to ear all day. It was so much fun to have all of our family and friends together under one roof, mixing and mingling and enjoying each other’s company, it was exactly how I had hoped our wedding would be.

What is your advice to a bride to be?

My advice would be to try and do it all step by step and enjoy all of the little steps along the way. I really miss it all and would love to do it all over again…I never thought I’d say that!

What was your biggest worry about getting your dress made? 

My biggest worry was that I couldn’t see how the finished product would turn out. I’m not a naturally creative person so I often tried to picture the dress in my head and found it difficult. But I trusted Sarah’s craft and creativeness and I’m so glad I did as I was absolutely delighted with the end result. It was also so comfortable which was  an important factor for me. I didn’t need any help to go to the loo and was able to dance all night long

What part of the process of having your dress made was most fun for you? 

It was a lot of fun from start to finish. I loved seeing the progress as the dress started to come together. I loved how much time I got to spend with my mam and bridesmaids. It was so nice to meet up for the various dress fittings in Clontarf and make an afternoon out of it going for lunch/coffee. 

And I really loved how informal and relaxed the whole process was. I always felt so comfortable with Sarah which is the opposite way I felt whenever I walked into bridal boutiques prior to discovering Sarah! 

Grainnes Dream Team

Photographer - Jenny McCarthy

Videographer – The Garage project

Hair - Aisling Hamill

Make-up – Ailbhe Lynch

Flowers – Caroline Slevin (@cacaslev)

Venue – Bellingham Castle

Cake – Emelie Matthews (@e_cakes)

Stationary – Zara McGonigle @The Little Wedding Studio)

A big thank you to Grainne for share this day with us - simple stunning.

Creating dresses is my passion, if you have ideas floating around for your dress drop me a line info@sarahfoycouture.com and I can make that dream come to life.

Sarah

Shimmering Beauty

Yippeee! I am back seeing brides this week. I can’t wait to see, chat and fit dresses again. I am so lucky to design unique dresses for my brides. I love how every dress is different and that every bride gets to have a dress that is tailor made for their style, shape and personality. Todays bridal muse Ciara was meant to wear a fully beaded sea green dress and when I see these photos I couldn’t imagine her in anything else. Thank you Ciara for the fun chats and for sharing your day with us .

Photos by Julie Cummins

Whats your best memory of the big day?

We hired the band tropical storm for the drinks reception and start of the meal. They are a 3 piece Filipino band and go around to different people and take requests of songs. One table requested Sweet Caroline and the room exploded. Everyone up on their feet dancing, swinging napkins, holding hands, and this was all before dinner. I turned to Richie and said ‘all of these people are here for us’ and we just had a look around, laughed and got back to singing! It was such a brilliant moment and set the tone for the evening of partying!! 

What advice would you give brides planning their wedding?

Where to start! As a make up artist who has been involved in hundreds of weddings, and I’ve also been a bridesmaid five times, I think I know weddings quite well!! Be organised so that you can just enjoy the last few days of lead up without having to run around and get things you could have done weeks ago! Then for the morning of the wedding make things as easy as possible so you can enjoy it. Have people around you that you really want there and have a bit of craic and no stress. Then once you get to the venue enjoy every minute. If something goes wrong laugh it off, there is nothing you can do about it. Enjoy the day, it only happens once and goes by so quickly!

What was the biggest worry about getting your dress made?

I suppose being a curvy girl I just wanted to have a dress that fit me and ‘would do’ I kind of never thought that I could actually feel really amazing in it. But I did. I felt amazing, it was special! It was also so ‘me’. I never once felt pressured to wear a white dress or a veil. I love them on other brides, but it’s not for me. Sarah was brilliant at giving me what I didn’t know I wanted!! 

What part of wedding dress process was most fun? 

Apart from seeing Sarah and having the craic? Hmm, maybe knowing that my dress was not going to be traditional and every time I saw it I loved it more. I kept thinking of peoples reactions to a green fully jewelled wedding dress and it would make me laugh! I never do anything traditional! I also loved what Sarah did with my mams dress, getting a dress my mam had previously loved and completely reinventing it to a new dress. My mam was so happy with her dress.

It was such a pleasure to design and make this dress for Ciara and what a spectacular day she had. Check out her amazing suppliers.

Ciara’s Dream Team

Photographer; Julie Cummins

Videographer: Keith Malone

Hairdresser: Megan Murphy Hair

Ciara’s rings and earrings: Chupi

Flowers and room decor: Frog Prince

Mother of bride and flower girl hair pieces: Rosemary Keating Design

A Hero's Wedding dream Photographer

It is the final day of A heroes Wedding Dream competition and who better to talk to today then the lady behind it all. Not only did she rally us all together, she worked incredible hard to get the website up and the competition under way. Today we chat to one lucky frontline works photographer Aoife O’Sullivan.

I’ve been a photographer in one guise or another since graduating from Art College back in 2009 (this is despite my final degree being in sculpture!) . Photography had been a hobby of mine for many years (can’t believe I’m old enough for it to have started out in the dark room!) and when I graduated I moved abroad to San Francisco for a year and landed my first job as a photographer. I haven’t looked back since!

I know it may sounds cheesy but I really do thank my lucky stars every day that I get to do photography as my job, and even more than that, the fact I get to capture weddings – often one of the most important days in people’s lives. I ADORE weddings, they are full of so much happiness and love and I walk way from every single one on a total high. I am there alongside the couple and their families for every single important moment of their day and it really is such an honour.

Covid 19 has hit the whole wedding industry so badly. We have seen many broken hearts and indeed had our own hearts broken many times too. What I can’t get over however is the selflessness, the compassion, and the hope that all my couples and my peers in the industry are showing during this time. I have been very overwhelmed by it all at times and along with the heart ache my heart has soared with pride and happiness. The number of wonderful vendors coming board our A Hero’s Wedding Dream Competition has been a real highlight for me. What started off as a small idea in my head has now grown in to the most amazing giveaway that has far exceeded my wildest dreams. I simply can not wait till we choose and tell our one lucky and deserving winner that they have won. It will be a thank you and recognition from us that they so so deserve . I feel like a huge portion of the country have ridden out Covid -19 in our homes protected by a bubble...but yet there have SO MANY selfless people going out to work and facing it every day. They have been battling to keep us safe, keep us alive & keep us in comfort and this competition really is about saying thank you from the bottom of our hearts to those incredible people who have been working on the frontline throughout.

Honestly my dreams for the future are simple...I just want to get back to doing what I love. I was already eternally grateful for the job I got to do and having to take this forced break from it has given my time to reflect and realise if anything that I appreciate it all the more. How many people can say they get to spend their work days at wedding capturing people’s memories? It’s a job I will never take for granted and really all I want is to go back doing it again and to embrace every love filled, tear filled and gratitude filled second.

Thank you Aoife for sharing with us. Check out and send some love to Aoife O’Sullivan Photography

www.aosphoto.com

instagram @aoifeosphoto

The front-line workers are the people keeping this country running and this is our way to give back. If you work in a grocery shop, if you spend your days on the road delivering all our packages. If you know a nurse, a doctor, anyone helping their community we want to hear their story. Check out www.aherosweddingdream.com.

Keep dreaming

Sarah

A hero's Wedding Dream Hair

I love designing dresses, but as I always say to my brides you need to think about the whole look. A dress can look beautiful but if you have everything right - the hair, the makeup it can be spectacular. Today I have Hair Maven here to tell a snippet of their story.

I have been in the industry 25 years and love every aspect of hair. I have a loyal salon based clientele as well as being a wedding and editorial hair stylist. I get great joy out of the different aspects of my work and I have been feature in Irish and international publications.

It was Aoife Callaghan who gentle nudged me into the wedding industry and I have not looked back since. It is an honour to be part of a couples wedding day, meeting their families and friends. Helping a bride feel completely amazing on her big day is what I love about being involved in the wedding industry.

My signature look is laid back texture but i’m also a fan of Hollywood and super sleek looks. I want my brides to feel like the best version of themselves for their wedding day. So it is all about the journey from trial to wedding day building a friendship and understanding my bride - it is my favourite part of my job.

Thank you, Michelle, for sharing. Check out and send some love to Hair Maven on social

 www.hairmaven.ie

Instagram @hairmaven.ie 

The front-line workers are the people keeping this country running and this is our way to give back. If you work in a grocery shop, if you spend your days on the road delivering all our packages. If you know a nurse, a doctor, anyone helping their community we want to hear their story. Check out www.aherosweddingdream.com.

Keep dreaming

Sarah

Capturing A Hero's Wedding Dream on Film

The finally count down is here. A full wedding for a lucky frontline worker. Gifted to them by the best of the best of Irish wedding suppliers. Capturing the day, the memories, the feel of your day is a talent indeed. Vowart are just the guys to bring your day to life time and time again. They tell us their story, their dreams and how they are dealing with Covid -19.

We were always creative, in love with art, music, cinema. Tom on the top of being a music
photographer, played many years in a band, co-started photojournalism agency Uspecto.
Photographed, designed and co-wrote a book, Atlantic Tabor. Nadia studied the history of art, visited every gallery and museum in Europe, is deeply in love with ancient greek culture.
After many non-wedding related but also fun video projects, we decided to film our first
wedding. We loved it, and here we are! 

We feel that a couple's love is one of the most extraordinary things in the whole world and that a wedding should reflect the uniqueness of that love. 

Whether it's an elopement in the Wicklow Mountains, an intimate wedding on a Cliffs of Moher where no one has been married before, or a cozy backyard ceremony that ends with your favourite people dancing until sunrise, we are always drawn to the raw love stories of couples whose day is genuinely their own.

Like for anyone else from the wedding industry business-wise, it's hard right now, but we are staying positive. The most important thing is to make the whole process of rescheduling/postponing super easy for our couples. At the moment, we probably know our 2021 calendar by heart. But the feedback we are receiving is fantastic, and we can't wait to meet all of our couples next season.

Our big dream is to keep doing what we love, in the years to come be still full of passion and creativity!

Thank you, Tom and Nadia for sharing. Check out and send some love to Vowart on social

www.vowart.ie

Instagram @vowart_wedding_Films

The front-line workers are the people keeping this country running and this is our way to give back. If you work in a grocery shop, if you spend your days on the road delivering all our packages. If you know a nurse, a doctor, anyone helping their community we want to hear their story. Check out www.aherosweddingdream.com.

Keep dreaming

Sarah

A Hero's Wedding Celebrant

We are heading into the final week of the Hero’s Wedding Dream competition. Last chance ladies and gents. We are a group of wedding suppliers gifting a wedding to one lucky frontline worker. Pop over to www.aherosweddingdream.com and tell us your story.

Today I am introducing you to your celebrant. Clara Malone runs Coastal Ceremonies with Orla Cronin.  They are based in Co. Clare with the Wild Atlantic Way on their doorstep.  They both trained with the Irish Institute of Celebrants and are members of the Irish Ethical Celebrant Society.

I really believe that there are paths, some seen and some hidden, that lead us to where we are meant to be, and mine was always leading up to be a celebrant.  I had just had my two kids, finished a fifteen year career in HR and moved to Co. Clare and thought, “what next”.  I had attended a celebrant led wedding and my cousin turned to me and said “you would be great as a celebrant” so that sparked something in me. I was doing a bit of research in to it but nothing was jumping out until I saw an interview in the Irish Times by Louise Bruton who wrote about training to be a celebrant with the Irish Institute of Celebrants in Dublin.  I hadn’t even finished the article before I rang them and left a message.  They called back and before I could even think about it I had enrolled.   The six month training course was an invaluable start to my career as I learned not only the ins and outs of being a celebrant, but also storytelling, ceremony traditions and cultures, ceremony enhancements and crucially the business side.  

So, just before I graduated I heard that a friend whom I hadn’t seen in years was also training as a celebrant and due to graduate a month after me.  She too, had just moved to Ennis with 2 kids and was living around the corner from me (literally).  So many coincidences so it was meant to me.  Orla and I now work together and love what we do.  I love telling stories, I love meeting people and I love family celebrations so therefore I really have my dream job.  To be a part of someone’s special day and helping couple’s create lasting memories is an honour and to see couples saying “I do” at the end of the ceremony is literally the “icing on the cake”.

We are also incredibly lucky to live so close to the sea.  We spend a lot of our time officiating ceremonies in the Cliffs of Moher, or Loop Head and in castles, ancient ruins and even lake side gardens.  We also get to work in the most incredible venues like Hotel Doolin and Dromoland Castle, and alongside some of the best wedding suppliers.  The relationship with each couple doesn’t start on the day of the wedding but many months before so I am so invested by the time the wedding day comes around that it is quite emotional watching the couple say “I do” to each other.  I also love staying in touch with couples afterwards and hearing about all the milestones they celebrate, like welcoming a new baby or renewing their vows. As I said, it’s my “dream job”.

 This is such an unprecedented time and my heart goes out to all of the couple’s who have had to cancel or re-schedule their weddings.  I know from planning my own wedding how much time and effort goes in to planning your big day so it’s heart-breaking to see the stress couples are going through.  We have been in regular touch with our couples since the start of the pandemic and luckily we have been available to accommodate any couples who re-scheduled their wedding to later in the year and next year.  Unfortunately some have had to cancel their wedding but when they begin to make future plans we are hopeful we can work together again.  I wrote a blog to hopefully give couples ideas about how to mark their original wedding date while in lockdown and also how to celebrate their weddings bearing in mind the new restrictions which will be in place regarding numbers and so on.  It’s on our website here https://coastalceremonies.ie/ceremony-options-during-covid-19/   

What is so lovely to see (and not surprising) is how amazing all of the wedding suppliers are being. Everyone has rallied around and are doing their best to accommodate every couple who have had to change their plans while also managing the unexpected business impact.

At the moment, my biggest dream is be to back on the Cliffs of Moher (or anywhere on the coast of Clare) witnessing another love story unfold.  Dreams do come true .



Thank you, Clara for sharing. Check out and send some love to Coastal Ceremonies on social

www.coastalceremonies.ie

Instagram @coastalceremonies

The front-line workers are the people keeping this country running and this is our way to give back. If you work in a grocery shop, if you spend your days on the road delivering all our packages. If you know a nurse, a doctor, anyone helping their community we want to hear their story. Check out www.aherosweddingdream.com.

Keep dreaming

Sarah

A Hero's Wedding Styled By Amber

As a creative business it is hard to find time to create - I know that sounds crazy , I am only realising in this lockdown how little time I have given myself to really create - to let my mind wander, to dream and see what develops. At about week three all of a sudden ideas , projects and collections have started to pop into my head. I may have stayed up for hours watching macrame videos on Pinterest - obsessed. I’m excited again about creating and a lesson learned to take more time out for this part of my brain.

This brings me to Styled by Amber - I have a little design crush on this lady and her work. Between now and the competition deadline on the 31st May I am going to introduce you to the team behind the scenes. A small snippet of their story, their big dreams and how they are dealing with the covid-19. 

Photo by Christina Brosnan

I’ve worked as an interior designer for over 12 years and have always been obsessed by the little details that give a space soul and personality. It’s those little touches that add magic and character. As a child I was always drawn to ‘fancy pages’ and unique little trinkets and have amassed an ever-growing collection of unique décor, props, vintage and antique finds that I use now for my events. I’ve always loved being the host, throwing parties and get-togethers for friends and family and I believe in going all-out for these happy occasions because, why not?! After styling my own wedding five years ago which I absolutely LOVED, I did the styling for some family members and friends and then previous interior design clients approached me about styling their wedding and it took off from there. I love the design process and capturing my clients’ vision for their big day, helping them refine their mood board to suit their venue, the time of year and how they want their day to feel – as this to me is most important. I want the love and romance of the occasion to be celebrated and enhanced by a beautifully styled setting that the couple and their loved ones can enjoy and remember for years to come. 

Photo by Christina Brosnan

Most of my couples have postponed until next year due to the COVID-19 crisis which has been a hard decision for some of them who live abroad as so much planning as gone into their big day already. It is upsetting and disappointing for any couple having to reschedule or put other things in life on hold but on the whole I think people are being positive and hopeful and realise that it is necessary for the safety of everyone attending including themselves. I have reassured all my couples that their new date will be even more magical with all of this behind us and everyone will be only dying for a right old knees up by the time the wedding comes around!

I’ve just rebranded my logo and am happy to be adding furniture and prop hire to my services in the coming months.  Mostly I am so excited to get back to styling beautiful weddings and shoots and being creative!

Thank you, Amber for sharing. Check out and send some love to Styled by Amber on social

www.styledbyamber.com 

Instagram @styledbyamber_com

 The front-line workers are the people keeping this country running and this is our way to give back. If you work in a grocery shop, if you spend your days on the road delivering all our packages. If you know a nurse, a doctor, anyone helping their community we want to hear their story. Check out www.aherosweddingdream.com.

Keep dreaming

Sarah

A Hero's Wedding Florist Dream

It is all Tinas fault , hahah!. It was the lovely Tina at The Wild Bunch that contacted me back in April about this exciting new project to bring a team of wedding suppler’s together to create a dream wedding for one lucky frontline work . It was an immediate yes for me , so a big thank you to The Wild Bunch for joining us here today.Between now and the competition deadline on the 31st May I am going to introduce you to the team behind the scenes. A small snippet of their story, their big dreams and how they are dealing with the covid-19. 

Photography by Paula O’Hara

We never set out to be florists! 14 years ago we’d just bought our home in Kilkenny; a little old stone farmhouse that everyone advised us to knock down and replace with “something decent” (we didn’t.) It came with an acre of land, and being slight hippies, we were determined to do something useful with it. We’d both been working in horticulture in various guises for some time and when I came across a magazine article about a small flower grower in England, it made perfect sense. That winter we ploughed up the whole garden and got planting.   

We started by selling at farmers’ markets; mixed bunches and lots and lots of sweet peas. Then, through the market in that first year, we booked our first wedding. 

That wedding was a baptism of fire but we were instantly hooked and have been ever since. I truly love weddings, all the emotion and the excitement. I love the creativity and spontaneity, the way every wedding is different and designed around so many factors; the couple, the season, the location. I love meeting couples, hearing their plans and their stories… and absolutely cherish seeing them again on the day. I love flowers but could never work with them without the “people” part.

In the first few years there were almost no other grower-florists in Ireland. There was none of the community or support that there is today for newcomers, and we really had to find our own way. On the other hand I suppose we were fairly unique at the time in what we offered; home grown natural, seasonal flowers; and we were surprised by how quickly things took off. We certainly had to learn on our feet in those early years but I think that has stood to us; we've learned to carve our own niche, which is so important in an industry that changes all the time.

Photography by Ivan Patarcic, Niall Scully, Alice Ahn and Louise Scott

Our hearts have gone out to all the couples that have had their plans affected by covid 19, some having been forced to change dates two or three times in the ever-unfolding crisis. We’re keeping in touch with all our couples and doing the very very best we can to accommodate new dates. Then we’re working with them to adapt their plans and their original style and aesthetic where necessary. For example, they might find themselves planning for a different season, or changing from an outdoor to an indoor ceremony, and we’re really enjoying finding ways to make things work.

Mind you we’ve found that some couples haven’t the time or the will to start over, and we get that completely. The Hero’s Wedding Dream Competition has been an eye-opener in this respect; from stories of cancelled weddings, to frontline workers on 12 hour shifts and partners struggling to work from home while caring for family. For lots of couples we’re just working quietly away in the background as much as we can, making sure that everything comes together when their big day finally comes. 

I have to say though that creatively we’ve been really enjoying the shut down! We’ve a garden full of flowers and for the first time in years we’ve been free to just enjoy them, to really see them again. And to play around with them, without any restrictions or limitations. Much-needed food for the soul. I’m currently waiting for the first big flush of roses so I can turn our front porch into something fit for a Vegas wedding chapel. Our neighbours barely bat an eyelid these days. 

Photography by The Lous

This is a tricky one! This time last year I might have had a list. To work more with “big” wedding planners. To design big weddings. Possible world domination? But like many other people, shutdown has taught me a lot about what’s important; about family, about community and simply about our shared humanity. I've come to realise how very lucky we are with our little garden and our business.   

I want to continue to be able to get to know the couples we work with. I want to be there on the day feeling like I’m part of the family (yep I’m sad.) I want to continue to do weddings where we stay true to our aesthetic of seasonal, natural design.  I want a clear head to be able to walk around the garden and see all the creative possibilities. I don’t ever want to lose sight of those things that make this job so rewarding and so much fun. So strangely enough, the big dream was there all along, we just never spotted it before now.  

  Thank you, Tina, for sharing. Check out and send some love to The Wild Bunch on social

www.thewildbunch.ie

Instagram @wild_bunch_flowers

The front-line workers are the people keeping this country running and this is our way to give back. If you work in a grocery shop, if you spend your days on the road delivering all our packages. If you know a nurse, a doctor, anyone helping their community we want to hear their story. Check out www.aherosweddingdream.com.

 Keep dreaming

Sarah

Hero's Wedding Dream Team

Not long now ladies and gents, the final entries for the hero’s wedding dream must be in by 31st May. We are gifting a lucky frontline worker a wedding. The venue, the dress, hair ,makes up, singer, llamas –yes you heard right wedding llamas. Want to know more about the suppliers involved . Between now and the competition deadline. I am going to introduce you to the team behind the scenes. A small snippet of their story, their big dreams and how they are dealing with the covid-19. Today I have Catherine from Nails by Cathy

“My career started when I was in college doing special effects makeup for tv and film. Obviously like any student I needed a part time job so I decided to do a nail course to make extra money. It turned out I was pretty good and I loved the effect nails had on people’s self esteem, they would literally walk in one person and leave a fresher more confident version of themselves and that was the reason and I ended up choosing to stay in the beauty industry.”

“Its knowing you can make the impossible a reality. I have done clients who’s bodies have abused by illness and medications where they believed I had my work cut out for me but I love nothing more than proving them different. Which I have for so many women, throughout the years. I have had clients burst into tears of joy with the results so there really is no question where my passion is. Also if you ask any nail addict, there is really nothing like being told your nails are gorgeous!! It’s a complement that people can accept without any down play or excuse.” 

“Through the the COVID 19 crisis there is not a lot I can do for my clients only good home care advice. I am however preparing to return to work with protection screens and new sanitation measures in place “

“In my future, as well as looking after my loyal clients, I would love to promote myself as a nail consultant, offer the full bridal experience and be the go to person for bridal nails in the country. Also, I would like to do more session work such as ad campaigns and editorial work.”

Thank you, Catherine, for sharing. Check out and send some love to Catherine on social

Instagram @nails_by_Cathy

 The front-line workers are the people keeping this country running and this is our way to give back. If you work in a grocery shop, if you spend your days on the road delivering all our packages. If you know a nurse, a doctor, anyone helping their community we want to hear their story. Check out www.aherosweddingdream.com.

 Keep dreaming

Sarah

Hero's Wedding Stationary Dream

Into week ten we go. It is hard to believe that we are in May, summer has arrived and no weddings are happening. No rails packed with dresses for final pressing, no exciting final fittings with our brides. I miss my brides. However, my involvement with hero’s wedding dream has me very excited. One lucky couple from the front-line community will win a wedding. Gifted to them by the most amazing suppliers in the industry.

 Between now and the competition deadline on the 31st May, I am going to introduce you to the team behind the scenes. A small snippet of their story, their big dreams and how they are dealing with the covid-19. 

Today, I’m introducing you to another member of the dream team Deirdre from Last Colour Down

“Last Colour Down has been more of a gradual process over a number of years to be honest. I officially set up the company in January 2020, but I had been dabbling with wedding stationery for a number of years before this. I’ve always been interested in print design. Even when I was working as a graphic designer in the digital space, I free-lanced on the side doing print work for small businesses, brands and of course, wedding stationery. Not to be clichéd, but it finally feels like I’ve found my calling! In an increasingly digital world, I find the physicality of working with paper to be therapeutic, it really makes you slow down and appreciate the process. I love working with traditional methods and incorporating contemporary designs. If you like minimalist modern design and are looking for something non-traditional, I’m your gal.”

As my job with couples is such a collaborative process, open communication is so important at the best of times, but is especially during this pandemic. Maintaining this line of communication has been my goal since this all began. I have started a blog, which has been on my to-do list forever! I’ll be sharing helpful tips for couples in relation to COVID-19 and their wedding stationery, guides on printing, help with wording your invitations and just general inspiration. On a more practical level, I am working on a range of ‘Change the Date’ cards, both digital and printed, that will be available soon!

The big dream for Last Colour Down would be to have a dedicated workspace, with a studio/showroom upstairs and a gorgeous retail store below, which would sell the most amazing stationery imaginable. While I love working from home, my tiny desk can’t cope with much! I would also love to explore more specialty printing and how these methods can be used in more contemporary ways. I want to push the boundaries of what makes a traditional wedding invitation. If any couples out there are looking to try something new and different, please get in touch!

Thank you Deirdre, for sharing. Check out and send some love to Last Colour Down on social

www.lastcolourdown.com

Instagram @lastcolourdown

The front-line workers are the people keeping this country running and this is our way to give back. If you work in a grocery shop, if you spend your days on the road delivering all our packages. If you know a nurse, a doctor, anyone helping their community we want to hear their story. Check out www.aherosweddingdream.com.

 Keep dreaming

Sarah

A Hero's Wedding Dream

A hero’s wedding dream, how good does that sound? An opportunity for the Irish wedding industry to give back and say thank you to a front-line worker. I am lucky to be involved in this competition and I even had the opportunity to chat on 2fm this week telling Tracy Clifford about this amazing collaboration. Yes, I did have to hide in my car from my kids to do so -the most peaceful 10mins of my week.

Graphics by Last Colour Down

Between now and the competition deadline on the 31st May I am going to introduce you to the team behind the scenes. A small snippet of their story, their big dreams and how they are dealing with the covid-19. First up, Clara Hutchinson your wedding singer. Telling us her story. 

“As far back as I can remember I always loved to sing. I sang at school shows, ceremonies and local competitions. As soon as I finished school, singing was all I wanted to do. I studied music and then went on to travel all over the world singing and playing piano with Piano Club International-a dream job."

“I started performing at weddings of friends and family and from there my business grew as people enjoyed my performances. I adore my job and feel so lucky to do what I love every day! Singing is my passion and I feel so grateful to bring this passion to the couples that trust me with their wedding music. Music is such an emotive part of the wedding ceremony and I take such pride in bringing their story to life through music.” 

“The COVID-19 pandemic has been so difficult for couples getting married. I have been in contact with all couples to assist in re-scheduling and helping in any way I can.”

“My big dream is to continue doing what I love and continuing building my business. Singing with an orchestra again would be cool too”

Thank you, Clara, for sharing. Check out and send some love to Clara on social 

https://www.clarahutchinson.com 

https://www.instagram.com/singer_clara_hutchinson/?hl=en

 The front-line workers are the people keeping this country running and this is our way to give back. If you work in a grocery shop, if you spend your days on the road delivering all our packages. If you know a nurse, a doctor, anyone helping their community we want to hear their story. Check out www.aherosweddingdream.com.

Keep dreaming

Sarah

Spring Wedding

My mission today - bring a little sunshine into your lives. This time last year I was hand stitching the final little flowers and petals to this beautiful dress. So forget about self isolation and postponed plans for 5 mins and take in this stunning wedding, full of love and happiness. Start dreaming again about how your day may look.

All images by the talented Christina Brosnan

Living in the states and planning a wedding in Ireland is no easy task and Kate put her trust in her mammy Maggie and I to pull of this dress -I think we did well.

What is your best memory of your wedding day?

My best memory from my wedding was walking down the aisle, it was so great seeing all my friends and family who had traveled near and fair for the first time. I felt like I floated down the aisle with all their well wishes and love. Seeing Barry for the first time and having my Father Mike hand me off to him was an emotional and happy experience that I will never forget.

What is your advice to a bride to be?

Savor every minute of your wedding, enjoy the planning process....the late nights after work deliberating over details such as stationary and flowers. You will be so happy with the time and attention to detail you invested into planning. But most importantly on the day remember it is about you and your future husband and the people you surround yourself with. Enjoy the moment!

What was your biggest worry about getting your dress made?

My biggest worry was that the dress wasn't going to turn out as I expected. To be honest having a dress made from half way across the world , in which I would only be able to have a few fittings, sounds like madness. However the minute I met Sarah and explained my vision to her I knew I was in great hands. Sarah has such a calming influence and knows her craft so well, her confidence and calming nature was infectious which made the whole process so enjoyable.

What part of the process of having your dress made was most fun for you?

I really enjoyed every fitting as it was amazing to see the dress come together. My Mother came to each fitting and it was a great bonding experience, I think we cried with joy every time Sarah brought the dress closer to perfection. The quality of fabrics and embellishments Sarah used were like nothing you would see at some of the bridal boutiques so we really enjoyed choosing those together also!

Kate’s Dream Team

Christina Brosnan - Photographer https://www.instagram.com/christinabrosnan/

Emma Walking Edit House - Videographer https://www.instagram.com/edithousedublin/

Joanne Kelly - Hair stylist https://www.instagram.com/joannekellyhair/

Kate Rose Crean - Make Up Artist https://www.instagram.com/katerosecrean/

Apple Berry Press - Wedding Stationary https://www.instagram.com/appleberrypress/

Paula K Flowers - Wedding Flowers https://www.instagram.com/paula0casey/

McDowell's Jewellers - Wedding Jewelry https://www.instagram.com/mcdowellsjewellers/

The Cake Cuppery / Catherine Lawlor -  https://www.instagram.com/thecakecuppery/

Laduree - https://www.instagram.com/ladureeireland/

Thank you Kate for sharing your day with us and trusting me and you mom with this beautiful dress. I can’t believe your anniversary is around the corner .

Stay safe everyone and keep dreaming

Sarah

Stronger Together

Hello from sunny Wexford. What a strange few days for us all.

I spent the last couple of days reaching out to my current brides and checking in with them with a plan for finishing their designs and what the plans are if this continues into April. I will be keeping in touch with everyone every week with updates and plans.

My new home for the next few weeks

For all the brides and couples that had to cancel their wedding. I am so sorry this is happening to you. I know how big this is for you all and I have no doubt that when your wedding does happen it will be a celebration like no other. I know self- isolation is so important to get us through this but I see you guys and know how hard it is to cancel.

Thinking over the weekend of how I can help brides, I’m going to get out of my comfort zone this week and get on Instagram (@sfoycouture) to answer questions from both brides who have had to cancel and for clients that are in the planning stage. Message me any questions you have about anything wedding dress related and I will do my best to answer them.

I am also setting up Facetime consultations for brides that would like to talk about their wedding dress. That maybe a bride that is just starting to look for their dress for the end of the year or 2021. There will be limited slots for this everyday as both my husband and I are working from home with two crazies to entertain. 

You will need to email me at info@sarahfoycouture.com to book a slot. What you will need for this is to send me a couple of images of what you have in mind for your dress, a little description of the type of wedding you are planning. You can also send me your Pinterest board to look over. I will help you narrow down the style you are looking for and get clear on what you want for your wedding dress.

 So, if you have questions email me I am working between nap times, beach walks and dance parties with my babies. 

 Chat soon and stay safe

 Sarah

Our Bridal Muse - Anne Marie

What a January , meeting new brides has been so invigorating. To explain - Sarah Foy brides are amazing, they love to be unique, march to their own beat and truly a dream to work with. This little lady Ann- Marie is no exception. From day one she had a vision of how she wanted to look and trusted that vision to me

www.sjphotography.ie

What is your best memory of your wedding day?

My best memory of the day for me was straight after dinner we had drummers play they really put everyone into gear for the dance floor.

www.sjphotography.ie

What is your advice to a bride to be?

Your going to have so many opinions. I would say write your dream day down at the beginning and when you feel yourself going of track to refer back to it.

What was your biggest worry about getting your dress made?

My biggest worry was that I wouldn’t find the right person to do it. But after finding Sarah from the very first meeting she put me at ease and I knew she was the one.

What part of the process of having your dress made was most fun for you?

Every time I went for a fitting I didn’t want to take off the dress. It was so amazing watching it come to life piece by piece my very own dress that no one has tried on before or even set eyes on - It was one of a kind.

www.sjphotography.ie

Thank you Ann-Marie for sharing your truly unique day

The Dream Team

Our photographer was Susan Jefferies www.sjphotography.ie

Our Videographer was Adrian Carton www.amcfilms.ie

Our hair was Mia Kane 086 888 4894

Make up was Lesley Nugent 083 863 4761

Our Venue was Rock Farm Slane http://rockfarmslane.ie.

www.sjphotography.ie