True Love Tuesday Elaine and Kevin McCrory.... - Getting Married in Northern Ireland Magazine

Kevin McCrory chose the romantic and very iconic bridge from the movie ‘PS I Love You’ in Co Wicklow to pop the question to Elaine Donaghy

Kevin McCrory said ‘PS I love you’ when he presented Elaine Donaghy with an engagement ring at the iconic bridge from the movie of the same name.
The couple had been together for almost 20 years when Kevin popped the question during a romantic walk to the bridge, not far from the Powerscourt Hotel, Co Wicklow, where they were enjoying a week’s holiday.
The bridge is beside Lough Tay, better known as the Guinness Lake! “Kevin had done his research months in advance and had it all planned out,” said Elaine. “He knew ‘PS I Love You’ is one of my favourite films and knew the bridge was close to our hotel. With Ireland being our home, this is one of our favourite places in the world to travel and holiday, so he knew I would not want to be anywhere else. We had the entire place to ourselves, it was so unbelievably tranquil and picturesque and romantic, more than I ever imagined.”
Elaine, 38, a Global Marketing Manager, is from Creggan, Omagh, and Kevin, 39, joint owner and Director of Architectural Timber Frames, is from Greencastle. The couple met 21 years ago at a ‘Stars in Your Eyes’ event in Greencastle.
They were engaged in July 2017, having selected a bespoke ring, which is rose gold and platinum from D&K the Jewellers, in advance of the ‘magic’ proposal.
When it came to choosing a dress, Elaine visited 15 shops and tried on around 50 dresses before finding the right one. “When people tell you ‘you will know when you find your dress,’ I can vouch for that, you really do, and be warned tears will be shed!” said Elaine, who after about 10 appointments was beginning to worry she would never find something she truly loved. In the end, she found it in an unexpected place. “My mum and one of my sisters went to McElhinney’s for a day and it just so happened that the store had a wedding showcase on so I went along to see it.”
Elaine didn’t find anything with the Wow! factor, but over lunch felt compelled to make an appointment for another day to see their full range. “So off I went to make my appointment and I told the bridal room manager, Aisling, about my struggles to find a dress and showed a few pictures of the style of dress I liked. Her eyes lit up.
“Five minutes later she returned, literally holding the dress of my dreams!”
It was a Hayley Paige gown, and McElhinney’s Bridal Rooms are exclusive stockists of this designer in Ireland. “It didn’t take very long to make up my mind, as the second I got into the dress I knew this was the one for me, and my mum and sister were as equally excited and thrilled,” said Elaine.
“My advice is to keep searching to you find the ‘dress of your dreams’, because it is out there, don’t settle for something you like, you have to absolutely love it and it should give your goose bumps.” Elaine said that overall, dress shopping was ‘a special experience and is one to treasure and enjoy.’
Her bridesmaids’ dresses were from Chi Chi Clothing and were in fact bridal dresses which were altered by a local dress maker. The mini bridesmaid’s dress came from McElhinney’s.
Elaine had four bridesmaids – Caroline Slane, Mariead Seward-Donaghy, Denise Meenan, and Cádhla Slane – her three sisters and her niece.

Groomsmen Niall Bradley, Kevin McCullagh, Ryan Conway and Ryan Meenan wore suits from Red Groomswear, Cookstown.
Elaine said a highlight of the wedding planning was searching and actually finding her dress, while the most stressful part was finding a new venue for the wedding 12 weeks out! “But I did and it worked out for the better, so don’t let any negatives or unforeseens get you too stressed,” she said. “I am a firm believer in ‘things always happen for a reason’ and all will work out, which it really did.”
The couple married in St Oliver Plunkett’s Church, Creggan, Omagh, on February 8th 2019, and hosted a reception for 270 guests at the Slieve Russell Hotel, Co.Cavan
The theme was blush and rose gold, dreamy and romantic, and this was reflected in many aspects of the wedding, from the dress, invites, and cake to the room décor, flowers and accessories.
“I have a thing for pink, but I didn’t want to go full on pink, so blush was the perfect substitute and rose gold complements it well,” said Elaine. She also has a love of interiors and décor so wanted to have styling and theme for her wedding as well. “It actually really helps when you are out sourcing for bits and accessories for your wedding, as you have a colour scheme and style to work with and it really helps bring the whole look together,” she said.
The wedding cake was hand crafted by Elaine’s father, and Elaine, her mum and sister did all their own wedding flowers, using silk flowers.
The couple’s first dance was to The Promise by ‘Picture This.’
Elaine said the day had been ‘just perfect,’ from the moment she got up at 6am until she went to bed at 4am the next morning!
Elaine and Kevin’s advice to other couples planning a wedding is: “Enjoy and treasure every second of it and try your best not to let it stress you out.”
The couple had a four-day break in Dublin immediately after the wedding, and later travelled to a spa hotel in Austria for some skiing and some pampering.