Guests celebrating the marriage of Aanita Maher and Patrick Halligan at the Four Seasons Hotel in Carlingford had a double wedding treat as they got to watch a short film of the couple’s earlier Indian wedding ceremony in Leicester!
Aanita, 32, a dental hygienist from Leicester, and Patrick, 31, a geography teacher originally from County Louth, met on the streets of Temple Bar in Dublin at 2am one morning. Aanita was there on holiday and Paddy was out with friends.
“We exchanged numbers as we both lived in London and met up in Stratford for our first date – dinner and cinema. The rest was history. We deleted Tinder three weeks later and made it official,” Aanita said. Paddy popped the question on his 30th birthday during a walk on Termonfeckin Beach in County Louth, Aanita’s favourite place near his home town. They walked down to the old shipwreck, and Aanita got busy taking pictures of the grounded ship. When she turned around, she saw Patrick down on one knee. “I was in complete shock and didn’t speak for 10 minutes!” she recalled. Her ring is a Tiffany’s classic ring. Aanita wanted a minimal style so went for the smallest diamond in the store – 0.15ct solitaire six clasp on platinum band.
Aanita found choosing her wedding dress more than a little stressful. She bought it from London Bridal Couture in Pimlico, London. “We went to a sample sale and ended up being 20th in line. We stood outside the shop for three and a half hours looking in and watching other girls try on and buy dresses,” Aanita said. “It was very stressful! There was nothing left in my size so I went a size up. We were then only allowed to pick three dresses to try on, which I hadn’t known beforehand. I wouldn’t want to experience it again, but I found a dress that was similar to what I had in mind and was in my budget – I was lucky. “I didn’t know it was the dress for so long that I even went dress shopping again – twice – to a more relaxed store to confirm I made the correct choice.” Aanita’s four bridesmaids – her sisters Roshni Maher and Sarita Maher, cousin Asha Odedraand friend Kay Ahmed, wore dresses from ASOS.
Groomsmen Brian Halligan, Patrick’s brother; Hugh Lyons, best friend; Feargal Leonard – friend; and Padraig Mc Donagh – friend were smartly kitted out in suits from McKenna Man, Drogheda. The couple were married on August 5 2018. Afterwards they were joined by 180 guests. The wedding had a classic theme. “The venue was the most important for this – I wanted a neutral clean palette to start with,” Aanita explained. “The colours were light and minimal. The bridesmaids were dressed in a simple and elegant style. My stationery, table numbers and ceremony leaflet were all printed in a classic font. “I like simple minimal and elegant. I also didn’t want to take away from the real reason to why we were all there. I feel less is more – it gives clarity.
The couple had held an Indian ceremony in October 2017 in Leicester, and they showed a short film of their Indian wedding at their Irish wedding. Their first dance was to Savage Garden’s ‘Truly Madly Deeply.’ The day was full of funny incidents – “We keep hearing more from the guests!” the couple laughed. Looking back, Aanita says she might have done some things differently. “Paddy wouldn’t but he didn’t plan it!” she said. “As the wedding approached I didn’t prioritise some things on my list and let it go, for example the ‘must play DJ list.’ I wish I pushed myself to complete everything on the list. I am a perfectionist though, and always critical, so will always find something.”
Reflecting on the planning of the day, Aanita said the best part was the design of the wedding stationery. “I could be creative and make my mark on the wedding,” she said.
And the most stressful part for the bride? “The make-up,” said Aanita. “My chosen make-up artist from London couldn’t make it so I then had to squeeze in a trial on my last trip to Ireland before the wedding. I was very happy with my Irish make-up artist though, so it was all good!”
The couple advise anyone planning their wedding to always remember that the most important thing is the person you are marrying. “Nobody will notice table numbers/plan, if the cake was missing a flower etc. Enjoy it!” they said
Aanita and Patrick honeymooned in Amsterdam, Brussels and Brugge, and say they are loving married life. “We feel complete,” they said.
WEDDING SUPPLIERS INFO
Reception location: Four Seasons Hotel
Wedding Dress from: London Bridal Couture in Pimlico
Groomswear from: McKenna Man
Rings from: Wee Little Cake Shop
Photography by: Ronan Shaw Photographie
Videography by: Little Bear Films
Entertainment by: Catch 22
