True Love Tuesday Annette and Sean Donnelly... - Getting Married in Northern Ireland Magazine

Beauty in Simplicity

Elegance and simplicity was the name of the game when HR Administrator Annette from Eglish was planning her wedding with Office Manager Shaun from Blackwater.

Even the proposal was far from an elaborate affair with Shaun proposing at home following a home cooked meal. Before popping the question, Shaun made his bride to be all her favourite things to eat, garlic bread, steak and chocolate fudge cake whilst she relaxed.
“ I was completely shocked! After 5 years I knew it was coming at some stage but
when it happened, I cried and couldn’t speak. We went out to celebrate that night and I could even drink I felt that sick.” Annette told us.

Two weeks after the engagement Annette’s sister came home from Australia and Annette used this time to visit Serendipity Bridal Boutique in Fivemiletown. She fell in love with the first dress she tried on, a stunning figure fitting dress with a bardot neckline.
“It was a Suzanne Neville dress, I love her work and I love the structure of her dresses. Especially how she caters to curvier girls.” Annette told us.

The bride chose her sister Roisin and cousin Emma to be her bridesmaids with both ladies looking chic in full length black fitted dresses from Verona Bridal in Magherafelt.

Shaun chose his groomsmen’s suits from McQuillan’s in Portadown. The groom’s party included Shaun’s brother Colm and friends Danny, Danny and Jason. All five looked stylish in black suits complete with dickie bows, the groom himself opting for a waistcoat to complete his look.

Annette thoroughly enjoyed every aspect of planning her wedding especially her hen parties and all the gatherings in her house leading up to the day itself.

The bride’s laidback nature was evident the night before the wedding, “The lady doing my alternations texted me asking had I forgot something around 9 o’clock the night before. I forgot to lift my bridesmaid dresses!” she laughed.
Annette was keen to keep everything relaxed though and did not allow panic to take over. “I have seen brides stress out before and I didn’t want to be like that.” she said.

The big day finally arrived on 27th November 2019 and the couple married in St Patrick’s Church in Eglish. The bride’s love of simplicity and style was clear in the décor and adornments. The bride’s bouquet was made from foliage and small white flowers.
“I knew I wanted the whitest flowers my florist had.” she said.

After the ceremony the couple’s 300 guests joined them for a reception at the Tullyglass Hotel in Ballymena.

Looking back on the day the newlyweds wouldn’t change a single thing. “It was the best day ever,” they both agreed.
The day was summed up in their choice of song for their first dance, ‘Perfect’ by Ed Sheeren and Beyonce.
For the bride and groom the highlight of the wedding was seeing all their family and friends in one place enjoying the day with them.

Annette and Shaun would advise other couples planning their own weddings not to get sucked into buying things that no one really looks at, “We cut out a lot of things that we would never look at when we go to weddings and no one noticed.” they said.

Shortly after the wedding the couple embarked on a small tour of Ireland and hope to visit Miami and the Dominican Republic in March.