A Perfect Day By The Lake
“The best thing to hold onto in life is each other.”
Audrey Hepburn
Cara McCourt, a Chartered Accountant from Virginia, Co. Cavan, and Aidan Devlin, an Engineer from Warrenpoint, Co. Down, first swiped right on Tinder back in 2016. What started as a virtual connection quickly turned into a love story filled with laughter, shared adventures, and eventually, a stunning lakeside wedding on 12th July 2024.
In the heart of lockdown in 2020, Aidan planned a romantic proposal at Kodak Corner in Rostrevor. As the couple admired the breathtaking views, Aidan asked Cara to close her eyes, turn around, and hold out her hand. Though hesitant at first, imagining it might be a bug, Cara opened her eyes to find a sparkling solitaire ring on a platinum band from Jack Murphy Jewellers in Newry. Despite nearly dropping the ring on the mountain, Aidan’s plan went off beautifully, sealing their forever.
Cara found her perfect dress in My Fair Lady Bridal in Monaghan, knowing from early on what kind of dress she wanted, something simple and classy, Cara told us “I saw the dress on their Instagram story and didn’t do anything about it for a while, then they had a sample sale and I booked their last appointment to try on the dress, I tried on several that day but knew I just wanted that one and bought it there and then”
With a ceremony overlooking the lake at Lakeside Manor, Virginia, Co. Cavan, and a reception in The Failte Suite, Cara and Aidan’s big day embodied a rustic garden-party elegance.
They styled the venue themselves finding inspiration from Pinterest, creating DIY rustic pallets adorned with florals, a table plan pallet, a memory pallet, and even a fun crisp wall. The couple, along with bridesmaid Chloe, enjoyed every moment of the crafting process, filled with laughter and camaraderie. Winterberry Weddings added their magic touch with a stunning floral arch, bird cages lining the aisle, and rustic lantern centrepieces filled with greenery and dusty pink florals.
Cara’s three bridesmaids were her oldest friend Hayley, her sister-in-law-to-be Grace, and Chloe, best friend and sister of the best man. Aidan’s best man, Blaine, has been his oldest and closest friend since childhood, their suits came from Statement Menswear in Portadown.
The relaxed ceremony time of 3 PM allowed for a chilled-out morning as the bridal party got ready, surrounded by love, excitement, and maybe just a few nerves. Aidan made a grand entrance to the ceremony via boat, organised by Ramor Watersports Club, who went above and beyond to ensure his arrival was unforgettable.
As with every wedding, a few unexpected moments added to the charm of the day including the bridesmaids accidentally walking down the aisle together and then went the wrong way, completely throwing off the song timing. Cara isn’t even sure at which point in the song she walked down!
Cara’s elderly grandad unintentionally blocked her view of Aidan at the end of the aisle as he enthusiastically snapped photos, a moment Cara now looks back on with laughter (though she jokes she’d have asked someone to politely seat him).
The ceremony was followed by a champagne tower toast in lieu of the traditional cake cutting. For their reception entrance, the bridal party turned up the fun, bursting in playing inflatable instruments to ‘I Believe in a Thing Called Love’ by The Darkness.
One of the biggest surprises of the day came from Aidan’s sister Grace, her partner Eamonn, and Aidan’s mum’s partner, who arranged for a singing chef to perform at the reception. Not only did he have the guests in stitches when he tripped mid-reception, but he also got everyone on their feet dancing.
Cara and Aidan shared their first dance to John Mayer’s ‘Love on the Weekend’ a song that perfectly encapsulates their early days of long-distance love. With Aidan working away in England during the week, the weekends were their cherished time together, and the lyrics brought back all those heartfelt memories.
For Cara, the highlight of the day was sitting at the top table, looking out at the faces of their closest friends and family, and feeling the overwhelming love and joy in the room. The couple loved their intimate guest list of 70, which allowed them to spend quality time with everyone without feeling rushed or overwhelmed.
Looking back, Cara wouldn’t change a thing—except maybe asking someone to encourage her grandad to take a seat during the ceremony! Her advice to other couples? “Stay true to what you and your partner want. Don’t let other people’s opinions sway you—you can’t please everyone, so just please yourselves.”
Cara and Aidan jetted off to Malaga two days after the wedding for a short honeymoon but are planning a dream holiday touring Italy next summer as their proper getaway. Married life feels natural and right to them, as they’ve already spent years building their life together. Now, as husband and wife, they’re excited to continue their story, living happily ever after.
WEDDING SUPPLIERS INFO NAME AND TOWN
Reception Location: The Lakeside Manor
Wedding Dress from: My Fair Lady Bridal
Bridesmaid Dresses from: Coast at Debenhams
Groomswear from: Statement Menswear
Make up by: Laura O’ Hare Makeup, Cavan, Monaghan, Louth
Hair by: Hair by Caoimhe Smith Walsh
Room Décor by: Winterberry Weddings
Stationery by: Laura Burns Design
Photography by: Photography by Hannah Jane
Videography by: Adam White Wedding Films
