True Love Tuesday: Claire and Andrew... - Getting Married in Northern Ireland Magazine

A bouquet of roses, a rose gold engagement ring and the answer was yes! Though Claire and Andrew both grew up in Kilkeel and knew of each other they connected through facebook and from there they arranged their first date. The couple dated for three years and then for Claire 23^rd birthday Andrew arranged a trip to her favourite hotel, The Manor House Country Hotel where he had arranged for the couple to stay in a suite, he presented Claire with a bouquet of red roses and a card asking the question ‘Claire, will you marry me’ Claire was completely in shock and looked up to see that Andrew was on bended knee with a ring that he had selected in Lunns and of course Claire said yes. Claire says “My ring is a three stone diamond rose gold engagement ring from Lunn’s Jewellers in Belfast and I absolutely love it.”

Andrew and Claire set their wedding date for 16^th July 2016 and they chose the Whistledown Hotel in Warrenpont for their wedding reception, Claire then set out to find her wedding dress visiting several bridal salons before finding her perfect wedding dress in Perfect Day, Lurgan for her Summer bohemian themed wedding. Claire’s bridesmaids Louise and Stacey had their dresses made by local dressmaker Emma Murnion who also made the flower girls dresses in a style to compliment Claires own dress. Emma created a bespoke back-piece made with Swarovski crystals which was sewn into Claires dress.

Claire says “Andrew knew he wanted a fresh, modern style of a suit from the beginning and he got exactly what he was looking for at Statement Menswear in Portadown. Ultimately, it was a surprise to me what Andrew had picked; or as he liked to say, because he couldn’t see my dress I wasn’t allowed to see the suits (in which I was more than happy for him to do…one less thing of my list!)”

Claire says “I knew I wanted a summery bohemian wedding with lots of flowers, pastel colours and rose gold touches.

I had lots and lots of flowers. I had flowers in the girls’ hair, I had a full floral crown, large summery bouquets with lots of wild flowers and a full floral arch outside the church with pink and white flowers and lots of ribbon. I purchased rose gold jewellery for the bridesmaids along with rose gold high heeled sandals and little rose gold sparkly shoes for the flower girls. I wore rose gold pearl earrings for myself and matching bracelet and our venue even decorated the room with rose gold accessories to match our rose gold wedding invitations, order of service, seating plan and rose gold inspired cake! It was safe to say I love rose gold!”

The couple were spoilt with a day of fabulous warm weather and lots of sunshine, Claire arrived at the church on time where harpists Patricia Dally played the harp and Claire walked up the aisle to the song ‘A thousand years’ by Christina Perri. After the wedding ceremony the wedding guests were treated to an ice cream before travelling to the Whistledown Hotel for the wedding reception.

The couple shared their first dance as husband and wife to the song ‘Feels like home’ by Chantal Kreviazuk and later went on honeymoon to the ‘Le Blanc Resort in Cancun, Mexico.

Claires advice to other couples planning their wedding is ‘Prioritise the things you want, that way it will make it easier to reflect on what to invest most and least in, whether it’s on the honeymoon, decorations or cake etc. Also, don’t fret over the little things. Whether it comes down to ivory or off -white invitations, or whether you feel you’ve placed so and so in the right seat, you may think it’s the biggest decision ever, but on the big day, these things will be far from your heart and you will laugh to think you ever worried about them.’