True Love Tuesday Edel and Colm Watters

Castle Charm & Couture

Unable to find the wedding dress that really made her happy, bride Edel chose to design her own incredible couture gown with the help of Una Rodden.

After four years of study at the University of Ulster in Belfast, it was during their last night out at The Bot nightclub that Edel and Colm were introduced by a mutual friend. “We just seemed to click straight away and looking back it was a great way for us to end our time in Belfast. While we were both sad that our Uni days had come to an end, we were equally as excited as we continued getting to know each other that summer, it really was the start of something special,” said Edel. In the summer of 2016, the couple, who are both from County Armagh, were travelling along the Wild Atlantic Way from Galway down to the Dingle peninsula. “We stumbled upon a small waterfall along the scenic Conor Pass. After ten minutes of venturing up an inviting mountain of rocks, we discovered a gorgeous lake at the top sheltered at one side by a steep mountain cliff and overlooking Dingle Bay at the other – a really beautiful setting enhanced by the summer sun, and where Colm got down on one knee and asked me to marry him,” she explained.

The couple approached wedding planning with relaxed ease and loved the process from start to finish, choosing Castle Leslie Estate in Glaslough, County Monaghan for their reception venue for their 250 guests. “Castle Leslie is such a beautiful venue on its own so we didn’t feel the need to do too much with it. We did dress the venue a little bit with a floral wall and fairy light canopy lighting as well as lots of candles,” added Edel. On her wedding day, Saturday October, 21st, Edel wore a custom-made gown by Belfast designer, Una Rodden. The striking gown had a unique beaded V-shaped back with co-ordinating beaded cape. She completed her look with a modern flower headpiece and loose fishtail braid up do. “Una really brought my design to life. It was exciting but also a little nerve-wracking at times as I knew that I wouldn’t get to see the finished dress until very close to our wedding date! Overall I enjoyed the experience and definitely wouldn’t change how I did it,” said Edel. Her three bridesmaids, sisters Stephanie, Emma and Michelle, also wore custommade nude dresses from Una Rodden, teamed with rose gold pointed pumps and carried stunning bouquets of pale pink, deep red and classic greenery tones, designed by David McConkey.

Colm and his three groomsmen, cousins Seamus and Ronan, and his friend Ryan, wore modern three-piece black suits from O’Cathalain Menswear in Culloville. The marquee at Castle Leslie was beautifully dressed in a modern and elegant style with soft pink tones working perfectly with lace and soft gold table covering and tall cut crystal vases teaming with stunning floral displays. The elegant four-tier wedding cake was dressed with floral posies and stood majestically in front of an ivory flower wall. “Seeing Edel for the first time at the top of the aisle was my highlight. She looked absolutely stunning! As per tradition, that was the first time I saw the wedding dress – I knew she was designing it herself, but I never envisaged it would turn out the way it did. Looking back now I just can’t imagine Edel wearing any other dress, it was made for her – literally. After that everything just seem to fall into place… we enjoyed every minute of it!” said Colm. “For me the entire day was a highlight, I loved every part of the day, meeting Colm at the top of the aisle was a special moment and our first dance was another part I loved,” said Edel. Following their perfect wedding day, Edel and Colm enjoyed a once in a lifetime honeymoon where they travelled to the Maldives, South East Asia and Australia.