True Love Tuesday Michaela McFeely and Shaun McGowan... - Getting Married in Northern Ireland Magazine

Autumn’s Embrace

In every breath, I find you.

In every heartbeat, I feel you.

In every moment, I love you more

On 13^th October 2023, Michaela McFeely and Shaun McGowan exchanged vows at St. Columba’s Church in Drung, followed by a reception at the Redcastle Oceanfront Golf & Spa Hotel. The wedding, attended by 170 guests had a beautiful autumnal theme which was reflected in the floral arrangements and table centres.

Michaela McFeely, a Procurement Manager from Moville, Donegal, and Shaun McGowan, a Project Manager from Redcastle, Donegal, crossed paths for the first time at the age of 17, thanks to mutual friends. Fate brought them together once again when they both found employment at the Redcastle Hotel, where their friendship blossomed into a romance.

Their journey towards marriage reached a pivotal moment on 6^th November 2021, when Shaun proposed to Michaela at Kilkea Castle Hotel. Michaela told us about the proposal “We were away for the weekend for my birthday. We had just moved to Kildare the year before this for work. At the hotel there was a beautiful fairy lit rose garden, we went for a walk that night before dinner and at the end of the walkway he got down on one knee and proposed. He had arranged champagne to be ready for us when we came back into the hotel. We sat and drank the champagne and called our families. Little did I know that was Shaun’s third attempt to propose as I had rescheduled the first two nights away not knowing that he was planning on proposing. My engagement ring is stunning, it’s an oval shaped diamond with a halo of diamonds around the middle one, Shaun picked it himself”

After 12 years together, the couple commenced their wedding preparations. Michaela, accompanied by her mother Suzanne, sister Carleen (Maid of Honor), and friend Caroline (Bridesmaid), Caoimhe (Bridesmaid) was living in Canada at the time so was sent photos, found her dream dress at Forever Bridal in Belfast. Michaela had a lovely experience, she said “It was such a lovely experience I went to a few shops and found my dress in Forever Bridal in Belfast. I had an idea of what style I wanted but tried on all different types. I loved my dress from the first time I tried it on and I knew it was the one because every other dress I put on after that I just compared it to the one I loved. I loved trying on all the dresses with my mum and friends, I am the first one out of my brother and sister to get married so it was very exciting and I loved having my mum involved”.

The bridesmaids’ dresses were purchased from Style Cheat, while the flower girl dresses were sourced from Next for nieces Ellen-Kate and Rose.

Shaun and his groomsmen, including his brother Stephen (Best Man), friends Liam and Gary, obtained their attire from Different Class Menswear in Derry. Their nephew Eoghan served as the pageboy.

Planning the wedding was exciting for Michaela she told us “I worked as a wedding and events coordinator for years so it was exciting being on the other side of it and planning for my own wedding. We found working with Look Events wonderful, they really made planning so easy and fun, we never stressed about what the decor would look like as we knew it would be beautiful. We told Annette and her team the colours we liked and left it in her capable hands. Shaun even mentioned in one of our meetings that he would like to do a whiskey bar at the arrival drinks and William from Look Events custom built one for the day”.

Reflecting on their wedding day, both Michaela and Shaun cherished moments such as the forest photoshoot, where they were captured in candid moments by photographer Jay and videographer Sean. The day concluded with blissful memories and no regrets, symbolizing the beginning of their journey into married life.

After having such a beautiful wedding they gave this advice to other couples planning their own day “Going into the day we given advice to put aside a few minutes throughout the day just for the two of us, I would recommend any wedding couples to do this. Those little 10 minutes we put aside at different intervals where we talked the two of us, these were the most memorable parts of the day. I would also say don’t get too stressed about little things that don’t go exactly to plan, there will always be those and on the day you won’t care because you will be having the best day”.

For their honeymoon, Michaela and Shaun embarked on a mini-moon to Paris, with plans for a full honeymoon in the Amalfi Coast, Italy, later in the year. They are enjoying married life, saying not much has changed for them and are looking forward to their honeymoon.

WEDDING SUPPLIERS INFO NAME AND TOWN