True Love Tuesday Amanda and Rowan Kearns…

Festive Flair

Amanda and Rowan’s Christmas wedding featured the prettiest of festive details in the glorious surroundings of Lough Erne Resort.

Nutritionist Amanda first met her now husband, Rowan, at the Oxegen festival in Dublin over ten years ago. After attending Rowan’s school formal with him, the couple parted ways for university met again a few years later, and it was during a cruise in 2016 that Rowan popped the question. “On the one night I didn’t make an effort with my make-up or to dress up, Rowan had planned to propose! I had been to the gym and was ready for dinner but on the way, the cruise photographer stopped us to take a picture, I said ‘not tonight’ much to Rowans disgust! Next thing I knew we were having our photo taken and Rowan was down on one knee! It took a few bystanders looking on for me to realise what was happening! The ring is stunning, a custom made one carat ring from Lunn’s Jewellers,” explained Amanda.

The couple were keen to hold a black-tie wedding over the Christmas period and booked Friday, December 29th as their date, holding their ceremony in St Catherine’s Dominican in Newry, and reception in Lough Erne Resort in Enniskillen. “We planned a black-tie winter wonderland day with traditional Christmas colours, my maids wore rich red velvet and lace gowns to set the scene and carry the atmospheric tones throughout the day. To add to the day we made our own centrepieces with natural scented candles, pinecones, star anise and cinnamon sticks. As both myself and Rowan are nutritionists, we wanted to incorporate Christmas herbs and spices. Each table was called after a different Christmas scent or herb including Festive Frankincense & Allspice, Mulberry & Fig Delight and Pumpkin & Spiced Maple,” explained Amanda.

On her wedding day, Amanda wore an incredible handmade wedding gown from Shauna Fay, along with a very special bridal tiara that her milliner sister, Donna Mackin, designed for her. “I am under five foot and really struggled to find a dress that I loved in any bridal boutiques, so in desperation my sister Donna, who is a talented milliner, asked Shauna Fay if she would design me a gown. I knew exactly what I wanted and it had to revolve around the bow. Shauna surpassed my dreams with her wit, customer care and creativity. I had so much fun creating my dress with her and I loved my combined crown veil, it was very different and made by both Shauna Fay and my sister Donna Mackin. The bridesmaids dresses and my mums stunning outfit were also wonderfully created by Shauna,” said Amanda. With a laid back approach to their wedding planning, the day soon arrived for Amanda and Rowan. “The day was amazing, very laid back and thankfully without any disasters! Although the night before the wedding there was still no music sorted as Rowan had went to the pub instead, leaving my bridesmaids and I to sort it at 2am! I asked for a Braveheart theme as a wildcard entrance song and Raglan did an amazing job,” Amanda said. Following their ceremony, Amanda and Rowan together with their 190 guests were welcomed at Lough Erne Resort with a mulled wine reception, surrounded by music from the Magee family band. “Rowan’s highlight from the day was the Cuban cigars and the speeches, they were heartfelt yet hilarious and my flower girls did a surprise Irish dance before the first dance which was lovely, they’re excellent dancers,” added Amanda. Since their wedding day, Amanda and Rowan have merged their two businesses together, and along with their two pet dogs, Yogi and Bella, life is busy and they are still deciding on a honeymoon location!