Ok my latest obsession on the blog is weddings in the rain. When I got Brittany and Ryan’s gallery and scrolled through I just fell in love with their gorgeous shots at the Cliffs of Moher and Irish countryside. It rained (a lot) on their wedding day, but they really embraced the circumstances and just owned it, creating some of my favorite shots to date, beautifully captured by Navy Blur Photography.

There is something just so organic, so romantic about the rain, especially in Ireland. The Irish mist rolls in off the ocean, transforming the green landscape into this mythical atmosphere like a fairytale come alive. And just when you thought Ireland couldn’t get more green, it does: some how (surely by some magic), the rain seems to summon within the landscape even darker emerald greens, the moss glows brighter lime tones, the grass is painted in shades of jade and green marble. The rain seems to awaken this invisible spirit on the island, drawing the natural beauty to a higher level of beauty and with it an energy that is palpable. I’ve seen couples get spooked by the rain, and I’ve seen a select few go out and embrace it. And when they do, they fall under the spell of that spirit and create some truly authentic, gorgeous photos like Brittany and Ryan.

There’s a lot I love about this wedding. I love that they took inspiration from one of their favorite things. I love Brittany’s look — the dress with the cape overlay is stunning; the hair with the braids and floral detail are so perfect; the sentimental notes like Ryan’s cuff link boutonniere and the attention to detail in personalizing the experience for their guests are just some to mention. I’m obsessed with the stationary — the paper and wax seals are one of my favorite ceremony details I’ve seen this year.

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It All Started Back…

… at an Apple store about nine years ago. Brittany and Ryan were both working at the store and at first opposites did not attract.  After a few months (and Ryan’s dilligence in asking Brittany out), she agreed…. as a birthday present for him… to go on one date. Well, that date turned into two and three and so on and before you knew it, they were an item! Fast forward three years later at their son Oliver’s baby shower, Brittany was busy gushing over the adorable mini-baby stuffs when Ryan came up with one more gift.  There in front of their loved ones and on a day of love and celebration, Ryan went down on one knee and asked Brittany to marry him. She was shocked! She’d mentioned before when he’d asked her how she’d envisioned being proposed to and she said with their friends and family around her…. he listened and more than delivered. Now a baby and a wedding were in the works!

An Intimate Wedding Focused On The Experience

Brittany and Ryan both love to travel, so they knew some sort of destination wedding would be the right fit for them for their wedding day.  They both value experiences more than monetary things, so instead of a complicated and overly inflated wedding at home, they chose to host a more intimate and meaningful celebration somewhere beautiful where the scenery could help add to the atmosphere and they could focus the day on sharing it with their loved ones. When searching destinations, Ireland quickly came up on the top of the list for them. They came across Waterlily Weddings Ireland and started to look through our blog, falling in love with the beautiful photos, incredible scenery, and various venues to choose from. Moy House really stood out for Brittany and Ryan in particular — they loved the intimacy of the 19th century estate house and its prime location in one of the most picturesque and epic location in all of Ireland! It was just perfect!

The Details

Brittany and Ryan’s wedding took some inspiration from Game of Thrones. Ireland is one of the filming locations for the series, so that in itself helped to anchor the theme instantly. Their incredible wedding cake included dragon scales detail to hit another note on the theme.  And of course Oliver stole the show in his “King of the North” outfit. We love how they took inspiration from the theme without being overly literal or cartoonish about it; it was done in a really nice way that worked with the overall vibe they wanted to create.

The spiritual humanist ceremony took place on a rainy (but cozy!) October day.  The ceremony reflected their spiritual beliefs and incorporated their love for the environment.  “We are more spiritual than religious,” says Brittany, “so we wanted to incorporate divine aspects into our ceremony without it feeling like a lecture hall.”  They also embraced a bit of Ireland as well, choosing to include some Irish traditions like the handfasting ceremony into their day and dressing sweet Oliver in a kilt! Two readings (one from Game of Thrones and one from The Amber Spyglass) completed the personal touches.

The reception followed immediately after the ceremony at Moy House and was casual in vibe. They wanted everyone to be comfortable and focus the experience on enjoying themselves and their surroundings.  The chef created a custom menu centered around fish (since Brittany and Ryan don’t eat meat), the “farm-to-fork” dinner hitting the seasonal notes perfectly for the day. Irish music and dancing completed the festivities.  And to end on a sweet note — a wedding cake decorated with dragon scales frosting!

The Best Parts

We are so taken with Brittany’s gift to Ryan on their wedding day. She had cuff links custom made for him with pictures — one of his grandmother (who was like a mother to him) and the other of his godson (who sadly passed at 12 years old) that he wore as part of his boutonniere.  It was a very emotional moment for them both when she presented him with such a thoughtful and meaningful gift, and Ryan was moved and so happy to have two people he loved so much who couldn’t be there that day still close to his heart.

“The most romantic part of the day was sitting on the wall overlooking the Cliffs of Moher, next to my new husband,” says Brittany. “We were all decked out in our wedding attire and every tourist was so worried I was going to ruin my white dress, but I didn’t have a care in the world! There’s something so enchanting about the Cliffs and it felt tranquil to sit on that wall with the man I love, looking towards our future and letting go of our past.”

We love how they really get out into the atmosphere and didn’t let the rain stop them. In fact, I think it helped to create some really authentic and romantic pictures.

A Piece of Advice

“Life isn’t perfect, and neither was our wedding day,” says Brittany, “but I wouldn’t change a moment of it.”

Sometimes things go perfectly. More often than not, they don’t. Unfortunately for Brittany she was sick leading up to her wedding, and Oliver caught the bug as well. It’s always tough when a kiddo is sick, but in particular when it’s on your wedding day! We’re so impressed with how Brittany and Ryan took it in stride and refocused the day on what really matters: the love and everyone being together. “Don’t get too caught up in the details,” Brittany advises. “Some of the best moments are the ones that were never planned, like Oliver spewing vomit all over me first thing in the morning and then following that with a belly laugh!”

Brittany and Ryan also met some challenges with the guest list during RSVPs. “This was our most challenging part,” says Brittany.  Some will surprise you and some will disappoint you; this is true for any and all weddings, but as Brittany advises, it’s best to just go with the flow. “There is no wrong way or right way to plan your day,” she says. “Don’t let anyone steal your joy!”

Really two great pieces of advice to stay grounded and focused on the most important part of your wedding day!

Brittany and Ryan, we wish you both a lifetime of continued adventures (hopefully sans vomit!). We know your wedding will inspire others to go with the flow on their day, not be afraid to add in details that are meaningful to them. We hope your wedding will also inspire others not to be afraid of the weather, and if it does rain to think about it as an adventure rather than damper like you both did. Well done!

The Details

Dress: Wear Your Love  ·  Accessories: BHLDN Bridal Cape / Carol Hannah crystal capelet  ·  Shoes: Joules wellies  ·  Jewelry: Swarovsk earrings / 3 gold rings  ·  Groom: Dockers, Vans, Target, Amazon   ·  Accessories: personalized photo boutonnieres  ·  Stationary: La Pomme et la Pipe (Etsy)

For more information on the vendors and details of this wedding, contact Waterlily Weddings Ireland today!