THE WATERLILY WEDDINGS JOURNAL

Destination weddings in Ireland and DC/MD USA. Your Irish wedding planner – styling and coordination to die for weddings since 2006. Based in Dublin and Maryland.

Bryanna & Jason: Beautiful Intimate Wedding in Howth

The Details. THE DETAILS. The. Details. As planners and designers, we keep telling our clients to take the opportunity and interject personal and meaningful details into your day. It’s those details that are going to make your day stand out and be special, having meaning and be unique to you. And Bryanna and Jason’s beautiful intimate wedding in Howth is a great example of that!

They wanted a small, intimate ceremony with a bit of privacy (i.e. no tourists!) and chose the Howth area, outside of Dublin, as the perfect spot! Bryanna was a vision in her gorgeous Kitty Chen dress and accessories while Jason made every part the handsome groom! But it’s those smaller details we’re obsessed with and so moved by…. Bryanna’s claddagh ring is a family heirloom from her Irish grandmother who passed away before the wedding. And the green handfasting chord — that was made from her grandmother’s shirt.  Her something old/borrowed/and blue managed to bring in a loved one so perfectly into the day and while writing this blog, you can add me to the list of “misty eyes” on this wedding. Their wedding was full of Irish traditions and really embraced Ireland and all it has to offer! There to document was Wim of In Love Photography to (once again) beautifully capture the day!

Here is their story….

Going Back to Your Roots

Bryanna and Jason’s destination wedding would be exciting and wonderful on so many levels! For Jason, this was his first trip outside of the US! For Bryanna, it was her first trip to Ireland and a chance to reconnect with her Irish roots — all of her paternal great-grandparents were Irish coal miner immigrants. “It was always on my #1 bucket list to travel to Ireland,” recalls Bryanna, “and connect with my heritage. When I suggested my dream idea to get married and honeymoon across Ireland, Jason loved the idea as Ireland’s been a bucket list destination for him as well!”

The Details

Jason and Bryanna wanted a meaningful ceremony that really took inspiration from the gorgeous natural backdrop Ireland has to offer. They were originally inclined towards the Cliffs of Moher, but were a little deterred from the tourists.  Our stylish planner / on the day coordinator Orla brought up her native Howth / Portmarnock coastal area outside of Dublin as a possibility and it was a perfect fit! “Howth was the perfect blend of both beauty and privacy.” They designed their humanist style ceremony with the help of their celebrant, Romy, to reflect their personalities and personal journey together. Joining them were their closest family and friends, making the day the meaningful and intimate wedding they dreamed of. “We wanted our vows to be meaningful and not overly cliche,” recalls Bryanna.

The wedding was full of really special, beautiful details. Bryanna’s claddagh ring was her grandmother’s, and the hand-fasting chord they used was actually taken from her grandmother’s shirt.  She had recently passed this past January. Bryanna’s father always wanted to bring her back to her native Ireland but never got the chance; this was a fitting and beautiful way to honor her memory and making her a part of their day.

A casual, authentically Irish celebration followed right in the heart of Howth at a fabulous local pub — the Abbey Tavern. Known for its great Irish food and hospitality, it was the perfect setting for a cozy, warm celebration with their loved ones. Bread and butter pudding served as the wedding cake!

Favorite Moments

“Our first look.  And after — we made a bathroom stop at Gaffney’s and the bartenders were so kind and insisted on giving us free shots of whiskey and let us poor a Guinness together behind the bar! Just one example of Irish kindness and hospitality we encountered that day and on our trip.  So many spontaneous, memorable moments and great photos! Our hand-fasting and vows, just having our families make the trip out and literally encircling us to support us meant so much. We wouldn’t change a thing — maybe stay longer than a week!”

Piece of Advice

“Trust your planner, keep an open mind to suggestions and an open dialogue during the planning process.  Don’t sweat the small stuff and go with the flow! Remember: a wedding is a celebration, NOT a performance! At the end of the day, if you are  married to the one you love then everything went perfectly!”

We can’t agree more! Excellent advice and an absolutely delight to help you both plan a gorgeous, intimate wedding in one of our favorite parts of Ireland!

Bryanna and Jason — we wish you both a lifetime full of more bucket list adventures, laughs and love, and beautiful memories together! Check out more in the slideshow below!

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