Love was in the crisp winter air for our real wedding couple Hannah and Andrew, at most wonderful time of the year – Christmas! As they adore the festive season, they decided to tie the knot amongst sparkling fairy lights and crackling fires in one of their favourite venues, The Shelbourne Hotel in Dublin. Niamh Smith Photography was on hand to capture all the magic and her beautiful imagery that will undoubtedly infuse some inspiration to your own winter wedding Pinterest board – from the black tie attire and elegant bridal style to the shimmering Christmas decor!
Whilst Christmas sparkle was in the air for Hannah and Andrew’s wedding day, the Santorini sunshine was the setting for the proposal! During a sensational sunset dinner overlooking the sea, four special words were spoken. Hannah explains: “I love white chocolate desserts and after dinner to my surprise a white chocolate cake which read ‘will you marry me?’ along with loads of white balloons and Aint No Mountain High Enough playing in the background. He got down on one knee, and it was super romantic and unexpected.”
Elegant details are dotted throughout the morning preparations. Divine Jimmy Choo bridal shoes, pearl and diamond earrings, a very special wedding brew and a beautiful gold foil stationery suit all caught our eye.
The pair have spent the last five years living in Dublin, and Merrion Square, where they took their wedding photos, holds many memories for them. “The Shelbourne Hotel is somewhere we often visit and spend time, particularly around Christmas time. As Christmas is my favourite time of year, the wedding venue is a truly magical experience around this time. Every festive season when we visit the hotel it will bring back wedding memories which will be very special,” they say.
Andrew and his wedding party look very dapper in classic tuxedos,dressed to impress in black tie. Finished with a fluffy white rose buttonhole and velvet bow ties!
Hannah’s bridal style is simply breathtaking. Choosing a timeless wedding gown, with a full skirt and cathedral train. Complementing her elegant look, she chose a sheer veil with soft curls whilst her Jimmy Choos brought the sparkle! The beautiful flower girls looked so pretty in their matching dresses and baby’s breath flower crowns.
Hannah and Andrew chose St. Andrew’s Church, Dublin as the unique venue for their nuptials as Andrew’s grandparents wer married there. “Andrew was also baptised there and named after St Andrew so it was a sentimental location for us,” they say.
The couple created a relaxed day for both themselves and their guests by choosing a wedding location that was easily accessible with many accommodation options close by for those who travelled from afar. The ceremony was in walking distance to the reception venue, with some classic Irish pubs en route such as Kennedy’s and O’Donoghue’s which proved very popular for a pit stop!
The overall vibe of the day was a timeless, chic, romantic winter wedding in the heart of Dublin City. The wedding aesthetic was inspired by Pinterest where Hannah founds heaps of classical, minimalist weddings. We adore the bouquet choice of long-stemmed snow white roses for her bouquet, along with her timeless style, these suit the season perfectly.
The exquisite bridesmaids looked amazing in full-length silky smooth champagne gowns and slick, sophisticated ponytails. Absolutely gorgeous!
The Shelbourne Hotel stole our couple’s heart for a number of reasons. “It was important to us to do the simple things really well, to give our guests a really positive and memorable day out. This is why we chose the Shelbourne Hotel. They offer exceptional customer service and the highest quality of food. Their dedicated wedding executive, Cathy O’Shea, also ensured the day flowed effortlessly, so we could relax and enjoy the day with our guests. We also went all out on the music to add to the overall ambience of the day. We played a lot of romantic classics from Frank Sinatra, Nat King Cole and Michael Buble during the reception and dinner!”
As for advice, they say to relax on the day. Delegate any last-minute to-dos in advance so you can let go, relax and have fun on the day. Enjoy the celebration that’s in it and remember what it’s all for. “On the day itself, Andrew and I went up to our bedroom after photos before the reception and had a quick ‘Cheers’ with just the two of us. It was nice to take a couple of minutes to ourselves and take it all in. I’d really recommend it. I also found prioritising and investing in the simple things paid off like a good quality venue, food, music, photographer, dresses, etc. Don’t sweat the small stuff – your guests won’t notice these.”
Hannah and Andrew shared their first dance as husband and wife to This Will Be’by Natalie Cole!
A very special thank you to Hannah, Andrew and photographer Niamh Smith for sharing their wonderful Christmas wedding day with us! There are lots more gorgeous photos to pore over in the gallery below.
For more winter wedding inspiration, so our other fabulous festive real weddings!
