Oh, what a treat we have with this real wedding! A lakeside wedding day filled with whimsical glamour in the enchanting surroundings of Co. Tipperary, Ireland. Baylor and Evan, our real wedding couple, created a wedding theme inspired by their wedding venue Ashley Park House, with its unique charm and natural and earthy colour palette. Photographer Mario Vaitkus captured this beautifully which you can see for yourself below. Sit back, relax and get ready to feel inspired!
The love story between these two college sweethearts began at the University of Limerick, where Baylor was studying abroad for a semester in 2015. One night, at the pub on campus, they locked eyes and instantly hit it off. Evan followed Baylor across the pond to sunny California a year later, where they did long distance for a whopping six more years before finally tying the knot! As for the proposal, we will let Baylor tell the story: “Evan planned a surprise trip to Co. Kerry where he proposed at a beautiful spot in Killarney National Park. Our first trip together as a couple was to Killarney, so it has always been a special place for us.”
Baylor’s glistening engagement ring is from Bespoke Diamonds, Dublin, and Evan’s wedding ring is actually composed of two rings. His own was made of platinum on the outside with his mother’s wedding band fits into the inside of the ring. Her engravings were kept and Evan and Baylor’s were added to the inside. Also Baylor’s wedding band and necklace were made from Evan’s mom’s engagement ring in a beautiful sentiment that brings them all the luck of having something old on their wedding day!
The lush lakeside wedding venue with beautiful gardens and a house overlooking a lake was the heart of the inspiration behind the couple’s wedding theme. “We wanted it to feel like an elegant garden party!” The blossoming bouquets comprised of neutral florals such as baby’s breath, eucalyptus and ivory roses – the perfect palette to complement the surroundings. These handmade beauties were made by the very talented Flowers by The Secret Garden, a floral design studio and flower farm in the Cork countryside specialising in natural, seasonal designs.
Check out the bridal party pyjamas! A refreshing change to robes, and we are sure will get plenty more wears in these silk pinstripe beauties. Baylor chose a unique and beautiful bridal scent, 4711’s Remix Lavender Cologne and added her ‘something blue’ through her sweet bouquet charm.
Her enchanting wedding gown was designed by bridal dress designer, Mori Lee. A glistening gown, with delicate embellishments. The back detail is simply breathtaking!
The lakeside wedding ceremony took place in the idyllic lakehouse at Ashley Park House. A very special moment that stands out to the couple is when Evan’s dad surprised all the guests by officiating the wedding. “This made the ceremony incredibly personal and special, not only for us but for our guests as well,” they say. Baylor and Evan decided on a hand-fasting ceremony, a ritual in which the couple stands face to face as their hands are tied together – hence the phrase, tying the knot! This added a nice personalised touch to the wedding the couple said.
Shades of pale dusty lavender and deep blue took the spotlight for the wedding party’s colour palette! The gorgeous bridesmaids wore gowns that mirrored the same style as the bride’s making it a match made in heaven! The dapper gents wore deep navy three-piece suits by Benetti, along with a subtle neutral tone peeping through in the details of the groom’s waistcoat and the guy’s paisley ties.
Near Lough Ourna, Ashley Park House is a stunning and serene sanctuary set on 76 acres of beech woodland and gardens. The newlyweds tell us what made the lakeside wedding venue the one for their special day: “When we first toured the venue, we knew immediately. The grounds are absolutely stunning, and we wanted to have the option to be outdoors. The onsite ceremony room also meant we would have more time with our guests during the drink reception. To top it off, the food was incredible as they grow most of the fruit and vegetables used in the dinner.”
With that being said, the venue played a significant role in the wedding aesthetic. “We wanted to go for a simple, natural-looking wedding. Once we knew the venue, everything just came together for an elegant garden party wedding. We barely added any decor to the venue and the colour palette was based on greenery, lavender, and ivory and white florals.”
When it came to what was truly most important, their biggest priorities came down to the food and music and simply having the dance floor full all night long! Before the dancing kicked off, it was time for the couple to share their first dance as husband and wife. But wait, this wasn’t just any dance, but an upbeat dance that was weeks in the making! “Our first dance was to We Fell For Miles by Toucan and as both of us are terrible dancers, we did a month of lessons before the wedding. The end result was a really fun, upbeat dance!”
We asked Baylor and Evan for their advice for those who are in the midst of wedding planning. They say: “Take your time to pick the right venue and vendors, they will help your day run smoothly. The night before – or earlier if you can – make the conscious decision to just enjoy the day. It is so easy to continue to worry about all the small details, but at a certain point, there is no more you can do. So just decide not to sweat the little things because the day is going to fly by, and you will want to have enjoyed every moment.”
To continue the wedding celebrations, the lovebirds jetted off on honeymoon to Sardinia in Italy for a dream-worthy trip! A very big thank you to Baylor, Evan and Mario Vaitkus for sharing this wonderful celebration with us at One Fab Day.
