The wedding business comes with some spectacular moments and details that we have the privilege and honor of helping to plan and produce for our clients. We love the nitty gritty details, the challenge of coordinating and translating our clients’ vision and making it a reality for their dream wedding day. But we do have a confession to make: as much as we relish the challenges and the styling and designing and the details, at heart what truly drives us is Love.

There is no force greater that ever existed than Love. And with countless stories and examples that have inspired everything from centuries old fairy tales and ancient sagas to art, music, and movies of the modern age. Love triumphs over all. It inspires us. It embraces us when we are weak and stands us up when we fall. And it comes in many forms, as we know.

The best part of Brice and Lauren’s wedding day, apart from the obviously gorgeous bride and her handsome groom, is how apparent and how present Love is in their lives. You can see it in their faces in every picture. You can see it in their family and friends. You can see the joy and pride in this strong family unit, you can see the excitement of being in Ireland, and you can see the absolute Love between this bride and groom and their closest family and friends and how grateful they all are for each other. This, is why we do what we do. And we are so honored to have helped them plan and coordinate their epic wedding ceremony on the western coast of Ireland.

Without further adieu, Waterlily Weddings is most proud to present, the beautiful wedding of Lauren and Brice. This, is their story…

“Wanna pack your bags, something small
Take what you need and we disappear
Without a trace we’ll be gone, gone
The moon and the stars can follow the car
and then when we get to the ocean
We gonna take a boat to the end of the world
All the way to the end of the world…”

Brice and Lauren met back in 2009 at a mutual friend’s wedding. They went on to date for the next six years.  On winter’s day near their sixth anniversary, Brice arranged a romantic dinner to celebrate with his beautiful, unsuspecting fiance-to-be.  They took a walk, taking in the Christmas lights and holiday displays (a favorite pastime of Lauren’s), and Brice grew increasingly more nervous. The evening began to near its completion as they walked towards the car, when Brice dropped to his knee and proposed to Lauren, who enthusiastically said “yes.”

Soon the couple found themselves in the throws of wedding planning, the challenges of friends and family living in different states becoming a quick and very apparent obstacle early on: Lauren and Brice live in Arkansas, but their family live in Texas and Virginia, and the looming question of where to host their large wedding began to weigh heavily on the couple. As the details became more and more convoluted, Lauren and Brice toyed with the idea of just eloping. Which they would have done, but for the fact they really, really wanted their families and closest friends there on their wedding day.

Another option was waiting for them. With some research they discovered Ireland. Bold and expansive yet warm and inviting, Ireland called to Lauren and Brice, and they could begin seeing their wedding day somewhere on the Emerald Isle. They discovered Waterlily Weddings and began searching our site, checking out our real weddings and our BLOG,  checking our PORTFOLIO for inspiration and ideas and soon contacted Michelle for more. After discussing what they wanted, they knew Moy House would be the perfect fit to host their dream wedding day in Ireland!

 

  

  

 

 

 

 

 

Situated in picturesque Lahinch, a charming coastal town on the western coast of Ireland about ten minutes drive to the world famous Cliffs of Moher (and about an hour north of Kerry), Moy House is 19th century manor home first built to Sir Augustine Fitzgerald to serve as his summer home. The architect originally planned a heavier Italian Villa influence that eventually got mixed in with Ireland to result in an unique Anglo-Irish Italian Rivera country estate. The house was purchased by the Daly family in 1933, then purchased again by Lahinch native Antoin O’Looney in the late 90’s. The house went through a two year period of meticulous refurbishment inside and out, and presents beautifully today with all of the love and care clearly put in by O’Looney. The location is exquisite, perfectly situated near the Cliffs of Moher, The Burren, a few notable golf courses (Lahinch Golf Club, Doonbeg Golf Links, Ballybunion Golf Course in Kerry, and Dromoland Castle Golf Course) for the golf enthusiast, charming seaside villages of Lahinch and Doolin, and picturesque 50 min drive (approx) to Shannon Airport. It’s truly an idyllic area to center your wedding, and to explore some of Ireland’s most spectacular national scenery on the west.

With preparations well underway, soon the big day arrived. It has be raining non stop for a week leading up to the event. Lauren awoke to a supremely rainy day, the typical nerves and anxiety of a bride on her wedding day in full force. As the staff of Moy House and the vendors for her wedding began their preparations, Lauren found herself unable to just sit still; she was too excited. They were in Ireland! Finally! They were here and together with everyone that they loved and who loved them, and in just a few hours she and Brice would be standing in front of each other and pledging their vows to one another.

Lauren looked about, seeing of there was anything to do, anything to help with. She found every detail was well in good hands. She finally had to ask for someone to give her something to do to preoccupy her so it would take her mind off the nerves. She eventually got the programs and walked them down the hall, quickly, ordered to come straight back so one would see her!

Brice and the men, meanwhile, went into town that morning. Brice awoke also a bit nervous, but outwardly kept his cool. He and the men treated themselves to a proper Irish shave, a wonderful way to begin his wedding day! They came back and got ready.

Lauren and Brice grew anxious throughout the morning as the rain seemed to fail to cease. They really envisioned a stunning outdoor ceremony utilizing Ireland’s spectacular natural beauty as backdrop and decoration for their ceremony. They resolved that even with bad weather, they would be flexible and somehow figure out a way to still have the ceremony outdoors. Well, in true Irish fashion, the weather in the end cooperated. The skies parted and the rain stopped a couple of hours before their ceremony was to begin. The day was warm, though windy — as is the case along the coast — but the sun did shine through.

  

 

 

 

 

Ready and out, it was time. Finally.

Lauren and Brice chose to have a traditional ceremony mixed with some Irish traditions. They performed the hand-fasting and had elements of Irish tradition like the horseshoe which Lauren wore on her bouquet for luck. The guests all rang bell wands, the jingling of bells a very old Irish traditional dating back to the time of the Celts whereby it is believed the noise helps ward off evil spirits or jealous faeries that may want to come steal the beautiful bride’s day. For decoration they wanted to truly embrace the natural beauty Ireland has to offer. They allowed nature and the spirit of the island to set the tone and the mood. Everyone was entranced, then Lauren made her spectacular debut in her beautiful Hailey Page dress.

 

  

 

It was an emotional ceremony. Lauren was marrying her best friend. And they fulfilled their wish to keep their closest family and friends to share in the joy of their day. They were soon announced husband and wife, and the whirl wind continued.

After taking stunning pictures around the area, Lauren and Brice rejoined their guests back at the Moy House for the reception.

While Lauren and Brice took pictures, the guests enjoyed canapes featuring: Tandoori chicken skewer, garlic and coriander yogurt; Fillet steak tartare on toasted sourdough; Prawn Tempura with chilli and lime dressing; Deep fried mushroom and mozzarella risotto balls. And to wash it down a selection of beer and wine and host bar. Once returned, everyone joined in the cozy dining room, beautifully decorated with silvery sage garland and cream and peach roses to match Lauren’s bouquet. The couple together with their guests enjoyed an incredible five-course, farm-to-table meal including Wild Mushroom and Truffle Veloute; Parmesan Gnocchi with Butternut Squash, Ceps, and Parmesan; Doonbeg Crab and Liscannor Lobster Risotto; Loin of Irish Lamb, Crispy Pearl Barley, Jerusalem Artichokes, Cavolo Nero was then followed by a wedding cake of Guinnes and chocolate cake with caramelized white chocolate buttercream. For these foodies, the meal was an outstanding, perfect way to celebrate. And the rainbow  that made the appearance for dinner outside, perhaps the icing on the cake.

The celebrating continued with feasting and drinking and dancing. Brice danced with his mother, bringing tears to everyone’s eyes. And Lauren and Brice danced together for the first time as husband and wife to the Dave Matthews Band’s “You and Me.” The party continued the festivities at Kenny’s Pub, a local establishment, for more traditional Irish-style celebrating.

Making the decision to get married in Ireland ended up being perfect for Lauren and Brice. They got the chance to explore this incredible country, bond even more with the most important and influential people in their lives, and enjoy the love and support for their dream wedding day without the pressures and hassles of a growing wedding monster back in the states. Instead they found love, romance, incredible beauty, and Lauren and Brice even found a few moments to sneak away and share some beautiful words with each other, a moment they will never forget.

 “…We can always look back at what we did
All these memories of you and me baby
But right now it’s you and me forever girl
And you know we could do better than anything that we did
You know that you and me, we could do anything.”

Lauren and Brice, we wish you an absolutely beautiful life together. Your love for one another is so clear, your happiness is most deserved, and we hope you will come back to Ireland one day again. Congratulations and may you continued on your blessed path.

THE SHORTHAND

Venue: Moy House, Lahinch, Co. Clare  ·  Celebrant: Aidan Storey, Spiritual Union of Ireland  ·  Photographer: Larry McMahon Photography  ·  Music: Ronan Browne  ·  Flowers: Mulqueen’s  ·  Hair: Hair Boutique  ·  Make-Up: Holly Burton (USA)  ·  Cake: The Chic Cake Boutique  ·  Bride’s Dress: “Behati” by Hayley Paige (Tesori Bridal and Formal, Fayettevill, AR)  ·  Shoes: Jimmy Choo  ·  Veil: Haley Paige  ·  Earrings: BHLDN  ·  Groom’s Suit: Menguin  ·  Tie & Accessories: Brooks Brothers  ·  Special Touches: Brice’s golf socks  ·  Details to Note: bridal party was given Celtic knot bracelets and the groom’s party were gifted matching golf socks

Something Old: great-grandmother’s mink stole

Something New: dress and shoes

Something Borrowed: horseshoe brooch on bouquet

Something Blue: part of Lauren’s dad’s blue shirt was sewn into her dress with their wedding date on it

Favorite Moments: spending the day surrounded by the most influential and most important people in our lives

Bride’s Piece of Advice: “Trust is everything! I am a very hands on person and like to make sure that everything is absolutely perfect, which can be stressful, but knowing that there was nothing that I could do but trust Michelle and the Waterlily team was the best decision I could have made. They made every large and small detail of the wedding seamless and it was absolutely perfect I still do not know if something went wrong that day; we could not have been happier with everything!”