One of our favorite weddings of 2018 is Devin and Damin’s gorgeous ethereal wedding at Kilruddery House & Gardens. From start to finish, this wedding strikes each note with precision, from overall look to ceremony decor, to reception style.  A phenomenal highlight was the surprise poem reading by Devin’s grandmother in their native Lakota language during the ceremony.  The color palette of elegant white, blush, and emerald greenery worked so beautifully in both venue spaces, adding an air of easy sophistication that perfectly matched the day’s overall vibe. “I wanted it to be light and bright, for the venues to speak for themselves.” The landscape and beautiful architecture of Ireland really stood out and set the tone. You know we love a good tuxedo and Damian did not disappoint! And we’re still swooning over Devin’s incredible dress and overall look — simply stunning.

One detail that’s a little bittersweet is Devin’s First Look. She ended up having an impromptu Father Daughter First Look in her room, made all the more meaningful since her dad passed away just 3 weeks after the wedding. A sequence you’ll see shortly is particularly powerful, poignantly shot by Napa, CA based photographer c.m.elle studios . “Our wedding was the last time I really got to spend quality time with him,” says Devin. “I worked for his construction company in the office, so he was not only my dad but also my boss. We talked all day, every day. Now it’s just nothing. So to say that our wedding day was special is a complete understatement.”

And as you’ll see from the photos, he was quite the formidable force and greatly missed.

Grab a tissue and get ready to enjoy some of the most breathtaking photos we’ve seen at Kilruddery House as we take you through Devin and Damian’s day. This, is their story…

“When the rain is blowing in your face
And the whole world is on your case
I could offer you a warm embrace
To make you feel my love…”

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A California Girl and Her Military Man

Damian and Devin met a while back when they were just kids in Key West, Florida. Devin, a California girl from Napa was 16 and Damian, an optimistic 18 year old Ohio native had just joined the US Coast Guard. They dated a few months but Devin moved back to Napa and they grew apart. Seven years later they reconnected on Facebook and picked up where they left off. Damian proposed to Devin and she said yes!

A destination wedding was the immediate choice for them. With families in Ohio and California, they didn’t want either family to have to travel from one to the other, so they picked a neutral spot that would entice both side of the family to attend. “We aren’t big on hot weather, so the stipulations were somewhere with cooler weather that is still green,” recalls Devin. Ireland was literally the perfect choice, so they started exploring venues!

The Details

They originally envisioned a castle, but found them to be a touch dark for their liking and wanted a place that would work both indoors and outdoors, given the weather.  And good thing they did. With hurricane-level winds just days leading up to their wedding day (!), the orangerie at Kilruddery was the perfect choice! Even after an eventful round of golf in a mini-hurricane, the weather did manage to turn just in time as it always does, giving way to the spectacular natural light you see on their wedding day. “Somehow the weather cleared up for our wedding — how, I’ll never know! We did get some wind and a little rain on the day, but it made for epic pictures!”

The morning was calm and was spent bonding with their family and friends. Damian enjoyed some Guinness with his party while Devin got ready in her suite, sipping on champagne and waiting for the 23 months worth of planning to come alive! We love her gorgeous Watters gown and those Badgley Mischka shoes are simply to die for! She looked every bit the part of Radiant Bride, and Damian the Handsome Groom in his classic black tuxedo. The bridesmaids were gorgeous in their Azazie gowns, the florals perfectly complimenting the light and airy color palette.

Their spiritual ceremony took place in the orangerie. A surprise was Devin’s grandmother reciting the Four Directions Prayer in her native Lakota language — such a special and beautiful detail to add to their day to make it so special and memorable. They kept the decor to an elegant greenery theme — lots of soft whites, creamy ivories, and emerald green tones worked beautifully with the pale blush accents that really drew out Kilruddery’s soft elegance and sophistication just perfectly.

The reception was casual at a local upscale cafe.  Drawing on the greenery theme, they incorporated more greenery in ferns and decorated the tables in a consistent elegant style with white and blush tones. Greenery-themed menus added a nice pop of color to each table setting. Everyone enjoyed fabulous local fare and danced the night away. A lovely white buttercream vanilla cake elegantly adorned with fresh greenery served as dessert, and custom cocktails kept everyone going!

The Best Parts

“Seeing each other for the first time,” they both agree. “Seeing my dad in his tux,” recalls Devin, and “Waiting for Devin to walk down the aisle,” hits Damian’s top of the list  moments. “The most romantic part of the day was our photoshoot together in the Wicklow Mountains,” they both agree.

A Piece of Advice

“Make everyone stay at the same hotel!!! The best part of the whole trip besides the wedding was the few nights we were all together!”

“I could make you happy, make your dreams come true
There’s nothing that I wouldn’t do
Go to the ends of this Earth for you
To make you feel my love, oh yes
To make you feel my love”

Devin and Damian — congratulations on an incredible wedding day.  We wish you both all the happiness imaginable, a long life together, and many blessings. Thank you for the honor of planning your day, and we hope you’ll visit us here again soon!

For more information and the talented vendors who helped bring this gorgeous wedding to life, CONTACT US today!