Sunny day — check. Brilliant backdrop — check. A bit of Irish history, culture, and atmosphere all in a relaxed setting where you can actually sit back and enjoy your wedding day with those you love? Check. Check. Check! We love Marwa and Luke’s brilliant intimate wedding day in the west, featuring some of our favorite locations unique to Ireland! Marwa’s Rober Bullock dress was the perfect touch in this coastal part of the country — light and airy on a warm day by the sea. Luke looked ever part the handsome groom in a classic tuxedo.  Their day was about incorporating everything they loved about Ireland, honoring their family, and enjoying every moment in a relaxed pace. Please enjoy this sweet intimate wedding beautifully captured by the always incredible Awake & Dreaming Photography.

Going Back to Ireland

Marwa and Luke met back in college. After dating for a few years, he popped the question atop the CN Tower in Toronto — where they had their first kiss! — and started looking in the area to host their wedding. “All the venues we had looked at in our area just didn’t seem like us,” recalls Marwa. “They felt very staged and none of them really represented us and our story.”  Fully exhausted on their search, they came home after looking at another venue that didn’t quite fit and blurted out “why don’t we just get married in Ireland?!” They had traveled there back in 2015 and fell in love with the country, culture and people and always wanted to go back. They got in contact with us to see if it was possible to get married abroad. “Waterlily Weddings has such amazing stories and weddings, and they seem like a company that loves their mission,” says Marwa.  “We emailed them, got some more information, and decided a destination wedding in Ireland is totally us. Waterlily, Ireland, and a small wedding made perfect sense and we didn’t look back after making those three decisions!”

The Details

They knew from their past trip that western Ireland was the ideal spot for their elopement: a bit of countryside charm and tranquility, the ocean breeze and glistening Atlantic, unique rugged terrain of the coastline and the Burren. After talking with our planner Stephanie, they chose the perfect venue and ceremony location right by the sea! Their bespoke spiritual ceremony was heavily influenced by Celtic traditions — perfectly enhanced by the ocean and ancient Burren as backdrop — and included some Catholic influence and honoring their family who could and could not be there, including their grandparents who have passed. “The most romantic part of the day was looking at each other after saying our vows. We were in one of the most beautiful places in the world getting married! And knowing our marriage gets to start off with such adventure and excitement was so intimate and romantic.”

One incredible detail we love is Marwa’s bouquet — it includes her grandfather’s cross necklace wrapped around the stems. The vibe of the day was casual and carefree — the day was left to have its own pace, blessed with a gloriously brilliant and warm sun that made for some stunning pictures. A relaxed and casual dinner awaited, including a custom vegetarian menu for Marwa and full custom menu featuring locally sustained and sourced seafood and produce.  A freshly baked vanilla cake decorated with fresh flowers matching Marwa’s bouquet was the perfect sweet bite to end the meal. “Honestly and truthfully we wouldn’t have changed a single thing,” says Marwa and Luke. “We loved every detail, flower, person we hired, and would do it all again if we could!”

A Piece of Advice

“Research the area so you’re familiar with it when you arrive. Hire a wedding planner to help you — having a coordinator on the day of the wedding too was a huge asset as well — Orla was extremely familiar with everything and it took all the stress away! Listen to your own voice — we knew having a large wedding at home wasn’t for us and we wanted to be true to who we are and knew a small destination wedding was for us.”

 

Marwa and Luke — you two are just the cutest! We love how you really embraced the vibe and authenticity of that part of Ireland and let your own voices shine through to allow beautiful day to unfold. It’s crystal clear you both love each other and are in turn loved by your closest — no doubt your future together will be as brilliant as the sun that shone on your wedding day! We congratulate you and wish you both a wonderful, long happy life together full of more adventures (and trips to Ireland!).