Amy & Rob's love story began five years ago in Galway. Amy tells us about their gorgeous intimate wedding day in Galway with their close family and how they ensured that the guests who couldn't make it were there in spirit.
We met 5 years ago online on PlentyofFish! I’m a doctor and my cousin subtly encouraged me to try online dating as my social life was non-existent at the time (I had just started postgraduate training in surgery).
I took a quick look at Rob’s bio and noticed we both had the same favourite movie, Step Brothers… not the most romantic film of all time! I sent Rob a quote from the movie - “did we just become best friends?!” – to which he replied, “yup!” and we really were best friends from there. After a few days chatting, we had our first date on Salthill Prom.
Shortly after the new year, Rob asked if we could visit his hometown of Galway to see his parents. We were living in Dublin and after a very long week, I didn’t much feel like the trip! He promised me a date if I agreed. Little did I know he had it all planned...
He recreated our first date from start to finish. After a walk up the Prom and a trip for some much needed refreshments and a game of pool in the Oslo, we played some games in Seapoint, and started to walk back down the Prom. He asked me to take a seat on the same bench we ended our first date sitting on and asked if I’d enjoyed the date. I replied with “I enjoyed it so much that I don’t think I ever want to go on another date with anyone ever again!”, at which point he got down on one knee, Chupi ring in hand. We have no decent engagement photos as I bawled crying in total shock!
We asked all the guests we had intended to invite to send us a picture of themselves. We printed them and stuck them to the pews to make it feel like all our loved ones were with us!
My Nanna and Grandad lived right next door to a quaint little church just outside Gort, Galway. My Nanna minded the church her whole life, and her mother before her. When I was younger I used to help her clean it and prepare for mass, so I always knew it’s where I’d want to get married!
With so much uncertainty around the wedding, numbers of guests we could have, what restrictions would be in place or who would be able to travel, we decided to go ahead with a “two-part” wedding and park our original wedding venue (the Armada Hotel) and save it for a ceremony and celebration when all our friends and family can get together. Instead we had our wedding breakfast and celebrations in a more intimate venue, Hyde Bar, Forster Court Hotel, Galway.
Luckily, my Mum, sister and niece who all live in my hometown of Derby in the UK, managed to make it safely over for the wedding. My brothers couldn’t attend due to the travel restrictions. In the end, we had seven guests between Rob’s family and my own. My sister was my Maid of Honour and our nieces were bridesmaid and flower girl! Rob’s brother was best man.
We had a lovely relaxed morning in the Lady Gregory Hotel, Gort, Galway, where we got ready. Luckily, most of our vendors were family or friends – my aunties agreed to do my hair and Rob’s cousin was my makeup artist! Our good friend, Kenny was our videographer. It made for a lovely relaxed morning.
We asked all the guests we had intended to invite to send us a picture of themselves. We printed them and stuck them to the pews to make it feel like all our loved ones were with us! We also Zoom-ed the wedding so anyone who wanted could join us on the day.
Our engagement and wedding rings are intended to be heirlooms, to pass down when we eventually have a family of our own.
The ceremony was so intimate and special, and we had local musicians playing music for us – including the harp, which was so special.
After a small ceremony, we visited the cemetery my Nanna and Grandad are buried in and laid flowers before making our way into Salthill for a wander down the Prom and a few arcade games in Sea Point! Lots of passers-by joined in our celebrations as we walked by! We then met our guests at Hyde for apperitifs and our wedding breakfast.
My Mum’s family, who all live locally to the church we were married in, surprised us outside the church at the end of the ceremony, with balloons and champagne (socially distanced of course). We didn’t expect it and my heart filled with joy seeing our loved ones on our special day.
My dress was nothing like I thought I would end up with! On a visit to Derby, my sister and my nieces all joined me for some dress shopping as we knew we wouldn’t get to do it altogether easily! I thought I might just get an idea of what I wanted before settling on a dress from a boutique in Ireland. I went to the most beautiful boutique, which specialises in unusual and exquisite dresses, and found my perfect dress there, thanks to Gemma who pointed me in the right direction! It was a Martina Liana 1111 and I wish I could wear it every day!
In the midst of all the uncertainty, disruption and chaos, I wanted us all to have a happy day to remember. We had so many laughs and we got to share something really special together. We didn’t have everyone we wanted present on the day, but we hope they felt that they were there in spirit and we can’t wait to be able to celebrate with them again, as we intend to do.
My engagement ring is a ‘Love is All’ grey diamond, which my husband chose all my himself (well, with a little help from my sister). I love how unique it is, the fire and inclusions in the grey diamonds makes every ring individual.
For my wedding ring, I chose the Solid Gold Hawthorn Twig Band, whilst Rob chose the Solid Gold Hawthorn Bark Polished Ring Band. I love that our the meaning behind the Hawthorn and the fact our rings represent different parts of our family “tree”.
I have loved the Chupi pieces since I came across them on Instagram! I love that Chupi is a homegrown, Irish business, I love the symbolism behind the designs and the sustainability of the brand really appeals to me. The pieces are so unique, it’s hard not to love them. My rings are the envy of everyone who notices them!!
It means so much that my engagement ring was a gift picked by Rob and that each piece we have chosen has a wonderful meaning behind it. Our engagement and wedding rings are intended to be heirlooms, to pass down when we eventually have a family of our own.
Vendors:
Dress: Wedding House Boutique, Derby
Grooms Suits: Debenhams, Ireland
Flowers: The Flower Den, Ennis, Co Clare
Photographer: Paul Duane Photography
Videographer: Kenny Gaughan, Wonderfullife Productions
Cake: Lilies & Pearls Wedding Cakes, Gort, Co Galway
Venue: Hyde Bar, Forster Court Galway
Wedding Singer: Nicola Cahill Music
Makeup: Ann-Marie Fahy
Hair: Gorrie Cummins, Rose Whyte
