The business

I have a couple shneaky dates coming up in my diary over the next couple of weeks, so I fancied myself up some website related business contact cards. Nothing too hardcore. Just a little something I can hand out at said dates. And here is what I came up with … 

First off, yes I am fully aware my contact card is landscape on one side, and portrait on the other. That is intentional, just to mix it up a bit and add a bit of pizzaz. So what do you think? I hope they don’t seem too dorky. When I eventually become a real life interior designer, I will have proper serious business cards. With serious amounts of hydrangeas.

I designed them myself and ordered them through VistaPrint.ie on Monday afternoon, and yesterday morning {Thursday} I got them in the post …

I ordered them express, but I didn’t think they’d be that express. Anyways homies, I hope the weather is kinder to you wherever you are. The rain is biblical here in Ireland today. But at least it’s Friday! xx A

Lately …

It’s been one of those weeks where I do nothing but curl up on the couch after work. Incredibly unproductive. For the little things that have happened this week, that were swell, but I can’t justify dedicating an entire post to each … 

I came home to a romantical surprise from husband. “Since I can’t get you hydrangeas this time of year, I got you these”.  For no reason. A massive stack of catkins* in the daintiest shade of pink. They’re one of my favourite flowers / buds because they feel like teeny kittens paws. 

I don’t write about beauty stuff, but having said that, I had the opportunity last year to get a gel manicure for free. It lasted over 3 weeks, and I was converted. They didn’t scratch or chip once. But at €40 at the salon for paying folk, I haven’t justified getting them since. Except this week I spotted the SensatioNail starter kit in Boots and couldn’t not get it. I did my nails last week and above is how they look today. What they say is true – once you shellac you never go back …

Initial sloppy sketches at my desk, but I’m very indecisive. I’m obsessed with picture frame tattoos these days, but haven’t found the right subject matter.

And lastly, we’re heading here next month for a mini holiday to celebrate our 7 year anniversary. I mean really, our hotel has its own beach. I’m jealous, and I’m the one going.

At long last, Friday is here! To all the mothers celebrating this Sunday – happy Mother’s Day 🙂 My mom has it made. I celebrate the Irish Mother’s Day with her ’cause I’m Irish, and my brother celebrates the Canadian one because he’s Canadian {we moved a lot when I was little}. So, she gets two Mother’s Days. Lucky duck.
  

Image cred 2 and 5

    

*Well I could hardly write “a massive stack of pussy willow”. Am I the only one who thinks that sounds really dirty?

Our wedding

I really feel that adding text to this post will ruin it. Our wedding day was like a dream, and was over twice as fast. But thanks to the painfully epic photography skills from Karina and Emily, we get to relive our day every time we look at our pictures.

I had to crop out a massive paragraph stressing the importance of researching and finding a photographer{s} with mad skills you adore, who you can sit comfortably with on your wedding morning and who will listen to you talk crap whilst you put your face on. It’s an investment you will have for the rest of your life.

Our entire day was all under one roof at Dunboyne Castle. Hubby {fiance at the time} and I stayed the night before our wedding in Dunboyne Castle where we sprinkled tea cups and draped hydrangeas onto every surface the night before. The next morning, we got ready {in separate rooms of course}, walked 3 minutes to our ceremony, got married, and after pictures and catch up with family, mozied across the hotel to our reception. We wouldn’t have had it any other way. Linkage for all the details of our day at the bottom of this post …

We hope you enjoy 🙂

I made my veil 20 minutes before the ceremony. Sorry, but I just cannot justify paying €250 for something similar, when I made mine for about €1. Thrifty to the core.

And the bouquets – nothing other than gorgeous hydrangeas. Huge props to Dorothy from Dunboyne Flowers who spent weeks hunting for hydrangeas the exact shade of purple as the bridesmaids dresses, and ordered them in especially from Holland. I didn’t think it was possible, but she did it. Perfection.

Together with the ever passionate Romy, we put together a bespoke hand fasting ceremony {where we ‘tied the knot’}, as well as traditional exchanging of rings. We’re still getting compliments on what a personal and beautiful ceremony we had. It was perfection and wouldn’t suggest or have wanted anyone else for the role.

To add a personal touch, we displayed framed pictures of each of our parents on their wedding days, and for the remainder of the day, got told how much we look like them.
We also displayed our Confetti engagement mention should our guests be up for some light reading.

In keeping with our tea and porcelain theme, I wrote out our seating chart on vintage plates. I was so stuck for so long as how to display our seating, and I didn’t want to have to go down the printable, chalkboard or anything too over the top route. Thankfully, my dad came up with this simple idea, and after a few trips to the charity shop and digging through cupboards, with a trusty Sharpie, our seating chart was done. Since hubby and I met in a cinema and are avid movie lovers, I printed off our favourite movie covers in black and white {printed twice and glued to either side of a piece of card}, which corresponded with the movies written on each plate. Movies you don’t see – Batman, Star Wars, Fargo, Napoleon Dynamite, Inception, National Lampoons Christmas Vacation and Beetlejuice.

We wouldn’t have done it any other way 🙂
Venue – Dunboyne Castle Hotel & SpaphotographyKarina Finegan and Emily O’CallaghanceremonyRomy McCauley  {A Beautiful Ceremony}, hair – Emma Kennedy of Dylan Bradshawflowers – hydrangeas from Dunboyne Flowers, everything else from my parents garden, groom and groomsmen suitsRed Herringgrooms shoesJeff Banksbrides dressMemories Bridalbrides brooches – my grandmothers clip on earings along with my own collection {plus a little skull, obv}, brides bracelet John Rocha bracelet from hubby, bridesmaids dressesCoastboutonnieres / buttonholes – made by moi, tutorial hereflower girl – dress by Bluezoo, plus faux hydrangeas I sewed on to match hubby’s boutonniere, flowering tea favours – made by moi, tutorial herecakescarrot cake, black forest gateaux, and gateaux Diane, all from Mannings Bakerytea cups and teapots – from various charity shops and family.