“We worked with our band to surprise our guests and opened up the floor with John Legend ‘All of Me’ then broke into our Charleston Swing to Benny Goodman’s ‘Sing Sing’. It was so much fun seeing all of our friends and families reactions.”
The couple: Jessica Heazle & Eoin Weldon
Length of engagement: 18 months | Wedding Date: 31st July 2015
Wedding reception: Springfort Hall Country House and Hotel, Cork
Videographer: John Donoghue – Strawberry Films
We met… back in 2009 on the August bank holiday weekend in a nightclub in Cork, Havanna Browns. I had lost sight of my friends and had been walking around the club when I noticed Eoin and he came over to me, the rest is history!
Our proposal… There is a saying ‘’Everyone has a love story but ours is my favourite!’’ We planned a weekend away for my 29th birthday to Clare in October 2013, however we never made it to Clare. The evening before, Eoin said he had to give me an early birthday present and presented me with an envelope, which revealed we were heading to Brussels the following day. Little did I know that Eoin had been carefully planning this trip and his proposal since our summer holiday in August. After flying to Brussels and staying for just one night, Eoin had yet another surprise in store… On the Saturday he told me we were heading to the train station to another destination. At the train station he gave me my ticket for Bruges! I couldn’t wait to get there as I’d heard about the beautiful city and it’s cobbled streets. We spent the Saturday around Bruges, cycling, walking hand in hand around the cobbled streets, oblivious to everyone else, just happy out together. In the afternoon we made a plan to go to the cathedral after we had a quick rest. Eoin had went and made a phone call to my father to explain to him that we were away in Bruges and asked for my hand in marriage. My dad said yes of course and told Eoin to go ahead. At 3.30pm on the Saturday we walked the 366 steps to the top of the cathedral, there at the top Eoin got down on one knee and asked me what I wanted to do with the rest of my life and would I marry him. I was in complete shock, I was crying and I think I asked him what he was doing and then repeatedly said ‘yes, yes, yes’. Walking back down the 366 steps was tough with my shaking legs. We had dinner and champagne in the square in Bruges and reflected on what had happened. It was just perfect.
Our wedding theme/colours… we went with dark and pale pinks and teal, and we had a ‘classic sophistication in a country setting’ theme.
My dress… My dress was from Amora Bridal in Youghal. It was by Canadian designer Paloma Blanca from her Mikaella collection. I wanted something that was elegant with classic sophistication and I found it with my dress.
His suit… Eoin’s navy three piece suit was bought from Lapel 1865 in Cork.
What our bridal party wore… Our bridal party wore full length teal A-line dresses from The Ivory Rose in Cork.
Our ceremony… took place at St. John’s Church, Carrigaline, Cork. A few people had mentioned to me prior to the day that the ceremony would be the highlight of the entire day and it really was. It was so special, the commitment to each other that we made that day.
We chose our videographer because… we wanted something different. We didn’t want the standard videographer, we wanted a production of our day. We had done some research as well as asking friends and came across John’s work at Strawberry Films. We were very happy with his work and the Super 8 film added to our footage.
We chose our venue because… We wanted a venue that wasn’t your standard hotel and we wanted something in the country to go with our theme. Springfort Hall was actually the first venue we visited. The staff were so friendly and from the moment we met with them, they couldn’t have been more helpful. The wedding reception room made it for the both of us. It was perfect – the lighting, the backdrop, décor and the stoned wall at the side made it for us along with the country setting, it had a very homely feel on arrival. To top everything off, the food is top of the range.
My favourite part of the wedding day… There are so many but I think the big ones were seeing Eoin for the first time at the altar, the hour drive to our venue drinking champagne and getting to be on our own for the first time as Mr and Mrs and of course our first dance! We had decided a few months before the wedding to get some dance lessons and surprise everyone – we took lessons from Tom and Rachel at Swing Dance Cork to learn the Charleston Swing. We worked with our band to surprise our guests and opened up the floor with John Legend ‘All of Me’ then broke into our Charleston Swing to Benny Goodman’s ‘Sing Sing’. It was so much fun seeing all of our friends and families reactions.
My piece of advice for other brides… Accept that you can’t please everyone, it’s your big day so go with what you both want, not what you think will make others happy.
