Pretty, Pastel Easter Celebration at Claregalway Hotel

Our beautiful couple today, Amanda and Ashley certainly didn’t let storm Hannah get in the way of their perfect Easter wedding celebration at Claregalway Hotel. We’re delighted to share their special day with photography by Alex Zarodov Photography.

“Ashley and I met back in 2007 at the Galway Rally. I went to school with his brother, Aaron, and my friend pointed Ashley out to me, as being Aaron’s brother. We started talking and instantly hit it off. We exchanged numbers and the rest as they say is history,” says Amanda.

After ten years together the couple have a beautiful son Joshua. Ashely proposed to Amanda in Sligo in a beautifully intimate way, just the two of them.

They began planning their Spring wedding with a relaxed ease, no element of the day was more important than the other. Amanda and Ashley simply wanted their guests to enjoy their day in a relaxed, stress-free way. As their day was just after the Easter holidays this celebration became the theme for the day. Using beautiful spring florals with a romantic feel was key to the look.

Amanda purchased her wedding gown from Belladonna in Galway.

“I wasn’t sure what dress I wanted. When I went to Belladonna I was overwhelmed but speaking with Sue, she made me feel comfortable from the get go. I brought my mother and sister with me. This was a first for us, it was emotional and memorable,” explained Amanda. “My sister and mother chose a dress each, that they wanted to see me in. I wasn’t loving them. We had such a laugh. Sue used her expertise and after hearing my budget, and style I didn’t like she picked me some dresses and I found my dress. I was over the moon.”

Their day was a delight and made even more special with a few personal touches. They were married by Amanda’s friend from school and her mum decorated her home for her leaving on the wedding morning. “Fr Daniel Gallagher from Oranmore Galway married us. He made our mass beautiful and chilled. No pressure, no fuss, just beautiful. He is a fantastic young priest and it meant the world for him to marry us,” she said. “My mother decorated my home house with beautiful handmade decorations. She went to a lot of effort and it meant the world to me to see them all when I was ready to leave the house.”

Amanda’s Planning Advice

“Don’t feel like you have to spend thousands of Euro on stuff you think other people will like. Stick to your guns, if you love something and it costs €10, use it. Make what you can. Buy pre loved wedding decorations from Facebook, they have beautiful bits. Try not to personalise everything, it’s harder to re-sell.”