Morning Missies, are you ready for a hit of glamour and lots of vibrant colour? Well, you’ve come to the right place today! Katie Kav Photography has shared the fun wedding of Marina and Andrew with us, it’s only right we let you in on the loveliness too!
Fitness instructor, Andrew first spotted Marina across a sweaty MMA club in October 2012.
“I was in the cage hitting pads getting ready for a fight at ‘Man of War’ on the upcoming Saturday night while Marina was hitting a bag at a women’s MMA bootcamp class. I should have been concentrating on my combinations but I couldn’t keep my eyes off Marina. She had a red face, shortness of breath and a sweat…and I couldn’t have been more drawn to her!” said Andrew.
From their very first date both Andrew and Marina knew they had found the perfect match and the couple got engaged a year later in the very same spot they shared their first date.
“I was meant to fight for the Battlezone Featherweight Title on Saturday night in Waterford. Both of our families had bought tickets including Marina’s brother Mark and his partner Gill who were travelling from London. On Tuesday however the whole show was cancelled. What may have seemed like a negative turned in to a big positive. I brought Marina to the same restaurant that we went to on our first date in Carlow. What she didn’t know was that the restaurant had actually closed down. She was starving and couldn’t believe that I didn’t know it was closed! The plan worked, I wanted to get Marina to the bridge outside that restaurant, where on our first date after dinner, I had asked her to hold my hand, to which she had laughed and said, “No…I’ll link you!”. This time while walking across the same bridge I stopped and asked her to marry me and she said yes! We then went to Pompeii Restaurant, which I had booked ahead, they had champagne prepared on arrival for us. We stayed in Mount Wolseley that night which was where we would celebrate our wedding the following year. The next night was the night that my fight was meant to take place so instead we had arranged a big dinner in Belissimo Restaurant with both our families where Marina and I announced that we were engaged. Katie, of Katie Kav Photography, was on hand to take snaps of our family’s reactions when Marina made the announcement and showed off her engagement ring. The celebrations continued in Oscars afterwards. It was such a perfect night and it’s great to have the photos to look back on,” explained Andrew.
With big families on both sides the couple knew a big wedding was the only way.
“Mount Wolseley was the perfect location in Carlow for our wedding, it’s a beautiful and very classy hotel, it was the perfect fit. It was great to be able to celebrate our marriage in both Wexford and Carlow that day. We got married in Raheen Church in Wexford, Marina’s home place and travelled afterwards to Carlow, to my home place,” added Andrew.
After a chat with their photographer and friend, Katie Kav a theme of romantic glamour as chosen with the main colour being rich purple. Marina who is a graphic designer designed their invitations, personalised betting cards and Meet the Bridal Party menu cards.
“The ceremony was perfect, we were surrounded by our closest friends and family. I think the funniest and most unexpected thing was when Fr. Liam produced two packets of M&M’s for us during the service. It was a lighthearted joke due to all of Marina’s seven family members names beginning with ‘M’. The whole place erupted with laugher!” said Andrew.
“Friends played a big role on the day, with my hair stylist Eric O’Hickey, our photographer Katie and chauffeur Rick all being good friends and doing such a professional job also. The whole build up was so much fun and so relaxed, it just made for a perfect day. The small church of Raheen was completely full and was a sight to see. Our priest Father Liam Morgan was fantastic. The weather that weekend was beautiful and the sun was splitting the sky. The reception was amazing, Andy’s good friend Davey O’Neill who played at our first date played as guests arrived in to the Wolseley bar. The session was going even before we arrived and just set the tone for the night. The speeches were hilarious, even if Andy did get an absolute grilling! That night Lebowski played and the dance floor was completely full the entire night. I know every couple says it, but it really was the perfect day and I wouldn’t change a single second,” said Marina.
Wedding Suppliers
Ceremony: Raheen Church, Adamstown.
Reception: Mount Wolseley, Co. Carlow.
Wedding dress: Bijou Bridal, Tramore, Waterford.
Bridesmaids dresses: Eliza and Ethan Wrap Dresses from Ruby Rouge, Gorey.
Grooms wear: Fitzgeralds Menswear, Waterford.
Photographer: Katie Kav Photography, Enniskerry.
Cake: A neighbour of Marina’s.
Flowers: Down the Aisle, Enniscorthy.
Videographer: Video Productions.
Wedding Bands: Lebowski.
Ceremony Music: Amanda Kehoe.
Stationery: Made by Marina.
Hair: Eric O’Hickey, tel: 087 613 6759
Makeup: Kate McCormack Makeup.