Relaxed & Stylish Cornflower Blue Seaside Wedding

Relaxed & Stylish Cornflower Blue Seaside Wedding

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We're going all beachy boho beautiful to start the week with a real bang.

WWW readers Andrew and Megan were married in September of last year beside the sea in Northern Ireland. They achieved a day which was relaxed and oh so stylish. I am so coveting Megan's bridal look, with her wavy hair entwined with Daisies and a stunning Charlie Brear gown... yes please.

The bridesmaids looked so pretty in cornflower blue dresses which worked so wonderfully with the delicate blooms. Amaze!

Thanks goes to the fantastic Fraser Stewart Photography for sharing his photographs with us.

THE PROPOSAL | A rainy afternoon on Portnoo Beach, Co.Donegal.

Andrew's family have had a holiday home in Portnoo since Andrew's father was a child. Portnoo Beach has always been a special place where we have shared many a lazy weekend. It was a very wet weekend and I had suggested a movie day in front of the fire but Andrew was insistent on lunch in a little pub in Donegal Town followed by a walk on the beach. When we arrived at the beach the heavens had opened but Andrew was adamant that we would go for a walk. We were both drenched by the time we had walked half way along the beach and I was just about to suggest we headed back to the car when Andrew got down on one knee and proposed. He gave me his great grandmothers ring which dates back to 1914.

THE VISION | We were aiming for a very relaxed atmosphere which would allow us to spend time with our guests. We wanted to ensure we enjoyed our day and spent time together as a couple as well as with our guests. Both our ceremony and evening venues were right by the sea, we wanted a seaside feel to the whole day.

THE PLANNING PROCESS | We got engaged in February 2014 and married September 2014 so we didn't have a lot of time to plan. But I feel the best way to deal with the planning is try not to get too stressed, don't take too many opinions on board just consult the people who know your style best. Andrew was very good at keeping me calm and we made all decisions together.

BUDGET | Budgets are difficult, weddings are all about the money. We set budget at the start and tried to stick to it. My friends who had got married recently were great at giving advice on our budget.

THE VENUE | Wedding ceremony - The Arcadia, Portrush. Wedding banquet and evening party - Portstewart Golf Club.

THE DRESS & ACCESSORIES | Charlie Brear 1930s sand washed silk gown with lace sleeves. I customised it by adding some lace to the neckline also. My dress was from Petticoat lane, Hillsborough

Shoes - Nine West camel coloured pointed kitten heels. Hair - I had daisies in my hair. Earrings - antique earrings which my grandmother gave to my mother on her 18th birthday. Necklace - a present from my husband, a fine gold chain with the diamond pendent from Fred Malcolm Ltd Jewellers, Belfast.

FINDING THE DRESS | I visited lots of bridal shops. Many of my friends got married in 2014 so I wanted to ensure my dress was different than anything I had seen before. I wanted it to be simple, classic and flawless which is why I loved the sand washed silk. The material is so elegant and it hung beautifully.

GROOM'S ATTIRE | Light grey two piece suit with a navy tie from D&G Fashions, Garvagh.

THE READINGS & MUSIC | Music was a very important part of our ceremony. I walked down the aisle to my favourite song - Blackbird by The Beatles. My sister and Andrews sister performed - Ring of Fire, Lennon and Maisie version and their own adaptation of Greenday's Time of your life.

Signing of the register ­- Just the two of us and van morrison's 'days like this'. We walked out to Aretha Franklin's say a little prayer.

Readings - Two bible readings and one poem, read by friends of ours.

BEAUTIFUL BRIDESMAIDS | Kelsey Rose cornflower blue bridesmaid dresses. We went for knee length dresses to tie with our casual sea side wedding.

THE FLOWERS | We wanted a country theme to our flowers, my bouquet was made up of daisies, gypsophila. The bridesmaids were solely gypsophila. Table centres were a mixture of Daisies, White hydrangea, Corn Gypsophilia and Tansy Starflower.

We had 5 or so bottles/jam jars of various sizes and colours on each table, with small bouquets in each.

THE CAKE | We had three different cakes which sat on milk bottles and jam jars. A Victoria sponge with fresh strawberrys and butter cream icing. Carrot cake and coffee cake.

YOUR PHOTOGRAPHER | Fraser Stewart photography. He was amazing. He made us feel so comfortable and we had great craic with him. We didn't want to spend hours posing for lots of stiff photos, we wanted our photographer to capture natural shots of us having fun with our guests which Fraser did beautifully. We also had Clive McLaughlin, aka PigMint Film as videographer. He did a brilliant job with our video. Fraser and Clive had not met each other before our wedding, although you would have thought they knew each other, and worked together for years, such was their chemistry.

THE HONEYMOON | Brazil for 3 weeks and New York for 4 nights.

MEMORABLE MOMENTS | Walking into the Arcadia and seeing Andrew at the top of the aisle. Our sisters singing Ring of Fire. Chatting to our guests after the ceremony in the sunshine. Photographs on Portstewart Strand. Andrew singing with the band. Andrew's speech. Our first dance. Dancing with our friends and family.

ADVICE FOR OTHER COUPLES | When planning your wedding try your best to chill out! Everything will come together even if it's not how you originally planned it. It's never too early to get things done, the more you have done weeks/months before the wedding, then the more relaxed your last few days will be! Try to take some time during the day to spend alone together, maybe when your getting photos taken or just before the meal.

Relax and Enjoy it!

CREDIT WHERE CREDIT IS DUE |

Photography | Fraser Stewart Photography

Dress | Charlie Brear from Petticoat Lane Bridal

Shoes | Nine West

Necklace | Fred J Malcolm

Bridesmaid Dresses | Kelsey Rose

Ceremony Venue | The Arcadia

Venue | Port Stewart Golf Club

Groom Attire | D&Gs Fashions

Who else is now dreaming of days beside the breezy sunny seaside? Stunning.

Andrew and Megan thank you both SO much for sharing your story today XOXO Lou

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