&
ELAINE SHANE St. Julians, Malta 3rd September 2015.
O
ur story started in October 2007.
Almost six years after our first date, on a warm
When Shane got down on one knee all I could
Shane and I had been friends for
Saturday afternoon, Shane picked me up from
do was laugh as Byron was jumping on top of
many years but our first outing as a
work. He had our husky, Byron, in the car and
him. He took the box out of his pocket and I
couple was when we went to see the firework
said we were going for a walk. We walked to
was so happy he asked me this way. I wasn’t
display for the opening of the Wexford Opera
the Raven Point in Curracloe beach which is one
shocked as it was something we always talked
Festival. Friends and family looked at us twice
of our favourite places. During the summer, this
about, but we were so excited to go tell all our
before they realised what was going on. Who
is where we spend every nice day as Shane has
friends and family. When we got to my home
knew back then that I would be writing about
always loved water sports and since we met, I
place to tell my parents they already knew.
our wedding nine years later.
have grown to love it too.
Shane had been there earlier that day to ask my dad for his permission to ask me to marry him, which I thought was very cute.
Our first outing as a couple, we went to see the firework display for the opening of the Wexford Opera Festival
We always talked about having a long engagement but once that ring went on my finger everything changed and the planning started. Shane and I wanted to have our wedding abroad as we wanted something different where we could have our close friends
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and family at our big day. I started researching
we went to Malta and met with Sarah and
were taken away by
weddings abroad and Malta kept popping up.
her team. The whole team were so lovely,
the beauty of the area.
It had something for everyone from Shane’s
they brought us to many amazing hotels and
We got a very warm
nephew, Ryan, who is six, to his gran, Kathy,
gorgeous churches. We finally decided on the
welcome
who is 80 years young. We wanted a church
Balluta Church and a wonderful villa restaurant
who was great at her
wedding and the reception by the sea. We
by the sea; we were so happy with our choice.
job. She is very honest
from
Hilda
also had a friend, Sandra, living in Malta at
and you would know she
the time which was great as she could show
has a lot of experience.
us all the really nice areas. When researching getting married in Malta, Sarah Young’s name kept coming up. As she’d organised so many Irish weddings in Malta, and had so many rave reviews, we decided to contact her. I emailed
When researching weddings in Malta Sarah Young’s name always caught my eye.
Sarah and she got me so excited that we
My dress was the first one I tried on and every dress after did not give me the same feeling. I knew this was the one. I also got my headpiece and all the suits
Once the wedding was booked the real fun
and shoes for the men. It
started. We didn’t want a large bridal party so
was great getting everything
I had my sister Sonya as my bridesmaid, Shane
under the one roof as it was
had his brother Grant as best man and Jolie and
hassle free and we knew
Ryan as flower girl and page boy.
everything
went
perfectly
together. I booked many appointments to find my perfect dress. I had already tried a few different
The time flew by. We went
places but one day myself, my mother and
to Malta a week before
Shane’s mother went to Eden Manor Bridal in
our wedding. Again we
arranged a date and time to meet in Malta.
Enniscorthy. It’s just five minutes outside the
met Sarah and her team
We booked our flights and in September 2014
town. When we drove down the driveway we
who made everything so
Weddings Abroad I IWD Travel I 147
easy. They picked us up from our hotel and
planner Sarah Young ordered and took care
The next night we arranged with Sarah to
brought us to get all the legal side sorted;
arrived, I was taken back at how perfect they
have a boat trip to the blue lagoon. It was
we couldn’t have done this without them,
were. We went to the lobby where my father
the highlight of the holiday. We saw dolphins
we would have been lost. The rest of the
and I got into our amazing vintage wedding
on the way out and when we got out there
time we relaxed and topped up the tan, our
car. When we got to the church everyone
we all enjoyed food, drink, music and a swim
friends and family started arriving. We had
was inside and Sarah and Fr. Tony were
under the stars.
family and friends coming from Australia,
there, ready to go. Sarah had everything
Sweden and Ireland to whom we are so
running like clockwork. When walking up
grateful for making the journey.
the aisle with my father, all I could see was Shane swaying from side to side with nerves but when I got there he was fine and the ceremony went without a hitch. We all made our way back to the hotel. When we got there I was shocked at how picture perfect everything was. Shane and I were taken away to have our pictures taken by the stunning seaside while our guests enjoyed canapés, champagne and guitar soloists in the background. When we returned we got all our group pictures taken and sat down to hilarious speeches and one of the best
The morning of the wedding was so relaxed, my mother and sister stayed with me the night before so we got our breakfast and stayed by the pool until it was time to get ready. I was so lucky to have one of my best friends to do the hair on the morning, Zana
The next night we arranged with Sarah to have a boat trip to the blue lagoon. It was the highlight of the holiday
is an amazing stylist in Peter Mark in Arklow, and she did exactly what I wanted and it was
meals we have ever had. We had music
It was nice as everyone had met the day
lovely to have her getting ready with us. I did
inside for the dancers but most of our guests
before and now in casual wear we could all
my own make up as I got lessons from Susan
were so relaxed we sat out in the heat of
enjoy each other’s company and relax. It was
Ryan in Wexford town.
the night and had drinks with the music in
a perfect way the finish off the holiday and
the background. It was lovely to see all our
wedding of a life time. Shane and I stayed in
Shane, our photographer, came to the room
friends and family from both sides get on so
Malta for another week to wind down after
and reassured us everything was going to
well, there were many new friendships made
our big day. I know it won’t be the last time
plan. When the flowers which our wedding
on the night.
we visit Malta.
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