Get ready to be transported to another world in today’s absolutely breathtaking elopement from Rob Dight of Epic Love Photography. This couple chose St Patrick’s day for their intimate wedding ceremony in Northern Ireland and these pictures will make you want to drop everything a plan your own elopement in this epic place.
A Northern Ireland Elopement With Epic Scenery
Tell Us About How You Met
The two of us actually have quite different stories about how we met. He insists that we met in October of my sophomore/his freshman year in college (and several times thereafter), but I don’t remember meeting him until New Year’s Eve later that same year. We joke that the universe was insistent on bringing us together no matter how many times we had to meet for me to take notice. On New Year’s Eve, I certainly took notice. I vividly remember seeing him walk into the party we both attended just before midnight. I thought he was the most handsome man I’d ever seen. I decided at that moment to try my best to get him to kiss me when the ball dropped, but midnight came and went with no kiss. He was too far across the room, midnight came too quickly, and both he and I were extremely shy. We did, however, finally become friends that night, and six days later I got that “New Years Kiss” at long last. The rest, as they say, is history.
Tell Us About The Proposal
I was in Dublin doing graduate research when he flew out to meet me. Little did I know at the time, he and my sister, who was already with me in Dublin, had put together a plan for him to propose to me inside the Old Trinity Library the day he arrived (old books and a new fiance…what more could a girl want?). Not having accounted for my stubbornness, he was dismayed to discover that I had already made my own plans for the day on which I would not budge. Furthermore, I continued to insist that he go back to the hotel and take a nap - the man was clearly jet-lagged. His plans foiled, his excitement and nervousness bubbling over, and not wanting to wait any longer, he got down on one knee right where we were standing outside of the Christ Church Cathedral and popped the question. Of course, I said yes! Beyond that one fateful word, the two of us were too giddy to remember anything else that was said, but we do remember me squishing him into a giant hug (he had to remind me to let him put the ring on my finger when I finally let go). Then he napped 🙂
How Did You Choose Your Wedding Location?
We spent over a year planning a traditional wedding at home in Texas but eventually came to the conclusion that it just wasn’t the best fit for us. With all of the minute details to decide upon, guest drama to quell, and money to fork out, we felt that the focus was no longer on us and our love story. So, only a few months before our wedding date, we decided to ditch all of our plans and make a change. We wanted to get married somewhere that meant something to us and that reflected the beauty of our love. Ireland was an obvious choice, in part because our wedding date (which we hoped to keep) was St. Paddy’s Day, but also because Ireland had taken root in both our souls from the moment we’d first set foot there in the years before. We did a LOT of research to find the perfect location on the island to say our vows and found numerous beautiful cliffs and forests and ruins, but once we saw pictures of Dunseverick Castle, we just knew it was the place we wanted to become husband and wife, and a place we’d want to return for the rest of our lives.
How Did You Find Your Main Vendors?
The first vendor that we found was our photographer, Rob Dight. I spent about a week constantly pouring over every photograph with an #irelandelopement tag on Instagram, and following the breadcrumbs from one vendor to another. Again and again, I came across Rob’s work, to the point that I could identify his style in a photograph before I could even see who posted it. The moment I showed these photographs to Jordan, he agreed that we’d found the one. Fun fact: when we found Rob, we were still torn over the difficult decision of whether to cancel our wedding and elope or not. Rob’s stunning work sealed the deal!
Rob then introduced us to most of our other vendors, all of whom made our day (and the planning that preceded it) magical beyond words. Rob’s photography and Nigel’s videography captured all of the overwhelming emotions that we felt on our wedding day, so through their work, we get to relive those feelings and that day for the rest of our lives. Sam Hanna’s officiating made us both tear up again and again. He personalized the ceremony so much that we felt as if he’d known the two of us forever. And that bouquet… it was romantic and dreamy and everything I never knew I needed. In fact, it was one of my very favorite details of the wedding! I was insistent at first that I didn’t want flowers, as I knew my hands would be freezing so I planned to keep them tucked in my blanket shawl. But at about 9 pm the night before the wedding, I began to regret that choice. I messaged Rob to ask if he thought there was ANY chance a florist would be able to make a bouquet on such short notice (understanding, of course, that the likelihood was slim to none). He reached out to his contacts, and sure enough, the amazingly talented Floralearth team said that they could make it work! The colours and blooms they chose absolutely blew me away, and I truly couldn’t imagine the wedding without that bouquet now.
What Was Your Favourite Moment From The Day?
We both agree that our favourite moment of the day was when we got to slip away with our photographer and videographer to take some portraits along the rugged Irish coast. It was wonderful getting some time to really let everything else fall away and just focus on one another and on the beautiful landscape around us. We were freezing the entire time, we were hailed on at one point, and my dress insisted on getting stuck in every barbed wire fence we climbed, but we wouldn’t have had it any other way. We felt wild and free and ever so MARRIED.
If You Could Do It All Again, Would You Do Anything Differently?
We wouldn’t change a thing about our actual wedding day, but given the chance, we’d go back and avoid all of the stress we put ourselves through before we finally decided to elope. Our fears that we would regret not having a “normal” wedding were completely unfounded! (And I’d maybe bring warmer socks. )
Any Advice For Other Couples?
Be true to yourselves, to your relationship, and to your budget! Traditional weddings are a wonderful thing, but if the thought of dropping loads of money on one day or having to tailor your plans to meet others’ needs rather than your own makes you dread what is supposed to be a joyous occasion, don’t hesitate to plan something more intimate. Those who love you will not be offended if you decide to jet off and get married in the mountains or on the beach, I promise.
Beyond that, the most important advice I can give is to not let the little mishaps (because there WILL be mishaps) get you down. A year down the road, you won’t care if your hair was a bit matted from the rain or if a piece of lace was falling off your dress. You’ll care about the special moments you shared with your loved ones, and you’ll remember laughing through all of the curveballs thrown your way together. Also, if you have guests at your wedding, be sure to take a few moments to yourselves (just the two of you) to soak in one another’s joy. 🙂
Credits
Photographer - Rob Dight with Epic Love Photography
Videographer: Nigel Ivy Film
Celebrant: Sam Hanna
Florist: Floralearth
Headpiece: Innocent Chaos
Dress Designer: Willowby by Watters
