Ellen in the Ada Lace Dress, Equinox Dress, Okotan Corset and skirt
A destination winter wedding at Dromoland Castle, and two Halfpenny looks that set the tone for every moment.
Photography: Dave Olsthoorn
"As soon as I walked into the boutique I felt looked after, and I knew I would be beautiful on my wedding day." Ellen traveled from the US to London specifically to visit the Halfpenny boutique — and left with not one look, but two. The ceremony dress she had always envisioned. The second came as a surprise.
THE DRESSES
For her morning ceremony, Ellen layered the Ada lace dress over the Equinox dress, a combination that gave her everything she was looking for. "I knew I wanted a long-sleeved dress with covered buttons — the lace overlay was perfect to look beautiful and romantic while still tasteful." The look was completed with a two-tiered scalloped-edge lace veil and family heirloom jewellery. Before the ceremony, in keeping with Jewish tradition, Will veiled his bride in a bedeken — a moment of tenderness and intention before the celebrations began.
The Ada neckline was customised the atelier team, coordinating fittings from overseas. "My husband and I loved the excuse to do a fancy weekend in London just the two of us — since we 'had to' come by to pick up the dresses."
The second look came about the way the best ones do, entirely unexpectedly. The boutique team had pulled the Okotan skirt and corset, and the moment Ellen tried them on, she knew she had to find an occasion to wear them. The occasion found itself: a black tie welcome dinner in the Drawing Room of Dromoland Castle. "In those luxe surroundings and with my handsome groom in his velvet smoking jacket, I felt like an old-school Hollywood siren."
THE DAY
Ellen and Will designed their wedding around one simple idea: a celebration that didn't feel rushed. Forty-five guests, all staying at Dromoland Castle in the west of Ireland in winter, with time and space built in to simply be together. The events moved from formal to relaxed — a black tie welcome dinner, a morning ceremony, a formal wedding luncheon, and a reception with an Irish trad band calling the ceilidh. Quiet moments were woven throughout: a few minutes alone immediately after the ceremony, a nap after lunch, and an unhurried breakfast the morning after. "We got to talk to all of our guests at each of the events, which was so important to us since folks had traveled so far."
Every detail was considered. A custom ketubah with flowers from the bridal bouquet and plants from Will's garden. Letterpress stationery bearing a hand-drawn illustration of Dromoland Castle. A wedding that felt, from beginning to end, entirely and unmistakably theirs.
CREDITS
Photography: Dave Olsthoorn, Awake and Dreaming
Venue: Dromoland Castle
Flowers: The Flower Den
Hair: Eilish Moloney at Foxy Studio
Make Up: Ania Allen
Cake: Broken Spoon Cakes
Shoes: Neous, Gianvito Rossi
Jewellery: Kinn Studio & family heirlooms
Ketubah: Ketubah Graphia
Stationery: Dinglewood Design and Press
Reception Band: Trad Dispute
Day-of Coordinator: Sparkle and Stem Events
Welcome Dinner Candles: Perfect Details Ireland