Fit for a queen: Darienne and Reece’s vintage royal flair wedding

Darienne was Reece’s queen from their very first meeting.

“We met at a local festival called the French Festival in Portarlington, County Laois,” Darienne explains.

“I had been selected as the French Festival Queen for that year and Reece was the photographer who had to follow me around all weekend and take pictures!”

Romance between the Irish pair quickly blossomed, with Reece popping the question while they were on a trip to New York.

Two years later, on October 19, 2018, the couple held their vintage royal flair wedding at St John’s Church, Killenard, Co.Laois in front of 110 friends and family.

The reception followed at The Cliff at Lyons.

The décor was simple and elegant, with white lilies, roses and lots of greenery. A colour palette of gold and black added to the vintage feel.

The couple describe their day as amazing from start to finish.

“It was everything and more we could have ever hoped for,” Darienne says.

“Marrying the person you love and being surrounded by the people who love you both and want every happiness for you both is definitely the best feeling in the world.”

Photos courtesy of DK Photography and Adorn Invitations.

When it came to Darienne’s gown, it was a case of “mother knows best”. “When I started looking and trying on wedding dresses I figured out that what I wanted did not suit me one bit!” she says. “Mum was desperate for me to try on this one particular dress and I was adamant that I wasn’t trying it on, as I thought no that it’s definitely not me. I eventually tried it on just to placate her and I fell in love with it! My dress was very simple, an ivory mikado silk ballgown with glass and pearl detailing.”

“We actually had an interfaith religious ceremony. Reece and I are both different religions so we decided to have both religions recognised in the ceremony,” the bride says. “We had a priest and a reverend at our ceremony. We had our family and close friends do some readings. It was very personal.”

The couple says laughter and having fun is one of the main ingredients to a strong relationship. “To be able to just let your hair down and have fun with each other is so important,” she says.

It was love at first sight when the couple saw their venue. “It is so beautiful with little cottages for guests to stay in surrounded by a lake,” Darienne says. “There was a courtyard with a log-burning fire pit where all of our guests could enjoy a few drinks and have a chat.”