Meet our beautiful bride Nicole, who got married in Killarney in February. Nicole fell in love with her dress the second she put it on! Nicole told us she was very skeptical when her friends would tell her that ‘when you know, you know’ but realised they weren’t telling lies when she tried on the last dress of her appointment. The minute Sorcha slipped it over her head, she just knew that it was the one! We love how radiant and confident Nicole looks in her beautiful photographs.

We asked Nicole some questions about her wedding style, how she knew her dress was the one for her and if she has any advice for other brides-to-be. 

Nicole, your dress was just perfect on you! Was it the style you had in mind for yourself? How did you know it was the dress for you?

I genuinely had no idea what kind of a dress I was looking for! I have probably been thinking about my wedding dress long before I met my groom if I am honest, and as a result had so many different reference points for inspiration that I could have really gone any direction. I wanted my dress to be timeless. I wanted to find something that suited me, that I felt comfortable in and that I would love on the day and beyond. I was very conscious of not getting caught up in a trend or not feeling like myself on the day. I am always the ‘less is more’ type, and in the end the dress I chose was completely true to me. I loved how streamlined it was, but that it still had modern touches and I completely adored the silk crepe fabric and how luxurious it made the dress feel. I just loved it on the day and felt so beautiful. 

When did you know it was the dress for you? 

The second I put it on! I remember thinking it was completely underwhelming on the hanger, but the minute Sorcha slipped it over my head I just knew that it was the one. 

I came out smiling from ear to ear and had my decision made before I even made it to the mirror. The only way I can describe it is I just felt like me, but better! I was comfortable and just felt so beautiful even with the clamps and face mask I was wearing. Once I had tried on that dress, I was no longer interested in trying on anything else, so from there it was an easy decision!

Who did you bring to your bridal appointment? Did they help you decide on your dress?

I brought my Mother and my sister. They were amazing in that they gave their honest opinions but also let me lead with my thoughts first. It is great to have people with you to help with the choice, but choosing your dress can be very overwhelming. I found the expectation to look ’amazing’ on the day to be a lot, and sometimes adding in the expectations & opinions of others can make it really hard to distinguish how you really feel. So, whilst it is great to have your nearest & dearest with you, definitely be sure to keep your feelings to the forefront of your mind! You just need to stick to your gut and follow your own heart.

What would you say was your overall wedding style?

I would describe my overall wedding aesthetic as modern classic. I really wanted the look and feel to be understated, but with hints of old school glamour. I tried as much as I could to eliminate the frills and instead be very intentional about what I chose to be part of the day. I kept the color scheme quite simple and consistent across all aspects of the day, from the bridal party down to the table signage -mainly ivory, champagne and gold with hints of forest green to add some depth. I opted for as many fresh flowers as I could.  Choosing my venue really helped to guide my style decisions for every part of the day and things just fell into place easily from there.

How did you accessorise your dress? Tell us all the jewellery and shoe details!

My dress was quite simple, so I wanted to elevate the look with some key accessories whilst still keeping the understated vibe it had which I fell in love with. 

I had come across One Dame Lane jewellery at the White & Gold when I chose my dress. I love how classic the pieces are but yet still modern and make such a statement. I was in Dublin a couple of weeks after this and visited the One Dame Lane shop. The assistant couldn’t have been more helpful in choosing the perfect pair of earrings to compliment my dress. I went for the Willow Strand earrings. I chose not to wear any other jewellery on the day, except for my engagement ring and wedding band. As I said, less is more for me always!

I also wore a blusher veil on the day, and again kept it simple by opting for a cathedral length tulle veil with a raw edge and no embellishment. I loved that you were able to see the dress through the veil, and I felt the blusher and the length helped to add a little bit a drama for coming down the aisle. 

Lastly, I purchased a pair of Jimmy Choo courts to complete the look. I easily wore them throughout the day and night, although they did eventually get kicked off towards the early hours!