Meet our beautiful bride Sinead whose dreamy wedding in Bellagio on Lake Como took our breath away! Sinead & Ian celebrated their legal wedding in the registry office in Dublin with a small reception in That’s Amore in Monkstown. Italian vibes to get in the mood for Italy! Sinead wore the Cerise dress and Shadow overskirt by Alexandra Grecco for her Italian day.
We asked Sinead a few questions about choosing her dress and styling her unique look for her very special day.
Wow Sinead! You looked beyond beautiful in your dress and skirt. Was it the style you had always imagined you would choose for your wedding day?
When did you know it was the dress for you?
When I couldn’t stop thinking about it after I left! I fell in love with the Shadow overskirt instantly. I really wanted to bring my Mum back to the the store with me so I could get her opinion. Sorcha was so accommodating and booked me in for an appointment the following Saturday. Originally, I was coming back to try on a Maria Fekih dress with the overskirt but all week I kept thinking about the Alexandra Grecco Cerise dress. I really loved the glamour of silk fabric and the detail of the boning in the bodice. When I tried them on together I knew it was the dress for me.
Who did you bring to your bridal appointment? Did they help you decide on your dress?
What would you say was your overall wedding style? What were your inspiration sources for your planning?
Chic and modern! We rented a beautiful villa on Lake Como which has a botanical garden. Our main focus was to complement the natural beauty of the surroundings so we kept the décor quite simple. We had ghost chairs for the ceremony and reception, gold lanterns and the floral colour scheme was greenery with baby’s breath. Our florist created a stunning flower cloud which was definitely my favourite piece of décor. It was originally supposed to be hung from a tree on the grounds but unfortunately due to bad weather on the day, we had to move our ceremony to another part of the garden which was covered.
How did you accessorise your dress? Tell us all the jewellery and shoe details!
I wore a cathedral length Alexandra Grecco veil which I absolutely loved. I’m actually so sad I won’t have an excuse to wear a veil again!
After the meal I switched up my look by removing my overskirt and adding a Bo & Luca crown which I got at The White & Gold too. It is such a fab piece and I love that I have something from the wedding that I will get more wear out of.
Jewellery wise, I kept it very simple – I wore a diamond and gold tennis bracelet which was an engagement gift from my parents. My something borrowed was a pair of emerald and diamond earrings from my mum.
My shoes were Aquazzura. They were really comfortable and I definitely put them to the test. I didn’t leave the dancefloor all night!
Any underwear tips for our brides to be?
Spanx! There really isn’t anything glamorous about wedding underwear! Also, a good alterations person is key. Sorcha provided me with some great recommendations for Dublin-based alterations. I got my dress altered in All Alterations and they were brilliant. I ended up getting covid pretty close to the wedding and had to reschedule my appointments which left us with a very small window to get my dress altered. I changed the shape of the skirt from A-line to a more fitted silhouette so it was a big job. They couldn’t have been more accommodating.
Any special moments you treasure from the day?
If you had told me beforehand that I was going to get married in Italy and it would lash rain on the day I would have been so stressed but honestly it didn’t matter.
We arranged a boat to bring our guests to the villa and as it arrived, I could see our friends dancing on the deck and having the time of their lives. It was such a relief to see all the guest enjoying themselves. The bad weather definitely didn’t dampen any spirits.
It’s also so special as a couple seeing all your plans coming to life after so many months of organising. It is hard to pick just one moment between the two of you, the whole day is an amazing memory.
If you could give brides-to-be one piece of solid advice?
If you are getting married abroad, a wedding coordinator really does pay for itself. Having someone there on the day to ensure things run smoothly is invaluable. Especially if you need to coordinate suppliers. We had Beth from My Italian Lake Wedding and I couldn’t recommend her more!
Who did your hair, make up and photography?
The Studio Como did our hair and make-up. They were brilliant and such fun to get ready with. Our make-up didn’t budge all day.
Fotosenzaposa were our photographers. We went with all locally based suppliers and it worked out really well.
If you had bridesmaids where did you choose their dresses from?
I had two gorgeous bridesmaids and a man of honour. For the bridesmaids, I didn’t want anything too traditional and went online to look for something they would actually wear again. I got their dresses from an Australian brand called Shona Joy. My only regret is not getting one for myself!
My flowers girl outfits were Chloe and Amelie – another Australian brand. I find them great for occasion wear. They are really special pieces and they quality is amazing.
How did you find your experience at The White and Gold?
I would recommend The White and Gold to any brides on the hunt for their dream dress. Sorcha has such a gorgeous collection of dresses and accessories with a real mix of styles. She is also great at recommending fab places to eat if you are staying in Kinsale and want to make a trip out of your visit!
Thank you Sinead. It was such a pleasure meeting you and your super stylish mom! I loved your confidence in your style and how your brought your look together so beautifully. I am so thrilled you chose to be part of our White & Gold gang. Wishing you both so much happiness together ♥
Photos by Fotosenzaposa
