The question has been popped, the ring has been firmly on the finger, and the interrogation has begun. “So, WHEN are you getting married?”
Between visiting venues and making bookings, the big day can soon start to feel stressful for the newly betrothed. But there are plenty of options for planning your wedding, and ways that work for everyone involved.
Start with the budget
Setting your budget is the most important place to start, according to wedding planner, Martina O’Riordan.
“Your budget is going to drive every single decision. And your biggest spend out of your budget is going to be your venue. It could be 50% or 60% of your budget.
“Number two is having the right team of suppliers around you,” she continues. “The suppliers need to be the right personality fit. If as a couple, you’re quite introverted, it’s just not going to work to have a photographer or videographer that is really extroverted, because they are just going to drain the energy from you for the day.
“Time is also crucial in terms of having a thorough timeline for the actual day. It’s so important that your family and your bridal party or your wedding party know where they’re meant to actually be.”
The concept of the wedding has evolved over the years, and ever since the pandemic, couples are no longer inviting 200 guests for the sake of it. Micro weddings are a trend that has stuck, explains Martina, as well as a shift towards winter weddings spanning the months November to January.
The winter wedding has become more popular, because it is easier to lock down suppliers and a venue in off-peak times.
Wedding trends
Martina also has noticed a trend of couples “wanting to get out of the city” and opt for venues in the countryside. Couples also want venues with a variety of spaces.
“When it comes to the number of marriages, the majority of weddings are still in the church, but there’s definitely an increase in civil ceremony and on-site ceremonies.
“People are looking for different spaces so that you’re not in the same room all day. A lot of venues might do the ceremony in the ballroom and then change. People move out for the drinks reception, back into the ballroom again, and it obviously looks a little bit different.”
Flowers
Storytelling is very important for couples in all aspects of their wedding, and flowers are one way that many couples reflect their personalities.
Sylvia Abraham, owner and creative director of Bella Botanica in Co Meath says: “couples are choosing florals that are symbolic to them, they could be the flowers their family loved, flowers they received from a first date etc.”
This year, Sylvia anticipates a continuation of bolder, edgier, sculptural designs in wedding floristry.
“In 2026, you’re definitely going to see sculptural grasses twisted around florals, and the inclusion of leafy vegetables. It may seem like an unusual choice but the likes of kale, cabbage, rhubarb are featuring in floral designs to add more structure.”
Food décor might not be a trend that everyone can get behind, but sustainable floral design most definitely is.
“Couples are interested in using locally sourced florals when available in season and choosing a floral designer who creates without the use of floral foam,” says Sylvia.
Couples are also repurposing floral designs throughout the wedding or dividing them among guests at the end of evening to give them a second lease of life.
“Our team is on site from early morning until the call for dinner, so that we can move items from the ceremony and repurpose them in the reception space. We also collect florals the day after the wedding if guests don’t take them, and we repurpose them in the studio and donate to hospices and nursing homes.”
According to Sylvia, couples spend €5,000 upwards on flowers. If you want to make the most of your floral budget, Sylvia’s suggestion is: “rather than putting small designs everywhere which can get lost in the overall scheme of things, choose larger impactful floral designs that will really enhance the ceremony or reception space and will feature in the photos.
“This could be a larger design to frame the couple at the ceremony and then be repurposed to use in their reception space. It’s about being intentional with designs rather than having them because that’s what’s your friends or sister had.”
Table flowers by Bella Botanica at Adare Manor, Co Limerick. \Wonder & Magic
Photography
On their wedding day, couples can sometimes spend more time with photographers than with some members of their family. That’s why it is important to choose a photographer who marries with your vision for the day and whose style of photography you like.
Wedding photographer Emmylie Cruz runs a wedding photography business, Wonder & Magic with her husband, Richard in Dublin.
She advises: “Once you find a photography style that you like, contact the professionals to get more information on the services and pricing, and check reviews.
“I always highly suggest to chat to the photographer because style is important, but connection is also very important. If couples are feeling relaxed around their photographer, it makes for better photographs.”
Photographs at a wedding take time to snap, which is why it is important to plan accordingly. “I always encourage people to build breathing spaces throughout the day, in between events, just in case of delays.
“Try to build in at least 20 minutes in your timeline just for couples’ portraits, because this can be enough time and you will able to feel relaxed and connected without feeling that you’re pulled away from the celebration as well.”
Couple portraits may be the first on your mind when you book a photographer, but there are other shots that are just as meaningful.
“I think one thing that our couples often overlook are the unscripted, natural moments, and those are the photographs and pictures that they love the most.
“It’s the way that they look at each other throughout the ceremony, the laughter of their guests throughout the reception and just more natural shots when people are unguarded and being themselves as well.”
Ultimately, the most important thing when it comes to wedding planning is to base your choices on a vision that aligns with you as a couple, and not on trends. Your wedding should be a day for joy and celebration, and it’s a display of love that is unique to you.
All of the experts featured are members
of the Irish Wedding Professionals
Association. See irishwpa.com
The question has been popped, the ring has been firmly on the finger, and the interrogation has begun. “So, WHEN are you getting married?”
Between visiting venues and making bookings, the big day can soon start to feel stressful for the newly betrothed. But there are plenty of options for planning your wedding, and ways that work for everyone involved.
Start with the budget
Setting your budget is the most important place to start, according to wedding planner, Martina O’Riordan.
“Your budget is going to drive every single decision. And your biggest spend out of your budget is going to be your venue. It could be 50% or 60% of your budget.
“Number two is having the right team of suppliers around you,” she continues. “The suppliers need to be the right personality fit. If as a couple, you’re quite introverted, it’s just not going to work to have a photographer or videographer that is really extroverted, because they are just going to drain the energy from you for the day.
“Time is also crucial in terms of having a thorough timeline for the actual day. It’s so important that your family and your bridal party or your wedding party know where they’re meant to actually be.”
The concept of the wedding has evolved over the years, and ever since the pandemic, couples are no longer inviting 200 guests for the sake of it. Micro weddings are a trend that has stuck, explains Martina, as well as a shift towards winter weddings spanning the months November to January.
The winter wedding has become more popular, because it is easier to lock down suppliers and a venue in off-peak times.
Wedding trends
Martina also has noticed a trend of couples “wanting to get out of the city” and opt for venues in the countryside. Couples also want venues with a variety of spaces.
“When it comes to the number of marriages, the majority of weddings are still in the church, but there’s definitely an increase in civil ceremony and on-site ceremonies.
“People are looking for different spaces so that you’re not in the same room all day. A lot of venues might do the ceremony in the ballroom and then change. People move out for the drinks reception, back into the ballroom again, and it obviously looks a little bit different.”
Flowers
Storytelling is very important for couples in all aspects of their wedding, and flowers are one way that many couples reflect their personalities.
Sylvia Abraham, owner and creative director of Bella Botanica in Co Meath says: “couples are choosing florals that are symbolic to them, they could be the flowers their family loved, flowers they received from a first date etc.”
This year, Sylvia anticipates a continuation of bolder, edgier, sculptural designs in wedding floristry.
“In 2026, you’re definitely going to see sculptural grasses twisted around florals, and the inclusion of leafy vegetables. It may seem like an unusual choice but the likes of kale, cabbage, rhubarb are featuring in floral designs to add more structure.”
Food décor might not be a trend that everyone can get behind, but sustainable floral design most definitely is.
“Couples are interested in using locally sourced florals when available in season and choosing a floral designer who creates without the use of floral foam,” says Sylvia.
Couples are also repurposing floral designs throughout the wedding or dividing them among guests at the end of evening to give them a second lease of life.
“Our team is on site from early morning until the call for dinner, so that we can move items from the ceremony and repurpose them in the reception space. We also collect florals the day after the wedding if guests don’t take them, and we repurpose them in the studio and donate to hospices and nursing homes.”
According to Sylvia, couples spend €5,000 upwards on flowers. If you want to make the most of your floral budget, Sylvia’s suggestion is: “rather than putting small designs everywhere which can get lost in the overall scheme of things, choose larger impactful floral designs that will really enhance the ceremony or reception space and will feature in the photos.
“This could be a larger design to frame the couple at the ceremony and then be repurposed to use in their reception space. It’s about being intentional with designs rather than having them because that’s what’s your friends or sister had.”
Table flowers by Bella Botanica at Adare Manor, Co Limerick. \Wonder & Magic
Photography
On their wedding day, couples can sometimes spend more time with photographers than with some members of their family. That’s why it is important to choose a photographer who marries with your vision for the day and whose style of photography you like.
Wedding photographer Emmylie Cruz runs a wedding photography business, Wonder & Magic with her husband, Richard in Dublin.
She advises: “Once you find a photography style that you like, contact the professionals to get more information on the services and pricing, and check reviews.
“I always highly suggest to chat to the photographer because style is important, but connection is also very important. If couples are feeling relaxed around their photographer, it makes for better photographs.”
Photographs at a wedding take time to snap, which is why it is important to plan accordingly. “I always encourage people to build breathing spaces throughout the day, in between events, just in case of delays.
“Try to build in at least 20 minutes in your timeline just for couples’ portraits, because this can be enough time and you will able to feel relaxed and connected without feeling that you’re pulled away from the celebration as well.”
Couple portraits may be the first on your mind when you book a photographer, but there are other shots that are just as meaningful.
“I think one thing that our couples often overlook are the unscripted, natural moments, and those are the photographs and pictures that they love the most.
“It’s the way that they look at each other throughout the ceremony, the laughter of their guests throughout the reception and just more natural shots when people are unguarded and being themselves as well.”
Ultimately, the most important thing when it comes to wedding planning is to base your choices on a vision that aligns with you as a couple, and not on trends. Your wedding should be a day for joy and celebration, and it’s a display of love that is unique to you.
All of the experts featured are members
of the Irish Wedding Professionals
Association. See irishwpa.com
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