Welcome to The December Edit, our monthly round up of what’s hot in the world of wedding inspiration. These are the 10 things the One Fab Day team have been hitting save on their socials for, from the best beauty and fashion buys, and trends we’re obsessing over, to lifestyle, travel and cultural moments. Be sure to follow us on Instagram and Pinterest to stay in the know.

The December Edit

Louise Cooney’s Bridal Jewellery Collab

Irish influencer and newlywed Louise Cooney has collaborated with Irish jewellery brands, One Dame Lane, for a very special bridal collection. Louise Cooney x ODL consists of five pairs of earrings and five stud earrings, in 14ct gold plated over sterling silver, plus a delicate necklace and bracelet in solid gold. We love that all are wearable with every look in your wedding wardrobe, and long after the big day.

On her own wedding day Louise wore the Belle earrings – three geometric stones with a drop pearl – and rocked the elegant yet dramatic Camille earrings on her hen – a single pearl on a long gold threader. Her bridesmaids meanwhile were each gifted a pair of the Amelie earrings but our favourite is the Genevieve pair, an organic cascade of irregular pearls meaning that no two pairs are the same. Read more here.

A New Outdoor Spa & Pods at Bellinter House

Bellinter House is a country house retreat just 40 minutes from Dublin and its Bathhouse Spa at Bellinter House has just launched a new Thermal Suite overlooking the river Boyne and surrounding countryside. It includes a 10m heated infinity pool, along with three saunas that can accommodate up to 10 people. The Suite also has a refreshing plunge pool if you’re into hot-cold therapy. There are three new jacuzzis and a relaxation area for chilling out and taking in the view. Two hours’ access costs €55 or add a light lunch at the Spa Café, for €65, which is very reasonable.

The Private Pod experience also sounds like a dreamy way to spend a romantic afternoon. There two pods features floor-to-ceiling glass doors with uninterrupted views of the Boyne Valley. Inside are two state-of-the-art massage chairs and a secluded deck where you can indulge in a seaweed bath, a private sauna or jacuzzi. The Pod experience lasts 2.5 hours and costs €250 for two people.

The Rise of the Heirloom Wedding Dress

There’s something undeniably romantic about walking down the aisle in a gown with history, especially one that once belonged to a mother, grandmother, or another special family member. Bringing a family gown into your wedding wardrobe is a touching way to honour tradition while celebrating in your own unique style.

Whether it’s a full rewear or a thoughtful modern redesign, brides are embracing vintage gowns in creative ways, modernising them for bridal showers, altering them to wear at rehearsal dinners, or turning them into new heirlooms like bridal bags and wedding morning robes to cherish for generations. Click here for more inspiration on reworking an heirloom wedding dress.

The Hoxton Hotel Opens

After much anticipation, The Hoxton Hotel has officially opened in the heart of Dublin and just in time for the festive season. The high-end hotel franchise has taken over the former Central Hotel on Exchequer Street, and transformed it into a 129-bedroom hotel brimming with character and style, retaining the signature look and feel of a Hoxton hotel, but with a nod to its new Irish home.

The restaurant, Cantina Valentina, serves up vibrant, delicious Peruvian-inspired meals and the decor is just as tasty with an eye-grabbing mural from local artist Cadhla Forde, which is inspired by Rainbow Mountain in the Andes. Hidden away below street level is Groundworks, the first ever Hoxton nightclub venue that can hold 220. But we have to applaud the welcome return of The Library Bar, restored and upgraded with dark timber furnishings and perfectly moody date lighting.

Irish Design’s New Darling

Anyone who spotted Laura Whitmore’s incredible bridal-inspired look at the British Fashion Awards will no doubt be wondering who dressed her. It was none of ther than emerging Irish designer Sasha Donnellan, an exciting new talent in the design scene.

The Mayo native showed as the One to Watch at Ireland Fashion Week and made her international red carpet debut by creating a hand-draped off-white silk creation for Laura featuring an intricate boned bodice, handstitched onto an exaggerated bustle skirt. A graduate of ESMOD Paris and a devotee of sustainable practices, Sasha honed her craft working under Vivienne Westwood and Dilara Findikoglu, and we forecast that her atelier will be full of future brides who want to wear a Sasha Donnellan gown for their wedding day.

Dua Lipa’s New Skincare Smash

Popstar Dua Lipa is adding beauty boss to her CV as she is moving into skincare. The singer has gone to one of the best in the biz, Augustinus Bader, who also makes the skin products at Victoria Beckham Beauty. Augustinus Bader is renowned for TCF8, the Trigger Complex Factor, the highly healing and anti-ageing active in his eponymous skincare brand and in Victoria’s. Dua Lipa’s skincare contains a version of this with a key difference.

Dua’s skincare has a version called TCF5 that works on skin aged 20-35 to help boost and protect its health. This is a less concentrated version of TCF8, so it is more affordable as a result. Bader’s skincare products range in price from €90 to €350, while Dua’s is priced between €38 and €78. The newly-launched cleanser, serum, and moisturiser are available to buy on her new website.

Wedding Era Christmas Decorations

So, it’s your very first Christmas as newlyweds or as newly engaged, how exciting! The magic of a first Christmas is unlike any other. As you deck the halls as a married or engaged couple for the first time, chances are you’ll want something special to commemorate this special moment in your love story.

With that in mind, we’ve found best personalised first Christmas engaged baubles and the sweetest newlywed Christmas ornaments that will remind you of this special Christmas every time you hang it on the tree for many, many years to come! Just click to here to see them all.

Too Busy To Put Up Your Tree

The countdown to Christmas Day is on. However, if you’re too busy to pick up a real tree and spend the evening decorating it, there are services that will do it all for you! Great for any December or New Year couples who are slammed with last minute tasks. Here are three we rate:

• Pines & Co provide a Christmas Concierge Service that will deliver and decorate your tree, with hand-picked ornaments and lights to match your chosen aesthetic. Trees start at €140, including delivery, installation, and collection, and the bespoke decoration service is extra.
• Fir offers a Christmas tree delivery and setup service, along with other products such as Christmas lights and a stand. Prices start at €65 with the removal service in January starting at €26.
• Christmas Fairy Decorators provide a bespoke festive decorating service for homes as they supply, install and take down Christmas decorations both inside and outsite your property.

The Portrait Lounge

This is your sign to do a portrait lounge during cocktail hour. What is a portrait lounge we hear you ask? Think of it as an alternative to a photo booth, and much earlier in the day. Set up an ornate couch or chaise lounge, indoors or outdoors, and other decor optional, and have your photographer take your guests portraits.

Outdoors the natural light will be super flattering, but the moody lighting indoors of a winter wedding can be very dramatic. Not only will it be fun striking a pose, but your guests will have a gorgeous memento from your day. Just don’t forget to flag it with some signage or pop it on the running order of your day.

Moulin Rouge The Musical

“Truth, Beauty, Freedom, and above all things, Love!” We couldn’t think of anything better for a day off from wedmin or a night out with the girls than a visit to Moulin Rouge The Musical at the Bord Gáis Energy Theatre. Prepare for a night of glitz, grandeur, giddiness and a glorious love story as Baz Luhrmann’s film is brought to life, remixed in a new musical mash-up.

The stage production of Baz Luhrmann’s mesmerising ode to excess has won ten Tony awards and is wowing Irish crowss galore and runs until 11 January 2025.

Enjoyed The December Edit? Hit follow on Instagram and Pinterest for more inspiration and be sure to sign up to the One Fab Day newsletter for news and exclusive content straight to your inbox.