A modern fairytale at Bellingham Castle, today’s real wedding will sweep you off your feet. Sadhbh and Barry tied the knot on a crisp and sun-soaked winter’s day surrounded by 175 of their cherished loved ones. Planned and styled by our wonderful couple, this celebration was a masterclass in classic, elegant and romantic style, where every detail was lovingly curated with immense heart.
Not only did the lavish castle venue provide the most breathtaking setting for their celebration but it is only minutes from their home. There’s something undeniably romantic about walking down the aisle in a gown with history. Sadhbh absolutely stunned us wearing her mum’s wedding dress which she brought her own unique twist to, timeless style runs in the family!
From stationery that exuded refined sophistication to luscious white blooms, a dazzling dress change and a jaw-dropping first dance, we know you will be left in awe. Elaine Barker captured every beautiful detail and unforgettable memory with such beauty, enjoy!
Sadhbh is from Blackrock in Co. Louth and Barry is from Belfast. The couple actually first crossed paths at a wedding, Sadhbh’s brother’s intimate celebration in July 2021. Sadhbh reminisces, “My mum got chatting to him during the drinks reception and embarrassingly called me over to meet him. We found a common love for whiskey sours and I knew I had met someone special. However, Barry lived in Manchester at the time and we hadn’t fully come out of lockdown, so doing long distance during that period had some challenges. We flew over and back for 18 months and then Barry decided it was time to make the leap and return to Ireland. We lived together for another 18 months before getting engaged.”
Fast forward to the proposal, which Sadhbh tells us was both brilliant and funny! “We had booked to go to the Olympics in Paris as I absolutely adore watching sports – athletics in particular. Barry had thought he would propose in front of the Eiffel Tower, however when we arrived it was all cordoned off for Olympic events. We walked around Paris looking for any park where he very romantically asked me to be his best friend forever. Barry proposed with a family heirloom which was so special. He also surprised me with a trip extension to Antwerp in Belgium where we made the engagement ring together in a boutique called Elliot & Ostrich. I love the balance between the shape and colours of the two stones (sapphire and a diamond).”
They are based in Blackrock in Co. Louth today and celebrating with all their family and friends was their top priority. “It meant we had 175 people at our wedding. But we wouldn’t have had it any other way. It was so special to have all our closest people around us.”
“Getting ready with my best friends in my parents’ house was such a wonderful feeling,” she reflects.
Sadhbh wanted the celebration to be as simple and timeless as possible and her mother’s beautiful dress formed the foundation for the aesthetic. “It really made me think about how some things age so well and how other things come in and out of fashion. We tried to lean into classic colours / flowers / outfits that we can look back on in 10 years time and still love.”
She sheds more light on the history of the wonderfully elegant column dress which boasts an off the shoulder neckline adorned with a beautiful rosette. “My mum was very stylish and didn’t want to spend too long dress shopping, so went to a Dublin based designer called Paul Moreland. Paul did one single sketch and my mum loved it. However, it was way over her budget at the time, so she left the shop feeling heartbroken. A few weeks later, her dad found an old post office book. He handed it to her and said, ‘It is probably only a few pounds, but whatever is on this account you can have.’ My mum held her breath as she waited in the post office to hear the balance, and it was enough to cover the cost of the dress. We often joked that one day I would wear it, so it was amazing to actually do it.”
Only one alteration was made to the dress and that was swapping the 90’s-style bustle for a train – which was sweetly done by her mum’s best friend Eithne who is a dressmaker in Murnane’s of Ballybay in Co. Monaghan. She accessorised with ruched tulle heels from Jimmy Choo which she bought at Brown Thomas, earrings from One Dame Lane and Bruna the Label, and a simple tulle veil with a comb from Etsy sewed on which was also created by Eithne.
Oozing romantic sophistication, the florals by Vintage Violet Florist included a breathtaking church entrance arch laden with baby’s breath and hydrangea. “David is amazing at bringing your vision to life!”
The bridesmaids wore elegant gowns by Odd Muse.
The couple tied the knot at St. Oliver Plunkett Church in Blackrock and Fr. Paddy Rushe officiated their ceremony. “We are so lucky to also call a family friend. The fact that he knows both of us made the ceremony extra special and relaxed.”
“The music was incredible, we felt so lucky. Dublin String Quartet were accompanied by my beautiful sister-in-law, Sinéad, who is a professionally trained singer,” the bride shares. They chose Bless the Telephone by Labi Siffre to be played as they signed the registrar, which is Barry’s favourite song. “His brother Tom sang it accompanied by the Dublin String Quartet, beautiful.”
They were surrounded by love in every moment and they were joined by family and friends from far and wide. “Knowing that so many people had travelled for our big day; from as close as Belmullet and Belfast to London and Texas!”
After their ‘I dos’ they were joined by a very special guest. “Seeing our dog Holly outside the church as soon as the doors were opened made our day! Absolutely! We got Holly a couple of weeks before we got engaged in the summer of 2024.”
“She was groomed on the morning of the wedding by the wonderful Leah at PawPrint Parlour and was looked after on our wedding day by Rock Dog Walks, and Sarah brought Holly to the church to greet us after the ceremony. We also got pictures with her on the beach wall in Blackrock which is where we take her every morning.”
Renowned for its opulence, elegance, and privacy, the 17th-century Bellingham Castle sits on a magical estate featuring a weir and a man-made river island. Boasting everything from elegant period drawing rooms to a relaxing bar, it seamlessly combines historic charm with modern luxury.
Barry was effortlessly suave in a tux from Freddie Hatchet in Belfast which he accessorised with patent brogues, also from Freddie Hatchet, and cufflinks from Ede and Ravenscroft.
Natasha Ray did Sadhbh’s makeup which exuded pure radiance. “She is the very best in the business. I will never look that good again!” While Sadhbh is naturally red before the wedding she had very blonde hair. She visited Alex at The Space in Drumcondra to help her return to her natural colour. “It was a process and she was so patient. Lou Merryweather then styled our hair on the morning, the absolute dream team!”
Snowy baby’s breath and verdant foliage underpinned the styling of their romantic ballroom reception.
Their stationery was designed by Olivia Earls. “She was an absolute dream to work with, gave us clear timelines and invaluable advice. She basically became my wedding planner at one point!”
Sadhbh fell in love Elaine Barker’s work after she photographed her brother’s wedding. “I knew as soon as I met her and saw the photos from his wedding that she was the photographer I would want in the future. She has an effortless way of capturing the most special moments. I also met Barry at this wedding which makes her being a part of our big day even more special!”
They were spellbound by Bellingham Castle from the moment they stepped foot on the estate on the viewing day. “A quick squeeze of each other’s hand and we knew this was the place we wanted to celebrate our wedding in. Bellingham Castle is not only breathtaking; it is also eight minutes from where we live. We always wanted to keep the wedding local and with such a stunning venue on our doorstep, it didn’t make sense to have it anywhere else.”
As for what made the dreamy castle venue ‘the one’? Everything! “The feeling you get when you walk through the doors of Bellingham is very special. The attention to detail, the space, the FOOD! The Irish wolfounds… I could go on.”
“Plan the wedding as best you can to avoid being stressed, however accept early on that things will go wrong and things can be fixed,” the bride says. “Also share the load as best you can – having Barry on board to make decisions with me (even the flowers!) was such help and a really nice shared experience. Don’t be afraid to ask for help!”
Sadhbh changed into a dazzling silky gown with an exposed back to party the night away. Wow!
Their naked wedding cake was made by Helen at Primrose Lane Bakery and their cake table included pictures of their loved one on their wedding days. What a beautiful tribute to all the love stories before theirs.
Barry’s mum was an Irish dancing teaching and she is now an adjudicator and she organised a céilí after the meal as the band were setting up. “This was such fun and special to our day!”
Sadhbh found their wedding band, The Poor Boys, well before the wedding planning began. She reflects, “I approached them at the first wedding we attended as a couple after about three months of dating and asked them for their card. I think Barry thought I was nuts, but the card came in handy three years later.” The couple wowed their guests with their first dance to Everywhere by Fleetwood Mac.
The couple continued the celebrations with a honeymoon in South Africa. “It was absolutely spectacular; the vibes of Cape Town, the wines of Franscchoek, the whale watching in Hermanus and getting the opportunity to see the Big Five on Safari in the Eastern Cape. It was a once in a lifetime holiday and one we will never ever forget.”
Congratulations Sadhbh and Barry! A very special thank you to our lovely couple and to Elaine Barker for sharing this magical Bellingham Castle wedding with One Fab Day!
Dreaming of partying like royalty on your special day? Check out 27 Fairytale Castle Wedding Venues in Ireland!
