“The dress selection was fabulous and the staff were so unbelievably helpful and put no pressure on me. Teaming it with straps turned the dress into my dream dress so without hesitation I bought it on the spot.”
#RCREALBRIDE AILEEN
RC – How did you and your husband meet?
At my house, 7 years ago I had a house party inviting a few of my close friends, Ger was brought along by a friend. It was love at first sight, I was instantly attracted to him and the relationship was born and grew from that night onwards.
RC- The proposal?
It was not your everyday proposal, we are big campers and like to travel around the beautiful Western Australia, last Christmas we went on a big trip up North and in the beautiful Kalbarri National park, at a gorge, in 40 degree heat, at 10am, covered in sunscreen, looking fabulous in my camping clothes, Ger drops down on one knee. It was my favourite camp trip to date.
RC – Is there a particular reason as to why you chose your venue?
Our ceremony was held in my local Church where I grew up in Cashel, followed by the wedding reception in the beautiful Kilshane House in the heart of Tipperary, Ireland. The venue speaks for itself a stunning house with beautiful grounds and the most helpful and accommodating owners and staff you will ever hope to meet, vital when planning your wedding from Australia.
RC – Your favourite part of the wedding?
It is so hard to pick up one as the whole day was so wonderful, but if I had to narrow it down, walking down the aisle and our vows. Even though I dreaded walking down the aisle for months before, it was actually so calming seeing all the smiles on my wonderful family and friends that came to join in our special day, and reaching the top and seeing my wonderful fiancé (husband) suited and smiling.
RC – How the dress made you feel?
I felt like an absolute princess on the day, I am so glad that I took my time and waited until I found the perfect dress, and it was worth it. The reactions my dress got from my friends and family and even from people that weren’t at the wedding was just overwhelming.
RC – Your bridal shopping experience?
I won’t lie, but my shopping experience did not start out brilliantly, firstly I did not have any idea what I wanted and I had a 7 month time limit to find, order and fit my dream dress in. I visited numerous Bridal shops all around Perth and could not find my dress, I found loads of really beautiful dress’s that would do but I just didn’t adore. Most of the Bridal shops also put me into a state of panic when they heard my time limit, telling me that it is not possible to order the dress in time. I was basically at my wits end and couldn’t take another unsuccessful bridal shop experience, so I stopped looking in Perth and set my sights on Melbourne.
On a Saturday morning I ventured to the Armadale Raffaelle Ciuca Bridal shop on my own, as I felt so horrible dragging my bestie to every shop even though she loved it. The dress selection was fabulous and the staff were so unbelievably helpful and put no pressure on me. I fell in love with the style of the Pronovias Balsa dress but felt it was missing something. Two hours later I called back with my bestie and tried the dress on again, it was still missing something, straps. Teaming it with straps turned the dress into my dream dress so without hesitation I bought it on the spot.
RC – Tips for brides-to-be?
Have no regrets, if you think you might want something just do it, it’s one day that you will remember for the rest of your lives. Enjoy the day and every moment and take it all in, I know you will hear this time and time again but the day is over before you can even process it, so don’t worry about the minor details, just enjoy it all. Get a video, so much happens throughout the course of the day it is so difficult to remember every moment.
