Dalduff Farm – Martina and Dereks Wedding
“One day someone will walk into your life and you’ll realise why it never worked out with anyone else.”
The World Wide Web May Be Huge But The Village Shop Is Small.
Martina found Derek online 7 years ago. I presume he was what she was looking for as they had their first date and became inseparable.
Martina has a massive family in Ireland and family is very very important to her. So it was whilst they were back there in 2021 for one of her sisters (she has 4, and a brother!) weddings that Derek decided to propose so she could celebrate with her family. It was the day after the lovely wedding and everyone knew except Martina. Everyone was at Mammy and Daddy’s house and Martina decided to go check on the dogs. When she headed back to the house Derek was on the front lawn with a beautiful sunset behind him. Martina asked him what he was loitering about for and he got down on one knee and proposed. Derek says that Martina couldn’t stop laughing and then finally said yes!!
Having met Martina’s family at the wedding (more on that later) I am guessing that they were all peeking through the window and shoving each other out of the way to see how the proposal went. They all must have been super confident, and the local shop must have wondered why they had a run on the one engagement card they had – as Martina and Derek received the same card over and over again!!
Down on the Farm
This was a new venue for me, but as soon as I arrived I could see why Martina and Derek had picked it. Dalduff Farm sits in rolling countryside with very photogenic barns all set up for weddings and a gorgeous old farmhouse for the bridal party to get ready in. Plus their own farm shop and butchery for the wedding meal!
Martina had picked her flower combo of sunflowers and thistles after seeing a woman walking out of M&S with a bouquet of each and JD Flowers took that theme and made the whole farm look absolutely beautiful.
I had so much fun with the sisters and Martina’s parents as they all got ready and learnt some new terminology like ‘greyhound skirts’ (ask someone else what that describes this is a family-friendly blog!). I fell in love with mammy and daddy and their joy at their last child getting married was infectious. Martina’s brother wore a kilt for the first time but the scene stealer was his son as ‘Ring Security’ too cute!
Kilt is what happened to the last person who called it a skirt
Love a pun, so I do! Not to be outdone Derek had a very cool idea to design and register his own tartan. The design was gorgeous and tied in beautifully with the burgundy bridesmaid dresses. I believe only Derek and his family can purchase and wear the tartan which is pretty awesome in my book. Derek and his groom team looked fantastic on the day.
Dress To Impress
Martina’s dress was a beautiful vintage-looking number from Gwenne’s Bridal that fitted her perfectly. She also had a long veil. SQUEEEEE! Long-time readers of my blogs will know how giddy I get when presented with a long veil. The photo opportunities!!!
We kept Daddy out of the room until she was ready and then allowed him in for the big reveal.
We also managed to keep most of Martina’s sisters downstairs for a grand reveal as well.
There’s Something In My Eye Goddammit!
There was so much love and goodwill for this couple at the wedding. As soon as Martina and her Dad stepped onto the aisle they were stopped by everyone applauding and whooping.
The ceremony had lots of personal touches and close family involvement but the bit that really got me was their own vows that they read to another.
Despite being a rowdy crowd you could have heard a pin drop as they read their declarations of love and commitment to each other. And by goodness, this couple REALLY love each other. You could hear it ring true with every word confidently vowed to each other.
Yes okay, even I got a bit emosh at this point.
Child of Prague – Hang On In There.
The sky was looking quite mutinous and the wind was whipping up as the ceremony finished but we managed to get some cracking group shots with the big red Dutch barns in the background.
And then back inside the ceremony barn for some pictures with the bridal party.
Then as the guests got entertained by a Magician and played with garden games and space hoppers in the big barn we headed off to get some bride and groom portraits.
Martina’s sister and maid of honour Jacinta came with us to do some fabulous veil tossing. So much so that I had to keep her in a couple of the shots.
Of course, a long veil meant I could get all up in the bride and groom’s personal space for an under-the-veil shot.
And I got to make use of the fantastic red barn backdrop just before the heavens opened right on time for food to be served.
BBQ For The Win
Remember that Farm Shop I mentioned. Well, all morning we could smell the food being barbecued ready for the shared meat platters and accompaniments the guests were being fed.
But first, there was the small matter of the cutest cake you have ever seen from Jappacakes being cut.
And some speeches including Jacinta’s which was almost as good as the faces she was pulling telling it!
Whilst they wined and dined I got my very own plate of food from the kitchen and it was heavenly!
Blow The Roof Off
As everyone started emerging from their food coma the sun was back out and the wind had dropped making for a very pleasant early evening for the wedding guests to enjoy.
The band The Scoundrels were setting up and sounding so awesome I thought they were going to blow the roof off the barn!
During the first dance, the floor started to fill and then I don’t think it emptied all night with a group of Irish and Scottish revellers that knew how to celebrate in style.
It was a long drive home but I drove it all the way with a smile on my face after such a wonderful day. I know that Derek and Martina have had some pretty devastating setbacks on their journey together so far. But a couple this in love, with such a tremendous support network of family and friends…all their dreams will come true one way or another.
Congratulations again Mr and Mrs Logie xXx
