Real Weddings: College sweethearts Ellie and Simon’s Dublin city centre wedding
The Shelbourne Hotel set the scene for a magical wedding ceremony and reception for Dubliners Ellie and Simon.
THE COUPLE
Ellie Lambe and Simon Leonard. We both work in renewable energy, but in different companies.
THEY LIVE
In Dun Laoghaire. We just bought our first house in September before the big day!
THE VENUE
We booked The Shelbourne Hotel for everything, including the ceremony. Both being from Dublin, we loved the idea of a city wedding, everyone being able to hop on the DART or get a taxi to and from the wedding. It was so convenient and stress-free, though we were lucky to stay in The Shelbourne for three nights!
PHOTOGRAPHY
THEY MET
We first met back in school as friends, then crossed paths again in college, and we have been together ever since! Eight years later, and we’re married. We grew up around the corner from each other in Mount Merrion unbeknownst to ourselves when we met.
THE PROPOSAL
We were on a two-week trip to the States; we were skiing in Aspen and then finished off in New York. Simon proposed in Central Park and arranged for a photographer to be hiding in the bushes so the special moment could be captured. It was all very romantic, and luckily, we had a week in New York then to celebrate.
THE WEDDING ATTIRE
The suit is Herbie Frogg with Kurt Geiger shoes on all the groom’s party. We had their shirts embroidered with their initials for a special touch.
The dress and veil are custom Emma Beaumont Atelier. It took eight or nine trips over to Knutsford in the UK and just under a year for Emma and her team to make them. They are absolute perfectionists and pay attention to every detail. I’ve always loved the elegance of a high neck and sleeves on a wedding dress. The fabric is handmade Italian lace with extra details and beading added by Emma to accentuate the lace’s pattern. They are an absolute dream to work with, and every trip to see your dress is so special.
I was spoiled by having Aura Bridalwear make me a custom veil clip, which I wore alongside Jimmy Choo shoes, a Gucci bag and Courtville Antiques earrings!
THE CEREMONY
We were lucky enough to rent the 1824 bar in The Shelbourne before the ceremony to allow everyone to arrive and gather for a drink with Simon and the groomsmen before, to help settle the nerves! The ceremony was in the hotel’s Adam and Deirdre Suite. We had 84 guests, and it was so perfect and intimate. We were married by Jessica Statham, who led a really beautiful and personal ceremony for us. Marie Fox sang at our ceremony, accompanied by the Leinster String Quartet – they were so amazing.
THE RECEPTION
The reception took place in the Setanta Suite and the St Stephen’s Suite. The Leinster String Quartet continued to play, and we were joined by Jamie Skelton, the magician, for some amazing entertainment during the reception. We knew we wanted something different when it came to the canapes, so we had a two-tier charcuterie board during the reception for everyone, which was a really nice twist on the usual canapes. The Shelbourne team, led by Cathy, couldn’t have been more accommodating, and I couldn’t recommend them more.
THE ENTERTAINMENT
This was huge for us! We love to host, and we love a party, so we knew this was important. We had Marie Fox singing and the Leinster String Quartet at the ceremony and drinks reception. Jamie Skelton, the Dublin magician, on reception entertainment and Lab54 UK DJing for the night. They’re a UK-based collective that knows how to party, so we knew we had to bring them over for our big day!
THE DECOR
The Shelbourne speaks for itself! But we were lucky enough to use The Shelbourne’s in-house florist, which was so convenient as they know every part of the hotel. All the rooms and their floral arrangements in the foyer are iconic, so we knew who to trust. Everyone had a mini bottle of Baileys at their seat too!
THEIR TOP TIPS
It’s all about you and your partner. Keep it authentic to yourselves, and it will all line up perfectly, just how you imagine it. Surround yourself with amazing people and trust your suppliers; they know what they’re doing! Spend as much of the day as you can together. It can be easy to feel like you need to do the rounds, but we made a conscious effort to spend as much of it together as we could and soak it all in. The day goes by so fast. Try to sneak away for a few minutes when the dinner bell is rung before you make your entrance, it gives you both a minute to be alone.
THEY WISH THEY HAD
Nothing! It was the best four days of our lives. We were lucky enough to have a meal the night before with our bridesmaids, groomsmen and some friends who travelled home from Australia in The Merrion. We had Day Two in O’Donoghues and Day Three in our house before heading to Switzerland, skiing on our honeymoon on the Monday.
THEIR BEST MOMENTS
It’s so hard to pick one. Seeing each other for the first time at the ceremony is something we will never forget. Being surrounded by family and friends in the same room who are all there for you both is a really special feeling.
THE FIRST SONG
Birds of a Feather by Billie Eilish.
THE CREW
Dress/Veil: Emma Beaumont Atelier. Veil Clip: Aura Bridalwear. Celebrant: Jessica Statham. Cake: French Wedding Cakes. Make-up: Adrianna Dryniewicz. Hair: Gill Barr. Groom & Groomsmen’s Suits: Protocol Menswear. Entertainment: Dublin Magician Jamie Skelton, Lab54 UK DJs, Leinster String Quartet and Singer Marie Fox. Videographer: Forget Me Not.
See more photographs from Ellie and Simon’s wedding in the gallery below.
Photography: Wonder and Magic Photography.
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