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Real Weddings: Inside IMAGE staffer Shayna and Ryan’s elegant Kildare wedding

by Shayna Sappington
07th Apr 2024

Editor’s note: Shayna Sappington is our defacto ‘Wedding Editor’ here at IMAGE. Since her own romcom-worthy proposal (more on that below), she’s reported on everything fiancés could need to know, from stress-free planning to what to do the night before the big day to making your own dress to a collective of show-stopping real weddings, which are always amongst our most-read articles on IMAGE.ie. We are delighted to have her beautiful wedding to her partner Ryan here on site and the story of how a sunny Californian swapped sandy beaches for love found in a drinking contest in Dicey’s, complete with a doughnut tower cake and a dress that switches up for post-nuptials partying!

THE COUPLE
Shayna Sappington, branded content editor, IMAGE.ie, and Ryan Healy, secondary school teacher.

THEY LIVE
in Dublin.

THE VENUE
Moyvalley Hotel, Co Kildare.

PHOTOGRAPHY
David Maury Photography.

THEY MET
We met years ago on a student night out in Dicey’s. I’m originally from California and was studying abroad at the time. We ended up chatting the whole night through – well shouting over the thundering music – and we had so much in common despite being from different countries. At some point, a drinking contest ensued, with both our friends cheering us on, and we still argue about who won to this day.

What started out as a college fling, quickly blossomed into something more serious and after weathering a year of long distance, Ryan did his J-1 in The States with me, then I came back to Dublin afterwards with him, officially settling into Dublin, the city that had stolen my heart. We’ve been inseparable since.

THE PROPOSAL
Ryan proposed in December 2021 just after Christmas and it was a complete surprise! We had travelled to LA to spend the holidays with my family and had spent this particular day on the beach just us two. After an awkward lunch on the pier, where I felt like I was carrying the conversation and Ryan was clutching his backpack for dear life (despite my assurances it was a safe area), he suggested we sit on a blanket in the sand and watch the sunset.

As soon as we were settled, he pulled out a late Christmas present from his bag, and I unwrapped it to find a photo album with all our best memories. Underneath each picture was a line of a poem, with the final line asking ‘Will you marry me?’. When I looked up, he was down on one knee. There were happy tears from both of us, and I gave him a giant hug before remembering to say yes. The rain started pouring down around us then, so we ran underneath a lifeguard tower and celebrated with a sandy kiss.

THE WEDDING ATTIRE
I got my dress at Bridal Showcase in Vista, California and I had to carefully (and strategically) fold it into my carry-on to bring it back to Dublin. I hadn’t planned to buy one there but had fallen in love with a gorgeous Watters Designs wedding gown. It had a tight bodice with boning built in for extra support, draped tulle sleeves and flowing ruffles that crisscrossed in a unique pattern down the bottom.

Ryan got his suit at his local CT2 Suits in Blanchardstown. He had a navy suit, with a beige waistcoat and funky blue tie. CT2 is a family business and Janice, the owner’s daughter, was an absolute pleasure to work with! We rented all the groomsmen’s suits from there too – in the same navy shade but with a matching navy waistcoat.

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THE CEREMONY
We wanted a venue that had everything in one place – the ceremony, the reception and accommodation for guests. Moyvalley Hotel ticked all the boxes! A short drive from Dublin, we had our ceremony in the gorgeous Stone House, which didn’t need much decor, but our gorgeous flowers really brought the venue to life. Sinead at Adonis Flower Designers was a gem to work with! She knew exactly what I was looking for, despite my indecisiveness, and created a colourful medley of summer shades and a beautiful three-piece arch for the ceremony entrance.

Our celebrant Gabrielle McCauley put together a special ceremony including a handfasting and ringwarming ritual. We said our own vows, which was important to us as words have always been our love language, and we lit a candle for lost loved ones who were there in spirit – Ryan’s dad Jimmy and my grandma Agnes.

THE RECEPTION
Afterwards, we had our cocktail hour in Balyna House, a 19th-century mansion with lovely decor and a two-minute walk from the Stone House. There were canapés provided by Moyvalley and a reception bar where Guinness was flowing freely. Then we all moved to the hotel’s ballroom for dinner, where Ciara, our coordinator at the venue, masterfully repurposed flowers and candles for a lovely setting. The food was delicious, and once the speeches were out of the way we spent the whole night on the dancefloor!

THE ENTERTAINMENT
We were really lucky to have had The Enemies as our wedding band and late-night DJ. They were a blast and all our guests raved about them the rest of the weekend. They read the room brilliantly and kept everyone on the dance floor throughout the night. At one point, the lead singer even joined us in the crowd!

We also rented a photo booth with props for our guests to dress up and take silly pictures throughout the night. They printed photos straightaway and added them to a photo album with a lovely note. It’s a great memento!

THE DECOR
We wanted a simple but elegant decor for the reception. We already had our exquisite flowers, which provided a vibrant pop of colour, and blush napkins on each table. The rest of the table was white and silver, with towering candelabras draped with wildflowers and a few books pulled from our antique book collection at home. Then, of course, a few candles dotted in – you can never have too many of those at a wedding!

Also, we opted for a doughnut tower rather than cake, and one of our dear friends custom-made our cake topper! It’s an outline of ourselves with our beloved dog Pax jumping up beside us. It was the perfect way to include our doggo on the day.

THEIR TOP TIPS

Set aside at least 10 min of alone time to soak it all in. After we took our pictures, we went up to the honeymoon suite, shared a glass of our favourite whiskey and chatted about the day so far. It was one of my favourite moments.
Stay together! With so many family members wanting to catch up, you can easily get pulled away and end up spending your wedding day apart. Make a game plan and decide to stay at each other’s side. Don’t be afraid to interrupt a conversation and grab your hubby when needed. It’s your day after all.
Bring two shirts for the groom. Ryan brought a second shirt to change into after dinner and he was delighted with himself. He was able to feel fresh and face the rest of the long night ahead.
Make a plan for afterwards – when the music stopped, we invited everyone back to Balyna House to continue the celebrations in their underground bar, where we had Tayto sandwich supplies waiting (and leftover doughnuts from our doughnut wedding tower). They were a huge hit! And it gave others a chance to go to bed and a more intimate time for those remaining to enjoy a sing-song and late-night chat.
If you’re not a fan of heels like me, bring other shoes! After a few dances, I changed into a pair of white platform Adidas and it made all the difference. I was able to be comfortable and dance the night away with loved ones.

THEY WISH THEY HAD
Spent less time worrying about the decor. I spent a long time fretting over the aisle as it was so narrow but on the day, I didn’t even notice what it looked like! Those things really don’t matter when the ceremony starts. Also, to my fellow brides, don’t be afraid to delegate. I took a lot on and wish I would’ve delegated more to my bridesmaids so there was less stress the week of the wedding.

THEIR BEST MOMENTS
My favourite moments were seeing Ryan at the top of the aisle, our glass of whiskey together post-pictures, and my dress reveal – I had a second shorter skirt that I changed into before we entered the ballroom. It ended up being the perfect choice because the longer one got muddied from outside photos and I was able to dance more freely. (Shoutout to Anna O Alterations for creating this unique option! They were brilliant.)

THEIR FIRST DANCE SONG
Millionaire by Chris Stapleton.

THE CREW
Wedding Dress: Watters Designs from Bridal Showcase. Groom & Groomsmen’s Suits: CT2 Suits. Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Next. Bride’s Earrings: One Dame Lane. Make-Up: Hazel Ward. Hair: Melanie Byrne. Florist: Adonis Flower Designers. Doughnut Cake: Offbeat Donuts. Stationery & Signage: The Ivory Feather. Celebrant: Gabrielle McCauley. Band: The Enemies. Videographer: Wonder & Magic.