“As we love travelling, it felt right to get married abroad, so we chose New York. We wanted our wedding to have old worldly style. Our hotel, The Beekman, helped set the mood with its breathtaking vintage décor and architecture.”
Debbie —— I love being outdoors, observing birds and maintaining our garden. I’m also interested in creative writing. I’m definitely the introvert in the relationship. Chris and I bought our first home together in Dublin in 2019, not knowing the pandemic was around the corner. It has been our safe haven ever since. We share an eclectic taste in décor. Chris has also become quite the chef (I’m more the sous chef). He’s made all kinds of exotic dishes and some beautiful cocktails served in the array of glasses we’ve gathered together.
I’m a medical social worker in an acute hospital in Dublin. The pandemic has been tough, although great colleagues have made it more bearable. Chris —— I work as a senior engineer. I also play water polo competitively and am representing Ireland in the European qualifiers in Malta.
Debbie —— We met in Thailand 10 years ago while travelling with friends. We stayed in contact and met again eight months later in the small farm town of Ayr in North Queensland. Our romance flourished from there.
Chris —— Our first date was at Alligator Creek. We swam in the creek, cooked food and had beers and ciders. I played Daniel Bedingfield’s ‘If You’re Not the One’ while we lay in the sun. She didn’t get it. But I knew that day she was the one. Debbie —— After a five-year long-distance relationship with me in Dublin and Chris in London, Chris proposed on a sunrise hike on Pidurangala Rock, Sri Lanka. When we got to the top, we sat and watched the beautiful sunrise. Chris was acting strange and seemed annoyed there were so many people there, but once they’d dispersed he got down on one knee. It was emotional. Even Chris was teary-eyed and he never cries!
As we love travelling, it felt right to get married abroad, so we chose New York. We wanted our wedding to have old worldly style. Our hotel, The Beekman, helped set the mood with its breathtaking vintage décor and architecture.
As we eloped, we were able to splurge on a few things. I knew I wanted Manolo Blahnik shoes (inspired by Carrie Bradshaw). I didn’t think I’d splurge on a bag too, but I’ve no regrets.
I fell in love with the Prada while shopping in New York and had to have it! Hopefully it will be passed on to our children and their children. Chris splurged on his Balenciaga shoes and Tom Ford bow tie. He loves his style too so he was never going to be left out!
Our wedding dinner at Eleven Madison Park was an incredible experience. In hindsight, we can laugh about how I almost left my Prada bag hanging on the back of the door in the toilets. After dinner, we ordered a Mercedes G Class to take us to The Dead Rabbit, a famous Irish bar and sang at the top of our lungs to our wedding playlist with the windows down on the way. At the bar, we met lots of New Yorkers who’d clocked off work on Wall Street and we danced and drank Irish coffees into the wee hours.
PHOTOGRAPHER Nato Tuke , @weddingsbynato / BRIDE’S DRESS Self Portrait, @mrselfportrait / GROOM’S SUIT Reiss, @reiss & Eton , @etonshirts / FLORA Designs by Ahn NYC , @designsbyahnnyc / BRIDE’S RING Weir & Sons, @weirandsons / GROOM’S RING Faller The Jeweller, Derry, Northern Ireland, @faller_the_jeweller / BRIDE’S FRAGRANCE: Bal d’Afrique by Byredo, @officialbyredo Byredo, @officialbyredo / STATIONERY: Crown Creative, @crowncreative / BRIDE’S SHOES: Manolo Blahnik , @manoloblahnik / MAKEUP & HAIR: Barbara, from CEO Beauty , @ceobeautynyc / GROOM’S SHOES: Balenciaga, @balenciaga / CEREMONY LOCATION: The Beekman Hotel , @thebeekmanny / RECEPTION LOCATION: Eleven Madison Park , @elevenmadisonpark / VIDEOGRAPHER: Weddings by Nato , @weddingsbynato / BRIDE’S EARRINGS: Gucci , @gucci / BRIDE’S BAG: Prada , @prada / GROOM’S BOW TIE: Tom Ford , @tomford / CELEBRANT: Officiant Larissa Martell ,@ceremoniesbylarissa / ENTERTAINMENT: The Dead Rabbit , @deadrabbitnyc
