A Marquee and Garden wedding at Ballintubbert House
PHOTOGRAPHS Benjamin Wheeler
EVENT DESIGN Love & Gatherings
WORDS Kate O’Dowd, Irish Wedding Planner
Ballintubbert House might well be my favourite spot for a garden and marquee wedding, within an hour of Dublin. In luscious Co Laois, it’s a grand, but not imposing ivy-covered Manor House, set within the most magical grounds, which draw garden enthusiasts from all over. Out front is the famous Canal, which is essentially a long mirror pond, and frankly the only place anyone should consider holding their ceremony, here. It’s beyond beautiful. The main house is where the bridal party beds down, while it’s an LPM Bohemia canvas marquee that forms the location for dinner, accessed following a meandering stroll through garden room, orchard and meadow.
This wedding, for Emma & Killian, began at the quaint St Peter’s Church in Kildare’s Two Mile House, local to the bride’s family. We worked with The Wild Bunch, here, to create a meadow-style undone semi-arch, perfect to accent the pretty church door, without overwhelming it.
Following the ceremony, the couple sped back to Ballintubbert in a vintage convertible, which, miraculously, didn’t destroy Emma’s hair. In fact, she emerged, quite the babe in this stunning slinky gown.
Guests gathered for a drinks reception, on the lawn, where we used antique lounge furniture and rugs to create a stunning space to mingle, in front of the mirror pond. We drafted in our favourite band for a chilled garden wedding reception, The Whileaways, who played honey-toned tunes to match was was a dreamy, sunny day.
After some glorious wanderings in the gardens, where each corner offers a new delight, guests found themselves at Ballintubbert’s dining marquee, so beautifully private and yet as one with the nature around it. We had the church arch transferred to create the most luxurious entrance, alongside a custom plywood seating chart, by Keady Row.
We created a room design of long, elegant tables, which are certainly my preferred choice, in terms of both the aesthetic impact and better provision for lots of craic. Floral centrepieces were low and wild, interspersed with tall hand-poured taper candles in a mix of dusky shades, offering a variance in height, thanks to our refined glass candlesticks. Dusty blush napkins and minimalist table stationery, finished the aesthetic, with contemporary and yet timeless style.