An NI couple have shared a look into their beautiful wedding at Drenagh House Estate.
Newtownabbey woman Emma (33) and her husband Michael Wilton (30) from East Belfast got married on January 29, 2022, after postponing their original plans by a year due to Covid.
In Be 's weekly feature Inside My Wedding, couples are delving into their special day to give bride and grooms-to-be some top tips.
The pair got engaged in Santorini in 2019 and Emma has told us all about their special day.
Tell us all about your wedding day!
We had everything at Drenagh House Estate. We headed down early and got ready there, had the ceremony in the house and then headed to the marquee for the reception.
My granny gave me away which was really special as she had a leg amputated a few years ago and is in a wheelchair, however she wore a prosthetic to walk me down the aisle. It was very emotional.
We wanted a mix of a classic wedding along with a really entertaining day for our guests, so we we had a secret singer at dinner which was really cool. My youngest sister Morgan is a world champion dancer and she performed a dance for us, followed by Hannah Lynn who played guitar followed by the saxophone. We then had Barney from Startrax Disco to finish the night off.
How did you decide on the venue?
I’m not sure how we even came across Drenagh House Estate as we are from Newtownabbey and it’s in Limavady, but we went down for a viewing and fell in love with it straight away. From the house to the marquee and the amazing grounds, it was everything we could have wished for.
The staff were out of this world from the minute we went to view it until the day we left after the wedding. Of course I made Michael view a few others before we decided, but he said the day we left, "I know this is the one."
Tell us about your wedding dress, bridesmaid dresses and suits.
The wedding dress was next on my to do list. Being a curvy bride, I was really worried about trying dresses on. It was in the second shop I tried, just by chance I seen they had a trunk show and I went with two of my bridesmaids and found it. Dorothy, the owner of White Gold Bridal is literally a fairy godmother, she is so friendly and knowledgeable. I couldn’t recommend her enough.
I ordered the bridesmaid dresses online. As I had six bridesmaids, it seemed cost effective however because we were delayed due to Covid, I completely changed the colour scheme from forest green to dark navy - so perhaps not that cost effective in the end...
What was the best part in the build up to your day?
To be honest, right up until the day before, I was always waiting on bad news. Covid was so unpredictable in terms of restrictions and it was also the uncertainty if everyone who had said they would attend, could.
The week leading up to the wedding felt like the hunger games keeping everyone safe, however Michael and I made our wedding rings in Newcastle and that was really unforgettable as I had a piece of my granny’s ring put into mine.
It was a full day workshop and we had such a good laugh making parts of each other’s rings.
What was the best moment of your day?
My granny giving me away will forever stay with me, however our children did a speech and that is something that we will both never forget. It was a very emotional moment.
What would you tell other bride and grooms to plan first and what are your top tips?
For the ladies, get your hair and makeup booked as soon as you are engaged. The good ones are fully booked years in advance.
Other than that, try to take a relaxed approach as everything happens for a reason. We had to take this in with Covid, or else we would have very easily become very stressed.
Our wedding planner suggested having 15 minutes to ourselves in the middle of the day before dinner - totally alone. It was fantastic as the day goes in so quickly. That was a special moment.
What was your theme?
We went for a very classic theme with a twist. We love the outdoors with the kids and wanted to bring some of that inside, mixed with the classic Drenagh House vibe. It was just a massive celebration for our closest friends and family.
Would you do anything different or wish there was anything you didn't worry about?
No, we both agree it was everything we wanted and more.
Do you want to tell us all about your wedding day? Email be@belfastlive.co.uk to be featured!
