26 Nov Orla’s Wedding……all the details!

“I never made promises lightly,

        And there have been some that I’ve broken,

     But I swear in the days still left,

  We’ll walk in fields of gold”

                                                                                -Sting

My Dad loved to tell people that he gave me away twice to the same man. On a sunny July day, in the summer of 2008, stylishly he led me out on to the front lawn of The Armada Hotel, County Clare, into the arms of my fresh new husband, Mike. The rings were already on our fingers and The Armada was our chosen venue for our outdoor ceremony and wedding party.

I was already like a kid on Christmas morning when peering through the curtains of my hotel room, I witnessed our guests taking their seats. OUTSIDE. BY THE SEA. It’s a treasured few moments for sure; spying at our friends and family, from home and away, gathered to celebrate our love. I remember feeling particular pride for the American entourage (Mike hails from Westport, Massachusetts) as the fresh Atlantic Ocean waves crashed off the glistening rocks. It was a ‘paaaaaaty’ alright.

The heavenly smell of the sea and the glorious roar of the ocean provided the backdrop to our unique ceremony, which I had planned during our trip to Boston earlier that summer. Any time I got a little overwhelmed, Mike took to playing Fields of Gold on the I-Pod (remember those?)

So to hear it sung so beautifully by one of Mike’s very best friends, Lorie, was simply divine. “Will you stay with me, will you be my love?” I will always be grateful to Emer, my make-up artist friend, for suggesting the waterproof mascara. And my brother and his ukulele was yet to come.

As a surprise for Mike and me, Gavin performed the Israel Kamakawiwo’ole version of Over the Rainbow. What a gift! 12 years later, it is no surprise, that this part of our ceremony is still the most talked about. My husband and I were facing our guests as Gavin sang and strummed and it was so lovely to see their faces, smiling and crying and happy in the moment.

“And the dreams that you dreamed of…… dreams really do come true”

Then it was my turn. My lovely hubbie asked very little of me, in advance of our big day. He requested two things, however. First of all, that I wear a dress and not wedding pants and secondly, could I please keep any and all Bob Dylan songs, as well as lyrics, to an absolute minimum.

I happily donned a wedding dress, veil an’ all. But I snuck in a few words from Mr. Zimmerman:

“If you’re looking for assistance babe,

Or if you just want some company,

Or if you just want a friend you can talk to,

Honey, come and see about me”

Indeed, “many years have passed since those summer days” and I really would not change a single thing. Well, maybe I’d urge the Elvis impersonator (don’t ask) to leave the stage so that Mike and I may enjoy our first dance together, to one of our favourites from U2.

“But all the promises we made, from the cradle to the grave, when all I want is you”

Come to think of it, I am not sure if we ever did have that dance. We’ll just have to renew our vows with Coastal Ceremonies!