By Tara McCormack
ON a sun-kissed day in September, Mary Carson from Belfast and Priscilla Clarke from Donegal celebrated their love in the Villa Rose Hotel, Ballybofey, surrounded by family, friends, and the warmth of a flawless day.
The couple, who met online in November 2015, became engaged on Christmas Day in 2022. By September 6, 2024, they sealed their love with a beautiful wedding ceremony and reception all held at the Villa Rose Hotel, where the magic of the day unfolded.
Reflecting on the occasion, Mary shared with Donegal News: “The day was perfect from start to finish, we enjoyed every minute of it. Having our family and friends there to celebrate with us (many who travelled to be there) on a day filled with love was such a beautiful feeling and for which we are extremely grateful.”
With Belfast-based Mary and Priscilla, who had moved to Belfast from Donegal in 2017, their wedding became a union of not just hearts, but of their families and friends from both sides of the border.
“We also got probably the two best days of weather in the whole year,” Mary shared.
“The sun shone from start to finish.”
This perfect setting was complemented by the Villa Rose Hotel, which Mary described as “the perfect setting for our wedding,” adding that the quality of the food was “outstanding and commented on by many of the guests.”
In the warmth of the sunshine the newlyweds share a kiss.
The staff at the Villa Rose, she noted, “made it all so easy and were a pleasure to deal with. There wasn’t anything we asked for that they were not able to accommodate and also added some extra personal touches to make the day complete.”
With the help of talented professionals, the couple’s dream wedding came to life. The whole day was special but seeing each other for the first time on the day and committing our lives to one another in front of our family and friends was of course a highlight,” Mary said.
The stunning moments were captured by photographer Niall Timony of Niall Timony Photography and videographer Raymond Holmes, who, according to Mary, “made us feel so comfortable”.
The couple was also deeply appreciative of the support from their family and friends in the lead-up to the wedding, as well as the contributions of numerous vendors.
From the beautiful dresses sourced from Eden Bridal and Pearls and Laces and altered by Kelly Black Design, to the cake crafted by Maddie Sweet Treats, every detail was thoughtfully planned.
Mary and Priscilla dazzle in their stunning wedding gowns from Eden Bridal and Pearls and Laces.
“Wonderful staff at Eden Bridal and Pearls and Laces helped us find the beautiful dresses, which were altered to perfection by Kelly Black Design,” Mary recalled.
The couple’s flawless hair and makeup were completed by Jenna Harran and Anna O’Brien, while the Exclusive Wedding Band kept the evening alive, entertaining guests with an energetic performance that had everyone on their feet.
To add to the magic, Mary and Priscilla extended their celebration with a second night of festivities at the 7 Arches in Laghy. “We extended the wedding for a second night for our after-party,” Mary said, “which was made possible by the wonderful owners Ann and Des, who went to a lot of trouble to make it special with fantastic music provided by William Wray as we danced the night away.”
Summing up the joy of their wedding, Mary concluded: “We couldn’t have asked for a better day and we would do it all over again tomorrow if we could.”
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