Dearbha & Danny's wedding was a chic affair in Derry's City Hotel. I recently caught up with Dearbhla who shares a few special memories of their wedding day. 

Dearbhla, how did you & Danny meet?

We used to date when we were in our teens. I was 16 and he was 18 but because of the distance at a young age we just became friends. I went to see his band play when I could (We Are Burke's Lounge) and met him through my sister when she lived in Limavady. Then, three and a half years ago Danny messaged me to say he was moving to Derry as he had got a new job and he would love to meet up to catch up. The first night he moved he phoned to meet and the rest was history. We moved in together after a year and we just decided that was it for us and booked our wedding in February 2013. We then got engaged in April and about a year in we got our wee dog Eva (Teddy Bear Poodle). She's our wee baby!

When & where did you get married? 

We got married in St Eugene's Cathedral, Derry, followed by a reception in The City Hotel. 

What did you love most about planning your wedding?

What we loved most about planning the wedding was going to the wedding fairs and seeing all the amazing things on display and meeting all the exhibitors. It's so lovely getting swept up in it all!

Describe your dress. How did you find 'the one'? 

Unbelievably, I found my dress in the very first shop I visited. In fact, it was the very first dress I set my eyes on and I knew the second I looked at it that it was perfect for me. I loved the sparkle and it just felt so flattering on. I totally loved it!

Who were your bridesmaids? Describe their dresses! 

My bridesmaids were my three sisters; Grainne, Eimear and Aoibheann. My mammy seen the dresses in Fosters in Derry and suggested I call in to see them. It turns out they only had 3 of the dresses left but they were the exact three sizes that we needed. It was definitely meant to be! I loved the sparkle detailing and the gorgeous way they flowed. I paired their dresses with cream bouquets which looked stunning against the navy.

What style of flowers did you choose and why?

The flowers were made by Bernie Jackson. I had trouble deciding on a style so Bernie told me to try Pinterest for inspiration, which worked a treat! Danny was wearing a navy tie so I wanted to match in with him, while the groomsmen's ties were ivory so the bridesmaids' white flowers tied it all together.

What did you love most about your wedding venue?

The City Hotel was amazing. Because it was Christmastime and the venue was festively decorated I had very little to do - it was cosy and beautiful!

Did everything go exactly to plan? 

The only thing that didn't work out was the weather. It was a terrible day but it didn't bother me because it was to be expected in December. All the photos were taken in The City Hotel and they were absolutely beautiful. I couldn't have asked for better!

What 3 tips would you offer other brides? 

1) Don't go overboard ordering things and putting yourself under pressure. It's too easy to get carried away.

2) Do what you want for your wedding day. It helps if you realise that you can't please everyone so don't ask people's opinions about things because it gets in the way.

3) Aim lower than you expect for the numbers for the meal. Your guests don't realise that the food is paid for in advance and you can't get your money back if they cancel. If your guests don't give you a straight answer count them out. They can always be added in later.

Finally, what led to you choosing Catherine as your wedding photographer?

Catherine Mackenzie never takes a bad photo! I had seen Catherine's work though my work in Syenna Hairdressers and I just love everything she does. All her photography is really different, and she's great to work with. She just has an eye for things. There was no question on who I wanted for my photography. Without a doubt, it was always going to be Catherine.