I’ve always had a crazy obsession with Moroccan rugs. They’re a whole other level of gorgeous and to see them used as an aisle runner; let’s just say I kind of went blogger crazy for a moment. And we haven’t even touched the surface of this destination wedding. To get married in Marrakech is a complete dream. It’s exotic and romantic all balled up into one beautiful spot. And with an affair planned from soup to nuts by Boutique Souk, that beautiful spot became a fantasy destination wedding with White Tea + Hey Day Photography there to capture every lively moment. See the full day as well as some awesome day after shots around Marrakech right here.
Click here for the FULL wedding!
From the Bride… A wedding is really the most expensive “party” you will ever throw, so we knew from the start that we wanted to have one that reflected our own style and would hopefully stand out and be memorable for us and all our guests! So, although we enjoy traditional weddings – we really wanted something a bit more bespoke that would incorporate our personalities and love of travel. We’ve traveled to Marrakech in the past and loved the fact that we could be somewhere so unbelievably exotic in such a short space of time. We wanted a really laid-back wedding where we could have drinks on the rooftop one minute and be dancing by the pool the next. Although Marrakech isn’t the most obvious destination for many when planning a wedding, it’s actually a fantastic option. The weather is wonderful and the riads and villas are so romantic – with the help of a good planner they can be transformed into really beautiful venues. After meeting our wedding planners — Rosena and Fred from Boutique Souk — we knew straight away that it would actually be possible to get married in a location like Marrakech because they knew it like the back of their hands, and we were able to put our trust in them completely.
Our initial inspiration for the wedding was to have a very intimate relaxed affair with just our close family and friends. Something with a sophisticated vibe that incorporated the exoticism of Morocco from the lanterns and carpets with purples, blues and pinks. Darren also wanted to include some Irish elements into the wedding, so our rings and the pocket watch that I gave Darren have Irish engravings. We also used names of Irish horses for the table plan, and I got some old-school bottles of Guinness from the Guinness storehouse in Dublin and had our names and date of the wedding put on them as a surprise for Darren on the day. There were so many highlights throughout the day — from me and the bridesmaids having our hair and makeup done at La Mamounia, to seeing my Dad’s face when he came in to collect me, and simply strolling around the garden just as the sun was setting and seeing all the lanterns and open fires light up. We also had a traditional Gnawa band come up to the roof top terrace during the reception as the sun was going down to sing and play the drums.
It was very important to us to be able to provide a fun, relaxed weekend for people where everything was provided to ensure some of our less-traveled guests felt comfortable and not overwhelmed. Rosena and Fred really understood this and helped us to coordinate the whole weekend. From transfers to welcome drinks to restaurant recommendations, our guests didn’t have to worry about a thing. We felt like we were on a movie set floating from one scene to the next — it was beautifully romantic! Our photographers, White Tea and Hey Day Photo, also suggested having a photo shoot the next day in the centre of Marrakech, which really gives a lasting memory of our Moroccan experience. It was great to get dressed up in our wedding outfits again before taking to the streets for our shoot. We had great fun — the Moroccan people were lovely, all shouting, “Bon mariage!” as we walked by.
Wedding Photography: White Tea + Hey Day Photography / Wedding Venue: Kasbah Villa in Marrakech, Morocco / Floral Design, Event Design + Planning: Boutique Souk / Bridal Bouquet: La Mamounia / Wedding Cinematography: Jose Hernandez Videography / Wedding Invitations: Daintree Paper / Wedding Dress: Augusta Jones “Juno” via Anabel Rose Bridal / Hairpiece: Emmy McCormick via Anabel Rose Bridal / Bride’s Shoes: Pink by Paradox / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Dessy / Groom’s Suit: Hugo Boss / Groom’s Shirt: Dalvey / Groom’s Tie: Paul Smith / Groomsmen Suits: Topman