This Couple's Ireland Wedding Featured the Dreamiest Pastel Color Palette

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bride and groom pose for portrait in garden venue — Laura Gordon

Zahra and Mark bumped into each other—literally—at a Dublin bar the night they met. Despite the fact that the bar was about to close, they decided to order another drink and exchange numbers—a decision that led to their first official date. "We haven't looked back since," says Zahra of their 2014 chance meeting.

Fast-forward about two years. Mark flying home to the United States from a business trip in Dublin and decided that he would propose as soon as he landed. So, Mark deplaned and scrambled to the nearest shopping mall, where he quickly bought a ring. He returned home, where Zahra—and her parents, who were visiting from abroad—was waiting. He popped the question right there. "Family is very important to us," Zahra says, "so he knows how special it is to involve family."

For their August 4, 2018, wedding in Wicklow, Ireland, the couple was once again surrounded by family and friends—this time, 160 of them (their loved ones traveled from all over Ireland as well as the United States, United Kingdom, Pakistan, China, Singapore, the Caribbean, Australia, and Canada). Zahra says welcoming guests from around the world is one thing that made their big day extra special. She loved seeing "different cultures and backgrounds coming together." The ceremony was held just outside of Dublin, at the Powerscourt Estate & Gardens, which overlooks a golf course where Zahra and Mark once enjoyed a golf date. "Mark won that day," Zahra shares, "but usually I give him a run for his money."

With the help of House of Hannah Events, the couple created a theme that would enhance their garden ceremony setting and celebrate the estate's stately interiors. And with a pastel palette of blush and cream, the wedding was classic and timeless.

Watch Zahra and Mark's wedding video by Cinematic Tide.

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Wedding Dress

Despite a slow start to her wedding dress search, Zahra eventually found the perfect Lihi Hod gown at a bridal store in London. "I felt perfect in it," Zahra says of the dress, which featured a low back and tulle bow. "It captured me as a person. It was long and fitted perfectly to my shape. I'm sure every bride says this, but the dress felt timeless—a dress that will bring a smile to my face even 50 years from now."

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Bride's Bouquet

white, cream and very pale blush blooms with dark and light greenery wedding bouquet — Laura Gordon

Zahra's unstructured bouquet was made with the couple's color palette in mind—a mix of white, cream, and very pale blush blooms with dark and light greenery—and tied with silk.

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Bridesmaids' Dresses

bridesmaids wearing champagne-colored Jenny Yoo floor-length dresses — Laura Gordon

Bridesmaids wore champagne-colored Jenny Yoo dresses in a variety of necklines. They carried smaller versions of the bride's white-and-blush bouquet.

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Handmade Tuxedo

groom and groomsmen wearing dark navy tuxedos with gray checkered vests — Laura Gordon

Mark donned a handmade dark navy tuxedo with a gray checkered vest. The day he and the groomsmen—with Zahra in tow—found their attire was a fun shopping outing, the couple recalls. It was followed by "a few drinks at the pub," Zahra says.

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Boutonnières

white bloom, berries, and green foliage boutonnieres — Laura Gordon

Mark's boutonnière featured a white bloom, berries, and green foliage.

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Flower Girls

flower girl wearing white dress and flower crown — Laura Gordon

The couple's two flower girls wore white dresses and flower crowns made from wax flower.

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The Ceremony

Powerscourt Estate & Gardens walled garden venue — Laura Gordon

The ceremony was held at the walled garden at Powerscourt Estate & Gardens. Guests were encouraged to wear suits and summer-appropriate dresses.

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Floral Décor

ceremony flower decor matching wedding bouquet — Laura Gordon

Flower arrangements at the base of the last row of ceremony chairs were created to look as if they had been planted in the ground, playing up the natural garden setting.

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Down the Aisle

father of the bride walking bride toward wedding ceremony aisle — Laura Gordon

When the bride and her father saw one another on the wedding day, Zahra said she saw tears in his eyes. "I have never seen him cry," she says. "No one in the room could hold back the tears and we all had to redo our makeup!"

Zahra's dad later walked her down the aisle to "Falling Slowly" by Glen Hansard.

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Special Readings

bride and groom lighting unity candle — Laura Gordon

At the ceremony, selections from "Touched By an Angel" by Maya Angelou and "Friendship" by Judy Bielicki were read. The couple also lit a unity candle.

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The Recessional

bride and groom walking away after recessional — Laura Gordon

As Zahra and Mark recessed down the aisle—and as guests began to leave the ceremony—several songs played, including "Let It Be" by The Beatles, "With or Without You" by U2, "Linger" by the Cranberries, and "Raglan Road" by Luke Kelly.

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Musical Notes

four person wedding band The Strikes — Laura Gordon

During cocktail hour, held outside on the grounds of the estate, guests were treated to a performance by The Strikes, a four-piece band.

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A Gorgeous View

guests on patio of Powerscourt Estate & Gardens — Laura Gordon

The patio of Powerscourt Estate & Gardens offered views of surrounding gardens, the golf courses, and Wicklow Mountains—a stunning setting for cocktail hour.

Before the festivities began, the couple hugged their loved ones as they exited the ceremony site.

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Escort Cards

Guests found their escort cards pinned to boards decorated with climbing rose and greenery arrangements.

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The Reception

Powerscourt Estate & Gardens reception area — Laura Gordon

Inside, the venue's soaring ceilings meant that tall centerpieces were a must to fill the space. Half of the reception tables featured tree-like arrangements.

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Small Arrangements

short floral centerpieces and tall black candles reception table decor — Laura Gordon

Short, lush centerpieces—made from the same flowers as the bride's bouquet—topped the other half of the tables. (Fresh berries also added a natural element to the tablescapes.)

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The Menus

black menus and tall candles on pastel table decor — Laura Gordon

Black menus contrasted beautifully with the tables' otherwise-pastel details.

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The Cake

four tier white icing cake with fresh berries decor — Laura Gordon

The couple kept their four-tier red velvet confection by Creative Cakes simple with white icing, fresh berries, and a few flowers.

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Late Night

guests gathered at outdoor reception venue — Laura Gordon

Throughout the evening, guests were encouraged to enjoy drinks outside; the couple provided blankets to those who got cold.

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Good Times

bride and groom dancing outside wedding venue — Laura Gordon

"An impromptu dance" outside was one of Mark's favorite wedding memories, he says. For their first dance, the couple took a twirl to "Lean on Me" by Bill Withers.

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Sources

bride and groom walking up stairs at venue — Laura Gordon

Photography, Laura Gordon
Location, Powerscourt Estate & Gardens
Event planning, Stationery, and Calligraphy, House of Hannah Events
Catering, Feast Catering
Flowers, Informal Florist
Videography, Cinematic Tide
Cake, Creative Cakes
Music, Contempo Quartet; The Strikes; The Soul Brothers; DJ Oliver Cole
Rentals, House of Hannah Events; Gotcha Covered; Caterhire
Bride's gown, Lihi Hod
Bride's shoes, Vera Wang
Bride's accessories, Browns Bride veil; Boodles bracelet, earrings, and rings
Hair, Michelle O'Halloran
Makeup, Derek Carberry
Bridesmaids' and flower girl dresses, Jenny Yoo

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