Meet Shayna and Ryan! They got married at the gorgeous Moyvalley Hotel & Balyna House and planned an elegant summer wedding with colourful wildflowers.
Couple: Shayna and Ryan Healy
Engagement length: 1.5 years
Wedding date: 2023-08-05
Wedding location: Moyvalley Hotel & Balyna House
Photographer: David Maury Photography
Shayna and Ryan met years ago on a student night out in Dicey’s. They ended up chatting the whole night through – well shouting over the thundering music – and they had so much in common despite being from different countries. At some point, a drinking contest ensued, with both of their friends cheering them on, and they still argue about who won to this day. What started out as a college fling, quickly blossomed into something more serious and after weathering a year of long distance, Ryan did his J-1 in The States with Shayna, then she came back to Dublin afterwards with him, officially settling into Dublin, the city that had stolen her heart. They’ve been inseparable since.
“Ryan proposed in December 2021 just after Christmas and it was a complete surprise! We had travelled to LA to spend the holidays with my family and had spent this particular day on the beach just us two. After an awkward lunch on the pier, where I felt like I was carrying the conversation and Ryan was clutching his backpack for dear life (despite my assurances it was a safe area), he suggested we sit on a blanket in the sand and watch the sunset. As soon as we were settled, he pulled out a late Christmas present from his bag, and I unwrapped it to find a photo album with all our best memories. Underneath each picture was a line of a poem, with the final line asking ‘Will you marry me?’. When I looked up, he was down on one knee. There were happy tears from both of us, and I gave him a giant hug before remembering to say yes. The rain started pouring down around us then, so we ran underneath a lifeguard tower and celebrated with a sandy kiss.”
“We wanted an elegant summer wedding with colourful wildflowers.”
Shayna got her dress at Bridal Showcase in Vista, California and she had to carefully (and strategically) fold it into her carry-on to bring it back to Dublin. She hadn’t planned to buy one there but had fallen in love with a gorgeous Watters Designs wedding gown. It had a tight bodice with boning built in for extra support, draped tulle sleeves and flowing ruffles that crisscrossed in a unique pattern down the bottom.
Ryan got his suit at his local CT2 Suits in Blanchardstown. He had a navy suit, with a beige waistcoat and funky blue tie. CT2 is a family business and Janice, the owner’s daughter, was an absolute pleasure to work with! They rented all the groomsmen’s suits from there too – in the same navy shade but with a matching navy waistcoat.
The bridesmaids wore gorgeous pink satin dresses from Next and the groomsmen wore matching navy suits from CT2 Suits in Blanchardstown.
“Our celebrant, Gabrielle McCauley, put together a special ceremony including a handfasting and ring warming ritual. We said our own vows, which was important to us as words have always been our love language, and we lit a candle for lost loved ones who were there in spirit – Ryan’s dad Jimmy and my grandma Agnes.”
“We wanted a venue that had everything in one place – the ceremony, the reception and accommodation for guests. Moyvalley Hotel ticked all the boxes! A short drive from Dublin, we had our ceremony in the gorgeous Stone House, which didn’t need much decor, but our gorgeous flowers really brought the venue to life. Sinead at Adonis Flower Designers was a gem to work with! She knew exactly what I was looking for, despite my indecisiveness, and created a colourful medley of summer shades and a beautiful three-piece arch for the ceremony entrance.
Afterwards, we had our cocktail hour in Balyna House, a 19th-century mansion with lovely decor and a two-minute walk from the Stone House. There were canapés provided by Moyvalley and a reception bar where Guinness was flowing freely. Then we all moved to the hotel’s ballroom for dinner, where Ciara, our coordinator at the venue, masterfully repurposed flowers and candles for a lovely setting. The food was delicious, and once the speeches were out of the way we spent the whole night on the dancefloor!”
The wedding was beautifully captured by David Maury Photography!
“We are both camera shy and can never seem to get a good photo, so we were nervous about finding the right wedding photographer. However, David quickly put those worries at bay. He was so friendly and easygoing while also able to take charge and guide us in getting the best photos. He captured some gorgeous candid ones too, which are our favourite! He was able to make us laugh and have fun so that it didn’t feel like a chore on the day. I would highly recommend him to anyone looking for natural and romantic photos!”
Shayna and Ryan booked a fabulous band and late night DJ to entertain their guests. They had everyone on the dance floor all night long!
They also rented a photo booth with props so the guests could dress up and take silly pictures throughout the night. They printed the photos straight away and added them to a photo album with a lovely note. Such a great memento!
Shayna shares her favourite memory from the day:
“My favourite moments were seeing Ryan at the top of the aisle, our glass of whiskey together post-pictures, and my dress reveal – I had a second shorter skirt that I changed into before we entered the ballroom. It ended up being the perfect choice because the longer one got muddied from outside photos and I was able to dance more freely. (Shoutout to Anna O Alterations for creating this unique option! They were brilliant.)”
Newlyweds always share brilliant advice for other couples planning their wedding. Here’s what Shayna and Ryan said:
“Set aside at least 10 min of alone time to soak it all in. After we took our pictures, we went up to the honeymoon suite, shared a glass of our favourite whiskey and chatted about the day so far. It was one of my favourite moments.
Stay together! With so many family members wanting to catch up, you can easily get pulled away and end up spending your wedding day apart. Make a game plan and decide to stay at each other’s side. Don’t be afraid to interrupt a conversation and grab your hubby when needed. It’s your day after all.
Bring two shirts for the groom. Ryan brought a second shirt to change into after dinner and he was delighted with himself. He was able to feel fresh and face the rest of the long night ahead.
Make a plan for afterwards – when the music stopped, we invited everyone back to Balyna House to continue the celebrations in their underground bar, where we had Tayto sandwich supplies waiting (and leftover doughnuts from our doughnut wedding tower). They were a huge hit! And it gave others a chance to go to bed and a more intimate time for those remaining to enjoy a sing-song and late-night chat.
If you’re not a fan of heels like me, bring other shoes! After a few dances, I changed into a pair of white platform Adidas and it made all the difference. I was able to be comfortable and dance the night away with loved ones.”
Recommended suppliers
Photographer: David Maury Photography
Venue: Moyvalley Hotel & Balyna House
Planner/coordinator: Ciara Dowling
Suits: CT2 Suits
Alterations: Anna O Bridal Alterations
Other suppliers
Videographer: Wonder & Magic | Band and DJ: The Enemies | Hair: Melanie Byrne (The March Hair) | Makeup: Hazel Ward | Dress: Watters Designs | Bridesmaids: Next | Cake: Offbeat Donuts | Celebrant/solemniser: Gabrielle McCauley | Stationery: The Ivory Feather | Jewellery/rings: Blue Nile | Accessories: One Dame Lane, Etsy, Grandmother’s bracelet | Flowers: Adonis Flower Designers
