Siân and Shane's decided to keep their marriage a secret, inviting guests to their daughter's christening and surprising them with a wedding ceremony. This unconventional approach created a relaxed and joyful atmosphere, free from the usual expectations and pressures of traditional weddings. The couple used WeddingPixie.com to capture and share the precious moments of their special day, including the surprise and delight of their guests.

Background

In November 2023, Siân and Shane orchestrated a unique and memorable wedding at Stranorlar Church, Co. Donegal, with their reception at the friendly Jacksons Hotel in Ballybofey, Co. Donegal. The couple used WeddingPixie.com to capture and share the surprise elements of their special day.

A Wedding with a Twist

“Our wedding was very different from other weddings. Nobody knew we were getting married.” Siân and Shane's wedding was far from traditional. They chose to surprise their friends and family by inviting them to their daughter's christening, without revealing that they were also getting married on the same day. This unexpected twist added a unique and delightful element to their celebration.

Embracing the Unexpected

Siân offers advice for other couples planning their weddings:

“After your wedding, what's left are the memories, your photographs, and videos. Don’t worry about the small stuff.”

For guests, their wedding was free from the usual pressures and expectations typically associated with weddings. Attendees arrived believing they were there for a christening, which contributed significantly to the relaxed and joyful atmosphere. The surprise element of the wedding, combined with the initial low-key expectations, allowed everyone to fully enjoy the celebration without the formalities and stress often associated with traditional weddings. This unexpected twist made the day even more memorable and enjoyable for everyone present.

“Our guests afterwards told us that they had the best experience. People say that unplanned nights are often the best nights - our wedding was one of those nights”

A Dual Celebration

The couple successfully combined a wedding and christening into one full-family celebration. The surprise element made the day even more special and memorable for everyone involved.

Utilising WeddingPixie.com

The venue, Jacksons Hotel, assisted by printing the QR code for WeddingPixie on the backs of the menus, making it easy for guests to upload and share photos. “The menu was on each table and people could just scan the QR Code.”

The couple found WeddingPixie.com helpful for sharing their wedding moments with friends and family who couldn’t be there. Even friends in Australia could join in the celebration virtually:

“We had friends in Australia who had their own celebration. They watched the wedding streamed from the church to the pub. They posted photos of fun they were having on WeddingPixie.”

Instant Photo Sharing

After the wedding the texts went out to friends and family with the happy news. Siân and Shane were able to quickly share their wedding photos with friends and family who couldn’t be there on the day. The first thing their friends asked for after hearing about the wedding was a photo, and WeddingPixie made it easy to fulfil this request.

Key Moments Captured

Some of the favourite moments Siân and Shane captured using WeddingPixie.com included:

• Shane walking up the aisle with guests wondering why he is dressed so well!
• Sian looking the lovely bride, relaxed holding a glass of prosecco
• The lads in Australia joining in!

Advice for Wedding Guests

Look out for little ones surrounding the bride and groom. Why: I love the excitement kids get from being at a wedding and always nice to look back on in years to come. (I love the wee ones at our wedding around the table when we were cutting the cake. The photographer only pictured me and Shane but pictures from WeddingPixie showed our wee boy and his cousins running around having a ball)

Conclusion

Siân and Shane's surprise wedding exemplifies how WeddingPixie.com can enhance the wedding experience by simplifying photo sharing and capturing spontaneous, joyful moments. Their story underscores the importance of focusing on what truly matters – the memories made and the moments shared with loved ones. “There really isn’t the need for all the fuss that goes into a wedding”