Our wedding story: 'our four-year-old insisted on being “flower man” instead of ring-bearer'

[ irishtimes.com/weddings ]

Jeanne McKay (29) and Jimmy Crosse (32) from Ennistymon, Co Clare, have known each other for at least 20 years. “Early on, for both of us, we just felt right together,” said Jeanne.

The couple, who have three children, were married on December 21st, 2014, a rainy and windy winter solstice, at St Brigid’s church in Liscannor, with a pot-luck reception afterwards in the parish hall. No invites were sent out: Jeanne and Jimmy let their loved ones know the time and place of the ceremony.

Jeanne kept her dress – from TK Maxx – a secret, while Jimmy’s surprise was the decoration of the hall, which he transformed using the childrens’ drawings as bunting and an ivy arch with mistletoe.

Friends and family came together to form a mightily creative team. The bride’s garter, ring pillow and ivy crowns worn by the children were hand-made; Jeanne’s mother made the (carrot) cake; Jeanne, assisted by friends, crocheted the flowers for the bouquets, bunting and mens’ buttonholes; and her brothers designed the Mass booklets and filmed everything on an iPhone.

Friends of the couple sang, played guitar, whistle and concertina during the ceremony. A musician had cancelled a few days before but Jeanne's best friend's father learned Can You Feel the Love Tonight from The Lion King and played her down the aisle on the flute.

Before heading down the aisle, four-year old Eli decided he wanted to be a “flower man” instead of the ring-bearer, so he swapped the rings for the bridesmaid’s bouquet.The bride’s family surprised the newlyweds with a honeymoon to Galway and a family holiday to Budapest and Austria in the summer. On the summer solstice Jeanne and Jimmy will throw a “happily ever after” party at their home.

Photographs: Mrs Redhead Photography, mrsredhead.com

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