Set in picture-perfect surroundings, The Carriage Rooms promises a fairytale wedding venue in Northern Ireland. With lush manicured gardens and a rustic charm, it made a gorgeous venue for the wedding of secondary school dance teacher Amber Evans and software developer Ross Stewart on the 24th of May, 2025. Photographed by Danny Morton Photography, their day proved that sometimes the cocky boy you almost ignored at induction week turns out to be the love of a lifetime!
The pair met during Camp America in 2018 at Blue Star Camp in North Carolina. During staff induction week, before the kids arrived, Amber spotted her future beau and remembers thinking he was incredibly cocky, hilarious, and impossible to ignore. The couple went on to spend two months working at the summer camp together, fully immersed in camp life, before finishing the summer by travelling around the USA for a month and making memories they'll never forget.
"Ross planned a surprise trip to Paris for my birthday, so I had absolutely no idea that a proposal was even on the cards. It was the height of August, and as soon as we arrived, we dumped our bags at the hotel and headed straight out for dinner. During dinner, Ross was strangely quiet, which immediately felt off, because he never usually shuts up, but didn’t think too much of it. After dinner, we went for a walk and ended up crossing the most gorgeous bridge as the sun was setting. I stopped to take a photo when Ross said, “Amber.” And after a back and forth while I tried to focus on getting the shot, I finally turned around and shouted, “What?” and there he was, down on one knee. I instantly dropped my phone, burst into tears, and kept asking, “Are you being serious?” over and over again. Long story short, he eventually asked, and, of course, I said yes."
In terms of her beauty journey, Amber wanted to look back on her photos and still look like herself. Since her skin has been a bit of a problem area in the past, she made sure that it was her main focus with Hydra facials and microneedling. For her bridal scent (as many of our brides do), she did the Jo Malone wedding scent experience, leaving with ‘Tuberose Angelica’ body cream and ‘Jasmine Sambac Marigold’ perfume.
"Picking my wedding dress was far more stressful than I expected. I knew I needed a calm, pressure-free environment, and that visiting lots of different shops would only make me overthink. I wanted the experience to feel special, not overwhelming. I brought my mum, sister, and dad with me, the people I trust most and always keep it 100% real. I tried on so many silhouettes and necklines and slowly worked out what suited me best. I originally chose a strapless ball gown with a printed pattern, which was very unlike me, but at the time, I convinced myself it was the one. But deep down, something didn’t feel right."
"When the dress arrived in September, and I tried it on, I burst into tears. That quiet feeling of doubt had been sitting with me for months, and in that moment, I knew this wasn’t my dress. A month later, I went shopping with just my mum. When I tried on my dress, everything changed. I felt it instantly. I couldn’t stop smiling, couldn’t stop thinking about it, and couldn’t wait to wear it. Trust your gut, ladies, it never lies!"
Ross wanted something classic, and he felt a tuxedo was the perfect choice. He didn’t want anything flashy or attention-grabbing, so he made sure his look stood out amongst the groomsmen subtly with a waistcoat and a unique lapel.
Amber had six bridesmaids: her sister as her MOH, her two best friends from primary school, her best friend from secondary school, Ross’s sister, and finally, the best friend she met at Blue Star Camp. "I chose the bridesmaid dresses pretty quickly. My favourite colour is pastel yellow, so I knew that was the colour. In terms of style, I wanted something that would complement every bridesmaid, and the twisted halter was flattering on all my queens."
"Claire, our celebrant, was incredible. Since neither of us is religious, we wanted a ceremony that felt personal and really “us”, and she nailed it. Hearing her talk about how we met, our 7 years together, and all we’ve achieved was so special. I also loved looking around at all our favourite people in one room, celebrating with us."
The pair struggled to find a venue that they truly loved until Amber saw a post about The Carriage Rooms hosting a wedding fair/open day. They thought, why not take a look? "When we decided to get married in Northern Ireland, we thought it would be so special for all my family and friends who had never been to Northern Ireland before to experience an Irish wedding (Im from Hampshire and we live in Hampshire now). The moment we visited the venue, we instantly fell in love. With both of us having big families and friend groups, we knew it was perfect for a large wedding."
"We also loved the idea of a venue where guests could stay in one place all day, without running around. I adored that we could get married in the garden outside, enjoy our dinner in the gorgeous dining area, and then dance the night away downstairs, where the space transforms into a club/bar. So many people commented on how amazing all three areas were; it kept the day fun, exciting, and seamless from start to finish."
"For the ceremony, I had always envisioned myself having my Bridgerton fantasy. To make sure this came true, we had the ‘Four Strings Quartet’, and they were amazing! They played the bridesmaids and me down the aisle, and then for the rest of the drinks reception, it was utter class. Our band were ‘The Nooks’ and guests still talk about them to this day. I remember genuinely shedding a tear when they had to leave (I was slightly tipsy), but no one wanted them to leave. Your dancefloor will be packed all evening."
"Our best decision was spending time with our guests and really enjoying the day. I remember having a meeting with our amazing photographer, Danny, and going through a long list of all the photos I wanted. But on the wedding day, we probably spent about 15 minutes taking posed shots. I turned around and jokingly asked, “Is there at least one good one?” Danny just looked at me like, you had a whole list! As soon as I knew there were a few nice ones of Ross and me, I put the list aside and spent the rest of the day enjoying our guests. All our photos are candid and genuine, capturing people having the absolute best time. My advice: spend time with your guests. That’s what you’ll remember, and those genuine moments make the best photos."
- Gráinne