Nestled at the heart of 47 acres of carefully curated and maintained gardens, the Palladian mansion at Powerscourt House & Estate was the fabulous venue for the wedding of design lead, Rebekah Murphy, to sales lead, Christopher Rowberry, on December 31st 2024. Brimming with festive cheer, this New Year's wedding was featured in the Autumn issue of SOCIAL & PERSONAL Weddings and beautifully photographed by Studio Brown.
The pair met by being in the right place at the right time. "I don’t usually go to that part of Bondi Beach, but that day, I happened to be sitting there, chatting to my sister on the phone about my plans to move back home to Dublin." A few metres in front of Rebekah, Chris was sitting with a friend, and noticing that she was alone, invited her to join them. "We started chatting and went for a swim, and I never booked that flight home!"
"When I first met Chris, I quickly learned he was an avid surfer. During our relationship, he taught me to surf, and it soon became a big part of our weekends, holidays and even our honeymoon! Our favourite spot was a secluded area near Palm Beach, famously known as the filming location for Home and Away, where he took me on our second date. We’d spend the morning surfing and then sit on a cliff overlooking the ocean, sipping coffee and watching the waves. It was on that very cliff where Chris knew he wanted to propose. But with a busy road nearby, he realised it wouldn’t be the most private spot. So, a month before he planned to propose, he wrote letters to the homeowners with the same beautiful view, and put them in their letter boxes, asking if he could use their garden for the occasion. One kind couple replied, saying they would be away at a wedding themselves and that Chris was more than welcome to use their garden."
"The day before, he drove up with champagne and flowers to set everything up. The next day felt like any other. As we sat on the cliff, enjoying our coffee, Chris mentioned that he had met a lovely couple who offered to let us use their front porch whenever they were away so we could enjoy the view more comfortably. It wasn’t unusual; Chris has a knack for befriending strangers, who would often invite him into their home, so I thought nothing of it. When we wandered into the garden, I quickly saw a picnic blanket, champagne, and flowers waiting for us. And when I turned around, there he was, down on one knee."
When it came to her beauty routine, Rebekah kept things simple and true to what worked for her. She stuck to her usual skincare regimen but incorporated a few microneedling sessions at The Skin Bar in Sydney in the months leading up to the wedding. For her scent, she chose to wear her favourite perfume, 601 from Bon Parfumeur. "I wanted to keep it familiar and something that felt like me. I discovered it on a girls’ trip, and it’s been a favourite ever since."
Despite being on the other side of the world from her family, Rebekah was lucky to go wedding dress shopping in Sydney with her mum and sister when they visited for Christmas. But despite having a plethora of boutiques at her disposal and the perfect shopping team, she still felt torn, despite everybody telling her that she would know 'The One' when she saw it. The day before her family flew back to Dublin, the posse decided to visit one last store. "As we browsed, the stylist suggested a dress she thought I would love—and there it was—the dress."
"The groom's suit was, of course, a lot simpler. He was recommended a tailor by a friend in Sydney, called P. Johnsons. They made the whole process very special, and Chris couldn’t have been happier with the finished tux."
Rebekah's bridesmaids were her cousin Imogen, one of her oldest friends from school, Sarah and her sister and maid of honour Jessica. "One of the benefits of living on the other side of the world was that I could hand over the decision-making for their dresses to the bridesmaids. I was more than happy for them to choose something they would feel comfortable and beautiful in. They went shopping with my mum, tried on a few options, and, luckily, they all agreed on the same dress!"
"Our ceremony took place at St. Mary’s Church in Enniskerry, and to my surprise, I enjoyed it even more than I expected. The priest, Fr. Hyacinth, brought a personal touch and a sense of humour to the service; it was the perfect way to ease any wedding-day jitters we might have had."
"I had always imagined getting ready in my family home; everyone bustling around the kitchen while I put on my dress in my childhood room. With that in mind, there were a few beautiful venues around Dublin to choose from, but honestly, the decision was easy. I had always loved Powerscourt. Growing up, I spent so much time there, visiting Santa’s Grotto, picking out Christmas decorations from the Garden Centre, and wrapping up warm to see the Powerscourt waterfall before heading to the Avoca café for soup and brown bread. It had always felt magical, so having our wedding there on New Year’s Eve just felt right."
"Our entertainment was Spring Break! Since we were getting married on New Year’s Eve, we wanted a band that would keep the energy high and keep the dance floor packed all night. They kept the party going right into 2025!"
"At first, I was a little nervous since our guest list was bigger than the venue could technically hold, but I knew having my family there was more important than anything (and luckily, a few RSVP no’s made room for everyone!). I’m so lucky to be close with all my aunties, uncles, and cousins, and having them there made the day truly unforgettable. Weddings have a way of bringing people together, and I don’t think I’ve ever felt closer to my family."
"One piece of advice I got halfway through planning really stuck with me: ‘There isn’t one perfect option.’ At the start, I was obsessed with finding the perfect dress, the perfect invites—everything had to be just right. But I realised there are so many options that would be equally beautiful. The key is to make a decision, be happy with it, and move on."
- Gráinne