Dentist and Co-Founder of Spotlight Whitening Vanessa Creaven exchanged vows with Civil Engineer Barry Duffy at Villa Cisne in Marbella, Spain last September.

Photography: Anna Gazda

Vanessa & Barry AT Villa Cisne in Marbella. PHOTOGRAPHY BY Anna Gazda

Vanessa & Barry AT Villa Cisne in Marbella. PHOTOGRAPHY BY Anna Gazda

Barry and Vanessa met at Vanessa’s sister Lisa’s engagement party, he was there with a friend and ended up spending the night chatting to her mum and dad! Vanessa then met him again out in Galway a few weeks later and I guess you could say the rest was history. Her parents must have really impressed him! The proposal was on a family holiday in Portugal in 2017. It came as such a surprise, but it was so nice to have the time off to enjoy it and also to be surrounded by family at the time, it made it extra special.

VANESSA & BARRY AT VILLA CISNE IN MARBELLA. PHOTOGRAPHY BY ANNA GAZDA

VANESSA & BARRY AT VILLA CISNE IN MARBELLA. PHOTOGRAPHY BY ANNA GAZDA

The dress was by Canadian label Mikaella, Vanessa got it in Sharon Hoey in Dublin. They were super patient and their attention to detail was second to none. She also had a custom-made Edel Ramberg hairpiece which is very special to Vanessa. She can wear it again which is great and is hoping to keep it in the family! Edel is such an amazing milliner, she also made Vanessa’s mum’s hat which was just beautiful.

VANESSA & BARRY AT VILLA CISNE IN MARBELLA. PHOTOGRAPHY BY ANNA GAZDA

VANESSA & BARRY AT VILLA CISNE IN MARBELLA. PHOTOGRAPHY BY ANNA GAZDA

After a lot of deliberation, the couple decided on a destination wedding. They got married in a villa just outside Marbella, Villa Cisne. It was perfect for what they wanted, a laid-back atmosphere in the sun.

Vanessa & Barry AT Villa Cisne in Marbella. PHOTOGRAPHY BY Anna Gazda

Vanessa & Barry AT Villa Cisne in Marbella. PHOTOGRAPHY BY Anna Gazda

Vanessa & Barry AT Villa Cisne in Marbella. PHOTOGRAPHY BY Anna Gazda

This was very important to the couple, so they had a mix. In the church, Barry and Vanessa had Brian Flannagan and Neasa Newell, pre-dinner they had a trio band called Latino Turner. After dinner, the couple had a band called Cool Fire and then had DJ Simon Baker along with a saxophonist which added to the atmosphere. The dance floor was full all night- a great sign!

VANESSA & BARRY AT VILLA CISNE IN MARBELLA. PHOTOGRAPHY BY ANNA GAZDA

VANESSA & BARRY AT VILLA CISNE IN MARBELLA. PHOTOGRAPHY BY ANNA GAZDA

Vanessa completed a course of skin peels with Irene in the Kelly Clinic in Galway and made sure to drink loads of water. The peels were amazing, she started about six months out from the wedding. Vanessa also loves Pilates so kept that up with Fiona in Galway Pilates and then added two personal training sessions a week with Jason Cafferkey Fitness. Vanessa has kept this up following on from the wedding as she feels it helps clear her head. She also had a set of Great Lengths hair extensions placed before to give her wedding hair some extra length and volume.

Vanessa’s wedding sent was Jo Malone Blackberry and Bay. “I love this one and don’t wear it every day, so it’s nice to have it for special occasions now.”

VANESSA & BARRY AT VILLA CISNE IN MARBELLA. PHOTOGRAPHY BY ANNA GAZDA

VANESSA & BARRY AT VILLA CISNE IN MARBELLA. PHOTOGRAPHY BY ANNA GAZDA

Five saints! Vanessa’s two sisters Lisa and Alma, her cousin Marian, her sister-in-law Laura and her best friend Sinead. “I couldn’t have asked for better bridesmaids. As cliché as that sounds, they really were amazing!”

VANESSA & BARRY AT VILLA CISNE IN MARBELLA. PHOTOGRAPHY BY ANNA GAZDA

VANESSA & BARRY AT VILLA CISNE IN MARBELLA. PHOTOGRAPHY BY ANNA GAZDA

The Best Decision

“Having a destination wedding- being in holiday mode made it that bit more relaxing in the days before and after and it was nice for our friends and family to have a couple of days together. I also decided to bring Lisa Shannon over to do my make-up. I am quite particular on my make-up generally and she was just fabulous! She is genuinely amazing at her job and so calming and lovely to be around. This is so important on the morning, to have someone that slots in and is kind and patient with everyone!”

The Worst Decision

“I worried a little on the morning of the wedding, I was getting married at 2 pm and at about 12.30pm there was a torrential downpour! This meant everything was delayed, the cars to bring us to the church, the traffic, etc., not to mention we were all eating outside. I was very aware I did not want to be a bridezilla at any stage, so instead of telling anyone I was worried I just went super quiet for thirty minutes before we left. My dad was amazingly reassuring on the drive to the church and it all worked out perfectly in the end so there was no point in my worrying. By the time we had left the church the sun was shining.”

VANESSA & BARRY AT VILLA CISNE IN MARBELLA. PHOTOGRAPHY BY ANNA GAZDA

Vanessa & Barry AT Villa Cisne in Marbella. PHOTOGRAPHY BY Anna Gazda