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Robert (29), a secondary school teacher from Blanchardstown, and Anna (30), an acupuncturist and massage therapist from Shankill, have known each other since they were six years old.
They went to the same school and their sisters are best friends but it wasn’t until a friend’s barbecue in June 2013 that sparks flew. “From that night on”, says Anna, “we couldn’t not be together. Our first official date was two weeks after that and within three weeks we were in love.”
On May 29th 2014 Robert organised a treasure hunt that culminated in a proposal at Lough Dan, Co Wicklow.
The couple decided on a pagan Celtic hand-fasting ceremony outside and were married by John Cantwell and Karen Ward of Slí An Chroí Shamanism on June 13th 2015 at Beaufield Mews Restaurant in Stillorgan, Dublin.
A highlight for Anna was spending that morning with her sister Lydia Kiernan and nephew James who was born six weeks previously.
The bride was so excited – “I just had that feeling of being so ready” – that she spent that morning asking her father Alan Campbell (who drove to the ceremony with her in her classic Mini) when they could leave. “Dad had to tell me to wait and sit down.”
She walked into the ceremony to her fiancé singing Wonderful World by Sam Cooke.
The bridesmaids were Lydia Kiernan and Niamh Rafferty who made the bride’s dress. Andrew Dempsey, the groom’s brother, was best man and groomsmen were Colm Field, Niall Callaghan, Timothy Telford and James Kiernan.
The groom made all the decorations, including signs, blackboards, an “A & R” sign with fairy lights and a “Mr & Mrs” sign; Anna’s aunt Vanda Armstrong made the cake; the best man’s band played at the reception; cousins and friends, including Ella and Ruairí, provided the music; another friend Laura did everyone’s make-up; and Anna’s mother Siobhán Campbell arranged the flowers.
The newlyweds' first (swing) dance was to You Make My Dreams Come True by Hall and Oates.
“After we got married there was a noticeable difference between us”, said Anna. “Rob to me looked about 3ins taller and broader. The shift is subtle but totally huge at the same time: what has connected us is so much stronger.”
They spent three weeks in an Airbnb cottage in Santorini, Greece, for their honeymoon.
Photographs: Senija Topcic, lollipop.ie
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