January 13th 2020 marked same-sex marriage now being made legal in Northern Ireland. This legislation marked an enormous step forward for the LGBT community after years of campaigning for marriage equality. With this in mind, I wanted to celebrate with a styled shoot! It was time to collaborate and get creative! This marked my…
5 minutes with Mary O’Neill Music Hi, my name is Mary O’Neill and I started playing the harp when I was just 5 years old. Coming from a talented family of musicians, with my mother a harpist and my daddy a harp maker, it seemed the obvious choice of instrument for me to take on.…
If you follow me on social media at all, then I’m sure you will have seen some of the stunning images from Caroline and James’ Deanes at Queens wedding. Myself and the lovely Catherine from Pro Hair by Catherine were on bridal hair and make-up duty for Caroline and her girls. The brief was fresh,…
5 minutes with Ditsy Floral Design What are the key floral trends for 2020? More exotic blooms such as orchids, anthirriums, protea are becoming hugely popular mixed with softer flowing textures such as pampas grass or bleached ruscus and even dried materials like seedheads. All put together in a wild and whimsical free form look.…
I always love when my brides send me through the professional images of their wedding day. Although I’m with them for their morning prep and just before they hit the aisle, it’s lovely to see how their day unfolds! The smile on Alice’s face says it all here! Mark Barton has captured Alice and David’s…
If you are in need of some bridal inspiration check out this beautiful styled photo shoot I was part of with an amazing team of wedding vendors! Killeavy Castle Estate is a relatively new wedding venue, nestled away at the foot of Slieve Gullion, just outside Newry. If you want a fairytale venue surrounded in…
Apologies for the lack of blogs the past few months, however I’m pleased to report that’s things have been crazy busy, between having the pleasure of beautifying plenty of brides and my recent house move! I’ll be ready to lie down come January but I’m delighted to be kept busy, and wouldn’t have it any…
Your wedding day will undoubtedly be one of the most memorable and photographed days of your life. The earlier you begin to plan and prepare your wedding day look, the less stressful it will be! To help you prepare, I’ve put together a list of my top 10 tips when it comes to your bridal…
When Paula from Hello, Sugar Photography asked me to provide make-up applications for her bridal photography retreat, I jumped at the chance and had my bags packed before she’d even finished talking! Set within the golden Andulisian hills is Retiro Sambana, where three days of magic happened amongst a group of European and American wedding…
Apologies for being so quiet in the blog front, ladies. I’m slap bang in the middle of a crazy wedding season but the craic is 90 and I’m having so much fun with my Brides and their Maids! I haven’t shared a wedding diary in a long time but this was a wedding with some…
So tonight is the night that I will be getting the glad rags on and heading to the Titanic Hotel for the first year of Northern Ireland’s Make-Up & Beauty Awards 2019. I was absolutely delighted to find out that I had been nominated and even more thrilled to find out I had made it…
Hi guys! Apologies I’ve been so quiet on the blog front recently, I’ve been busy taking bookings for any remaining wedding dates in 2019 and 2020 along with a few other surprises. Just to warn you – 2020 is going to be a CRAZY year for weddings and throughout the whole of the wedding…
Hello Sugar is a destination wedding photographer based in Belfast who specialises in romantic, natural and airy wedding photography. I had a quick chat with Paula recently about the importance of finding the right photographer for your big day. What inspired you to start Hello Sugar? I became interested in wedding photography when one of…
Hi! Carly here from Away with the Mixer Cake Artistry, welcome to my first blog post. It’s taken someone else to ask me to do it for it to make it to the top of my To-Do list. Thank you Sinead for giving me the extra shove and for shining a light on my work!…
This Old Home offer alternative backdrops, installations, signage and styling to design-conscious couples on their wedding day. Husband and wife team Matt & Steph started with putting themselves out there at the Quirky Wedding Fair in 2017 and since then have been styling bridal and editorial sessions, building custom backdrops, designing for independent stores and…
This week, I’m excited to bring another guest blog by one of the best vendors in the country, Freckles & Fern. A boutique stationary studio with a focus on modern, luxury wedding paper goods, Freckles & Fern was founded by sisters Avril and Katie, specifically for couples who value unique and thoughtful design. Established in…
I’m excited to share with you another guest blog by the lovely Kerry who owns Ivy & White Bridal Boutique in Lisburn. If you are on the search for a bridal gown that hasn’t been seen before, a dress with personality and that you ooze confidence in – then this is the place for you!…
It has to be said 2018 has been the best year so far for Maid by Sinead! I’m delighted to say that there have been plenty of happy brides and it has been an honour and a privilege to be part of every individual and unique wedding morning! One highlight in particular was winning the…
I absolutely love Christmas Weddings, so getting the chance to work with a Christmas Bride is always a treat! On Wednesday 12th December, I had the pleasure of getting the lovely Rebecca bridal prepped from her family home in Banbridge. From the moment I met Rebecca at her bridal trial, we hit it off! She…
Looking for some wedding inspiration? I had a quick chat with Karen Clarke about her wedding, and how she waived tradition to create her perfect day, from scenic countryside, to city lights. Tell me a little about your wedding? Our wedding was a little bit different from the ‘typical’ wedding day – if there…
On Thursday 9th August, myself and the lovely Mary from Mary Me Bridal Blog rattled along miles of back roads to the beautiful Markree Castle in Sligo. I think we counted passing through at least 7 counties that morning, but this was a wedding we were both delighted to be part of! When I first…
As it is one of the best days of your life, when it comes to your wedding lipstick you really want to get it right! Here are a few tips to consider having the perfect pout on your big day! Choose the Right Shade Whether you are new to lipstick or a seasoned pro,…
Every 2 years, Dawn and the gang host the well renowned ‘Getting Married in Northern Ireland’ Awards – and this years awards are coming up soon! The best in the Northern Ireland’s wedding industry will be coming together on the 10th November at Corick House Hotel and Spa County Tyrone to celebrate all their hard…
Nestled in the heart of County Down is the exclusive and unique The Carriage Rooms wedding venue, which is part of the beautiful Montalto Estate in Ballynahinch. It was here on Sunday the 16th September where the magic happened! Some of Northern Ireland’s finest wedding suppliers came together for an Autumn inspired photoshoot. Organised by…
For any Summer 2019 brides out there, take a look at Ashlea and Timmy’s beautiful Larchfield wedding for some early bridal inspiration. After meeting Ashlea and her mum at the Merchant Hotel Bridal Fair I knew she would be an absolute pleasure to work with. Down to earth, chatty and very witty, we hit it…
On Saturday 24th August, I had the pleasure of doing the lovely Jill’s bridal makeup from her home in Banbridge. I honestly didn’t know what to expect when I pulled up that morning as during a phone call to Jill the previous evening she had informed me she had ‘a bit of drama’. Unfortunately, the…
Irish elopements are becoming an increasingly popular alternative to the ‘traditional’ way couples get married or renew their vows. Whether it is an Irish elopement or a destination wedding abroad, I love to check out wedding blogs like One Fab Day to see how couples use their unique style to say “I do”. When Paula…
This time last year I had the pleasure of getting the lovely Mary ready from her home in Loughbrickland. You always know it will be a great morning when the smell of fresh baked bread and scones hit you at the door and the house is filled with plenty of noise and laughter. The brief…
Hello, my name is Catherine and I run a professional bridal hair styling service called ProHair by Catherine. Based just on the outskirts of Belfast in Ballynahinch, Co.Down, I provide a mobile bridal hair service to brides all over Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. With over 12 years experience within the hairdressing industry,…
I just couldn’t wait to write about the wedding of Shelley and Eddie, I honestly don’t think I have ever laughed so much in one morning! My stomach was sore leaving! When I first met Shelley for her bridal trial, she casually mentioned that her bride tribe “loved the craic.” However, I never imagined when…
Wow, it’s been a crazy few days and I think I’ve only just stepped off Cloud 9 and brought myself back down to earth after an exciting and hugely successful night at the Northern Ireland Wedding Journal Awards 2018. I was delighted to have attended the Northern Ireland Wedding Journal Awards 2018 on the evening…
It was lovely to be part of Laura’s Wedding day last Saturday the 28th April, and I wanted to include her big day in the wedding diaries. Myself and the hair team were warmly welcomed into the family home that morning and Marian, Laura’s mum had us all well looked after. Before we knew it…
This past weekend saw an all too brief visit to Dublin, where I treated myself to a range of new products that I’m excited to use myself and introduce to my brides. Whilst the boys checked out the Six Nations match between Ireland v Scotland at The Aviva Stadium, myself and the sisterhood dropped by…
I was so excited to share these Wedding Diary memories from the wedding of Roxy and David on 24th November. The theme of the day was ‘chic and relaxed’, and it turned out to be just that. The day began with a beautiful 3pm ceremony at Belfast City Hall, and once the ceremony was over,…
As important as your wedding day look is, it’s all for nothing if you can’t share it with the world! A good, reliable photographer is a very important piece of the wedding puzzle, and picking the right one is often easier said than done. Rich from One Fine Day Wedding Photography is here to give…
Every bride wants to look radiant and flawless on their wedding day, and as a professional makeup artist, it is my job to help you achieve that perfect look. There are things you can do to help get that photo perfect finish long before sitting in the makeup chair, and a good skincare routine is so important…
January is one of the busiest times of the year in the bridal industry, and it’s not uncommon to hear people saying, “I have a friend that is going to do my makeup,” or “I’m going to give it a whirl myself.” This might work for some people, however please be mindful that it also…
Hello there, and welcome to the very first Maid by Sinead blog post! I’m not going to lie – this has been on my list of things to do for months and I finally decided that since it’s the New Year, it was now or never! For those of you who don’t know me, my…