So excited to introduce Connie Keogh – Hitched by Connie as our last vendor spotlight for the year. Choosing the right celebrant for your unique celebration is just an important part of your wedding planning. A meaningful wedding ceremony that feels authentic to you as a couple is a memory you will cherish forever. Ireland has such lovely celtic traditions like handfasting which will make it a very special experience.
Tell us about your business?
I am a wedding celebrant. I particularly love weddings in the wild outdoors. I love nothing more than being part of making a great day an amazing day.
What led you to become a celebrant?
I am the owner of the cutest little vintage caravan “Marilyn” which I lovingly converted into the most stylish wedding cafe/bar you ever did see. Check out the fabulous “Marilyn” over on my other website, Hitched Collective, and there you have it. I loved being involved with weddings but wanted more.
Having arrived and set up two hours early at a wedding in Kilyon Manor some years ago, I followed the worn path through the meadows down to the forest where the ceremony was taking place, I was overcome with the scene and the originality of it all . Too late for me and my wedding but It was my lightbulb moment to becoming a Wild Irish Celebrant with weddings in the wild outdoors of our beautiful country.
What keeps you passionate about events and weddings?
I consider myself to be incredibly lucky to have such an positive job where I get to connect with amazing people, use my creative skills, indulge my obsession with style and sip champagne like it’s nobody’s business.
I also get to work with amazing creatives at stunning venues and locations and have cultivated some beautiful relationships through my hitching time. Every wedding is so so different, every couple has their own unique story and I go that extra mile to make their ceremony the party starter!
One of those amazingly talented people is Sandra from Infusion Weddings, and when she asked me to be involved in a shoot earlier this year at Juniper Barn in Sligo, I of course said Hells Yeah! Check out our feature here…
Where do you find inspiration?
I find inspiration from other wedding suppliers, wedding business groups, and my travels. I travel overseas every year. I like to read and so get inspiration for readings and stories from my repertoire of books.
My love for interiors and style and readings. I feel inspired at other weddings I go to with my cafe/bar. I love hiking. And am always on the lookout for fabulous elopement locations.
What sets you apart in your field?
I try to only do one wedding ceremony per weekend so I’m SUPER prepared for my couple’s amazing day. This removes unnessary stress and nervousness which is something I wish my couples to strive for. The more relaxed the couple is, the more present they will be on the day and the more they will be able to focus on each other and what’s being said. I will be that relaxing and calming influence.
What’s you best advice for couples planning a wedding ?
Absolutely choose your top team. Surround yourself with suppliers you trust and people who make you feel comfortable. Hand someone the reins. If you can’t afford a professional planner/coordinator, then enlist the help of a trusted few to oversee the run sheet and make your vision come to life.
You don’t want to realise the day after that your bridesmaids still standing waiting to catch the bouquet that you didn’t throw! Turn Up . It’s all they need to do! Once my couples arrive at the ceremony, it’s on me to run the show and I always have their back 100%.
Outside of of your profession, tell us about yourself?
I worked in Construction for 25 years as a Chartered Civil Engineer. Civil Engineer to Celebrant sounds crazy right! But there is a thread, I love the less ordinary and dare to be different whether that’s in my choice of career, my style, or my love of working outdoors.
I am married with 3 sons and 1 daughter. My love of wine propelled me to go to Wine School. I have a WSET Level 3 with Distinction which is comparable to a certified Sommelier.
I love Hiking all over Ireland and my favorite band is Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats.
Where can we find you? (Website, Instagram )
Instagram: @hitched_by_connie & @hitched_collective
Web-site: www.hitchedbyconnie.ie & www.hitchedcollective.ie
If you want to have a chat about your wedding plans, get in touch here.
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