The streets of the city where they met are the backdrop to the glossy-magazine-style shoot for Victoria Archer and Cormac Stafford’s wedding.
The newlyweds with Joanne and Garry McDonald and Rebecca Archer.
Their paths first crossed in The Market Bar in Dublin in July 2018. Victoria, a law librarian originally from Portadown, County Armagh, was based in Belfast at the time, so a long-distance romance ensued. “We alternated weekends and took turns at planning dates before Victoria made the move to Dublin in 2019,” says Cormac, a management consultant, from Blackrock, Dublin.
Victoria and Cormac with Killian Stafford, Maureen and Raymond Stafford, Louise Stafford and Graham Stafford.
They got engaged in Austria and set about planning an “opulent, elegant and intimate” wedding, says Victoria: “Cormac proposed (completely unexpectedly) on the side of a snowy mountain in Lech.” As they planned their big day they were keen for “a formal, extravagant, and timeless black-tie affair for 50 of our closest friends and family”, say the couple.
Celebrating with the newlyweds were Joanne and Garry MacDonald (Victoria’s parents), Elizabeth and James Topping and Margaret Archer (Victoria’s grandparents), and Raymond and Maureen Stafford (Cormac’s parents). Victoria chose her sister Rebecca Archer as her maid of honour and Cormac’s friend Raymond Carly was his best man. “It was a day filled with love, lots of white flowers, candlelight, and champagne and the most special, perfect day of our lives,” says Victoria.
The bride and groom with Margaret Archer.
“Because we kept our guest list small and invited our very closest friends and family, we never felt like our wedding had to be anything but exactly how we wanted it. We tried not to get caught up in pleasing others and picked our favourite food and drinks (pasta, coconut cake, and cognac) our music for the reception and performers (Suzanne Carla). We chose quality over quantity in all aspects of our day and treated those we love to a magical, memorable day.”
Victoria’s grandmother, who has been married for over 62 years, spoke at the ceremony. “She gave personal words of advice for the marriage and said a beautiful poem which she had memorised,” adds the bride.
The newlyweds with Elizabeth and James Topping.
“She had everyone in tears — it was so special and one of the wonderful advantages of a humanist wedding.”
Victoria looked elegant in a Milla Nova wedding dress purchased at Verona Bridal in Northern Ireland. The bridal makeup was by Natasha Ray with hairstyling by Danielle Whelan.
Cormac and Victoria with Rebecca Archer and Raymond Carly.
The groom and his party were dapper in Louis Copeland suits and the flowers were by The Garden. “We chose a beautiful candle (Trudon Atria) to burn throughout the rooms on the day and every time I smell the candle it takes me right back to that moment when they opened the doors, and I began walking up the aisle,” says Victoria.
The newlyweds, who are based in Blackrock, Dublin, spent their honeymoon in the UAE and the Maldives.
Victoria Archer and Cormac Stafford. Pictures: Christina Brosnan
