Katie & Calum's Handmade Hilton Park Wedding
Childhood sweethearts Katie and Calum married at Hilton Park with 155 guests, focusing on food, wine, and music.
Tyrone childhood sweethearts Katie and Calum married in June at Hilton Park in County Monaghan with 155 guests. According to a report on One Fab Day, their planning priorities were good food, good wine, and good music. The couple first met in secondary school and got engaged at Christmas 2020 during a family Secret Santa.
Wedding Ceremony Checklist
The couple's ceremony at St. Patrick’s Church in Dungannon incorporated several personal elements. They included a remembrance for family members, with a friend singing The Mountains of Pomeroy, a favourite song of Calum's late grandfather, Pat. Katie also used her grandmother's wedding ring as her own wedding band. The church was decorated with bold blooms and fresh planted-style arrangements outside.
Reception and Venue Details
Hilton Park, a beautifully restored Georgian country house, was chosen for its unique converted 'colonnaded ride' reception space, previously a covered exercise area for horses. The couple appreciated the venue because it allowed for long banquet-style tables. After the ceremony, a friend, Fearghal (DJ FL Breezy), played music in the gardens during a drinks reception featuring Aperol Spritz, and speeches were held outdoors. The catering was by Old Barn Catering, and wine was chosen from local off-licence The Wine Rack.
Attire and Accessories
The wedding party's outfits showcased a mix of designer finds and handmade items. Katie wore a Harriette Gordon ballgown with studded Prada heels and a Simone Rocha headpiece. Talented friends made her veil, wedding bag, and the bridesmaids' earrings. Calum wore a made-to-measure suit from The Cut Belfast. The bridesmaids wore midi dresses from UNDRESS, paired with accessories from Mango and a Belfast designer. The overall colour palette featured red and pink tones.
Handmade and Personalised Elements
A major project was the couple's DIY letterpress stationery. They bought an old Adana letterpress and designed and printed all their stationery themselves. The reception was decorated with bright flowers and featured two colourful, vintage-inspired Lambeth-style wedding cakes. Music was a key component, with a traditional Irish three-piece band playing during the meal and a band called The Converse All Stars performing later, playing songs from Kendrick Lamar to The Eagles. The couple's first dance was to their band's version of Can't Help Falling in Love by Elvis. For their honeymoon, they drove around the South of France after plans for Japan were postponed. Katie advised other couples to reach out to previous couples who used their venue for practical tips and to try to be organised enough to relax in the week before the wedding.
