Donegal will be very well-represented at this year’s Irish Wedding Awards, with over 40 of the county’s top suppliers in the running for coveted prizes.

The countdown is on for the fourth annual wedding awards in Dublin on Monday 20th January. Hundreds of top wedding specialists and establishments are expected to attend in the hope of celebrating their achievements.

Declan Devlin Photography – shortlisted for Creative Photographer of the Year 2020

The many professionals of the local wedding sector are what makes Ireland a great destination for couples. The Irish Wedding Awards aim to reward those within the eclectic wedding industry that make one of the most special days of our lives one to remember.

Numerous‌ ‌prestigious‌ ‌accolades‌ ‌will‌ ‌be‌ ‌presented‌ ‌to‌ ‌the‌ ‌most‌ ‌deserving‌ ‌specialists,‌ ‌including‌ ‌Wedding‌ ‌Venue‌ ‌of‌ ‌the‌ ‌Year,‌ ‌Caterer‌ ‌of‌ ‌the‌ ‌Year,‌ ‌Photographer‌ ‌of‌ ‌the‌ ‌Year,‌ ‌and‌ ‌Wedding‌ ‌Coordinator‌ ‌of‌ ‌the‌ ‌Year‌ ‌among‌ ‌other.‌ ‌ 

Silver Tassie Wedding Co-ordinator Georgina Howley won the Wedding Co-ordinator of the Year 2019 award and is nominated again for 2020

Being a finalist is an honour in itself, according to Donegal photographer Declan Devlin, who is shortlisted as Creative‌ ‌Photographer‌ ‌of‌ ‌The‌ ‌Year‌.

Declan‌ ‌said he is ‌“overly‌ ‌excited‌ ‌to‌ ‌be‌ ‌a‌ ‌finalist‌ ‌in‌ ‌this‌ ‌category,‌ ‌not‌ ‌only‌ ‌is‌ ‌it‌ ‌my‌ ‌priority‌ ‌to‌ ‌deliver‌ ‌great‌ ‌customer‌ ‌service‌ ‌but‌ ‌to‌ ‌also‌ ‌offer‌ ‌my‌ ‌customers‌ ‌something‌ ‌a‌ ‌little‌ ‌different‌ ‌in‌ ‌an‌ ‌exciting‌ ‌way.‌ ‌

“I‌ ‌have‌ ‌worked‌ ‌very‌ ‌hard‌ ‌in‌ ‌this‌ ‌industry‌ ‌throughout‌ ‌the‌ ‌previous‌ ‌few‌ years‌ ‌and‌ ‌I‌ ‌am‌ ‌delighted‌ ‌to‌ ‌share‌ ‌this‌ ‌occasion‌ ‌with‌ ‌other‌ ‌suppliers‌ ‌that‌ ‌are‌ ‌in‌ ‌a‌ ‌similar‌ ‌position”.‌ ‌ ‌

Declan Devlin Photography – shortlisted for Creative Photographer of the Year

 ‌

Declan‌ ‌is‌ ‌looking‌ ‌forward‌ ‌to‌ ‌a‌ ‌busy‌ ‌year‌ ‌in‌ ‌2020‌ ‌and‌ ‌can’t‌ ‌wait‌ ‌to‌ ‌meet‌ ‌future‌ ‌couples‌ ‌ahead‌ ‌of‌ ‌2021.‌ ‌

He is one of many hopeful nominees from Donegal who have been recognised this year. 

The local finalists are: 

Wedding Boutique of the Year – Ulster

  • Pearls and Lace (Donegal Town)
  • Tokyo Boutique (Letterkenny)
  • The White Collection (Letterkenny)
  • Something New Bridal Boutique (Letterkenny)

Wedding Venue of the Year – Ulster

  • Shandon Hotel & Spa (Dunfanaghy)
  • Waterfront Hotel Dungloe (Dungloe)
  • Silver Tassie Hotel (Letterkenny)
  • The Great Northern Hotel (Bundoran)
  • Redcastle Hotel (Redcastle)
  • Mulroy Woods Hotel (Milford)
  • Lough Eske Castle (Milford)

Florist of the Year – Ulster

  • Love Blooms Flowers (Killybegs)
  • Ballybofey Florist (Ballybofey)
  • Donegal Flowers (Donegal)
  • Alcorn’s Flower & Garden Centre (Letterkenny)
  • Aanees Flowers Shop (Letterkenny)
  • The Flower Shop (Ballybofey)
  • Tiger Lily Specialist Wedding Florist (Letterkenny)

Cake Designer of the Year – Ulster

  • Dream Cakes by Rachael (Letterkenny)
  • McGettigans Bakery (Letterkenny)
  • Gallaghers Home Bakery (Donegal)
  • Wild Fuschia Bakehouse (Donegal)
  • Bestflavours Wedding Cakes & Novelty Cakes (Donegal)

Hair & Beauty Salon of the Year – Ulster

  • Fiona’s Hair & Beauty (Donegal)
  • Angel Hair & Beauty (Donegal)
  • Shannon Dolan Hairdressing (Lifford)
  • Lilyrose’s Hair Studio (Donegal)
  • Brenda Doherty Hair&Makeup (Ballybofey)

Freelance Wedding Makeup Specialist of the Year

Alanna Gormley MUA (Donegal)

Wedding Entertainment of the Year – Ulster

  • Kelli McGrory Music (Donegal)
  • Rockhill Ramblers (Donegal)
  • Red Alert Band (Glenties)
  • Sinead Black Wedding Singer (Letterkenny)

Wedding Photographer of the Year

LogoPix Photography (Letterkenny)

Creative Photographer of the Year

Declan Devlin Photography (Letterkenny)

Wedding Coordinator of the Year

  • Georgina Howley at Silver Tassie Hotel (Letterkenny)
  • Aisleen McDonald at Redcastle Hotel (Donegal)
  • Simon Petka at Lough Eske Castle Hotel (Donegal)
  • Siobhan Barrett-Doherty at Shandon Hotel & Spa (Dunfanaghy)

Wedding DJ of the Year

DJ Scotty – Wedding DJ (Donegal)

Event Decorator of the Year

  • Eventful (Ramelton)
  • I Do WoW Weddings (Letterkenny)

Stationery Supplier of the Year

Amore Wedding Stationery (Donegal)

Photo: Wild Atlantic Weddings at Shandon Hotel and Spa

A‌ ‌Spokesperson‌ ‌for‌ ‌The‌ ‌Irish‌ ‌Wedding‌ ‌Awards‌ ‌2020‌ ‌said:‌ ‌“These‌ ‌Awards‌ ‌are‌ ‌an‌ ‌exclusive‌ ‌celebration,‌ ‌dedicated‌ ‌to‌ ‌those‌ ‌who‌ ‌work‌ ‌tirelessly‌ ‌to‌ ‌make‌ ‌our‌ ‌dream‌ ‌day‌ ‌as‌ ‌perfect‌ ‌as‌ ‌possible.‌ ‌

“They‌ ‌seek‌ ‌to‌ ‌recognise‌ ‌everyone‌ ‌in‌ ‌this‌ ‌sector‌ ‌that‌ ‌has‌ ‌shown‌ ‌excellence,‌ ‌commitment‌ ‌and‌ ‌have‌ ‌the‌ ‌customer‌ ‌satisfaction‌ ‌as‌ ‌their‌ ‌top‌ ‌priority‌ ‌in‌ ‌their‌ ‌business.‌ ‌ ‌

“We‌ ‌would‌ ‌like‌ ‌to‌ ‌wish‌ ‌all‌ ‌the‌ ‌finalists‌ ‌the‌ ‌best‌ ‌of‌ ‌luck‌ ‌and‌ ‌we‌ ‌can’t‌ ‌wait‌ ‌to‌ ‌welcome‌ ‌all‌ ‌our‌ ‌guests‌ ‌at‌ ‌the‌ ‌event‌ ‌and‌ ‌celebrate‌ ‌the‌ ‌winners‌ ‌with‌ ‌them.”‌ ‌