Our Wedding Story: An engagement in Biarritz and a wedding in Stillorgan

Alison Davis and Alan Lord

Alison, owner of event catering company Ali Davis Food, and Alan, who works in family packaging company Alpack Ltd, met in their early 20s through Alan’s sister and bumped into each other over the years in Dublin where they are both from.

In 2010, after completing an arts degree in Trinity College, Alison moved to South Africa to study in Silwood Cookery School. Just before leaving, she and Alan went on their first date.

The pair got engaged in 2013 on the terrace of the Hotel du Palais in Biarritz and planned a big wedding at Kilruddery House & Gardens, Co Wicklow, for the end of the following year.

When they discovered that Alison was pregnant – with their son Sonny – and the due date was the same day they had booked for the wedding, plans changed.

On November 20th, 2015, they were married in St Brigid’s Church in Stillorgan where Alison’s parents, David and Anne, were married 40 years before.

Margaret Brennan sang during the ceremony.

Alan's brother Peter was best man and Alison's sister Ann-Marie was bridesmaid. The groom's parents are Tony and Ann Lord.

The reception afterwards was held in the Library Bar at the Haddington Hotel in Dún Laoghaire.

Alison, Alan and Sonny live in Cabinteely and they spent their honeymoon in Provence and the Languedoc-Roussillon region of France.

Photographs: Peter Rowen, peterrowenweddings.com