‘Singing along to Proud Mary by Tina Turner calmed me down nicely’

Jenny Dixon and Tom Neville recall Their Magical Summer Wedding

Irish actress Jenny Dixon and politician Tom Neville recently recounted the magic of their summer wedding in 2019, recalling cherished moments and heartwarming details from their big day.

A Year of Whirlwind Planning

The couple, engaged in August 2018, set a goal to tie the knot within a year. “We were both keen on having a summer wedding,” Dixon explained, “Firstly because tom was a politician in the Dáil and freer in the summer, but also because of the lovely weather.”

Their dream summer wedding unfolded on July 27, 2019, in Dixon’s local church, Corpus Christi in Drumcondra, where she had received both her communion and confirmation. The party continued at the picturesque Powerscourt Estate in Wicklow, a location chosen for its breathtaking beauty and summer charm.

Celebrating with Loved Ones

Approximately 180 guests, including family and friends traveling from various corners of the globe, joined the couple in their joyous celebration. With a wedding planner by her side, Dixon navigated the intricacies of planning their dream day within an 11-month timeframe.

“I had done an event with Norah Casey — on empowering women — years previously,” Dixon shared. “And this wedding planner,who was a big fan of Fair City,approached me. Now I was only dating Tom at the time, but she asked me if I was I seeing anyone: Was I engaged? If it ever happened, would I consider her as my wedding planner? And so a few years later, when I did get engaged, I went back to her. And we’ve since become good friends.”

A Dream Becomes Reality

Dixon’s wedding dress, a custom creation by Paula at Tamem Bridal, was a stunning duchess satin princess ball gown with a sheer lace bodice corset and convenient pockets. “I wanted something that was cozy and lovely, and I got that,” she said. The actress also had a second dress for their day-two celebration, opting for a more bohemian style inspired by her previous years living in California.

A Day Filled with Music and Laughter

Music played a meaningful role in their wedding, with a gospel choir performing a captivating dance rendition of “alleluia” during the church ceremony. The couple shared their first dance to Al Green’s “Let’s Stay Together,” after taking some dance lessons beforehand.

“Steve Mangan for our reception; he’s a Michael Bublé impersonator and he was brilliant,” Dixon recalled. “He grabbed me and all my Fair City castmates,and we were all dancing together. We have a picture of us all arm in arm dancing, which is lovely. And tom even got up on stage and sang ‘Don’t Look Back in Anger’ by Oasis!”

Personal Touches that Made it Special

Dixon and Neville incorporated personal touches throughout the day to reflect their unique love story.A painting created by Dixon’s mother for her grandmother, along with a poem written by the grandmother, were featured in the ceremony booklet. Dixon’s brother, a talented florist, crafted beautiful flower rings and a stunning floral wall, adding a touch of artistry to the celebration.

A Wedding to Remember

“When I look back on the day I don’t have one standout memory,” Dixon said. “It’s more like a myriad of diffrent magical moments: Like holding my dad’s hand in the limo and before we walked into the church, seeing Tom singing Oasis, the gospel choir, dancing with my Fair City castmates, our gorgeous cake. It’s impractical to pick just one standout moment. It was just a day filled of little memorable moments.”

Day two Celebrations

The festivities continued with a second-day celebration, welcoming back friends who had to return to work. This further underlined the electric atmosphere and unforgettable memories created throughout the entire weekend.

What special traditions or plans do you have to keep the magic of your summer wedding alive as you approach each anniversary?

An Enchanting Chat with jenny Dixon & Tom Neville: Reliving Their Summer Wedding Magic

From Engagement to “I Do” in a Year

Archyde: You two managed to pull off a dream summer wedding within just 11 months of your engagement. How did you accomplish this whirlwind planning?

Jenny Dixon: well, it was quite a feat, but we really wanted a summer wedding, so that drove us. I had a wonderful wedding planner who I’d met years before at an event with Norah Casey. she was a big fan of ‘Fair City,’ and when I got engaged, I remembered her enthusiasm and gave her a call. we hit it off, and she became an integral part of making our dream wedding a reality.

Archyde: Speaking of your dream day, tell us about the enchanting venue that hosted your celebration.

Tom Neville: We chose Powerscourt Estate in wicklow for its breathtaking beauty and summer charm.It was the perfect setting for our magical day. Jenny’s local church,Corpus Christi in Drumcondra,where she received both her communion and confirmation,held special meaning for the ceremony.

The Wedding of the Decade

Archyde: With around 180 guests flying in from across the globe, your wedding was truly an international affair. What made it so special for your family and friends?

Jenny: It was such a joyous celebration with loved ones from far and wide joining us. The personal touches really made it special – like my brother’s stunning floral arrangements and the painting with a poem by my grandmother featured in the ceremony booklet. And let’s not forget the unbelievable music – from the gospel choir to our excellent Michael Bublé impersonator, Steve mangan. It was a day filled with love, laughter, and music – a day nobody will ever forget!

A Fairytale Bridal Vision

Archyde: Your wedding dress was truly a showstopper, jenny. Describe your vision and the custom creation process with Paula at Tamem Bridal.

Jenny: I wanted a princess ball gown that was also cozy and practical – yes, you heard it right, I wanted pockets! Paula at Tamem Bridal worked with me to create a duchess satin gown with a sheer lace bodice corset. I felt like a princess all day, and the comfort of my dress allowed me to enjoy every moment without any worries. For our day two celebration, I wore a more bohemian-style dress inspired by my time in California.

The Music That Made Our Day

Archyde: Music played a significant role in your wedding, from the gospel choir performing “Alleluia” to your first dance to Al Green’s “Let’s Stay together.” Share your favorite musical moment.

Tom: it’s hard to pick just one, but seeing Jenny and her ‘Fair City’ castmates dancing together, arm in arm, to ‘Don’t Look Back in Anger’ by Oasis was truly special. Even I got up on stage to sing a bit – Oasis is one of my all-time favorites! It was a real party atmosphere, and the music really brought everyone together.

Thoughts on/plans for future anniversaries

Archyde: As you approach each anniversary, do you have any special traditions or plans to keep the magic of that summer day alive?

Jenny & Tom: We plan to visit Powerscourt Estate every anniversary if possible. We want to relive the magical moments with our loved ones and celebrate the love that brought us together. We also want to incorporate new memories, like perhaps annual family vacations or cultural experiences we can share with our growing family. We believe keeping the tradition alive will help us cherish our love story forever.