Among the best relationship suggestions is to depend on enjoyable and authenticity. In these moments once you dance with out anybody taking a look at you, you would possibly entice your individual. One significantly colourful summer season, former Miss Universe Eire and engineer Fionnghuala “Fig” O’Reilly was at a style present after-party when she met Jacquay Henderson. Fig knew she had met her husband throughout their first yr collectively.
“There wasn’t a single second, however a sequence of actually pretty moments that confirmed he can be my husband someday,” she advised ESSENCE. “I used to be by no means positive if I might marry somebody till I met him.”
Fig and Jacquay’s love story could not be extra like Mills and Boon’s. They received engaged on Valentine’s Day throughout a visit to France, with the key second coming after their seventh yr of relationship, which is symbolic on condition that seven is taken into account the variety of completion and perfection.
“They are saying, ‘When you already know, you already know,’ and we actually discovered that to be true,” O’Reilly says. Some cornerstones of their relationship embrace mutual respect, belief, and a deep affinity with one another. “We have had a lot enjoyable collectively through the years, having fun with small quiet moments, massive life occasions and the whole lot in between,” she says.
The couple married on June 14, 2025 in an idyllic fortress in Dublin. As their first birthday approaches, we chatted with them in regards to the day they stated “I do” and what they’re wanting ahead to most in yr two.
ESSENCE: Why did you select to get married in a fortress? The place appears straight out of a fairy story!
Fig: We received married at Luttrellstown Citadel in Dublin, Eire, which was so dreamy and really particular as a result of we wished to incorporate nods to our households, communities and cultures in our marriage ceremony planning. I’m Irish on my father’s facet and in 2019 I used to be the primary lady of coloration to win Miss Universe Eire. We thought a fortress marriage ceremony within the Irish countryside would make a good looking and memorable backdrop to host household and pals from Eire, in addition to Florida, the place my husband is from, and Washington, DC, the place we lived earlier than just lately transferring to New York.
How did you select a theme that was genuine and in tune along with your temper as a pair?
We actually leaned into who we’re as people and as a pair: romance, magnificence and a little bit of aptitude for all issues fabulous guided our course. We paired smooth however vibrant colours with impartial tones to enhance the pure great thing about the venue. Private touches inform tales, so I designed our invites myself and included a number of components to symbolize significant elements of our love story: cherry blossoms for Washington, DC, irises for Paris, the place we received engaged, and extra.
What was the spotlight of your ceremony and why? You skilled some symbolic moments through the ceremony. What did the rope and candle lighting symbolize, and did it end up as you hoped?
Fig: One of many highlights of our ceremony was handfasting, an Irish custom from which the expression “tying the knot” comes. Linking palms with a particular marriage ceremony wire symbolizes unity and dedication. As soon as tied, we launched our palms, leaving an infinite knot. We additionally lit candles to incorporate our households. My grandmother and Jacquay’s mom lit the taper candles we used to gentle our unity candle. We labored with our celebrant to personalize our ceremony in order that it was significant to us and mirrored our intentions and values. It was pretty to listen to afterwards from family and friends how a lot it had affected them.
Your costume was so elegant. What number of did you strive earlier than discovering this one, and the way do you know it was it?
Fig: I went to 4 bridal boutiques earlier than discovering this one! Give me any excuse to put on a superb costume, and I’ll positively make the most of it. Extra is extra in my e-book, and I knew I wished a costume that was timeless and romantic. We booked the venue first, so I seemed for an ethereal costume that might take up house whereas nonetheless complementing me. I knew it was the correct one after making an attempt on different attire. Nothing in comparison with how I felt once I imagined myself strolling down the aisle.
What are some memorable firsts you have skilled as a married couple over the previous yr?
Jacquay: Our first journey to Thailand as a married couple, which was additionally our honeymoon. We had an unbelievable expertise and it was a memorable begin to our life collectively.
fig: Proper earlier than we received married, we moved from Washington, DC, to New York. So the previous yr has been an thrilling one for a newly married couple, now dwelling and exploring the town collectively.
What second of your ceremony stands out in your thoughts essentially the most?
Jacquay: The cheers and roars of our friends after we have been declared man and spouse. It felt like we had received in life.
Fig: We exchanged vows written at our ceremony in opening letters on our first anniversary. I’m excited that we’re sharing what we wrote a yr in the past.
What are you wanting ahead to in yr two?
Jacquay: I look ahead to creating extra reminiscences and planning for the long run.
Fig: Extra progress as people and as a household. I actually suppose the most effective is but to return.
See all the fantastic thing about their massive day overseas on this week’s Bridal Bliss.