‘My happy place is a bride’s house on her wedding morning’

By Donegal Woman • 6 years ago

Nov
2018

Carina Monteith is every Donegal bride's dream.

Carina Monteith – Team Bride

As the founder of TeamBride.ie, Carina Monteith from Lifford is a personal assistant for local brides on their wedding day.

She has spent over 10 years in the bridal world, helping women to find their perfect dress, to plan their day and to stay calm and really enjoy every moment when the big day finally arrives.

Carina also hosts highly successful Team Bride wedding workshops, where brides and their friends and family can enjoy a girly day out learning insider tips and lifestyle advice.

The third annual Team Bride event is just around the corner on Sunday 17th February 2019, so before the next big event, DW had a chat with Carina on the growth of her unique service and how she makes wedding planning fun.

Want to win tickets to Team Bride 2019? Check out our Facebook giveaway here: @dglwoman (click to enter)

Carina Monteith. Team Bride

How has Team Bride grown and flourished in the past three years?

Carina: It’s been amazing to see how TeamBride has grown, what started out as a hobby blog has now turned into a business that has helped hundreds of Irish couples plan for their wedding day. I am so grateful for the support I have had from couples and also other suppliers in the Wedding Industry.

Why do you love to help brides prepare for their big day?

Carina: There’s nothing as special as being in the bride’s house on the morning of the wedding. I love the excitement, the nerves and all the hustle and bustle. I’m a natural organiser so I am in my happy place when I am helping everyone to get ready.

What is it about your work that is the most rewarding?

Carina: People often say to me that they don’t understand what I do but when I get feedback from brides after the wedding saying they don’t know how they would have done it without me then that’s all I need.

Most of my bookings are from referrals, bridesmaids or guests who have seen me in action and decided they need Team Bride for their big day – that’s very rewarding.

How can local brides make their wedding preparations fun for their friends and family?

Carina: There’s so much pressure on couples these days when it comes to weddings. My advice is to set your budget and prioritise what’s important to you both.

Get family involved with the nice bits like dress shopping and menu tasting. Wedding planning should be about making memories and doing lots of ‘firsts and lasts’ – a great way to make it fun is to get your gang together for the TeamBride Wedding Workshop!

Photo: Pamela Bloe Photography

What can we look forward to at Team Bride 2019?

Carina: This is the 3rd TeamBride Workshop and each year it’s gotten bigger and better!

I’m so excited to have celebrity makeup artist Michelle Regazzoli Stone involved as she is an amazing talent and also to have Sinead De Blogger on stage giving style advice, she is such a lovely girl.

I find that us Donegal women are always having to travel to other towns and counties for events like this so it’s great to have an event like this here and the Clanree Hotel is the perfect venue.

Tara O’Farrell, Carina Monteith and Jennifer Rock (The Skin Nerd) at the first Team Bride Wedding Workshop in 2017

Having attended similar ‘Girls Day Out’ events I know the importance of getting value for money so I make sure we have amazing goodie bags, lots of spot prizes, free drinks, discounts and a fab afternoon tea.

Feedback from previous years has been great and I hope to see lots of return visitors this year as I have a few little surprises up my sleeve!

Team Bride isn’t just for brides. It’s a fun and glamorous day for brides, bridesmaids, friends, sisters and mums! A ticket would make a great Christmas present for any woman who loves all things to do with beauty and style.

Earlybird tickets are out now and would make for a great Christmas present.