Bazaar Bride: A Very Modern Love Story In Mallorca
The Balearic Islands provided a beautiful backdrop to this vintage-elegant wedding, with every single moment designed to a T…
Falling in love during lockdown may not be the ideal scenario, yet it’s the start to Sharon
McCluskey and Conleth McAlinden’s beautiful story. Having first met in Northern Ireland in 2020 before holidaying – and then isolating together – in Dubai, they haven’t spent a day apart since, says Sharon, a fashion buyer and founder of new label, Mana.
Three years later, after a move to Dubai, a dinner at eternally romantic Pierchic to celebrate Sharon’s work promotion was the dual setting for a proposal. The couple first celebrated with an intimate civil ceremony in Northern Ireland and the reception at Cabra Castle, before going into full planning mode for a Mallorca wedding, settling on Finca Son Togores as the venue. “We wanted sun, family and a week full of memories,” says Sharon. “Finca Son
Togores felt right; rustic, mountainous, surrounded by farmland.” The 72-guest wedding was, as you can imagine, designed to a T, with Sharon putting her fashion buying skills to good use creating presentations, moodboards and layouts.
The ‘vintage elegant’ theme flowed from dress silhouettes to the softness of the décor – with lots of personalised touches everywhere. “My main dress was Essence of Australia, but I designed all my other looks under my label, Mana,” explains Sharon, “from a ’60s-inspired welcome dress to a structural mini and a veil that took over 60 hours to hand sew.”
The couple also designed their own stationery and menus, with a seating chart made from fabric to echo the ‘softness in every visual detail’ vibe. Music played a key role, with Sharon surprising Conleth by singing I Get To Love You by Roelle during the ceremony. Stevie Wonder’s Signed, Sealed, Delivered accompanied the couple back down the aisle, with I’m Gonna Love You by Cody Johnson and Carrie Underwood ushering in their first dance. There were so many unforgettable moments, Sharon says. “Driving through Palma with my dad in a vintage car,” was one, as well as seeing Conleth’s face at the top of the aisle. But the most personal and poignant of all? “Conleth carried a pocket watch that I’d gifted him when we met, which is engraved with a photo of him and his late brother.”
Images Supplied
Bride’s Black Book
PHOTOGRAPHER: Ayeesha Taylor @ayshandhamish
DRESS: Essence of Australia @essenceofaustralia
SHOES: Magda Butrym @magdabutrym
JEWELLERY: Desert Diamonds @desertdiamondsireland
WEDDING RING: Cara @carajewellers
GROOM’S SUIT: Suits & Shirts @suitsandshirts.tailors.dubai
BRIDESMAID DRESSES: Mana @themanaeff ect_
VENUE: Finca Son Togores @sontogores
FLORIST: Gabriela Calé @fl oristeriamajoris
WEDDING PLANNER: Andrea Nogueira @anewageeventsHAIR & MAKE-UP: Rebecca Spendlove, @weddingsbyrebeccaspendlove
MUSIC: Band @thepartylabmallorca, DJ @mickyquinndj
From Harper’s Bazaar Bride Autumn/Winter 2025 Issue