Truly emotional with an eclectic setting. A long-distance love that grew into so much more. Daryl and Ray were the first same-sex couple to have a non-civil ceremony wedding in Ireland…
Proof that true love can be found online. Dublin-native Daryl met Ray from New Jersey on MySpace way back in 2005. After three years they finally met in Madison Square Garden NYC while Daryl was on the infamous J1 visa. The passing of the Marriage Equality Bill meant the world to these two and they finally said I Do on November 21st at Ballinacurra House.
Inspired by the beauty of their wedding venue, the couple let its magical setting do all the talking. Warm autumnal tones brought their rustic feel to life and complimented the grounds surrounding Ballinacurra House. Heartwarming images taken by Deryck Tormey shine a light on such a very special date.
A colour palette of burnt orange flashed through accessories such as handkerchiefs and bow-ties and the grooms looked super handsome in Gibson check suits from Tom Murphy’s on Patrick’s Street in Cork. “We highly recommend them! They were amazing to work with, and the staff really know their craft.”
Meeting at the top of the aisle and exchanging personal vows during their intimate humanist ceremony were both moving and uplifting moments for the pair.
“The passing of the referendum was a very emotional time for us. In 2012, when we finally wanted to end the “long distance” part of our relationship, the laws in the US would not allow Daryl to come and live with me in NJ. But Ireland was heartwarmingly welcoming, and we decided to plant our roots here. After our engagement in 2013, and with the anticipation of the referendum, we decided to set our date in February of 2015 for November 21st, hopefully leaving plenty of time for the enactment of the Marriage Act of 2015. The people of Ireland continued to impress us with the turnout for the referendum, which was the largest ever. When the majority vote was counted, we were elated. Despite the delay with the appeals, Frances Fitzgerald’s office and her fantastic team at the Department of Justice and Equality moved quickly enough to finalize the Commencement Order just in time for us to get a court exemption and give notification to marry.”
“The moment we looked around Ballinacurra House, we fell in love with it. It’s a very eclectic venue, and each room has its own character. We loved that. Not to mention that the staff are incredible to work with. Unlike many couples, we didn’t have an ounce of stress on the day due to their thoroughness and the in-house Wedding Planner Mary Kirby O’Donovan and the House Manager Declan.”
“Our photographer Deryck Tormey was a pleasure to work with. On such a hectic day he was extremely considerate and worked hard to make sure he got the best shots possible. He knew our guests’ names and it really felt like he was part of the wedding and not just a vendor we hired in.”
A huge thanks to Daryl and Ray for sharing their truly special day at Ballinacurra House with WeddingDates and to their photographer Deryck Tormey for capturing each magical moment. You can see more of his work at www.dtphotography.ie
