- Couple: Paul and Muireann
- Wedding Date: 20 September 2013
- Wedding Photographer: John Walsh
Ballygarry House Hotel is a fantastic spot to get married and have your day at. What made you decide to have your day there?
We were always going with Ballygarry House Hotel as my parents got married there when it was known as the Manhattan. Being from Kerry originally I have attended many weddings, events and functions and I know only too well the level of detail and quality of service associated with the hotel. When I told Paul about the hotel he was eager to see it and was wondering if it would live up to all the stories I had told him. He fell in love with the place as soon as he walked through the door and as time went on and we got more and more involved in the planning of the wedding he knew we had definitely made the right decision.
Muireann, we heard your parents were also married in Ballygarry House Hotel a few years ago, and that you still have a keepsake from the day. Were they proud to see you follow their footsteps?
Yes, my parents got married here back when Padraig’s father was running the hotel. I won’t mention the year but it was a little while ago! When we were preparing for the wedding day Dad went through all the bits and pieces that they had kept from their wedding day. He came across the hand written bill for the day, which was signed by Owen McGillicuddy. We were able to make a really good copy of it and give it to Padraig. My parents were delighted that we were going to get married in Ballygarry as their reputation has spanned many years and generations and they have never failed to impress on the big day.
Tell us about the wedding dress!
I had scoured the Internet looking through several different styles and I fell in love with this one particular dress. Once I had done a bit of digging I discovered that Finesse Bridal Wear in Listowel stocked it which was fantastic as I was hoping to visit the shop anyway as the girls had come highly recommended. When I went to the shop I tried on a few dresses just to see but once I tried on the original dress I had seen I knew it was definitely the one. I ordered it there and then and when I wore it on the day I was still as much in love with it as the day I first tried it on.
We also heard that you had some stunning transportation…
The wedding car was my Dad’s vintage car, a 62 Ford Console classic. Dad drove and I sat in the passenger seat and it was fantastic as we had such good fun driving up the town. It was also decorated in Kerry flags just to remind the Dubs where they were! We were also privileged to hitch a lift, to get our photos taken by the windmill, by the very kind Padraig McGillicuddy (proprietor of Ballygarry House Hotel) who took pity on us in a very sleek and impressive sports car!
Did you have any special theme?
Getting married in September we took into account the autumn feel and that was reflected in our colors. We used a lot of gold and bronze tones and everything else complemented that. As Paul got married in uniform we incorporated a few army traditions and a few additional military inspired ideas to get everyone involved with a few laughs along the way.
What was your wedding menu like?
It was amazing. We had a starter course along with a soup or sorbet choice. For our main course we had a choice of Duck, Sea bass or Steak. That was followed by a choice of Bailey’s cheesecake (Paul’s favorite) or the strawberry meringue. Everyone was delighted with the meal and it has become a big talking point following the wedding. One of our groomsmen was in training for an Iron Man at the time and he helped himself to three dinners that day!!
It looks like you got married on a gorgeous day. What is your favourite photo from your wedding?
There were so many great photos that it is very hard to pick just one. We got a few amazing group photos, which we really love. There are two really great photos that were just captured at the most opportune moments. One was when I kissed Sergeant Mahon at the end of the guard of honor. He was so serious and professional for the whole proceedings and right at the end I caught him out lovely by planting a big kiss on the side of his cheek. He started to laugh just as the picture was taken and it was brilliant. The other is of our Best Man Ray’s reaction to one part of Paul’s speech. He’s face is priceless and it’s definitely one for the album.
When did you know you wanted to tie the knot?
Well Paul says it’s from the moment that we first met but that’s when he’s trying to get out of trouble!!! We actually got engaged very early on. We were together 2 months when he asked me and I didn’t hesitate to answer yes as I knew he was the one for me. Three years later we tied the knot.
Paul, you and your groomsmen look great in uniform! Is it a tradition to wear this as your wedding attire?
It is an old tradition that has resurrected itself in the last few years. It is more common now for members of the Defence Forces to incorporate the uniform into their wedding attire. Personally for me I always wanted to get married in uniform as I loved the tradition and that was one of the first and last contributions I made to the wedding planning and by that I mean it was one of the only things I had any control over on the day.
Lastly, do you have any words of wisdom for couples planning their big day?
Planning and making sure to have good contact with any suppliers makes the day run much smoother. Also remember that on the day to go with the flow and let things take their course. The best piece of advice I got was to enjoy and soak up as much of the day as possible. We really enjoyed our day and remember every bit of it. It is a fantastic day and about the two of you so really enjoy it as the memories will last a lifetime.
