Brides of Kerry issue 3

Issue 3 AUTUMN 2015 €2.95

Are you a vintage bride or a bridezilla?

AUTUMN Tips & tricks for the perfect day

#May 22 YES vote Nora and Kristina’s beautiful wedding 72009792019-11.eps NBW=90 B=20

Photo courtesy of Tara Donoghue Photography

Personal touches and wedding traditions

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Wedding photography that tells yoUr story

info@taradonoghuephotography.com

085 155 5060 3

In this issue CONTENTS 12

Are you a bridezilla? Take our quiz to find out your true colours

54

Don’t be left behind, important questions to ask your wedding suppliers

56

Wedding traditions that will never go away.

And what about some rock and roll first dances. Check out our list of the most popular

60 Some of the most popular wedding

hair styles 74

Autumn trends that are a must for your wedding

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What the groom has to say and what hot styles are on point at the moment for men

A LOCAL FOCUS 6-9 Edwina and John celebrate their big day in Jacks’ Coastguard Restaurant in Cromane 14-15 Amy and Johnny trash the wedding dress on the family farm 20-22 Tara and Padraig have the best day of their lives in Ballyroe Heights Hotel 40-42 Karen and Keith infuse magic with romance at Ballyseede Castle Hotel 49-53 Local wedding suppliers team up to create a spectacular photoshoot in Tralee 65 Sinead Nelligan’s hen party involved tea (go on, go on) and some amazing frocks 71

Couples get married all over Kerry

Plus 4

Check out our experts in the Kerry wedding industry- they have a few tips and tricks to share with you

Editor’s Letter Hello Kerry Brides You’re just about over Puck Fair and The Rose of Tralee and now it’s time to put the head down and finish off planning for your big day. We’re very excited about this issue. It’s our third issue and our biggest to date. 100 pages choc full of wonderful weddings that took place throughout our beautiful Kingdom and beyond.

We truly loved Edwina and John’s wedding story. We wish we had been on the invite list. Edwina and John had their reception in the very popular Jacks’ Coastguard Restaurant in Cromane. Pauline Moroney (interviewed on pages 34-35) took the reigns on this and as a result Edwina and John had the best day of their lives. We love our front page image taken by our very own Tara Donoghue Photography of the happy couple and isn’t Edwina’s dress just stunning. It’s a Kenneth Winston dress purchased in the fabulous White Willow Bridal Boutique in Kenmare. Kate Cremins, owner of White Willow, said the minute she met Edwina she knew she was going to be a fun bride. We’re thrilled to share their wedding on pages 6-9.

To celebrate Ireland’s YES vote to same-sex marriages on May 22, we are delighted that Nora, a Tralee native, and her wife, Kristina, are part of our Autumn issue. The girls were part of a tv show called ‘Don’t Tell the Bride’ and the end result was their fabulous wedding (pages 86-87) American couple Virginia and Tom Gohagan came to Ireland 35 years ago to get married and we were overjoyed when Virginia got in touch with us recently to showcase their wedding of yesteryear and their recent trip back to Killarney. (Pages 94-95) We realise how important your honeymoon is and sometimes you want to bring the little ones so check out our suggestions on places to visit that is great for all the family (page 84). And if you are thinking about having a destination wedding then see our suggestions on page 83.

And as always we have a number of local wedding suppliers to sort out all your wedding needs for your big day. Give them a call or drop them a mail and tell them we sent you. You won’t be disappointed.

Looking forward to working with you all in the near future. So that’s it for another issue guys. Have a great Autumn and lets all hope we get some nice mild weather to make up for the lack of sunshine this year.

Thank you Kerry April Drew Founding Executive Editor

Editor-in-Chief April Drew ASSISTANT EDITOR Michaela Keating Graphic Designer Peter O’Carroll JUNIOR Graphic Designer Aisling O’Halloran Marketing and Sales April@bridesofkerry.ie T 085 8015278 ACCOUNTS John@bridesofireland.ie T 085 8015277 Distribution EM News Distribution, Dublin VECTOR ART designed by Freepik.com Printers Walsh Colour Print, Castleisland, Co. Kerry

FRONT COVER NEWLYWEDS Edwina Evans and John McGillycuddy PHOTOGRAPHER Tara Donoghue Photography WEDDING DRESS Kenneth Winston from White Willow Kenmare FLOWERS Blossoms Flower Shop, Killorglin LOCATION Jacks’ Coastguard Restaurant, Cromane

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Inside the bridal Room

Edwina Evans & John McGillycuddy

Photos courtesy of Tara Donohgue Photography 6

Flowers by Blossoms Flower Shop A BIT ABOUT THE BRIDE Edwina Evans, 28, is from Keel, Castlemaine and now lives in Killorglin. Edwina is starting a Masters in Primary School Teaching in September.

A BIT ABOUT THE GROOM John McGillycuddy, 34, is from Killorglin. John is a farmer and works in Kerry Agribusiness Store in Killarney.

THE MEET The pair met at their friend’s birthday party six years ago.

THE PROPOSAL “It was a complete surprise. On December 1, 2013, John gave me a Christmas chocolate advent calendar and asked if I would like to open it. After some convincing I opened the first little window – and instead of finding a little chocolate, I found a ring! Before I knew what was happening, John was down on one knee asking me to marry him.”

WEDDING DATE July 18,2015 CHURCH Prince of Peace Church, Fossa, Killarney RECEPTION Jack’s Coastguard Restaurant, Cromane BRIDESMAIDS Joan Evans, Denise Kerins, Sarah Corcoran, Ann Marie McGillycuddy GROOMSMEN John Kelliher, Damien McGillycuddy, Dan Horgan, Gerry Kelliher CAKE Selina’s Cakes for all Occasions QUIRKY BITS “We made our own candy bar. We found an old dresser in a shed that belonged to John’s grandparents. My father sanded it down and painted it with some chalk paint, and my mother added lace and new door handles and we put it on top of an old table with a lace effect table cloth.

It was my favourite piece from the whole day. I bought some jars in the €2 shop and filled them with sweets from Cliffords Cash and Carry, Tralee. We also made our own centre pieces. John’s brother Damien and his parents, cut trees, glued and varnished the wood. I was collecting jars for about a year and covered them with some burlap and a ribbon. My sister Joan helped me cover old wine bottles with some twine and I found the table numbers online.

FLOWERS Blossoms Flower Shop, Killorglin INVITES Splash in Farranfore MAKE UP Esther Cronin from The Powder Rooms, Killorglin HAIR Mary Ladden from The Style Room, Castlemaine ENTERTAINMENT “During the drinks reception, we had Drum Dance Ireland entertain us with a drum session! It was brilliant fun and got everyone involved. Drums and other instruments were passed around to

Dress from White Willow Kenmare everyone. It really was so much fun and definitely set the fun, relaxed tone for the rest of the evening. The band we had were Hot Fuss.”

TRANSPORT Horan’s Wedding Cars PHOTOGRAPHER Tara Donoghue Photography FIRST DANCE Hermitage Green’s cover version of Florence and the Machine’s ‘Cosmic Love’ WHY THIS FIRST DANCE? “We are huge fans of the Limerick band Hermitage Green. We went to a concert of theirs last year and fell in love with their version of this song.”

THE DRESS A Kenneth Winston dress from White Willow, Kenmare

Cake by Selina’s Cakes for all Occasionsns

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Inside the bridal Room

HEADPIECE Neidin Hats in Kenmare SHOES Badgley Mischka “Thora” shoes in blush pink SUITS Suits Select, Tralee HOW MANY GUESTS? 215 THE NEXT DAY? Went to Kate Kearneys bar where there was food, music and plenty of craic!

WEDDING THEME Rustic/vintage relaxed fun FAVOURITE MEMORY “Walking up the aisle with my father and the first dance. The song was perfect as it was both romantic and a lot of fun.”

SPECIAL TOUCHES “We used flowers from my grandparents garden for the table centre pieces. They were beautiful.”

WHAT DID JOHN HAVE MOST INPUT IN? “He was great with making phone calls and organizing all the boring legal stuff!”

THE HONEYMOON Five nights in New York City and ten nights in Montego Bay, Jamaica.

ANYTHING ELSE YOU WOULD LIKE TO ADD? “A huge thank you to our parents and families for all of their help and support. Between painting, cutting down trees, varnishing, flower arranging and general DIY, we really are so grateful for everyone’s help.”

SPECIAL TOUCHES? “John’s uncle built us a beautiful arch which we used for the garden of Jack’s. John’s mom decorated it with flowers, some ivy and lights. It was lit up at night and was admired by everyone on the day. It was beautiful. We made our table plan from old pallets and some frames I bought in Dealz. My father spray painted all of the frames and my mother decorated the pallets with flowers. A surprise of the night was when myself and John were brought outside to the garden to light sky lanterns. We lit several lanterns and they looked amazing as they floated through the sky.”

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HOW WAS YOUR EXPERIENCE WORKING WITH TARA DONOGHUE PHOTOGRAPHY? “Tara and Dave were brilliant. From the minute we met them at a wedding fair in the INEC we felt very relaxed in their company. We knew it was going to be fun to work with them.

We met with them for a pre-wedding photo shoot and it put our minds at ease. They were so nice and relaxed and they made the whole thing enjoyable, even though myself and John were both dreading it! On the wedding day itself our car got stuck in the stones at the beach in Cromane and before we knew it we were incorporating that into the photo shoot! It was great fun to work with them.”

www.taradonoghuephotography.com 085 155 5060 taradonoghuephotography@gmail.com

TELL US ABOUT YOUR EXPERIENCE WITH JACK’S COSTGUARD RESTAURANT? “We decided to have a marquee wedding at Jack’s Coastguard Restaurant in Cromane. We already knew the food was outstanding. We both love the view from Jack’s, it really is beautiful down there, and when we met with Pauline and Brian we immediately got so excited when we heard their mantra ‘your day, your way’. We came away feeling that we could have any kind of wedding we wanted. They were both so helpful and enthusiastic with all of our ideas. Our theme was relaxed vintage fun. We had a buffet with pig on the spit.”

www.jackscromane.com (066) 976 9102 info@jackscromane.com

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Quaint town of Listowel attracts wedding couples from abroad The wedding week finally arrived. 83 of Shannon and Corey’s closest family and friends descended upon Listowel for the celebrations.

“I cannot adequately put into words how exceptional our experience at the Listowel Arms was. Beyond the actual wedding reception, our entire stay at the Arms was spectacular. The Listowel Arms looked absolutely gorgeous and every detail was attended to seamlessly.”

So were all of their travelling guests happy with their experience in Listowel? “We have received such glowing reviews from our American friends and family. All of our guests were so thrilled to be in Ireland for the wedding. Having a rather large group come into a town like Listowel created the perfect environment for our guests to really get to know each other and spend time together. In addition, they were all so impressed with the staff at the Listowel Arms. I have heard so many individual anecdotes of staff members going above and beyond to accommodate our guests. And everyone loved the food.

“We couldn’t cross the street for a pint without running into one of our guests and that is exactly what we had hoped for! In fact, one of our guests has half-jokingly suggested he might move to Listowel full time!

Shannon and Corey relaxed in Listowel for two days after the wedding, then moved on to Dingle for two more nights and one in Adare before returning to their home in New Jersey where their dog, Judge patiently awaited their arrival.

Little did Kate McCoy know when she said goodbye to her hometown of Listowel back in 1872 for a life across the Atlantic that her great-granddaughter, Shannon Burke, would return 143 years later to marry the love of her life Corey Gaul, also a solicitor.

Shannon, a 29 year-old solicitor from New York, had the wedding of her dreams in the famous writer’s town and the most amazing wedding reception at the Listowel Arms Hotel.

“A destination wedding seemed like a good compromise between my desire to keep our wedding intimate and my husband, Corey’s hopes of a big party: it made the wedding a big, weekend long event but naturally limited the amount of people that would be able to come,” Shannon tells Brides of Kerry from New York.

Shannon knew she would have no trouble convincing Corey to marry in Ireland because he has strong Irish roots. “For the location, atmosphere and feeling we were aiming to achieve, The Listowel Arms was the obvious choice.”

It was the sheer elegance of the Listowel Arms that drew the pair to the popular Kerry wedding venue. “The look of the Arms, the way its decorated and the unique character of each and every room is so charming and special. Beyond the stellar aesthetics, however, was the stellar professionalism of the entire staff. Bear in mind, we planned the entire wedding from across the Atlantic and immediately it was apparent that the staff at the Listowel Arms, particularly Patrice O’Callaghan, had a complete handle on how to perfectly execute every detail of what we envisioned. Corey and I knew we were in great hands.”

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Photos courtesy of Paper Hearts Photography www.Paperhearts.ie

The LISTOWEL ARMS HOTEL The Square, Listowel, Co. Kerry

Classic 18th Century Georgian building on the banks of River Feale Bright and airy reception rooms with dining options for up to 350 guests Award winning wedding venue specializing in vintage style Exclusive use of 42 individually decorated bedrooms

TEL. 068 21500 WWW.LISTOWELARMS.COM WEddIngS AT THE LISTOWEL ARMS HOTEL 11

Bridezilla

How Much Of A Are You?

Do you think you might be turning into a bit of a Bridezilla? Take the quiz and find out!

Your fiancé tells you he doesn’t like the colour scheme you’ve chosen. Do you: a. Act put out by his complaint, but sit down with him to pick something else out anyway. b. Tell him it’s no big deal and change it to something you can both agree on. c. Disregard his ideas, you know yours are best.

You’ve DIY-ed your wedding favours with your bridesmaids

but some of the small details aren’t as perfect as the

others. Do you; a. Wait until they’re gone and quickly fix them. b. Just leave it. It’s a very small difference, no one will notice. c. Call them out on it and have them re-do everything.

Your bridesmaid has announced that she’s pregnant 5

months before the wedding. Do you: a. Act totally happy for her, but secretly you’re thinking about

the dress that she has to fit into.

b. Tell her how happy you are for her, it’s great news!

c. Tell her how delighted you are, but also tell her that she’s

not a bridesmaid anymore.

The venue has told you that you won’t be allowed to have

fireworks at the end of the night. Do you: a. Ask once, nicely, if there’s any way they’ll

reconsider, but you also start thinking or a plan B. b. Accept their decline; they probably have their reasons for

not letting you. c. Go mad and demand they let you have what you want, or

you’ll go somewhere else.

Your RSVP deadline was yesterday, but some people still

haven’t replied. Do you: a. Send a quick e-mail or text to those who haven’t replied,

just to remind them.

b. Not worry about it and presume they’ll all turn up and

they’ve just forgotten to reply. c. Send out a formal e-mail/text, warning them to do it

quickly.

Two of your bridesmaids love their dresses, but the other

two aren’t so sure. Do you: a. Try and make the changes that they want, while still trying

to keep the dress similar to the one you chose. b. Let them make any changes they want. c. Tell them that they have no choice. The dresses cost a

fortune and they’re lucky to even be bridesmaids if this is

how they’re acting.

Your mom has offered to make your wedding cake in place

of a gift. Do you:

a. Thank her, and start giving her ideas for what you’d want.

b. Accept, but not let her tell you anything, you want it to be a

surprise. c. Thank her, but decline and say you’d prefer to get a

professional.

Your meal for the day includes a roast for the main, but

some of your guests are vegetarian. Do you: a. Get annoyed that they never mentioned this on their RSVP,

but arrange for the hotel to make something else for

them. b. Apologize for not thinking about it and quickly arrange

something. c. Tell them to calm down and get a grip. They should have

mentioned it on the RSVP.

Mostly A’s: You’re the perfect bride; you’re taking control but

not getting too full of yourself. You want things done your way, but you’re open to suggestions for everyone else and you don’t feel too annoyed when you’re not able to do something that you wanted to.

Mostly B’s: You’re a bit of a pushover bride, you’re focusing more on making everyone else happy than making yourself happy.

Try to focus on the ideas that you had originally and try to make sure you stick with them.

Mostly C’s: Major Bridezilla alert! The power has gone to your head and you’re trying to take on too much. Relax and try to think about how everyone else might be feeling about the way you’re acting.

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Inside the bridal Room

Amy O’Shea & Johnny Evans

Photos courtesy of Breda Daly Photography 14

A BIT ABOUT THE BRIDE Amy O Shea , 24, lives in Keel . Amy works in Marion’s Hair Studio in Milltown.

A BIT ABOUT THE GROOM Johnny Evans, 25, is also from Keel. Johnny works for Torc Engineering in Killarney THE KIDS Two year old twins Kayleigh and Sean THE MEET Amy and Johnny went to school together when they were kids but only met properly years later through a mutual friend in 2008.

THE PROPOSAL “Johnny proposed at our home in Keel with our twins alongside him. It was such a special moment to have them with us. He had picked out the perfect ring for me. I loved it.”

WEDDING DATE June 27, 2015 CHURCH St Gobnaits, Keel RECEPTION Killarney Heights Hotel BRIDESMAIDS Kelly Murphy, Nicole Murphy and Lara Moriarty GROOMSMEN Eamonn , Eoin and Tomas Evans FLOWERGIRLS Kayleigh Evans PAGEBOY Sean Evans CAKE Made and iced by Amy’s mother, Hanna HAIR Marion’s Hair Studio PHOTOGRAPHER Breda Daly Photography VIDEOGRAPHER Cosmo Videos FIRST DANCE ‘The One’ by Kodaline DRESS Finesse Bridal Wear HOW MANY DRESSES DID YOU TRY ON? “About 25” BRIDAL PARTY WEAR Debenhams HOW MANY GUESTS? 193 SPECIAL TOUCHES “We had ceramic wellies on each table at the hotel and named each table after tractors and cows as Johnny wanted to bring the farm into the theme of the wedding.”

WHAT DID YOUR HUBBY HAVE MOST INPUT IN? Naming the tables for hotel QUIRKY BITS “Two weeks after the wedding we dressed up again and went down to the farm to get more photos, had great fun with Breda and Geraldine, who took the video. It was such a laugh wrecking the dress!”

FUNNIEST MOMENT “At the top table Johnny’s father John presented me with an apron to help out milking the cows down the farm.”

WHICH GUESTS TRAVELLED THE FURTHEST? “Our best man, Johnny’s brother Eamonn and his girlfriend Katie had come from Australia for the wedding”.

BIGGEST BLUR “Walking up the aisle with dad, but it was very special as I was lead up by our son Sean.”

Tell us about your experience working with Breda Daly Photography?

“Breda is an amazing photographer, we could not recommend this lady highly enough. She has such a unique and natural way with photos. She is fantastic with children and makes them very comfortable around the camera. Our final photos were so much more than we expected. Thank you so much Breda.” www.bredadaly.com 087 920 1550 info@bredadaly.com

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many different options available but we really wanted our day to show our personalities to make the day more personal.

By Grainne O’Sullivan I had the dream engagement at Adare Manor, a fantastic celebration with friends and family over Christmas, then it was down to the business of planning the biggest (most expensive) day of your lives, no pressure – right?! My friends and family have been amazing with plenty of ideas and suggestions but it’s down to you and your fiancé to make some tough but exciting decisions.

I had always wanted a winter wedding at home and thankfully Gerard Barrett did too, so it made it easy to pick the date of January 2, 2016 in our hometown of Listowel, giving us over 12 months to plan everything. We are lucky to have our great friend Fr. Pat Moore doing the honours on the day for us. Six months later and I can’t believe how quickly time has flown! As an organised person I would have thought that I would have had everything set in stone by now but the truth is I was having way too much fun browsing all the different options! You only realise just how overwhelming the wedding market can be when you start investigating different themes, colour schemes, dresses, cakes, bands, invitations, decorations, entertainment etc. The list seems endless and Pinterest can seem like your friend or your greatest enemy at times!

We love all things vintage so we decided to incorporate that into our wedding day and make it our general theme.

The Listowel Arms has some amazing vintage accessories also so we are working those in with our own DIY decorations that my amazing bridesmaids Joanne, Leeann and Lisa are working on. With Gerard working in the film industry we will have a few ‘Old Hollywood’ touches incorporated into the day too. There are so 16

I had been building up to going wedding dress shopping for a few months while also working on getting my three bridesmaids in one place at the same time to make a day of dress shopping. Book bridal appointments in plenty of time as it can be hard to get Saturday appointments at the times that you want! Off we went armed with a few ideas of what my dream dress would look like. I was secretly worried what if I don’t find ‘the dream dress’ like everyone describes while also wishing I hadn’t left it five months to start trying dresses on. As most dresses can take four to five months from the date of order to the delivery day so it’s a good thing I found my dress quickly! One tip I would give from my experience is to listen to the experts in the bridal boutique. I initially picked out a few dresses that I liked to get things started (very few of which suited my body shape unless I was able to grow another six inches

by January) but as I walked out of the dressing room toward my bridesmaids after trying on the first dress that the boutique owner had suggested, I could tell from their eyes that I had found something special even before I got to the mirror to see for myself. As cheesy as it may sound it is a very special moment and now I do feel that you know when you have found ‘the’ dress!

With five months to go I am now armed with a timeline which I vow to stick to (almost) completely to avoid any stress and any chance of me turning into a dreaded Bridezilla! For us it’s now down to getting to work on the guest list. We have always known we would be having a large wedding but I’m secretly glad that the Arms Hotel has a max number of 350 guests before things get really out of hand (they can really take 370 but sussh don’t tell Gerard that just in case he keeps adding to the list!) I’ve left him in charge of doing all the paperwork and booking the marriage course to make sure it’s legal for us to get married on the day (delegation is key!) I’m off to drool over travel agent brochures of top honeymoon destination, it’s tough work!

Happy Wedding Planning! x Grainne O’Sullivan and Gerard Barrett’s wedding is taking place on January 2, 2016 in St. Mary’s Church Listowel followed by reception in the Listowel Arms Hotel.

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Feature

The stresses and strains of the big day can sometimes cause a little friction with your loved one from time to time. It’s okay if you have a few tiffs or dare we say heated debates over certain elements of the wedding in the lead up to it. There isn’t a bride out there who hasn’t argued with her fiancé over elements of the wedding so don’t feel alone. We have complied a list of arguments you are probably going to have in the next year or two so relax and be prepared for them.

Bridezilla Money

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This is the argument that every single engaged couple in the world is going to have. You want to spend a lot of money on the venue; they want to spend a lot of the money on a photographer or vice versa.

Whatever the situation, this argument is definitely going to happen.

The best way to deal with this, like most arguments, is to compromise.

Take whatever amount of money it is and split it down the middle, half and half. This way you both get an equal share to spend on whatever specific aspect you want

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The Groom’s Involvement

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Family

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Your Pasts

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Location

More often than not, the groom will be more involved in planning the honeymoon than the wedding. If you’re happy to plan everything yourself, then this is fine and you probably won’t have an argument at all. But if not, you’re going to end up putting your foot down and making him participate. This could be difficult and may cause some tension depending on how against the idea he is, but in the end it’s better as it relieves some of the stress from your shoulders.

Another common argument. One of you (or both) keep adding to the guest list without thinking about the cost of it all. You may need to sit down and sort out the guest list to accommodate your budget, even if it means crossing a lot of guests off the list.

Sometime before the wedding, there is likely going to be some sort of an argument about something or someone that happened in one of or both of your pasts. It’s best to get this one out of the way before you’re married so that there’s no bad blood heading into your married life.

The location of the wedding can mean a lot to you and your partner. But if you and your partner both want the wedding in different places then this can lead to a lot of heated discussions. If you both want it in a place that’s special and meaningful to your childhoods for example, and they happen to be different places, then you will have to compromise and come up with some solution. This could also happen if your partner is originally from somewhere abroad and wants the ceremony in their home country so that all of their family can be there.

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6

You mightn’t realise how you’re acting leading up to the wedding, but your partner probably will. If you’re acting like bridezilla this can cause some big arguments between you two. If your partner pulls you on your behaviour, just try and tone it down a bit, even if you are stressed. In the end, your happiness is what matters on the day and not how perfect and flashy everything can look.

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Other people

Wedding planning can be stressful enough and when family and friends over step the mark it can cause a bit of trouble in paradise. Although they mean well, it’s best to make all decisions yourselves without the influence of a slightly over powering aunt or future sister-in-law. Work together and listen to each other’s ideas and remember that it should a special day, not a stressful one!

Fantastic wedding packages available

Langford Street, Killorglin

066 976 1091 www.blossomsflowershopkillorglin.com

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Inside the bridal Room

Photos courtesy of Paper Hearts Photography

Tara O’Halloran & Padraig Quirke

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A BIT ABOUT THE BRIDE Tara O Halloran, 28, from Ballyheigue is the manager of Little Voyagers childcare in Ardfert.

A BIT ABOUT THE GROOM Padraig Quirke, from Curraheen, Tralee is a self-employed builder. The couple reside in Abbeydorney with their children.

THE KIDS Padraig and Tara have a four year old daughter Ria and Padriag also has a fourteen year old daughter Donna.

THE CHURCH St. Marys Church, Ballyheigue THE RECEPTION Ballyroe Heights hotel HOW MANY GUESTS? 240 BRIDESMAIDS Olivia and Denise O Halloran, Rachel and Stacey Reidy and Padraig’s daughter Donna.

GROOMSMEN Declan Quirke, Patrick Crean, Johannes Burgheoff, Jason Quirke and Tara’s brother Shane.

FLOWERGRILS The couple’s daughter Ria and Tara’s niece Ella. “The flower girl dresses were handmade as I really wanted the big tutu skirt for them.

They were ‘princesses’ for the day with their wands and flower tiaras.”

MOTHER OF THE BRIDE OUTFIT Hannons of Castleisland FLORIST Every Occasion Florist, Tralee HAIR Colette’s Hair Salon MAKE UP Caitriona O Sullivan PHOTOGRAPHER Anne McNamee of Paper Hearts Photography QUIRKY BITS “We had a sweet table with personalised candy bags. Etsy, Amazon and EBay are very addictive when it comes to shopping for wedding supplies. Each table had photo props so it is doubtful anyone escaped a selfie for Instagram! On arrival guests were treated to pink ‘sex on the beach’ cocktails served in personalised mason jars with paper straws, they were delicious, others opted for the pink prosecco or sangria! The pink theme was throughout the day with the bridesmaids wearing blush and the groomsmen with pink ties!”

PERSONAL TOUCHES “I made all of the bouquets and buttonholes myself and they turned out even better than I expected and received compliments throughout the day! I always wanted to try my own bouquet as I wanted it full looking with lots of hints of pink. I used foam flowers and dyed each one and let it develop its own colour.”

THE NEXT DAY? BBQ and drinks at ‘Sean Ogs’ in Tralee followed by some late night dancing.

ANY HICCUPS? “I guess there is one major hiccup that happened two weeks before the wedding. I got up one morning and felt a little dizzy. Next I knew I had fainted and knocked back my three front teeth and burst my lip. I was distraught! Following a speedy trip to A&E I was taken to Cork University hospital where I had to have my teeth realigned and approx. 20 stitches in my gums and lip. The days following that were pretty traumatic and of course it impacted on the build up to our wedding day. My friends, family and

especially Padraig were fantastic to me and with plenty TLC. Most of the swelling had gone down and the bruising. My dentist made a special mouth guard/brace which I wore for the wedding which held my teeth in place and allowed me to smile and enjoy the day! I was very lucky I didn’t break my nose or cheek bone so I am thankful of that although I still have a long road to recovery I am delighted that the pictures turned out so well!”

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How was your experience working with Ann McNamee of ‘Paper Hearts’?

“Working with Ann was exactly as I had hoped it would be. From the moment I met her at the INEC wedding fair, I knew I would have to book her; she has a fantastic personality and is so passionate about her work. Although she is easy going she knows the shots she wants to get, she is also great at coaxing the men to go along with the whole process by explaining what she is doing and why! She is enthusiastic and you can tell she loves her job; we were in contact regularly leading up to the wedding as she wanted to ensure the venues we had chosen for the pictures were just right! On the day we got the pictures we wanted and I am delighted with the results.” www.paperhearts.ie 087 969 1324 ann@paperhearts.ie

Dress from Hannons of Castleisland

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Unique Boutique Bridal Kerry’s brand new bridal boutique welcomes all brides to be and will open

September 2015

Open Monday-Friday by appointment only and all day Saturday with no appointment needed.

The store stocks stunning gowns from designers including; Franc Sarabia, Kenneth Winston, Manu Alvarez, Sophia Tolli, Dovita bridal, Paloma Blanca, Ella Rosa and Phoenix gowns.

Contact Dee today on 087 1650258 Main Street Castleisland Co. Kerry Unique Boutique Bridal

www.uniqueboutiquebridal.ie

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Tell us a little bit about yourself Gary?

I originally trained as a pastry chef nearly 30 years ago in the UK, which is when I met my wife, who is Irish. We have four children and after the very first time visiting Ireland when the children were quite small, we knew that we would eventually live here one day. So we finally made the decision to relocate from the UK and settle in Killarney.

When did you establish O’Carrolls Cakes?

I set up O’Carrolls Cakes in October 2012, but the story started one day a few years earlier when we were visiting Killarney. While travelling around the Ring of Kerry, we stopped off at a little cafe that served the most delicious tea and cakes. I got talking to the owner and suddenly it just made sense to do what I really enjoy - make and design great tasting cakes, desserts and patisserie.

You’ve come very far in such a short space of time, how is that?

You’ve come very far in such a short space of time, how is that?

I think the secret is to bake everything to order and from scratch, provide excellent quality at reasonable prices, and to provide something that is a little different and always gives a bit extra. I am determined to keep the business small and driven primarily by word of mouth recommendations. In 2013 I was increasingly asked about doing wedding cakes so last year I moved into a small commercial kitchen unit on Muckross Road, which is a great location as I deliver celebration and wedding cakes free of charge to all local hotels and restaurants. And this year, quite a few of the hotels in Killarney are now recommending O’Carrolls Cakes to their customers for both celebration and wedding cakes What are your favourite types of wedding cakes to create?

Definitely not boring ones! My favourite one at the moment is a simple textured buttercream wedding cake with a few fresh roses - its simplicity makes it so stunning. But I get the most enjoyment out of working with a couple to develop a brand new design or flavour combination. It’s a great feeling when neither the bride nor myself knows what we will do at the beginning of the conversation and then after a couple of hours working through different ideas, it all becomes clear.

Do you only offer a set range of wedding cakes from a brochure?

No, not at all. Some people do like to pick their wedding cake based on a previous design I have made before or from a photo they find on the internet, whilst other couples have their own very specific idea in mind of what they would like. One bride earlier this year actually started off wanting a quite simple design, but then we started talking about the colours in her dress, and we ended up changing the whole design of the wedding cake to reflect the design of the wedding dress itself. I dont know who was more excited about it - her or me!

What has proved the most challenging and fun in recent times?

Well I have had a wedding cake ordered with three days notice before - that was quite challenging.

I also had a lady who was obviously organising every aspect of her wedding, so she wanted the wedding cake to be a total surprise on the day - so that was challenging, fun, and a little bit stressful too even the invoice just said ‘wedding cake’ as I couldn’t describe it to her beforehand!

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What advice do you have for couples when looking for a cake designer?

I think the first thing I would have to say is that, when you meet the wedding cake maker, it can always help to bring a friend or relative along with you, to give you some advice. And most of all don’t settle on the final design and flavours until you are totally happy. If possible, find a wedding cake supplier that someone you know has used before, or if this isn’t possible then at least have a look at examples of their work and feedback from previous customers.

Always try to make sure you get some cake samples. I have so many couples that tell me about weddings they have been to when the cake might have looked nice, but it didn’t taste that great. Also double check if there are any extra charges on top of the price quoted e.g. for delivery, set up, stand hire, different cake flavours etc.

What trends are you seeing as of late?

The naked wedding cake is still very popular and for a rustic themed wedding this style of wedding fits perfectly. The simple but effective textured buttercream cake also very popular, particularly when decorated with a few fresh flowers. And wedding cakes decorated with edible lace always seem to be fashionable. Other styles that seem to be becoming more popular are chalkboard cakes and coloured wedding cakes. I am also getting lots more requests for dessert tables as this style allows for lots of different flavours to choose from.

Anything else you would like to add?

I am always keen to try new ideas for a couple, so I am currently working on some new designs and flavour combinations for 2016, which would be developed in more detail with each couple. For example- 1. Designing the cake to fit with the couple’s personality or inspired by a romantic story of how they met. 2. Giving a modern twist to a nostalgic design. 3. Non-traditional, bold, coloured cakes.

4. Patisserie inspired wedding cakes. 5. A smaller wedding cake with a selection of bitesize desserts.

O’Carrolls Cakes www.ocarrollscakes.ie 083 136 0996 Ocarrollscakes@gmail.com

New designs and flavours being developed for 2016

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ASK THE

EXPERT

Headpieces by Cathy Troth Tell us a bit about yourself?

I am originally from England and moved to Co. Kerry 15 years ago. Since leaving university in 1996 I’ve worked in fashion retail at various levels. I live in Firies, with my husband of 16 years and two sons; a rose amongst thorns.

Tell us a bit about the business?

I design, create and retail occasional and bridal headpieces and veils. I also offer a service of up styling a client’s own headpiece. All of my services are offered at an affordable price as my vision for Headpieces by Cathy Troth is to bring a formerly seen luxury product to everyone. Why should a uniquely created headpiece be available only to people for whom money is no object? I have a passion for vintage and it is with this in mind and the 1940s ethos of ‘make do and mend’ that leads me to incorporate vintage or recycled gems into my headpieces, again ensuring their uniqueness.

How did you get where you are today?

I first started up in 2012 to try and help me with a longstanding period of newly diagnosed PTSD and depression following the death of my first son a number of years previously. Initially I was mainly up cycling unwanted jewelry donated by friends and then either selling the new creations at a local farmer’s market or using them as gifts for friends and family. Having always had a keen interest in fashion and accessories I seemed to quickly develop a natural flair for this and soon found myself being asked by friends and family for a wider variety of projects. This is where I discovered the idea and passion to start what is now Headpieces by Cathy Troth - essentially a rebranding devoted to millinery.

What is your favourite piece to make?

I actually don’t have any favourite pieces to make. I love them all! Though it’s the different types of people I meet that make my job. I love hearing their stories, listening to their concerns and reassuring them that they are now in safe hands and they don’t have to worry. Meeting with clients allows me to gauge their personality which I use to help me design a piece to reflect and compliment them.

Finally, why choose a custom piece?

Wedding accessories are a personal statement about you and your wedding. So it stands to reason generic headpieces aren’t going to fit with your vision. No one wants to settle for something that’s not quite right, especially on your special day.

However, I’m very much aware that in a wedding budget every euro counts. That’s where I come in. Together we can design a headpiece that will complement them and their style and be as beautiful as they are (well almost!).

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Headpieces by Cathy Troth is now stocked in Annburys, Kerry’s Boutique and Instyle and her bridal pieces in Kathy de Stafford Couture in Dublin City and Howth.

For further details contact Cathy Troth on 087 7579674 or e-mail cathytroth@hotmail.com. Check out her Facebook page and website at FB Headpieces by Cathy Troth & www.headpiecesbycathy

By Michaela Keating Planning a wedding can be stressful and exhausting, especially when trying to ensure that every detail is perfect. From the moment you get engaged (and maybe years in advance) brides start thinking about the finer details of their big day. However, life gets in the way and it’s easy to forget the photographer you liked or a cake maker you found out about from a friend.

A ‘Wedding Thought’ box can help you in your wedding planning especially for couples who have a long engagement and find it hard to remember certain vendors that they had previously heard of.

Things to put into the wedding box • Business Cards – Whether you’re getting married in the coming months or not for a couple of years, business cards and contact information of vendors of interest are vital. Gathering up a few names of florists, make up artists, beauty salons, photographers, cake providers etc can save you a lot of time when you sit down to decide on what vendors you are going with.

• Magazine clippings- Every bride to be finds inspiration from different places but magazines like this one for example can be very helpful in allowing you to pin point a theme or colour scheme.

• Cards/Invitations- Each season brings with it a new wave of wedding invites through the letterbox. Some may tickle your fancy, so hold on to them and look into using the invite designers you liked when the time comes to organising your own big day.

• Fabric samples- For the bride who wants a custom made wedding dress fabrics and patterns are very important. After popping in to your local fabric store, hold on to samples to help you decide what fabrics you will be using when the time comes to put together the ever so important wedding dress.

• Wedding favour ideas- Many couples like to push the boat out with personalised or quirky wedding favours for their guests. Keep photos, samples or write down favours to your liking so that you don’t forget the quirky bits.

• Song names – For many couples, choosing the first dance song can be difficult to decide on. If you’re having a long engagement, take down the names of songs you both enjoy now, so that when it comes to choosing you can add last year’s ballad to your list of possibilities.

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Inside the bridal Room

Marie Aherne & Anthony Burke

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Photos courtesy of Brendan Coleman Photography

A BIT ABOUT THE BRIDE Marie Aherne is originally from Dingle. Marie is a Chartered Physiotherapist working in Cahir Physiotherapy clinic in Cahir, Co.Tipperary.

A BIT ABOUT THE GROOM Anthony Burke is a Moyle Rovers man from Tipperary. Anthony is a Branch manager with Glanbia agribusiness Clonmel, where the couple now live.

THE MEET The pair met in Dingle in The Droiched Beag bar on a night out.

Anthony was working as an electrician in the new Dingle hospital which was being built at the time. Marie had returned home from college on her summer holidays to work in Dingle and earn a bit of pocket money. Marie overheard Anthony talking about Kerry football, a conversation was sparked and the rest as they say is history!

THE PROPOSAL “Anthony asked me if I wanted to go for a walk, which I found a little bit suspicious as he wouldn’t normally be so keen, it would usually be me dragging him for a walk. We walked up the road from where his parents live accompanied by our dog Molly. We were passing by the ruins of Donoughmore church when Anthony suggested we go in for a look. This was extremely out of character and I instantly became suspicious. As we were about to leave the church Anthony got down on one knee and popped the question. I was delighted to accept and so the planning began.”

THE RING Brian de Staic Jewelers, Dingle WEDDING DATE September 12, 2014 CHURCH Seipéal Eoin Baiste, Lios Póil RECEPTION Dingle Skellig Hotel BRIDESMAIDS Marie’s sister Cáit was the maid of honour and her sister-in law Sarah was bridesmaid. Marie’s sister Mairéad was to be a bridesmaid too but had baby Róisín four weeks before the wedding.

GROOMSMEN Eamon Cahill and Michael Mulcahy FLOWERGIRLS Saoirse Baker and Katie Aherne CAKE Marie’s mother, Courtney’s Bakery and Cáit Lynch all played a part in making the cake FLOWERS Eleanor’s Florist, Tralee MAKE UP Geraldine Martin HAIR Melody Hunt from Mel’s Elegance PHOTOGRAPHER Brendan Coleman Photography FIRST DANCE ‘Crazy Little Thing Called Love’

CHURCH MUSIC Cadenza, Cork. A friend of Marie’s, Clíonadh Dorgan, also sang a magical version of ‘It Feels Like Home’ during the signing of the register. “I could hardly sign the register since I was welling up so much, she has a beautiful voice.”

HOW MANY GUESTS? 175 THE NEXT DAY? BBQ at Danno’s bar in Dingle with homemade burgers, salads and chips. Musician Dermot Kelly played on the night.

THEME “Our theme was nature. The invites and the mass booklets had a backdrop of the sea and our tables were all named after different mountains; mainly in Tipperary and Kerry.”

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Inside the bridal Room

FAVOURITE MEMORY “Two butterflies followed us into the church as dad was going to walk me down the isle. They stayed above the alter and were joined by a third dancing around all during the ceremony. It was as if they were celebrating as well.”

SPECIAL TOUCHES “My uncle, Brother John Paul, gave a moving reflection after communion; he also added a few special words himself. I don’t think there was a dry eye left in the church!”

THE HONEYMOON One week in The Secrets Maroma, Mexico, followed by four nights in Las Vegas. From there the couple headed to Fort Lauderdale for a seven night cruise on the Caribbean.

ADVICE FOR BRIDES PLANNING A WEDDING? “I would say don’t get overwhelmed when you start the planning process. If you break it down into small sections it becomes a bit easier to handle. We had two years between the engagement and the wedding so we had loads of time for planning. Do have a list to follow, I had one I wrote out myself and ticked things off along the way. I also had a notebook (my Bible) where I wrote down all the names and phone numbers along with the date of booking. You don’t think you will forget these details but as it comes closer to the wedding and you have a million things to try and organise it is easy to have the notebook at hand for quick confirmation of details. Try and get receipts for every deposit you put down and keep them all together in case an issue arises with the booking. Once we had all the big things booked such as the church, the venue and the band I spent a month researching an area after that and then ran all the options by my husband and we would book the one that suited us best.”

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Fun Questions

First holiday together Majorca Fav tv show to watch together?

‘Two and a Half Men’ or ‘The Big Bang Theory’ If you were to marry a celeb who would it be?

Channing Tatum If Anthony was to marry a celeb who would it be? Georgia Salpa Which guest looked amazeballs?

All the Lios Póil ladies Which guests travelled the farthest for the wedding?

Anthony’s Auntie Mary along with his cousins James and Christian with his wife Anna and their new baby travelled from England Whom did you tell you were engaged first?

Our parents One thing you would change about your day?

I would try and be on time for the church!

What is the one song you can remember dancing to with your friends?

‘Single Ladies’ by Beyonce Any hiccups?

The arch was put at the wrong door of the church. It was really funny watching back the video of Anthony and the groomsmen trying to move it to the other door before people started arriving!

Which couple from your wedding do you think will get engaged next?

Eoin Doyle and Karen French because she caught the bouquet.

How great was it to work with your photographer Brendan Coleman ?

“We met Brendan at a wedding fair and from the moment we met him he put us at ease. He met us a few weeks before the wedding day to take some engagement shots, which was really helpful because it gave us a chance to get used to working together. On the day he was non intrusive and had a calm and easy going style that helped to put us and our guests at ease.

His wife worked with him on the day and together they make a great team. We got a proof book album within a month after the wedding along with a disc of all the main photos included also. We ended up going for the traditional leather album in the end, which we love.” www.brendancoleman.com 086 668 2868 brendancoleman@ymail.com

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Project9_Layout 1 10/08/2015 12:39 Page 1

All New! “Get the Celebration Experience”

“We got married on March 14 at the Earl of Desmond. Everybody had a fantastic weekend. All the staff, especially Norella and Mark, are so friendly, helpful and efficient. Norella helped us through our wedding all the way along, she made it so easy and Mark is such a lovely person.

The hotel is absolutely gorgeous, clean and very spacious. Everything was perfect and people are still raving about the food.”

Chahine & Aidan “On December 6, 2014, we had our reception in the Earl of Desmond.

From making enquiries straight through to checking out the day after the wedding, everything was a pleasure. The staff were always friendly when we went in, service was always great and nothing was ever any trouble. The hotel made the wedding feel so personal, you knew that they genuinely wanted the best for your day, instead of just the money.

When we arrived to the hotel after the photos we were greeted by Norella and glasses of champagne for the bridal party. Attention to detail is everything to me, and the hotel had everything under control, from the heating to the drinks reception to the layout of the ballroom.

All our guests really enjoyed the day and the food (all dietary requirements were catered for) was absolutely delicious, service was amazing, everybody ate together and the tables were all cleared together.”

Gemma & Maurice

“Thank you so much for everything Norella.It felt like we were at someone else’s wedding. We didn’t have to think about or do anything.

We left everything in yer capable hands and ye came up trumps.. Would recommend this hotel and staff to anyone out there getting married. price is right,food is EXCELLENT and I do love my food,reception hall and bar is fab,honeymoon suite is exactly as it is in the pictures. Only problem was the day went way too fast.”

Mags & Ken “We had both our wedding ceremony and the reception in the Earl of Desmond in May 2014. We wouldn’t change one thing about the day!!

Everything was perfect, from the planning through to the actual day when the hotel staff did an amazing job. It was an absolutely spectacular day! I would recommend the Earl of Desmond for both weddings and stays or even just to pop in for a lovely meal!

Patrycja & Robert “We got married here last September and we couldn’t fault a thing.The hotel is beautiful and the ballroom was done to perfection! Food was flawless and they were like an army coming across the floor when serving and cleaning the tables, everyone commented on the outstanding service. From the day I booked my wedding here they couldn’t have been more obliging, nothing was a problem. We loved everything about out day, wouldn’t change a thing! We loved everything about our day, wouldn’t change a thing!

Laura & Danny 32 www.earlofdesmond.com

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33

An intimate conversation with Pauline Moroney of

Jacks’ Coastguard Restaurant

By Tracy Healy A firm favourite and award winning wedding venue, Jacks’ Coastguard Restaurant is situated in the idyllic village of Cromane, Co. Kerry on the Ring of Kerry and Wild Atlantic Way just ten minutes outside Killorglin. Catering for up to 130 guests for the perfect intimate wedding or the ideal location to add a marquee with a large seafront garden space should you wish to invite a few more guests!

See what Edwina and John did with their Jacks’ Coastguard wedding in this issue.

choose the venue not only on location, food and service, but also trust that we can deliver their dream. It’s probably one of my favourite meetings, we really get a first glimpse of what they like, what their vision is for their day. It is so important to couples that you can see their vision, it’s such a personal day and we love getting to know them. Between Brian and I we have many combined years of event planning and management so we are in constant communication with our couples from start to finish. It’s our aim to make them and their loved ones feel relaxed and at home with us in Jacks’.

We can accommodate most requests from marquees to pig on a spit to a specific food theme, champagne fountains, fire pits or flyaway lanterns! You name it, we’ll try to get it.

Photo courtesy of Breda Daly Photography

But besides the obvious intimate setting, surrounded by beautiful scenery and just an all-round perfect wedding location we were lucky enough to catch up with Jacks’ secret weapon Pauline Moroney - Wedding Coordinator, Marketing and Events Manager, mommy of three, keen rower and Pinterest addict. In the days leading up to a wedding, she’s been known to visit neighbours for ivy and other bits and pieces or been seen along the Kerry countryside collecting flowers. She’s usually moving too fast to catch but today we were lucky enough to get her on her tea break enjoying her chocolate addiction top up!

Pauline, you have been Jacks’ wedding co-ordinator for six years, in your opinion what makes Jacks’ Coastguard Restaurant the perfect wedding location?

Looking back on when I planned my own wedding, I know what it’s like and the enormous decision couples have to make on where to have their day, so for me, I feel Jacks’ is really different. It’s unique, it’s got great food, picture perfect scenery for your photos, and it’s a blank canvas for our couples to make it their own personalised space for the day - it ticks all the boxes really.

We have heard you’re the planner extraordinaire.

I’m very lucky to be part of such a great team in Jacks’. Brian, Jonathan, JP and all the guys there are amazing. Our motto is ‘Your Day Your Way’ so no request is too big or too small, I love the challenge of making it happen and seeing a plan come together in such a special way. I enjoy getting involved with our couples, talking through their ideas and how they see the day unfolding.

Your weddings are always associated with uniqueness and extremely personal, how does that work?

Brian, the owner and I always have an initial consultation with our brides and grooms which is so important because a couple must 34

What can someone expect from a wedding at Jacks?

A wedding at Jacks will always be exactly how you imagined it and if we can manage it maybe even that little bit better! No ask is too big for us. Jonathan, our head chef, has colour co-ordinated desserts in the past to match the wedding theme, JP learned the theme tune to the Sunday Game for a bride and groom’s first entrance and Brian has a new found love of paper lanterns and bunting and can now tell the difference between baby pink and blush pink!

Honestly though, the dedication and professionalism of the team here is superb. We get the best buzz from seeing our couples celebrate the best day of their lives with their family and friends in a stunning setting complimented by delicious food, a little bit of Kerry charm and a whole lot of fun. We have had some fantastic weddings from importing specialised beers, guests arriving in the garden in a helicopter, creating hay bale couches, making beautiful centerpieces of ivy, roses and whatever I can get my hands on or create from my Pinterest addiction. We also provide the full red carpet welcome, JP playing your reception and meal, personalised menus and table plans and of course your wedding coordinator!

What kind of organising goes into a wedding there?

From the initial meeting we make note of different ideas our couples have discussed with regard to what they would like for food, theme and their own personal touches. Once we start the communication process we are always on hand to discuss ideas. Once the reception drinks, food and evening food are decided with Brian and Jonathan, I will actively get started on what I like to call an ideas board of the couple’s wedding vision. It’s their day and it’s my role to make it all come to life. In the early hours the night before the wedding, you will find me adding the finishing touches, moving things around, perfecting the centrepieces and making sure everything is ticked from my list relying on large quantities of chocolate and tea.

Where do you recommend brides and grooms look for some theme inspiration?

I love the idea of a scrapbook or mood boards and especially Pinterest Boards as they can be shared with whom you would like so it’s a great way to keep in touch with a shared board of ideas and finally coming to a decision on what you want on the day. I absolutely love bridal magazines and just having them to flick through on a night on the sofa for inspiration just gets you so excited for the event to come. I follow blogs for inspiration and of

What is your advice to anyone getting married?

My advice is simple, don’t sweat the small stuff. Your wedding is your day to celebrate your love and your marriage. Do what makes you both happy, don’t worry and enjoy every minute of it - the day goes by so fast! At the end of your wedding day, once you’ve married the person you love, then everything went perfectly.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF TRACY HEALY

course there is nothing better than a couple’s account of their wedding in Brides of Kerry. Whatever the bride and groom choose, a wedding theme should always represent the couple - what they love, what’s special to them. Never plan your wedding for your guests and what they will expect - this creates unnecessary pressure. This is your day, no one elses.

What’s your favourite wedding theme at the moment?

That’s actually a really hard question - the night before every wedding when Brian and I are putting the final touches to the restaurant, I always say ‘This is my favourite wedding so far’ so it’s really hard for me to choose a favourite theme.

I’m a big fan of the personal touches, the home made giant games, the jars that brides have been collecting since they got engaged tied with a little lace or burlap that come to life on the table by adding a simple candle or the grandmothers side board that was re-painted to hold the wedding cake and sweet treats - there’s so many, I just can’t choose.

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Marilyn McSweeney MAKE-UP ARTISTRY Ballyroe Heights Hotel, located on the outskirts of Tralee, offers a stunning backdrop for weddings with magnificent views of the Sliabh Mish Mountains and Tralee Bay providing the ideal backdrop for those precious wedding photographs.

As part of the hotel’s commitment to couples we have recently refurbished our deluxe bedrooms, stylish lobby, spacious ballroom and palace bar and restaurant.

These major refurbishments combined with our personal service have ensured the needs and expectations of modern day couples are surpassed. Ballyroe Heights Hotel has also enjoyed success winning Best 3* Star Wedding Venue in Ireland and best overall Kerry venue from Weddingdates.ie, Best Large Business Award from Tralee Tidy Towns and Certificates of Excellence Awards from Tripadvisor.

“It’s simple - we couldn’t have asked for a better venue! Ballyroe

Marilyn McSweeney is a freelance professional make-up artist based in Killarney, Co.Kerry.

Marilyn trained in the Makeup For Ever Academy in Paris. Marilyn specialises in bridal make-up and is available to travel to your home or hotel on the morning of your wedding. She is available for touch-ups for you and your bridal party. She has extensive range of products to suit all skin types. Make-up products include MAC Cosmetics, Makeup For Ever, Smashbox, Benefit, Bobbie Brown, NARS, Armani, Chanel, Dior and Charlotte Tilbury.

Her credits include RTE, TV3, Fashion TV and various bridal publications.

Heights was an absolutely fantastic venue for our wedding and there aren’t enough words in the dictionary to describe how amazing this hotel was. It is run by a great management team and a wonderful team of staff. The whole day was organised so very well, the facilities are fresh, clean and modern and the staff did everything we asked to make the day special. The food was spectacular and the Summit Restaurant was the perfect place to have our reception. One of the best parts of the day was natural however, the sun was shining and the view from Ballyroe is spectacular. It was a wonderful experience as we were able to enjoy our drinks reception on the forecourt of the hotel looking out over the great landscape - something you can’t find anywhere else. Our guests also had a fantastic time, as did we. The guests that stayed in the hotel during their stay had nothing but good things to say about the facilities and the bridal suite is also perfect. We had such a memorable day and we couldn’t have imagined our wedding being anywhere but Ballyroe Heights Hotel. We couldn’t recommend this venue enough, I don’t think there is a better hotel or venue out there.

Jack and Amber Grasby Wedding, 29th April, 2015

Marilyn enjoys making women feel beautiful and empowered on their wedding day and enjoys collaborating with her clients and bringing their vision to fruition. Her intention is to make her clients feel the most beautiful version of themselves on the most important day of their lives.

from- Weddingdates.ie Details on wedding packages and available dates in 2016 with Special Offers from January through to April and October/November 2016 are available by calling 066 712 6796 or sending an email to info@ballyroe.com. More information is available from www.ballyroe.com 36

Contact Marilyn on marilyn@makeupartistkillarney.com 087 7814399 www.makeupartistkillarney.com

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AN ULTIMATE ASK THE

EXPERT

wedding fair you won’t want to miss

Kate Cremin of White Willow Kenmare

Tell us a bit about yourself Kate I’m a blow in, originally from County Derry but living in Kenmare for the last 13 years, married to a Kerryman (for my sins) and mother of one little man Oisin and another baby on the way in September all going well.

When and why did you decide to open White Willow Kenmare?

I always thought Kenmare was the perfect location for a bridal boutique, it’s such a beautiful town with so many fabulous shops, hotels, pubs and restaurants that it makes for a really special day out when shopping for your wedding dress. I have an accountancy background and a love for fashion so after a long time thinking about it I started to do my research in 2013 and I opened the doors of White Willow Kenmare on 27th September 2014 on a part time basis, evenings and weekends and then opened full time in January of this year.

Tell us about White Willow White Willow Kenmare is situated on the first floor at 20 Henry Street, Kenmare, right in the centre of town. It is beautifully decorated, bright, airy and spacious. I open on an appointment only basis and all appointments are private so that each bride gets my undivided attention which creates an atmosphere of exclusivity making their experience that little bit more special. White Willow won the newcomer award for 2015 at the Weddings Online Awards in February, I was over the moon to receive this it’s great to get feedback from customers to confirm you are providing a great service, product and experience.

What kind of designers do you stock & what is the rough price range?

I have been very selective about the designers that I stock and have tried to keep them as exclusive as possible to offer something that little bit different to what’s in all the other boutiques but still having options to suit everyone. I stock David Fielden, Lizzie Agnew, Johanna Hehir, Rembo Styling, Kenneth Winston, Ella Rosa and TM Couture. Prices range from €1,200 to €4,500. I also stock accessories by Jenny Packham, Headpieces by Neidin Hats and Shoes by Irregular Choice.

What is the future for White Willow?

As White Willow is still new and not even open a year yet our immediate future plan is to build on our collection of designers and continue to provide a first class service. We are delighted to announce that we will be stocking Caroline Atelier Custom collection from this September. This is a very exciting and new concept whereby brides will choose a simple base dress and then choose from a variety of accessories to go with it, whether it be a lace overlay, a tulle skirt, shoulder embelishments, belts, jewellery drapes, cap sleeves, the options are endless. This essentially allows a bride to design her own bespoke dress and also leaves the option to go for two different looks in the one day just by changing the accessories and still comes at a very affordable price.

One piece of advice you would give a bride shopping for her perfect dress.

Limit the number of people you bring with you to your appointment.

Many brides feel they have to include everyone from sisters, mums, friends, bridesmaids and future in-laws. Too many opinions can leave a bride very confused, choose carefully the people who know you best and who’s opinion you value the most. I have seen brides miss out on the dress they love the most because of one negative comment from their entourage.

Do you stock bridesmaid dresses?

Yes I stock bridesmaid dresses by the dessy group, they have a fantastic range of styles and colours and great quality dresses as well, Check them out on www.dessy.com Your favourite wedding destination Kerry?

Kenmare, every time!! So many great venues and wedding suppliers to choose from as well as being absolutely beautiful.

Veil or Birdcage?

Both, it depends on the dress!!

Most important part of a couple’s wedding day Personally for me, the sacrament of marriage in the church.

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www.whitewillowkenmare.ie

The race to your big day is on and we want to help you get over every hurdle along the way! Let us help you create the day you’ve always dreamed of. Join us at Limerick Racecourse on Saturday 3rd and Sunday 4th of October for the wedding event that should not be missed!

Don’t saddle all the stress of wedding planning! From venues to menus, flowers, cakes, video and photographers – in just a few hours at Ultimate Weddings Live you can bet it will be possible for you to book your whole wedding thanks to our fantastic selection of professional, affordable wedding vendors. Meet the people who’ll be supplying your wedding services face-to-face on the day, check out discounts and offers and quickly work out what the competition has to offer. For the busy couple, it’s stress-free, fun and a great day out.

Let us make your Ultimate Weddings Live experience even more fantastic by participating in our “Bridal Party Makeovers”. Our amazingly talented team of fashion and beauty stylists will give the brides-to-be, mums and bridesmaids a free consultation which will all take place in the Aisle of Style! Six lucky participants will be revealed on-stage at the end of the show with your hair and makeup done and modelling a stunning dress!

The winners will also walk away with an exclusive gift bag filled with goodies from Ultimate Weddings Live.

With everything from reception venues and dresses to cars and favours we have assembled all you could need under one roof to help you make your big day extra special. Relax and enjoy our live makeovers which will take place each day.

Don’t be left behind! Tickets are just €8 and there are a limited number of weekend tickets with deluxe goody bags available online, so why not make a wedding weekend of it! Doors open each day from midday to 6pm and you can find out more at www.ultimateweddingslive.com

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Inside the bridal Room

Karen Moloney and Keith Lowther

Flowers from Flowers by Ann

Photos courtesy of O’Brien Studios Cork 40

Our story begins, as all the best stories do, with, “Once upon a time…”. Our tale began almost 11 years ago, when a bookworm met an aspiring aviator and they fell head over heels in love. I was that bookworm, who grew up to be an academic, and my high-flier, Keith, found his ideal job in aviation. The only difference, 11 years later? We are now officially Mr. and Mrs.!

On June 04th 2015, our “happily ever after” began at Ballyseede Castle. The dream team here,including Marnie, Rory, Irene, Esther, Joe, and Paul, did a better job than any Fairy Godmother could, and the entire day was spectacular, from beginning to end.

Waking up in Ballyseede’s bridal suite was a true Sleeping Beauty moment – and while I may not have had little birds and mice to help me dress, I did have my beautiful Mum, Marian, and my gorgeous bridesmaids, Edel, Robyn, and Elizabeth. The morning passed in a cloud of glitter, tulle, and sparkle, while Tricia O’Sullivan and Annette O’Brien waved their magic wands to create princess-perfect hair and make-up.

Amidst a whirl of excitement and champagne, I had to take a moment to look in the mirror and take it all in. Nothing could ever compare to the feeling of putting on a wedding dress as a bride, and little personal touches made it all the more special. I had the honour of wearing my Mum’s veil, which my grandmother had bought for her – having such a precious “something old” was one of the proudest moments of my day. Mum also provided my “something borrowed”, teardrop diamond earrings, and of course, my dress was something very new! I fell in love with the beautiful beading and glittering skirts of the Alfred Angelo “Cinderella” dress the second I saw it, and never looked back. Midnight blue stones sparkled in my “something blue”, the bracelet my parents gave me to celebrate my PhD graduation, and my fairytale ensemble was topped with a dazzling hairpiece of pearls and crystals, inspired by The Little Mermaid and handmade by a dear friend, Traci Hines.

Not quite a pumpkin carriage, a classic 1920’s vintage car took my Mum, Dad, and I to Saint Mary’s Cathedral in Killarney, where my gallant groom was waiting with his very dapper groomsmen, Gavin, Cian, and Ronan. An ivory carpet replaced the Yellow Brick Road as my darling Dad, Kevin, walked me down the aisle to an instrumental version of Over the Rainbow, with my ruby slippers twinkling beneath my skirts. (These shoes were custom-made by Stephanie Bagdasarian, who also created fabulous shoes for my Mum and my bridesmaids.) Clouds of organza and baby’s breath lined the aisle, while blossoms in shades of blush and ivory cascaded from the altar, thanks to our wonderful florist, Ann McAuliffe. All those meticulously planned details became a background blur as my husband-to-be took my hand, and my heart skipped a beat!

The mass was beautifully conducted by a family friend, and some personal additions, like exchanging silver coins belonging to my parents and grandparents, made it all the more dear. The strains of beloved romantic melodies filled the air, with instrumental music chosen from our favourite fairytale scores, and before we knew it, we had said “I do!” and were making our way back down the aisle in a flurry of hugs and kisses. Butler’s ice-cream cart was waiting outside, with sweet treats for everyone, ahead of a sparkling afternoon tea and champagne reception back at Ballyseede Castle.

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The castle was a scene right out of Wonderland – leatherbound books from my collection were stacked on tables, an antique doorknob fronted our handmade guest book, and brass keys decorated our table plan, mounted on a vintage silver-framed mirror. Inside the ballroom, twinkling birds, glittering fairies, and shimmering acorns adorned each table, while a little brass key marked every place setting. In the cake tower, a glorious confection baked by Grace Moore was topped with a tiny silver shoe from my grandmother’s wedding cake – and the legendary sword of Glamdring, belonging to my brother, Cian, made an epic journey all the way from London to cut the cake!

From our first dance, Boyzone’s “Every Day I Love You”, to our father-daughter dance, The Temptation’s “My Girl”, we twirled the night away and the sensational J90 kept the party going into the wee small hours – this ball definitely didn’t end at midnight!

Looking back, I wouldn’t change a single thing. I chose to do a huge amount of the wedding planning myself – bouquets, mass booklets, cake-topper, table decorations…you name it, I made it! It was worth every moment to see our 100 guests come together from all over Ireland, the UK, and America, and join us in our little fairytale world for a day. We were embraced with more love and joy than I could have thought possible, and we cherish the wonderful memories captured by our photographer, Pat O’Brien, and our videographer, Declan Gleeson. Having such talented professionals there to record the most magical moments of our day made all the difference, and our wedding album and DVD are real treasures.

It may be a cliché, but I can quite honestly say that this truly was the best day of my life – and now a new adventure beckons, as my handsome husband and I begin married life. What more can I say? “They lived happily ever after…”

Extra-special touches: Keith had my engagement ring made for me in New York – he did everything from select the diamonds to design the shape.

We returned to New York to have our wedding bands custom-made, unique to us and extra-special!

The night before the wedding, I presented Keith with an engraved rose gold pocket watch, as a memento of the day. I also had little survival kits, including Irish linen handkerchiefs embroidered with special messages for my Mum, my Dad, and Keith – just in case of happy tears on the day!

A special memorial candle was lit during the mass to honour our late grandparents, and stayed lighting in pride of place next to the top table during the meal.

My Mum, my bridesmaids, and I spent the morning of the wedding sipping champagne from custom glittered flutes that I had ordered online from Etsy – we each had a different colour, and they set the tone for a sparkling day!

Each of the men in the wedding party had a different coloured pair of socks, printed with their name, their role, and the date.

The Father of the Bride’s socks were red, to match my ruby slippers!

My dress was bustled with a trio of tiny ivory starfish, bedecked with sparkling Swarovski crystals, in a nod to my favourite mermaid!

We had not one, but four, Infants of Prague on duty the night before – two at home in Cork, and two on the windowsills of our rooms in Ballyseede Castle!

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Your bridal party is going to have a lot of roles to play in the build up to the big day. We’ve created a comparison list so you can get the perfect ideas of what everyone should be doing.

Mother of the Bride

• Will help with wedding dress shopping. Offer constructive

• • •

criticism on it, she’s been in this situation before herself. She should focus on finding a dress that her daughter will be happy with, and not one that will go with an outfit she’s already picked out for herself.

She’ll help the bride on the morning of the wedding, and use her motherly instinct to make sure she eats something that morning.

She’ll greet the guests as they arrive, making them feel welcome.

She will support her daughter in whatever way she can in the lead up and may even offer advice when it’s not always asked for but her intention is good.

Mother of the Groom • Will cover all the last minute things the groom was supposed to do if he forgets.

• Will be supportive and involved, but only as involved as the couple want her to be. She knows her limit.

• Will arrange meetings and get-togethers with both families in the build up to the day.

Bridesmaids • Offer help to the bride whenever it’s needed, even if it’s just little things to take some stress off her shoulders.

• Help with the dress shopping. Is considerate of the style and colour that the bride wants for the bridesmaid dresses.

• Help the flower girls on the morning of the wedding and look after them during the ceremony.

• Be there on the day for the bride to help her get to the toilet, her make up touch ups and general support on the day.

• Organise and plan an amazing hen night.

Groomsmen • Make sure all the guests have transportation to the venue, and to make sure the parking is adequate.

• Ensure guests are sitting at the right side of the church for their family and strategically seat those with young children.

• Help plan and organise the stag party.

Maid of Honour • Be the bride’s go-to person in case of any problems on the morning of.

• Make sure everyone is alright during the night and that there are no problems. If there are problems, she’ll deal with them before the bride even knows they exist.

• Give a toast, along with the best man.

Best Man • Give a speech.

• Keep the groom from drinking too much, if he’s the type to do that.

• Make sure everyone is happy and having a good time and that there are no problems.

Flowergirl

• Walk down the aisle before the bride, scattering flower petals.

• If very young, they might sometimes do this along with another,

Being mother of the bride can be nearly as stressful as being the bride itself. We’re going to give you some tips to be the best mother of the bride you can be.

Keep the bride calm. If your daughter is the type to panic or stress too much under pressure, it’s going to be your job to keep her calm and relaxed and not let the stress get on top of her. Keeping her calm could be the most important thing you’ll have to do in the lead up to the wedding.

Priorities. Make sure you have your priorities sorted and you know what’s up the top of your to do list. Make sure you’ve organised what’s most important for you to do and sort out in order to help out in the best way you can.

Meet the other parents. If you haven’t already at this stage, make sure to meet the partners’ parents before the wedding day so that there’s no awkwardness between you all on the day.

Guest List. If possible, put yourself in charge of the guest list.

This will take a lot of pressure off the bride’s shoulder and it can also be one of the biggest says you have in the day. If you can’t be in charge of it, at least make sure to talk to the bride and groom about it and their expectations for it and how big they want it and how that will work with their budget.

Back-Up. Be the back-up. Make sure you’re there for the bride if things get too much or out of control. Be the person that people go to if they have any complaints or if the staff have any enquiries or problems.

Money. If you’re paying for the wedding then this is a very important tip. Make sure you talk to your daughter and her partner early on to clarify how much you can or are willing to spend, to make sure that they don’t organise anything too expensive or over the top. Of course, if they’re paying for the wedding themselves, or if the partners’ parents are, then there’s no need for you to worry about this!

Your dress. Of course you’ll want to look good on the day, but don’t look too good that you’ll outshine the bride. If you’re going with the same colour dress as she is, make sure to go about 2 shades off so the dresses don’t look too similar on the day.

older, flower girl, or with a bridesmaid.

Pageboy • Carry the brides train, or, be the ring bearer.

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Don’t take control. Don’t just assume that you’ll be put in charge of all of or certain parts of organising the wedding. Make sure to ask the bride first before organising anything or making contact with anyone, even if you do feel like it’s the best choice.

It’s her decision in the end and you can only help so much.

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Inside the bridal Room

Photos courtesy of Bartek Witek Photography and The Listowel Arms

Julieann Lane and Jonathan Curran

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By Michaela Keating Julieann, from Daugh, met Donegal native Jonathan at the well known McGowan’s pub in Dublin on a night out in June 2006. The night was coming to a close and Jonathan romantically initiated a trip to Eddie Rockets for a bite to eat. It wasn’t long before Julieann fell swiftly in love with the Donegal accent! From then on the couple became inseparable but had a temporary long distance relationship upon their return to college.

However, love prevailed and the pair got engaged at the Giant’s Causeway on November 21, 2013.

Wedding plans were in full swing for the perfect boho chic day and a date was set for June 5, 2015 to celebrate with 180 closest family and friends.

Finding the perfect venue was important to the couple and after searching far and wide, one in particular caught their eye. “After a lot of researching, both north and south, we opted for the Listowel Arms for a variety of reasons. It ticked all the boxes; old style chic, beautiful décor, character, beautiful setting.”

Julieann’s dress was a beautiful bespoke French Delphine dress. It was boho chic all the way, with the pretty bridesmaid’s in powder blue and gorgeous flowers by Leonie Fitzmaurice.

Following the ceremony from Duagh Church, Julieann and Jonathan made their way to their reception at the Listowel Arms in true vintage style; in a 1955 Riley.

The newlywed’s first impression of the hotel when they first arrived is one that sticks out for them. “The presentation in the hotel was breath taking. Arriving to the hotel and being greeted by everyone stands out. The food was impeccable too.”

Personal touches were threaded throughout the day, with the suitcase used as a table plan was the bride’s fathers from when he first immigrated to the UK in the early 70’s. Jonathan’s brother, Christopher Curran’s artistic skill came to good use as he designed the invitations, booklets and the website for the

couple’s big day. “The day was full of sweet surprises and sentiments, speeches from loved ones and our first dance was Declan O’Rourke’s ‘Our World’ a personal favourite from day one.”

Being big football fans, a visit from Sam Maguire on the day was a highlight for both families. “Rivals on the football field became one on the day. To add to the excitement, Sam Maguire made an appearance to share in the fun, the Donegal guests made an orderly queue for some photo opportunities!”

The fun didn’t stop there, as the following day the party continued at the Cliff House overlooking the beautiful picturesque seaside views of Ballybunion. “This is a sister hotel of the Listowel Arms and everything for the day after was also organised by Patrice and the same team making it very easy.”

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Feature

By Michaela Keating ‘Trash the dress’ sessions are one of the biggest wedding trends of late. Also known as ‘fearless bridal’ or ‘rock the frock’, this involves putting on your wedding day attire the following day or at a later date after your wedding and shooting pictures in a location of your choice. It’s up to you whether or not you totally destroy your dress or not (don’t panic, most people don’t!). In this issue we had Amy O’Shea have a thrash the dress photoshoot with Breda Daly Photography on her farm a few weeks after the wedding. It was great fun.

See pictures in this issue.

Trashing the dress is an opportunity to take informal and intimate photos of you and your other half while at a scenic or unique location. Work Photo by Breda Daly Photography with your photographer to create images you want to have whether they be sexy, romantic or good old fun! It can be as messy or as whacky as you like, the opportunities are endless! The beach, tree climbing, horse riding and jet skiing are just a handful of possible settings where many couples have chosen to shoot theirs.

For many brides, the idea of splashing paint over their custom made gown that cost them a year’s wages isn’t too appealing. If this is the case and you would like to experience the liberating feeling of trash the dress, why not visit your local dry cleaners and discuss the options that can be dealt with so your dress isn’t in a permanent state of beach sandiness and put your mind at ease.

If harming your dress in any way is not an option, use your judgement to decide if your wedding dress can survive in the conditions of your session. Intricate beading or delicate lace may not hold their own against tree climbing or strong waves, so do bare this in mind. Many brides question whether or not to wear makeup and get their hair re-done for their shoot. Again, this is entirely up to you but be practical. Most ‘trash the dress’ shoots involve a bit of rough and tumble or a thrash around in the sea, so strong eye makeup may not be the best way to go. Keep the lips rouged and pink up the cheeks but keeping it low key will give you relaxed and natural pictures.

Photographers love the opportunity to do something different so speak to your local wedding photographer about doing your trash the dress session and work together to create the perfect shoot!

E-Jewels provides tailored service, great savings and amazing rings E-jewels Ireland / Antwerp is a family-run business of Irish diamond dealers that have companies in both Antwerp’s Diamond Centre and in Ireland (Limerick). It is run by a father and daughter team who originally hail from Limerick and have worked in the diamond business In Antwerp for several decades.

The father Jim (formerly of the DeBeers Diamond Cartel) resides full time in Antwerp and runs the business there whilst his daughter Sharon, a diamond broker who trained with the HRD (Belgian Diamond Gemmological Laboratory) in Antwerp in 1989, runs the Irish jewellery side of the business and travels regularly between Antwerp and Ireland.

“We specialise in Diamond and Gemstone rings especially engagement rings but we also provide other jewellery too,” Sharon told Brides of Kerry recently.

“We do not have a retail presence, instead we meet our clients by private appointment in our Limerick showroom. Here, couples can sit down in a relaxed and friendly environment, where they can view rings at ease and can have an in-depth and personal consultation.”

By not having the large over heads associated with a retail presence – a couple can save up to 30% of high street prices with E-jewels.

Couples can either choose rings from their ‘readily available’ ring collection or alternatively, they offer a ‘build-your-own-ring’ service, whereby you can select your ring, select your stone (suitable to your budget) and they will have it set for you - just as you would in Antwerp or New York!

“We also offer a bespoke, ‘design-your-own-ring service’, whereby you provide us with pictures of the ring you want - and we can make it for you or we can sit together and design a ring for you where every element of your ring is unique to you.”

Several grooms and couples together have travelled from Kerry to Limerick to meet with Sharon and have been delighted with their ring choices.

Engagement rings start from e2500 and Wedding rings start from e750 To view a selection of their rings on check out the website: www.e-jewels.ie or email her on sharonsstones@e-jewels.ie Facebook: E-Jewels For private Appointment only: contact Sharon on (061) 348451 or 087 125 3285 48

PHOTOGRAPHIC FEATURE

Dress to impressLook super stylish at the next wedding you attend courtesy of local designers Dress designer Tina Griffin, Photographer Tara Donoghue and Headpiece designer Cathy Troth along with the help of Make-Up artist Georgine Mackessy and Hair Stylist Tricia O’ Sullivan took time out of their busy schedules to put together some amazing wedding looks that just might be your thing.

Photographed at the wonderful Ballyseede Castle Hotel the photoshoot brings to light the wonderful talents each of the ladies possess in their own right.

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PHOTOGRAPHIC FEATURE

A bit about Cathy Troth “I moved to Kerry 15 years ago from England. I live in Firies with my long suffering husband and two sons, Danny and Lewis. I learnt my talent over a few years as a passionate hobby. But earlier this year, during a long drive from Dublin I was persuaded I really had the talent to make my own business and Headpieces by Cathy Troth launched in late April. I design, create and retail occasional and bridal headpieces and veils. Each piece is created solely for the customer after a consultation. My headpieces are all reasonably priced but my ultimate reward is the smile from a satisfied customer.� www.headpiecesbycathy.com or call Cathy on 087 7579 674

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A bit about Tara Donoghue Tara of Tara Donoghue Photography is a progressive dynamic photographer who focuses primarily on weddings, however she additionally offers home or studio shoots for newborns, families and boudoir (the perfect gift for your groom!). More recently her husband Dave has joined the team full time, bringing a much-needed male dimension to their bridal trade. “I mean lets face it, the groom is part of the package too and is often over looked.� So with Dave onboard the groom and his groomsmen get the attention they truly deserve.

For more information on the duo look at their website www.taradonoghuephotography.com or call Tara on 085 1555060 or Dave on 085 1196528.

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PHOTOGRAPHIC FEATURE

A bit about Tina Griffin Kerry Based, award winning designer Tina Griffin specialises in bespoke occasion wear. She designs for women who want a unique style by creating classic garments especially for them, making them look and feel confident and individual to suit their personality and occasion. Her designs are timeless classic styles using high quality fabrics and luxury finishes, such as wool, silk, crepe, feather, pearl, lace and much more. Tina Griffin Designs features at many events, weddings, galas, races and other special occasions.

Contact Tina via her website or facebook page. www.tinagriffin.ie Follow on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram at Tina Griffin Designs 52

Credits Location- Ballyseede Castle Hotel Photographer- Tara Donoghue Photography Dresses- Tina Griffin Head Pieces- Headpieces by Cathy Troth Make Up Artist- Georgine Mackessy Hair Stylist- Tricia O’Sullivan Models- Caroline Flynn and Beth Flynn 53

QUESTIONS

TO ASK YOUR SUPPLIERS Your Entertainer

ASK THE

EXPERT

Margaret Horgan of Randles Hotel Group

Where do you work?

I have recently started working in the Randles Group that own the beautiful Dromhall Hotel and the fabulous Randles Hotel on the Muckross Road, Killarney Tell us about your typical day in the office?

My day is filled with phone calls, emails, meetings and making sure that operations carry out what I’ve promised to couples. I spend a lot of my time talking to couples about their upcoming wedding with us. It’s great because I end up building a close relationship with them and I begin to understand what’s important to them.

What happens behind the scenes on a day of a wedding?

Well it’s all hands on deck! The General Manger usually rallies the operations team to carry out all the elements that have been promised to make sure that it is done right. I usually then do a once over to check that all things are set up correctly, table settings are right, flowers are perfect and check in with our Head Chef to see how the food is coming along. It is quite stressful at times but makes it all worth it when you see the delight of the guests and the bridal couple on arrival.

What advice would you give a bridal couple when booking a venue?

Meet with the people who will be your point of contact such as the wedding coordinator if there is one. Tell them what’s important to you so that they can ensure that this is done on your special day. This is something that I have found during my time as a wedding coordinator, is very important as each couple have different preferences. Remember this is your day and what’s important to you is important to the venue.

What makes the Dromhall Hotel unique?

Well, we wouldn’t be unique in the sense of an exclusive hotel but we are unique in that we are a family owned and professionally managed hotel that has been in business over 50 years. We recently had a couple celebrate their 50th Wedding Anniversary with us on the same day they got married in the Dromhall Hotel 50 years ago.

They used the same silver cake knife given to them 50 years ago to cut their cake 50 years later! This is what makes us unique – the Randles family that own the hotel have been through tough times and are still going and our guests keep coming back too!

To contact Margaret directly call her on 064 6639300 or email mhorgan@randleshotels.com

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How long will they play for?

Do they need a meal on the day?

Do they have a versatile playlist?

How long do they take to set up?

How much space will they need?

Do they have a demo CD?

Your Florist How far will they travel?

Do they have any examples to show you?

How experienced are they?

Is there an extra cost for breakages?

When will they want to be paid?

Will the person you’ve talked to actually do the flowers themselves?

Your Venue Will there be other weddings on the same day?

Will your wedding party be offered accommodation discounts?

Is it close to your ceremony venue?

Is it easy to find?

Will you be allowed to move furniture around?

Is the price within your budget?

Would you be allowed to have a late bar and how much if so?

Your Photographer How long will they stay for?

How much experience do they have with weddings?

When will you get your pictures?

Will they post an online gallery?

How do their fees work out?

When will they want to be paid?

How many pictures will they take?

Will they visit the venue beforehand?

Your Cake Maker Can they show you examples of their work?

When will they want to be paid?

Can you sample their cakes before ordering one?

Can you have mixed-flavoured layers?

Will they come to the venue to assemble the cake on the day?

Your Dressmaker/Boutique How long do you need to order your dress?

How long will your appointment be?

How many people can you bring with you?

Is there a limit to how many dresses you can try on?

How much will alterations cost?

What will you need to bring?

How many fittings will you have?

Selina’s Cakes

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Feature

20 that will never die and why

1. The Cake No matter what kind of wedding you’re having, if it’s traditional or not, the wedding cake is always going to be a focal point of the big day. The expense of the ceremony can never change the fact that at the end of the day one of people’s favourite parts of a wedding day is the wedding cake. While the look of the cake may change with the times, a traditional round three-tier is rare these days and is being replaced with more edgy and modern ideas, such as a pyramid of cupcakes. The fact that a cake of some sorts will always be there remains a steadfast tradition.

2. Ring The exchanging of wedding rings is a tradition that’s definitely not going to die out any time soon. For centuries people have been exchanging wedding rings because the circle is an ancient symbol for eternal love. In roman times it was not necessarily a ring that was given, but any piece of jewellery to show commitment to the other person and how proud you were to call them your own. While this tradition is as strong as ever, it has changed with the times and nowadays some people are opting to get tattoos of rings on their finger instead.

3. Not Seeing Your Partner Before One of the most exciting parts of your wedding day is waiting to see your partner for the first time in their dress or suit. No matter what attire the outfit is, to you and your partner, the other is going to look like the most beautiful person in the world. The tradition of not seeing your other half before the wedding is certainly one that is not going to die out as it brings so much joy and happiness to both partners. Although some people are opting to meet back to back (not to actually see each other) to get a picture taken before they enter the ceremony. It’s tricky though- you don’t want to even catch a glance!

4. The Bouquet Flowers have been a part of weddings all throughout history, whether it’s the bride actually carrying them or having them attached to her clothes in some way, flowers have always been there. Throughout history the symbolism of the flowers has changed but even if you’re not interested in the meaning behind them, they still add a splash of colour to the wedding and can be arranged to suit any theme.

first dance songs

Everyone knows the traditional first dance songs, but maybe you don’t want to go down that route and you want something different. We’re going to give you a list of some of the most rock ‘n’ roll first dance songs out there to get your married life off to a rocking start.

1. Lenny Kravitz You Got To Let Love Rule 2. Queen You’re My Best Friend 3. The Eagles Love Will Keep Us Alive 4. Firehouse Love of a Lifetime 5. Cyndi Lauper Time After Time 6. Aerosmith Don’t Want To Miss A Thing 7. Pearl Jam Release 8. Jimi Hendrix May This Be Love 9. Pat Benatar We Belong 10. Foreigner I Don’t Want To Live Without You 11. Led Zeppelin All Of My Love 12. Extreme More Than Words 13. The Rolling Stones Angie 14. Stryper Honestly 15. Alabama Feels So Right 16. James Taylor How Sweet It Is To Be Loved By You 17. Kiss Beth 18. Alanis Morissette Head Over Feet 19. Journey Open Arms 20. Survivor Search is Over

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INSIDE THE BRIDAL ROOM

Olivia Cahill & Alan O’Brien

Photos Courtesy of John Cleary Photography 58

A BIT ABOUT THE BRIDE Olivia Cahill, 38, is from Ballyheigue A BIT ABOUT THE GROOM Alan O’Brien, 36, hails from Tipperary THE KIDS Daughter Meagan and son Jamie THE MEET Tralee 14 years ago THE PROPOSAL INEC in Killarney WEDDING DATE February 14, 2015 CHURCH St John the Baptist Church, Balloonagh, Tralee HOTEL Meadowlands Hotel BRIDESMAIDS Marlyn Roche, Laura Clarke and Noreen O’Brien GROOMSMEN Phillip Lyons, Jim Herlihy and Jay O’Donoghue FLOWERGIRL Meagan O Brien

PAGEBOY Jamie O Brien THE CAKE Made by the bride FAVOURS Brooches from Marie Keating Foundation FLOWERS All Seasons Florist INVITES Walsh Printers, Castleisland BEAUTY SALON Q Nail and Beauty, Tralee.

DJ Atlantic DJs TRANSPORT Horan’s Wedding Cars PHOTOGRAPHER John Cleary Photography FIRST DANCE ‘Wings’ by Birdy WHY WAS THIS YOUR FIRST DANCE “We both liked this song and the words were perfect.”

WEDDING DRESS Finesse - “I tried on three dresses but had my eye on this one all along.”

HEADPIECE/VEIL Finesse GROOMSMEN OUTFITS Pat Meahans, Tralee.

HONEYMOON Lanzarote ADVICE FOR OTHER BRIDES “Try to get everything finalised two weeks before the wedding and enjoy the day because it goes so quick.”

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Feature

By Michaela Keating

Headpieces

For many brides, a headpiece completes their look on their wedding day. An Autumn wedding gives you an opportunity to venture from traditional headpieces and explore more detailed pieces that may tie in with your theme or add a splash of detail to your look. Tis’ the season for natural elements with all things leafy and floral donning the shelves of some of our favourite stores. Why not incorporate the Autumn season into your hairstyle and add a detailed floral headpiece to your hair.

Check out your local accessory supplier to see their selection and avoid spending a fortune on bigger brands.

Braids

Braids are a timeless classic for bridal hair.

There are so many styles of braids to choose from, with the option of a full braid or a braid infused up-do, that a braided style is perfect for almost any bride. Fish tail, French, and messy style braids are an example of the stunning bridal ‘do’. Speak to your wedding hair stylist and work with them to chose the perfect braid for you and your look.

Soft waves

Low maintenance hairstyles are a must for some brides and going for a wavy style on your big day is the perfect option.

Wavy hair is elegant and simple and can create a romantic look. Achievable for both longer and shorter hair, dress the look up with flowers or embellished headpieces or let your locks fall where they may by leaving your hair accessory free! Soft waves require low maintenance so chat to your hairstylist about how to rock this elegant look.

All on top

Many brides to be with shorter hair are concerned with what looks they may be able to achieve.

Volumous looks are perfect for the gals with bobs and shoulder length hair. By creating volume at the top of the head, it creates a soft bridal look that compliments the face. Whether it be a quiff or soft curly look, work with your hair stylist to create an up do to suit your taste.

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Slicked back

Veering away from the curly looks, slicked back hair is super classy. Although it may not be the typical bridal hair look, slicked back hair has become a red carpet favourite among A listers and proves to be a stunning style for wedding hair. The straight slicked look works best with long hair and will definitely make a statement on your big day.

The classic up do

An up do is an age old classic for brides and can be the perfect companion for a veil. For Autumn, loose up styles are popular but sleek buns can create a beautiful classic look for the traditional bride. This look can be achieved by ladies with long and short hair. Work with your local hair stylist to find what style best suits your face shape, theme over all look.

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It was the right click that brought together primary school teacher Gemma Reid and architectural technologist Jamie Daly when the pair met online in 2013.

Gemma was born in England and raised in Perth. She moved back to England in 1996. Gemma works as a primary school teacher.

Jamie is from Tralee and works as an architectural technologist. The couple live in Earlsfield, London.

The pair met when Jamie had just moved to London and Gemma had just returned from travelling. They both found it hard to meet people so they gave Internet dating a chance.

“We met online, I was attracted to his height and the fact he had travelled,” shared Gemma. “I thought she was cute and could see that we had a lot in common,” remembers Jamie.

They arranged a date and Jamie cancelled last minute due to a work deadline. They then met up three weeks later on November 19, 2013. The couple went to a Lebanese restaurant, where Gemma proceeded to order enough food to feed the next table too! Jamie regretted having a big lunch that day!

The couple had their first kiss at the end of the first date outside St John’s Wood tube station, breaking all the first date rules! Between their first and second date, Gemma broke her hand and it was at this time that she knew Jamie was the one.

Dedicated bridal suites in all our salons. The team can also travel to your home, hotel, whichever suits your requirements. We believe that every bride deserves to have beautiful hair on her wedding day.

What sets us apart is that we offer a “Head to Toe” service, from hair, to make-up, tanning and nails, all under the one roof. We co-ordinate everything, so you can enjoy a relaxing start to your wedding day- rather than being stressed out.

“For our second date I couldn’t put on my own coat, cut my food or carry anything. Jamie was a constant gentleman and cut my dinner up for me and gave me his glove so my fingers wouldn’t get cold.

He showed that he cared and that he was a genuine loving person.”

We have a talented team of make-up artists, who will be delighted to share their advice with you on creating your perfect look, and as for nails just ask!

The couple were together for one year and five months when Jamie popped the question when they were holidaying in Rome.

We can cater for any size bridal party with our talented bridal team who are dedicated professionals and experts in their field. Prices for up styles start from €41 and bridal hair starts from €67, detailed quotations are available on request.

“We had planned a trip to Rome for Easter this year. Jamie phoned my dad in Gatwick airport to ask permission. He planned to propose at the Trevi fountain, I would close my eyes and throw a coin and make a wish. When I opened my eyes he would be on one knee.

Unfortunately the Rome council spoilt this plan by emptying the fountain and covering it in scaffolding for maintenance work.

Instead he proposed in our beautiful hotel with the ring hidden in a box of my favourite chocolates which remind me of my nan. It was a complete surprise to me,” said an elated bride-to-be.

Gemma’s ring was specially designed for her. “A family friend who is a jeweller in Dublin sourced the diamond and had the ring made to Jamie’s design,” shares Gemma.

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At Sean Taaffe Hair and Beauty we pride ourselves in being industry leaders when it comes to everything bridal.

Our bridal team are constantly updating their skills and travelling to every bridal hair seminar both nationally and internationally to ensure their knowledge is second to none, so they can share their expertise with you.

Jamie and Gemma will wed in Surrey, England on March 26, 2016.

We are happy to liaise with you or your hotel and organise travelling to your location and meeting your every hair and make-up needs. www.seantaaffe.com Call 064 66 22513 | Email: hair@seantaaffe.com

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HOW TO SAVE FOR 20 10 YOUR BIG DAY 20

HEN PARTY

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You don’t have to spend loads of money 50a flash and fancy wedding for it to be a You don’t need 50 and family and good one. If you’re surrounded by friends people that love you the day should be great without splashing out cash on non-essential things. Just make sure everyone’s happy and you can save a lot of money.

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2 Budget, budget, 10budget Before you spend any money, make out a plan of how much you’re willing to spend on anything. This allows you to keep control of everything and means you can make sure that you won’t go over budget, and a checklist will make sure you don’t forget about anything.

BRIDES NAME Melissa Ryan GROOMS NAME Martin Nix BRIDESMAIDS NAMES Rachael Browne, Sorcha Ryan, Rebecca Griffin, Deirde O’Gorman and Stephanie Nix WHERE WAS THE HEN HELD? Kenmare HEN PARTY DATE June 5 and 6, 2015 WEDDING DATE August 15,2015 LOCATION OF WEDDING Tralee HOW MANY GUUESTS FOR WEDDING? 200 HOW MANY GUESTS AT HEN? 15 HEN THEME No theme, just lots of fun!

CHIEF ORGANISERS Rebecca, Sorcha, Deirdre and Rachael DID YOU KNOW ALL THE DETAILS BEFORE? None WHAT WAS THE EXACT ITINERARY? “Left on Friday night, which was supposed to be the quiet but ended up a crazy night! Activities followed on Saturday and then dinner, drinks and more dancing.”

ANY QUIRKY LITTLE DETAILS? “The girls had all brought a gift at the dinner and I had to guess who the gift was from. I loved it.”

YOUR FAVOURITE PART OF THE HEN? “The whole lot of it.”

MOST MEMORABLE MOMENT? ”I’ll remember the whole weekend but my sister couldn’t make the second night and had wrote a poem, there wasn’t a dry eye.”

TRANSPORT TO THE HEN? Jackie Powers bus from Tralee WHAT WOULD YOU HIGHLY RECOMMEND TO DO ON A HEN? An activity

Everyday savings Everyday savings could be easier than you think, and could build up quickly. Cutting back on the amount of times you go out for coffee during the week, or how frequently you go to the cinema could make a really big difference on the amount of money you have leading up to your big day.

Shop around Don’t hire or book the first venue or entertainer or anything you look at. Just because they seem to be the most popular or someone suggested them/it to you, that does not mean they’ll be the cheapest, or even the best.

Make sure to shop around and look for the best deals, you might be surprised with some of the deals you can find!

The date will have an impact on the price The date that you’ve set your wedding for can have a massive impact on what the venue for your reception is going to charge you. If you choose weekday your costs will be cut , but of course some of your guests may not be able to make it on a weekday, so keep that in consideration. Photographers and florists might even give you discounts also for having your wedding mid-week.

You don’t have to use the most popular venues Look into all possible venues for your big day, not just the venues you’ve already heard of. This will give you an opportunity to find a place you’ve never heard of before that may suit your tastes and offer a better wedding packages.

Second-hand dress pre-loved wedding dresses can be the perfect way to save money on your wedding day. Available at a fraction of the price than new gowns, second hand dresses can be redesigned to create your dream dress. If you’re not going for something too extravagant, this could very well be the best option for you. A second hand dress is guaranteed to be a lot cheaper than a first-hand one, and can be very easy to find if you’re going for something plain and simple.

Choose your guest list wisely When setting out to write up a guest list, it’s possible to get carried away and have names of Grandad’s cousins friend at the afters. If you’re on a budget, stick to inviting people you really want at your wedding. Smaller, more intimate weddings can often be just as charming and amazing than the bigger wedding parties.

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HEN PARTY

5 THE DETAILS On the Friday evening Sinèad, along with the mother of the groom Joan, mother of the bride Kathleen, and one of the bridesmaids Denise, were all treated to a pampering session at All Things Beautiful beauty salon in Tralee.

A BIT ABOUT THE COUPLE Hen Sinèad Nelligan and Ballyheigue native Paul Hussey live in Currow. They are immigrating to Australia after their wedding in October with their three year old daughter Willow May. HEN PARTY DATE July 25, 2015 HEN PARTY ORGANISER Chief bridesmaid Anne-Marie Nelligan with the help of fellow bridesmaid Denise Long.

HOW MANY HENS? 18 hens attended the hen party. Mother of the bride and groom as well as Sinead’s future sister in laws all attended.

HOW MANY NIGHTS? One night

Saturday morning bright and early Karen from Catherine Rohan hairdressers created a beautiful vintage up style to set the theme of the weekend. While Sinèad was being pampered upstairs, the hens were treated to a champagne breakfast downstairs. Anne-Marie and Denise presented Sinèad and the hens with their personalised gift boxes which included everything needed in surviving the hen weekend. A caricature designed especially by the chief bridesmaid and created by Marian Sugrue was presented to Sinèad.

When all the pampering was done all the girls set off on the bus to Fr. Ted’s House in Co. Clare. “Here we dressed the bride to be in housewife attire. A vintage apron with a wooden spoon was included.

We tasted the amazing and tasty homemade treats from Cheryl, owner of Fr. Teds house, and listened to how the production came about and their family home becoming an Irish gem (in my opinion!) We departed for Doolin to get the ferry for Inis Òir. Here we had a picnic organised on the rocks and more champagne enjoying the surrounding views. We then boarded the ferry once again for Inis Mor where we settled into our accommodation at Dormer House and Seacrest B&B,” shares chief organiser Anne-Marie.

That evening at dinner a video presentation of the decade Sinèad and Paul have been together was shown and enjoyed at the Aran Hotel.

Traditional music was provided in the bar and as Sinèad and Anne-Marie are dancers they all enjoyed reels, jigs and a dance off with local celebrities.

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INSIDE THE BRIDAL ROOM

Dawn O’Sullivan & Maurice O’Rahilly Photos courtesy of Rory Kirby Photography

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A BIT ABOUT THE BRIDE Dawn O’Sullivan, from Tralee, is a professional model with Upfront Model Management Kerry and often appears on RTEs ‘Today Show’ A BIT ABOUT THE GROOM Maurice O’Rahilly, a Ballymac native, works with Ridgeview Ltd. Maurice plays soccer part time with Tralee Dynamos AFC. THE KIDS Two daughters Claudia and Ellie ENGAGEMEMT RING Keane’s Jewellers Killarney WEDDING RINGS Connelly Jewellers Tralee WEDDING DATE June 27, 2015 CHURCH St John’s Church Tralee RECEPTION Earl of Desmond Hotel BRIDESMAIDS Susan Lawlor, Jessica Cronin, Catherine O’Mahony and Claudia O’Rahilly GROOMSMEN Jonathon Burrows, Der O’Rahilly, Michael Hogan and Micheal O’Dowd FLOWER GIRLS Ellie O’Rahilly and Saoirse O’Rahilly CAKE Catherine Wall FLOWERS All Seasons Florist INVITES The Invite Hub CANDLES All Seasons Florist MAKE UP Aine Mc Mahon, CH Chemist Tralee NAILS Inga from Sean Taaffe ENTERTAINMENT Celebrations Band PHOTOGRAPHER Rory Kirby Photography VIDEOGRAPHER Rory Kirby FIRST DANCE ‘Thinking Out Loud’ by Ed Sheeran WHY WAS THIS YOUR FIRST SONG? “It’s our daughter’s favourite song” CHURCH MUSIC Martin Hurley and Jackie O’Mahoney THE DRESS A Mori Lee dress bought in New York HOW MANY DRESSES DID YOU TRY ON? “Just the one, I knew I wanted this dress.”

SHOES Carvela BRIDAL PARTY WEAR Debenhams SUITS Suits Select MOTHER OF THE BRIDE OUTFIT Hannons of Castleisland HOW MANY GUESTS 385 THE NEXT DAY After party in O’Donnells Tralee WEDDING THEME Princess wedding

Tell us about your experience at the Earl of Desmond Hotel “We were absolutely delighted with the service and help we received from the Earl Of Desmond and especially the wedding manager Norella, she was a great help to us from day one and made our planning alot easier. Everyone has commented to us on how good the venue was and how well it looked. The head chef Gerry needs to take credit also for the amazing food, everyone is talking about how good it tasted. Overall we were delighted to have chosen the Earl Of Desmond and would highly recommend it to any couple thinking of marrying.”

www.earlofdesmond.com

Fun Questions

First holiday together Gran Canaria Fav TV show to watch together ‘Deal Or No Deal’ Funniest moment during the wedding? Priest accidently threw holy water over best man while blessing the rings Which guest looked amazeballs? My sister Sharon Cronin Whom did you tell you were engaged first? Our oldest daughter Claudia Any hiccups: Photo booth never showed up – very disappointed Which couple do you think will get engaged next? Cousin Bertie O’Sullivan and Karen Fitzgerald, they are together for years and we need another family occasion! They are a lovely couple and madly in love.

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Organising a wedding is easily one of the most stressful things you could ever do, but don’t worry, we’ve got you covered with this month-by-month checklist.

Eat a good breakfast It’ll be a long day so you’ll want to keep energized for all of it.

• 12 months to go: Agree on a budget, venue and date.

Think about numbers.

Get your bridesmaids to do as much as they can They’re your best friends, so you can trust them to do anything you need them to.

•

8-10 months to go:

Start thinking about; bride’s dress,

entertainment, flowers, food,

photographer.

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6-8 months to go:

Book band or DJ, hair stylist and make-up artist.

Sort out bride’s dress, bridesmaids dresses, honeymoon location.

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4-6 months to go:

Decide on the design of the cake and invitations. Do this early in case you might change your minds.

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2-4 months to go:

Order the cake.

Hire transport.

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1-2 months to go:

Send invitations.

Confirm cake.

Book hen and stag parties.

•

1 month to go:

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Go on hen and stag parties.

Send out final invitations.

Confirm numbers.

Currency for honeymoon if needed.

Get married.

Make sure to break in your shoes some time before the big day You don’t want to be limping around all day in shoes that are killing your feet.

Make sure you have plenty of time to get ready You don’t want to be in a panicked rush on one of the most memorable days of your life, you don’t want to make it any more stressful for yourself by having to rush around because you haven’t given yourself enough time for everything. Make sure you write out a plan so you know exactly what time you’re doing everything that morning.

Pack flats When it’s the middle of the night and you’re out on the dance floor with your friends the last thing you want is to have to hobble off half way through your favourite song because you can’t stand in your shoes anymore. Make sure that you have a pair of gorgeous flats on hand that you can quickly change into if needs be. Put your most trusted bridesmaid in charge of them actually being around.

Give the DJ or band a set list No matter who you hire, you’re going to want to make sure they actually play good music that people will want to get up and dance too. And especially music that people will definitely know. Give your chosen entertainer a list of all the songs you definitely want played, but also give them some room for them to pick their own choices.

Make sure to pick songs that you know everyone will enjoy and want to dance to.

Dance This is your day, don’t forget to have fun. You don’t want to see all of your friends having a great time out on the dance floor while you’re running about fussing over every little detail. Relax, have some fun.

Don’t forget about your partner During the after part it could be easy to forget your partner and just spend the night dancing with your bridesmaids. Make sure you go back to them at some point but spend a lot of your time with your partner, it’s their day too and you wouldn’t be having the day at all if it weren’t for them.

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Feature

By Michaela Keating

Every wedding is personal to the bride and groom. There are plenty of personal touches that can help you make your wedding original so we’re here to give you a few ideas. Here are some of our favourites.

You might think you know exactly what your wedding is going to cost you and your partner, but, as with most things, there are always going to be hidden costs. We’re going to give you a guide to spot these costs and where they tend to come from, so you don’t get caught out.

Stamps You’ll never think of stamps when you’re wondering what’s going to cost you money, but they can. If you’re making and sending your invitations yourself, then you’re going to have to buy all your stamps and possibly buy more than you need. If your invitations are being done for you, companies might not always tell you about shipping costs, which can vary depending on the size and bulk of your invitations. To prevent this surprise cost, make sure you inquire about postage costs before confirming any order.

Entertainment Equipment When a band gives you a price, it’s usually for their service with a certain amount of equipment. If your reception area is large with a large stage, they might need more speakers or amplifiers to make their sound better; something that you may have to fork out for.

Before booking anyone, make sure to tell them about the size of the venue to make sure they don’t turn up on the day looking for more equipment.

Dress Alterations Wedding dress shops might boast about the fact that they do alterations also, but they don’t boast about the fact that the alteration comes at a price, and it can be a steep one!

Overtime When you book your band or DJ, make sure that they know how long that they’ll be playing for. If you think that your party is going to go on for a long while, make sure to tell them that so they can price accordingly.

Bar Extension Some hotels include this in the overall cost, some don’t so make sure to clarify this when booking your venue. This cost can be up to €400.

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Embroidery When Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt tied the knot in an intimate French ceremony in 2014, she wowed in a Versace wedding dress and a silk veil that was embroidered with drawings by her children and ever since, embroidery has become a major trend in bridal wear. The wedding date, meaningful images, favourite quotes and names of children have been lining the hem of wedding dresses and suit jackets in the past year. This stunning detailing can allow you to cherish special moments on your garments when getting married. Embroidered invitations are also huge at the moment. These are especially suited to vintage or romantically themed weddings. The various styles of stitches and designs that are possible to achieve through embroidery will ensure that your invites are more like keepsakes for your guests. Get creative and work with your wedding invitation designer to select a design and look that they can work with.

Personal stamp Create your own personal stamp when sending out your wedding invites. Include your initials or an image that you like at the top of your invite. Your invitation designer may be able to help you to create your very own Mr and Mrs stamp!

Childhood pictures The best man or bridesmaids are sure to drag up embarrassing stories from your past so why not beat them to the punch!

Add old photographs of you and your other half from childhood to adulthood down the aisle, leading to the day you met each other. Looking back at your dodgy bob haircut and your man’s super colourful tracksuit from your younger years will give your guests a giggle.

Personalised seating plan As it can be quite time consuming, personalising the seating plan with images of your guests may be more suited to smaller intimate weddings. Print off some of their most hilarious Facebook pictures or drag out the old debs album and guide your guests to their seat with a throwback picture of themselves.

Shoes Add the personal touch to the sole of your wedding shoes by adding the wedding date underneath, perfect if you’re not sure about embroidering the dress. This is not only a nice memento of the day but can also add to your wedding photos on the day.

Table numbers Why not ditch the boring old one, two, three’s and use table numbers to add pieces to the puzzle of your relationship. If you’ve know each other ten years, have visited 26 states in America or have eaten 1,000 Chinese take-a way’s together put it on the table! The guests will learn something new about your relationship with these quirky facts and figures.

INSIDE THE BRIDAL ROOM

HAPPILY EVER AFTER 1

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3 1. Kathy O Keeffe wed Dave Scannell on New Year’s Eve 2014 in St. Patrick’s Church in Ballydesmond. They held their reception in the Kenmare Bay Hotel.

Photo courtesy of Eileen O’Connor Photography 2. John O’Connor and Joanne Riordan tied the knot on Nov 29, 2014 in St. Brendan’s Church in Clogher, Ballymacelligott. They later celebrated at The Gleneagle Hotel in Killarney.

Photo courtesy of Photos by Lizzie 3. Niamh O Halloran said ‘I do’ to Padraig Slattery on March 25, 2015 at Balloonagh Convent Church, Tralee and held their wedding reception at Ballyseede Castle.

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Photo courtesy of Lee Photography 4. Theresa Daughton married Paul Galloway on July 4, 2015 in Ballyheigue and celebrated later at Ballyroe Heights Hotel.

Photo courtesy of Trish O’Brien Photography 5. Eamonn Fitzgerald professed his love for Zita Basu in St. Mary’s Cathedral in Killarney on July 11, 2015 with special guests Mac and Milly making an appearance.

Celebrations continued at The Heights Hotel in Killarney.

Photo courtesy of Bobby Kelly Photography

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INSIDE THE BRIDAL ROOM

Anna Cahill & Pat rick Maher Photos courtesy of Bobby Kelly Photography

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A BIT ABOUT THE BRIDE Anna Cahill, 25, is from Killarney. She now lives in West Dublin and works as a care assistant in St. Joseph’s House for Adult Deaf and Deaf-blind for the past three years.

A BIT ABOUT THE GROOM Patrick Maher is 29 and hails from Clondalkin West Dublin. He works in Inspire Fitness Centre in Cabra.

THE MEET Anna and Patrick met at a night club in Dublin during a friend’s party seven years ago. Patrick made the first move and asked Anna for her number.

THE PROPOSAL Patrick popped the question on Februaury 17, 2012 at a restaurant in Dublin.

WEDDING DATE April 18, 2015 CHURCH The Methodist Church, Killarney RECEPTION The Killarney Oaks Hotel BRIDESMAIDS Abigail Cahill and Helen O’Donoghue GROOMSMEN Anthony Maher and David Maunsell FLOWERGIRLS Aoife Byrne and Niamh Byrne PAGEBOYS Tadhg Cahill, Ronan Cahill and Conan Fahey CAKE A fabulous cake made by Patrick’s sister Angale INVITATIONS Anna’s sister Abigail made beautiful invitation cards.

MAKE UP Anna’s sister Mary looked after all the make-up PHOTOGRAPHER Bobby Kelly Photography VIDEOGRAPHER Richard Kelly from Killarney Video Productions THE DRESS Ivory with a waist band embellished with pearls and diamonds HOW MANY DRESSES DID YOU TRY ON? “I tried on 20 wedding dresses from four different shops.”

GUESTS 191 guests full day and 55 evening guests THE NEXT DAY “Our families and friends came my house in Killarney for a BBQ . The weather was lovely.”

SPECIAL TOUCHES “We had sweet trees, a chocolate fountain, fingerprint tree wedding guest books, and ISL (Irish Sign Language) alphabet cards for hearing people to help them learn sign language. (Anna and Patrick are deaf). My sister Abigail and I made three sweets trees from Ferrero Rochers and sweet candy for the evening.”

HONEYMOON The Algarve, Portugal

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WIN €250 OFF YOUR WEDDING CAKE Suit up!

For many women trousers win over a dress any day, so why should your wedding day be any different? Tailored bridal suits are a major trend for 2015 so for those who rather a tapered leg to tulle skirts you’re in luck! Bridal suits add a sophisticated and modern edge to your bridal look and can be found in a style to suit every shape. You can also pop to the ladies without assistance of a designated ‘dress holder’. Bonus!

If you are you getting married in County Kerry in 2016 and would like a wedding cake in the one of the five new design styles I mention on page 24 then O’Carrolls Cakes is offering a €250 voucher towards the cost to one lucky couple.

To enter just send your name, email address, wedding venue and the date of your wedding to April@BridesofKerry.ie by 12 noon on Friday, October 30, 2015.

Personalised wedding favours

It’s the little things that matter on your wedding day. Everyone loves a good sweet cart but why not add personalised goodie bags for your friends and family to load the sweets into. From ‘Spreading the Love’ on a personalised jam jar to painted clothes pegs on your seating plan, these little touches can really make the days yours.

Colourful Cakes

The traditional white cake is a timeless classic but this season coloured wedding cakes are becoming more and more popular. From pastel pastries to rainbow roulade the possibilities are endless! Ask your local cake supplier for a quirky cake topper to add to the fun. Another hot trend taking the country by storm in this department are desert tables.

New themes on the block

Themed weddings are always fabulous and in recent times there has been a super amount of boho, vintage and urban chic weddings. These alternative weddings have been taking the wedding industry by storm with couples opting for a less traditional- more modern take on their wedding to suit their own personalities. Outdoor ceremonies and beach weddings are also on the rise but with Ireland’s weather never being quite so sure of itself, you may want to keep an eye on the forecast before taking the plunge and going outdoors!

Re-create your parents wedding photos

It is a privilege to have your parents attending your wedding day or to fondly remember parents who may have passed, so why not commemorate them by re-creating their wedding photos on the day (minus the bad mullet and ruffles!).

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Terms and Conditions -Only one entry per couple -No cash alternative -€250 Voucher to be redeemed by December 31, 2016 -Delivery only to wedding venues in Kerry -Winner will be randomly chosen from entries on Friday, October 30, 2015.

-Successful winners will be announced on FB and contacted via email same day www.ocarrollscakes.ie

Your wedding day can be very stressful, considering everything that will have to be done. We’re going to give you a run-down of everything that will happen and will need to be planned out, in the order that they’ll happen on the day.

When you wake up Make sure to have a breakfast fit for a King because you won’t see another bit of food till you sit down at your meal. Brush your teeth twice and floss. Shower and take these few minutes alone to appreciate that today is the best day of your life so far. Check in with your finacee (maybe send him a sneeky text to say you love him and can’t wait to spend the rest of your life with him). Double check that all your bags are packed and everything you need for the day is in your wedding purse.

The hair/make up You will either go out or have someone come to your home to take care of you and your wedding party’s hair and make up. You really don’t need to do much on this just ask your make up artist if there are any tips for keeping your make up fresh and make sure to pack the same lipstick for your bag. Also pack the perfume and if you can ask your bridesmaids to also put on the same perfume it generates a nice togetherness smell for the day. It will be a scent you’ll never forget and always associate with your big day. Keep some extra pins in your bag if you have an up-do and possibly hair spray. Have money ready to pay for these services before you leave for the church.

boring and put one side of the family all together if no one has a problem with each other. Mix it up so people can meet new people and make friends. If you’re going to put all your single friends together, make sure to keep that trend going, and to not leave anyone sitting alone at the end. Some people do kids tables, others don’t; up to you!

The entertainment This needs to be epic. You want the dancefloor full so you can have the time of your life as well as providing a night to remember for your guests. Get a good reputable band that is known and trusted. Don’t compromise on price with this. Choose a first dance that is meaningful to both of you but also that the band can play. Give the DJ a playlist of fun songs that you guys like and know that get the crowd going but trust the DJ to follow the crowd too. They are the professionals.

The end of the night After lots of time spent celebrating and saying good night to your guests have lots of fun in the bridal suite.

The Ceremony No matter what type of ceremony you’re having, it’s going to be the most important part of the day. If you’re having a religious ceremony, you’ll need to make sure everyone knows what readings they’re doing and when. You’ll also need to make sure that everyone has got a hymn sheet so that they can sing along with the hymns. No matter what type of ceremony you’re having, you’ll need to book music.

When you’re booking a musician, make sure that you listen to the type of stuff that they play first; you don’t want to book someone who’ll play a completely different style to what your ceremony is.

Photographs Make sure to have previously outlined the shots you want taken and the locations you want shots at with your photographer weeks before your wedding day. So really there isn’t anything you have to do except relax and smile while the pictures are being taken. Bring wedding umbrellas in the car in case it rains. Bring flats in case you can’t walk far in your wedding shoes. A jacket may be a necessity to get from one location to the other if it’s freezing. If it’s on a beach make sure to bring flip flops. Try and steal ten minutes alone if your photographer will allow this because it’s the only time you’ll get just the two of you all day. Drink champagne if you can and enjoy the whole process of having your pictures taken like celebs. Family pictures are usually taken back at the venue or after the church so get these out of the way so you have time to take the important pictures of you both.

The Reception The reception is going to probably be everyone’s favourite part of the day, and when stories are told, they’ll be about things that happened during the reception, so you’ll need to make sure it’s a good one. One of the most important parts is the dinner. You’re going to have to make sure you find out beforehand if any of your guests are vegetarian or vegan or have any dietary restrictions and make sure that you tell the hotel/caterers about them. You’ll also need to sort out the seating plan for the reception, so make sure you think all the possibilities through while drawing it up. You don’t have to be 75

INSIDE THE BRIDAL ROOM

Maria Breen & Emmett Hickey

Photos courtesy of Rory Kirby Photography 76

INSIDE THE BRIDAL ROOM

A BIT ABOUT THE BRIDE Maria Breen is 26 from Tralee, Co. Kerry and is now living in Co. Wicklow. Maria is a primary school teacher.

A BIT ABOUT THE GROOM Emmett Hickey is 26 from Clonmel, Co. Tipperary and is also a primary school teacher.

THE MEET The couple met in Courtbrack, Mary Immaculate College, Limerick in 2006 THE PROPOSAL Emmett proposed at the end of August 2013 at the couples’ home in Bray WEDDING DATE April 10,2015 CHURCH St.Brendan’s Church, Clogher, Ballymacelligott RECEPTION Ballygarry House Hotel and Spa, Tralee BRIDESMAIDS Tracey Breen, Anna Daly, Sinéad Regan, Ellen Nagle and Aoife Hickey (junior bridesmaid) GROOMSMEN Bret Hickey, Aidan Breen, Mike Sheehan, Maolíosa Quinn.

BEAUTY SALON The Glam Pod, Tralee ENTERTAINMENT Heart and Soul Wedding Band TRANSPORT Horan’s Wedding Car Hire PHOTOGRAPHER Rory Kirby VIDEOGRAPHER Also Rory Kirby THE DRESS Finesse Bridal Shop, Listowel HOW MANY DRESSES DID YOU TRY ON? “About five but this was the first one I tried on” SHOES Dark ivory diamanté shoes from Dune HOW MANY GUESTS? 205 THE NEXT DAY? A family gathering in the Grand Hotel, Tralee FAVOURITE MEMORY “Walking up the aisle and seeing everyone we knew there to celebrate our day with us.”

THE HONEYMOON Italy

ADVICE FOR BRIDES PLANNING THEIR WEDDING “Enjoy every second of the big day as it goes by too quickly and have fun.”

ANYTHING ELSE YOU WOULD LIKE TO ADD “Ballygarry were just fantastic from beginning to end.

Cathal was just amazing and took all the stress of planning a wedding from our hands. We couldn’t recommend this hotel highly enough and we would like to thank them sincerely for a wonderful day.”

Fun Questions

First holiday together? Crete, Greece Fav TV show to watch together? ‘The Big Bang Theory’ If you were to marry a celeb who would it be?

Robert Pattinson If Emmett was to marry a celeb who would it be?

Beyoncé Funniest moment during the wedding?

The best man’s poem!

One thing you would change about your day?

Nothing Which part was the biggest blur?

The wedding ceremony What is the one song you can remember dancing to with your friends on the floor?

‘Timber’ by Kesha

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25 MISTAKES

OOPS!

EVERY BRIDE MAKES

1.

Not considering your guests The day is definitely all about you and your partner, but at the

same time you need to make sure that your guests aren’t going to be bored during the day.

2.

Not getting any help Seriously, if someone wants to help plan or organise your wedding,

let them. If you don’t you could be left with an incredible amount of work to do and a lot of

stress on your shoulders.

3.

Announcing the engagement too soon Announcing your engagement to everyone on

social media isn’t the best way to tell everyone. Make sure to tell your close family and

friends before changing any relationship statuses or else they might feel left out and unimportant.

4.

Blocking social media entirely Chances are your guests will understand and be

accommodating if you ask them not to post any pictures from the day until after it’s over,

but they’re less likely to be happy if you ask them not to post any pictures at all.

5.

Picking your dress before picking the venue This happens more often than you’d think

and can leave you with a dress that looks beautiful everywhere but the venue you’ve

chosen. Make sure to at least have a venue in mind before picking out your dress.

6.

Not putting yourself first Before scrolling through blogs and flicking through magazines,

make sure you think about what style and what type of day you want before getting ideas

from anywhere else.

7.

Dieting too quickly and too soon before the wedding Crash dieting isn’t good for you,

no matter what anyone says. If you want to lose weight before the big day, start dieting a

few months before hand, not the few weeks before.

8.

Too long between the ceremony and reception There’ll be nothing worse for your guests

than waiting around for ages after the ceremony to get some food handed up to them.

Make sure that they won’t be waiting for too long so they won’t get cranky of annoyed.

9.

Not feeding the professionals The last thing you want is a hungry and tired photographer

or DJ or band. They won’t be entertaining at all, so make sure that they get food through

out the day so that they don’t lose their enthusiasm and skill that you’re paying for.

10. Not talking to everyone Make sure, at some stage during the reception, to go around and

talk to everyone, thank them for coming and making sure the night is going well for them.

The last thing you want is someone complaining in the future that they didn’t even get to

say a word to you the whole night.

11.

Seating all your single friends together This might be the easiest thing to do and might

seem like a good idea, but just because all these people are single doesn’t mean they will

like each other. Seat people based on their interests not relationship status.

12. Eloping without thinking it through Jetting off somewhere to get married might seem a

great on the spot idea, but make sure you think of the legalities and official forms and

documents you will need.

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13. Waiting too long to send thank you card No one wants to get a thank you note in the post

three months after the wedding. Make sure you don’t forget about or send them out too

late. If you’re going on honeymoon for a long while directly after the wedding, make sure

to have the cards written up beforehand and put someone in charge of sending them out a

few days after.

14. Being disappointed with your ring Don’t get jealous over a ring that you’ve seen another

bride to be with. No matter what ring your partner gets you, you know that they’ve put so

much time and effort into picking it out, so don’t get jealous and start thinking about a

different ring that you’ve seen.

15. Thinking you’re a professional baker You yourself, or putting your mother in charge of

doing the cake might seem like a good and cheap idea but keep in mind that a professional

would probably be able to do a better job as it is their profession and they would probably

be better at time management.

16. Overcomplicating the invites Put the important details on the invites, but don’t put too

many details on them. You don’t want guests to be left confused and overwhelmed after

reading an invitation with too much information on it.

17.

Too much DIY A big mistake you can make is thinking that you can do most things yourself.

While this might seem a good idea and a very cost effective one, it might not be the best

one. If you’re going to make you own centrepieces, make sure that you have an entire day

or however much time you’ll need set aside for making them and making sure they’re all perfect.

18. Not setting boundaries for the parents Make sure that you set boundaries for all the

parents so that they don’t try and take over completely if you’re letting them help. Make sure

they know the limit of input that they’re allowed.

19. Forgetting to eat Make sure that when all your guests are sitting down to eat that you

actually are too. Don’t allow yourself to get too hungry during the day.

20. Not accounting for hidden costs There are always going to be hidden costs, so make sure

to find out about them as soon as you can. When you’re buying your dress, find out right

then how much it will cost to get it altered.

21. Going overboard on spraytan Get a spraytan if you want, but make sure you don’t get one

that will leave you looking orange. It’s not a good look and it certainly won’t look good in photos.

22. Damaging your ring Diamonds are one of the toughest materials out there, but they can

still chip easily. If you’re going to be working with your hands, make sure not to wear the

ring if you think it could get damaged.

23. Not letting things go If one or two small things go wrong, don’t worry about it. Don’t hold

a grudge about it for a long time afterwards over something that mightn’t have even

actually been anyone’s fault.

24. Feeling the need to do an up-do Up-dos are the most popular hairstyle for brides, but if

it’s not your style don’t go for it. Don’t feel pressured to do it if it’s not your thing.

25. Setting predictable tables Having all the tables look the same could look nice and

uniform, but could also look boring and bland. Try and mix it up and change the tables

around a bit, even if it’s only a small difference between them all.

OOPS!

79

INSIDE THE BRIDAL ROOM

Krist ine Woodley & Marcus McNally

Photos Courtesy of Justine Milton Photography, Canada & International 80

Kristine Woodley from Ontario, Canada met her husband Marcus McNally from Lauragh Co. Kerry in Las Vegas in 2010. “We stayed in touch when we each went back home to Canada and Ireland and the rest is history!”

The pair continued their long distance relationship and traditions formed in their relationships when Kristine began to visit Ireland. “The first time I came to Ireland after meeting Marcus, we stopped at an overlook on the side of the road and across the bay; he pointed out his family home. We took a photo of the two of us there and have continued to do so almost every time we are home.”

It was in 2013 that Marcus decided to pop the question at this very setting.

The teacher and stone mason had held off on giving Kristine her Christmas present when she had arrived in Ireland on December 28, but two days later the gift arrived!

THE ENGAGEMENT “December 30 was the first sunny day and suddenly I am told my gift has arrived! We jump in the car to go pick it up and half way to the post office he says that he forgot his ID to pick up the parcel. I laughed and teased him as we turned around and that is when he gave me his phone and a video to watch. It was a video of him standing in our ‘spot’. I never saw him, just heard his voice and the first view I had of his home in 2010.

We then pulled into our spot, took our photo and then he got down on one knee! The great man he is, he asked my father’s permission. The smart man he is, he asked my best friend for advice on the ring!” Soon after the proposal wedding plans were in full swing. The couple who now both live in Alberta, decided to have the wedding in Ireland. The date was set for April 24, 2015.

THE WEDDING DAY The day itself was special for the pair who got to unite their families. Kristine recalls her favorite moments. “My parents are separated and both remarried.

I had my father walk me half way down the aisle, and give me a flower for my bouquet before handing me to my mother who then gave me a second flower and walked me to Marcus. I then received a flower from each of my step father and step mother and the final one from Marcus as he tied a ribbon around the bouquet. It was very symbolic of our family unity and a gesture of love and respect to my parents. We also had a family member on Marcus’ side, Father Don Sheehan, do our homily which was a truly meaningful touch and made the ceremony so much more intimate.”

Family and friends also added to the little touches that made Kristine and Marcus’ day, with the Kerry native’s mother making the cake, a Canadian friend making the maple candy wedding favours and friends from South Africa providing the church music.

The happy couple thoroughly enjoyed their dream wedding day. Their advice on how to achieve this? Don’t sweat the small stuff!

“I often got caught up in the tiny details and had so many projects to get done! By the time I arrived in Ireland before the wedding, there was just no time. No one noticed those little details were missing and neither did I! Choose two or three big things that are really important and focus on them instead.”

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THE DETAILS WEDDING DATE April 24, 2015 CHURCH Dawros Church, Tuosist RECEPTION Muckross Park Hotel, Killarney BRIDESMAIDS Natalie Piche, Emily Maurice, Jenna Woodley and Kerry Crowley-Healy GROOMSMEN Niall McNally, Michael Healy, Barry O’Sullivan, Micheal O’Sullivan, Colm Brosnan FLOWERGIRL Mackenzie Woodley PHOTOGRAPHER Justine Milton Photography, Canada & International FIRST DANCE ‘’Feel for Me” by Foy Vance and performed by Royal Flush band THE DRESS Cottonwood Bridal in High River, Alberta. “It was important to me to support a shop in this town which was devastated by a flood that Marcus and I were both involved in, in June of 2013. My dress was special as it was convertible. It was champagne colored on top and the tulle skirt was blush. Later in the evening I was able to remove the entire ball gown skirt and had on a lace mini dress! I loved being able to shed a heavy layer and dance all night.”

SHOES “I bought them three days before the wedding at Debenhams! I had a great pair of flats by Elite Goby that had Love Story written on them.”

HOW MANY GUESTS ? 165 with 65 of them travelling from Canada.

THE NEXT DAY After party at Helens Pub on KIlmackilogue Pier. “We had food, music and a special gift from one of Marcus’ uncles was to bring a bus load of his friends who play traditional music to the pub.”

FAVOURITE MEMORY “Doing a first look before the ceremony with just Marcus and I and the photographers. The funny part was that everyone else was hiding in the other end of the house because we couldn’t do it outside due to the rain! Also, when Onel sang ‘Amazing Grace’ during the ceremony and Marcus and I were both moved to tears as this is one of our favorites and was a surprise. He reached for my hand, and it was a very intimate moment.”

ANY HICCUPS There will last minute issues. Unfortunately, our priest had to cancel less than a week before the wedding due too ill heath. Don’t sweat it and let someone else take care of it.

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EDITORIAL

Thinking about forgoing the traditional Irish wedding and hopping on a plane to Europe? You may have already decided you want something different and something more intimate. Brides of Kerry have complied a few wedding destinations that might tickle your fancy. Here are some fun destinations for you to start researching.

AMALFI COAST, ITALY Italy is one of the world’s most romantic destinations so the only problem with choosing this beautiful country is picking where. The idyllic side streets and rustic appearance of the buildings make the perfect setting for an intimate wedding day.

The Amalfi Coast has become a popular wedding destination in recent years and it’s no surprise why. The food, the beach fronts and the five star hotel possibilities are enough of a reason to add this to your wedding destination list. We’ve featured a number of Limerick brides in the past who chose the Amalfi Coast to get married in.

ALGRAVE, PORTUGAL Did someone say beach wedding? Portugal is the dream destination for couples planning a beach wedding. The constant sunshine and fabulous views make your wedding day effortlessly beautiful and will have your guests looking forward to sharing your special day with you. The Algarve has one of Portugal’s most stunning coastlines, with plenty of beachside wedding locations available, it deserves a spot on the all-important list of possibilities. Algarve is also a very popular destination wedding location for Limerick couples.

DUBROVNIK, CROATIA Another coastal beauty, Dubrovnik is a stunning venue for a wedding. The city lies down South of Croatia. The town is filled with culture with buildings from both the Gothic and Renaissance eras. The old town feel gives Dubrovnik an enchanting feel, perfect for the romantic wedding day you’ve always wanted.

PRAGUE, CZECH REPUBLIC The capital city of the Czech Republic is full of history and stunning architecture. ‘The City of a Hundred Spires’ is best known for its Gothic churches and medieval Astronomical Clock making it a suitable candidate for a European wedding.

Prague also boasts the largest castle in the world according to the Guinness World Book of Records so you are bound to have fabulous wedding pictures from this gorgeous city. A short flight away, it’s also an affordable destination for your guests to reach.

VIENNA, AUSTRIA Perfect for a winter wonderland wedding, Vienna plays host to snow in the winter, although is milder than the rest of Austria. Steeped in history with fabulous architecture Vienna is yet another gem in central Europe. The mountainous scenery is sprinkled with endless greenery and castles; this country is definitely one for the sophisticated couple. It can be pricey so take that into consideration for your guests but certainly worth it.

MALTA Situated between Sicily and the South African Coast, Malta is a destination wedding hotspot. The blue waters and stunning cliffs make this island a suitable destination for both an intimate wedding and larger parties. The Azure Window, a huge natural arch in the sea cliffs is one of Malta’s biggest tourist attractions and is sure to stand out in the wedding album. The island is also famous for its night life so it’s the perfect place for couples that are up for a bit of craic post wedding day.

71 Church St. Listowel. Co Kerry.

E: ann@paperhearts.ie T: +353 (0)87 969 1324 www.paperhearts.ie 83

By Michaela Keating A lot of couples have children before they get married now and although the idea of a 2-week romantic vacation to the Maldives sounds amazing many newlyweds want to include a mini-vacation with their little ones before heading off later in the year themselves.

TAYTO PARK, CO. MEATH If you’re looking for something more close to home a visit to Tayto Park should do just the trick!

Ireland’s only theme park has been highly praised since it opened in Ashbourne, Co Meath in 2010.

The park boasts rollercoaster attractions for all age groups and is home to many animals in its on campus zoo! From birds to mammals and the Cu Chulainn rollercoaster, a visit to Tayto Park is the perfect spot to take the kids on a mini break away.

KILDARE MAZE ACTIVITY PARK Leinster’s largest hedge maze is an amazing attraction located in North Kildare. With great prices, this is a budget busting break away with the kids. The park has a range of attractions including crazy golf, adventure trails, zipwire, picnic areas and of course the hedge maze. The park is open seven days a week in June, July and August and weekends only in September.

DELPHI ADVETURE RESORT, CO. GALWAY Delphi Adventure Resort is located in Connemara, Co Galway surrounded by stunning views of the West’s mountainous countryside. Delphi offers a wide range of activities to suit all ages and abilities making it the perfect break away for families with ranging age groups. If you are looking for some alone time, let the kids enjoy the variety of activities while you slip away to the spa to relax with some fabulous treatments and enjoy some post wedding chill out time.

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DINGLE OCEANWORLD AQUARIUM, CO. KERRY Dingle is one of Ireland’s most popular spots to visit and with plenty to do for the family; it should definitely make it to your mini moon list. Dingle has many attractions to keep the family entertained with local food and fabulous hotels so it’s ideal for a few days away. Dingle Oceanworld Aquarium is perfect for small kids who are fascinated by all things fishy!

The aquarium hosts Ireland’s largest selection of sharks and is also home to penguins, turtles, starfish and plenty more sea animals and is sure to impress the kids.

DISNEYLAND PARIS It’s no surprise that Disneyland Paris is the most visited theme park in France and all of Europe with its numerous attractions, places to eat and of course the all important characters. A visit to Disneyland is a dream come true for most children (and even their parents!) so few days spent with Mickey, Minnie and the gang makes for a perfect break away with the family. The website offers plenty of offers that extend as far as next year making it the perfect choice for couples planning to head away with their little monkeys after their wedding.

LEGOLAND With six Legoland resorts worldwide and three more due to open between 2016 and 2017, you can take your pick as to where you would like to go from; Denmark, The UK, California, Germany, Florida and Malaysia. The Legoland Parks are aimed at kids aged 11 and under, with attractions suited best to younger kids. Lego is an all-time favourite throughout the generations and is sure to bring out the inner child in all the family!

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INSIDE THE BRIDAL ROOM

Photos courtesy of Jakub Saluda

The full love story behind ‘Don’t Tell The Bride’ couple Nora and Katriona Nora Dennehy, a Tralee native met Cork woman, Katriona Hourihan four years ago at Cork Pride. The couple currently live in Blackrock, Co. Cork with their daughter Willow Belle.

“Katriona who wasn’t gay at the time was going in to the parade to show support to her sister who is gay.

Once I set my eyes upon her I had to have her. We then started dating at the end of July when her relationship broke up.”

Nora decided to ask the love of her life to marry her in May 2014. “I proposed to Katriona when she was 7 months pregnant.”

The girls decided to take the plunge and get married on RTE’s TV show ‘Don’t Tell The Bride’ so the entire nation could share in their love.

“I had to organise everything so I moved out for two weeks. I had full control of the planning which I know Katriona would have had such a problem with. We got married in the Macau Casino and had the afters in the Vertigo Rooms in the City Hall. I picked out our dresses, spent all the money on her dress which she hated and bought a second hand dress for myself which turned out amazing. There was a part that RTE left out in the editing where I gambled €500 of the budget put it on red on the roulette table and won €1000 so I was able 86

to buy her designer Jimmy Choo shoes. The day was amazing; a lot of Ireland watched it and we had great support after it.”

Despite the presence of the TV crew, the day was very personal and special for the girls who were not used to being apart for so long.

“Best part for me was when I finally got to see Katriona walking up the aisle. I’ll never forget that feeling for as long as I live. I had moved out and we had no contact at all, I missed her terribly.

We are never apart so two weeks apart was very tough.”

Since the passing of the referendum, the ladies look forward to when same sex marriage finally becomes legally binding in Ireland. They have decided to keep it low key since they have already had their dream day.

“We would probably have a small party. I’ll let Katriona organise it though I could never deal with the stress of that again!”

The day of May 23rd was an emotional day for same sex couples and for Nora and Katriona it was no different.

“I was working away for five weeks in America so I arrived back into Dublin the morning of the 23rd.

Katriona was meeting me in Kerry with Willow for my nephews’ communion. I had been monitoring the tallies on Facebook and I had known from about 10am that we had it. On the Sunday we celebrated with friends and straight away we agreed we need to get married without the big day involved of course.”

Nora believes that the referendum has changed Ireland for the better.

“We both would like to say a huge thank you to everyone in Ireland who supported us. We like to think the show, it changed a lot of people’s views and also to be seen as an equal citizen is an amazing feeling. I even started holding my wife’s hand walking down the street now! I’m proud to be Irish.”

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A groom who got stuck in

Alternative

grooms wear pieces

By Michaela Keating

Looking your best as a bride on your wedding day is one of your main concerns, a concern that may also be shared by your soon-to-be husband! Your man’s wedding look is (almost) as important as yours, so we’ve put together some ideas to make sure there’s only one man taking your focus at the end of that aisle!

Dave Laing and Tara Donoghue are a photography team from Kerry who travel all over to shoot weddings. Dave recently joined his beautiful wife in the family business and together they make sweet memories for couples to have forever. Dave talks to Brides of Kerry about his experience planning the wedding of his dreams.

It’s not always about the bride.

Like most men I tend to switch off a little when it comes to wedding talk but there are a few things that stand out from my own wedding experience that I thought I’d mention.

First of all and this is from a male perspective; lads, it doesn’t have to be all about her (sorry ladies!). It’s your wedding too so try to get involved in the planning. I know it’s not easy and it almost contradicts my first statement about switching off when the talk of wedding planning starts but trust me if you want to have the time of your life, then get involved.

For my own wedding I took over the planning of the food, drink and music. I organised several cases of myself and Tara’s favourite wines and two beer taps, one Tennents and one Guinness, which were supposed to be self service but ended up being manned on the night by my good friend Dr Tom and my uncle Luther. Both of whom informed me afterwards that they were only trying to help but everyone knows it was because at any given time of the evening there was one of them already behind the bar pouring for themselves!

I also decided that I would like to both plan and cook the meal for my guests and set about the planning of a dual Scottish and Irish themed menu, as my side are all Scottish and Tara’s Irish. With a starter of Scottish haggis and Clonakilty black pudding, then potato and leek soup followed by a choice of mains from either wild Scottish salmon or Kerry beef and a medley of desserts, which were self service and available all through the evening and kindly donated as gifts from several of our friends and family.

I even managed to sing an old song or two throughout the ceremony accompanied by three fantastic musicians who just happen to be good friends of ours. I know what some of you might think that I went a little over the top with my involvement but the point I’m trying to make to you is this; this was my wedding, my friends and family, my one and only chance at a big day that I want. So I went all out, jumped in knee deep and tried to make it all about me and my friends and family as well as trying to be considerate and thoughtful to Tara’s side of the wedding congregation too. www.taradonoghuephotography.com 88

Check shirt A check shirt may be a man’s staple piece of clothing for his days off work, but these old reliable are evolving into one of the boho wedding must haves for men this season. Soft nudes and light earthy tones are what the boho theme is all about, so what could be more fitting than a beige and white check shirt for the groom to tie in with the theme? With their variety of colours and patterns, a check shirt is something to be considered for the non-traditional groom. Still not sold? Think the ‘sexy lumberjack’ and you’ll be running down the aisle!

Quirky pocket squares Pocket squares are always a popular way to spruce a man’s suit but why not think outside the box and find an original pocket square to make the groom stand out. Have the wedding date embroidered on to the right hand corner or choose a print with patterns of your pet so they can be there in spirit. The possibilities are endless!

Tweed It may not be every man’s fabric of choice for a wedding suit but tweed is a major trend this season for guys that are tying the knot in Europe. Brown toned tweed is the perfect way to introduce autumn elements into the grooms look. If a full tweed suit is a little too much to handle, why not add slight touches, like the waist coat of a three-piece or in a pocket square.

Braces Autumn is one of two seasons where we can dare to risk leaving off an extra layer on account of the weather. With the busy flow to a wedding day, it’s best to feel cool and collected and for the groom, saying ‘I do’ minus a suit jacket is the best thing for it.

Braces are a long time friend of the suit and if leaving the jacket behind, a good set of braces will do just the trick in keeping the groom formal yet comfortable on the day. Tie the colour in with the theme or let the groom use this as an opportunity to express his own personal style when choosing the colour or pattern. After all, he didn’t get a say in what you’ll be wearing!

INSIDE THE BRIDAL ROOM

Michelle Hanafin and Joe Duggan

Photos courtesy of Mícheàl O’ Sullivan Photography

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INSIDE THE BRIDAL ROOM A BIT ABOUT THE BRIDE Michelle Hanafin, 31 is from Tralee.

She is head Receptionist at Ballyroe Heights Hotel, Tralee.

A BIT ABOUT THE GROOM Joe Duggan, 34 also a Tralee native works as a bricklayer with Kerry County Council.

THE MEET Tralee town park watching a soccer game 14 years ago.

THE PROPOSAL Joe proposed to Michelle on her 21st birthday.

THE RING Billy Nolan’s Jewellers WEDDING DATE December 31, 2014 CHURCH Our Lady and St Brendan’s Church, Tralee RECEPTION Ballyroe Heights Hotel BRIDESMAIDS Sharon Fealy, Brendy Murphy, Ann-Marie O’ Brien, Mary O’ Brien, Rachel Healy and Emma Garry.

GROOMSMEN Mike Duggan, James Duggan, Robert Duggan, Barry Duggan, Jonathan Loughnane and John Quirke.

FLOWERGIRL/PAGEBOY Laura Fealy, Ava Duggan and Meagan Fisher CAKE Michelle’s aunt Gemma made the cake, a three tier cake with madeira, chocolate biscuit and fruit cake. A family friend, Nancy, made them a fabulous wedding cake for the after party.

QUIRKY BITS Champagne corks as place names, movie table plan and table names and balloon drop at midnight.

FLOWERS Every Occasion Florist. Michelle’s brooch bouquet was made by Karen Horgan and Leona.

CANDLES Elaine at Custom Candle House PHOTOGRAPHER: Mícheàl O’ Sullivan Photography CHURCH MUSIC Kerry Wedding Music THE DRESS: Sacha James dress bought in Finesse Bridal Wear in Listowel HOW MANY DRESSES DID YOU TRY ON? Only 2!

BRIDAL PARTY WEAR: Finesse Bridal Wear -Dessy collection by Vivian Diamond - Persian Plum and flower girls

by Paul Costello.

MOTHER OF THE BRIDE OUTFIT: Amore Mio in Killaloe, Co. Clare HOW MANY GUESTS? 310 FAVOURITE MEMORY “Spending New Year’s Eve with truly amazing family and friends and all of them ringing in a new year together.”

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Dress by Finesse Bridal Wear

SPECIAL TOUCHES: Michelle’s brooch bouquet had some brooches from past and present family members and had a memory ball with their pictures. They had memory candles to remember the deceased members of their families, and they chose people from each family to light them during the ceremony. “We thought it would be a nice idea to remember our loved ones during our wedding day.”

HONEYMOON: Ten days in Florida and four days in New York booked through SiobhanROOM Power, Travel Counsellor Tralee.

INSIDE THE BRIDAL ANY OTHER QUIRKY BITS? “I presented Joe with a wedding card signed by David Moyes (had this before he got fired from Man Utd!). After much pleading with the club I managed to get a best wishes letter for him from Ryan Giggs and also a friend got a card signed for him by Roy Keane and he received these during our speeches with the new jersey.

Little did I know but he also had a surprise of his own for me - a Man United jersey with Mrs. Duggan on the back of it!”

Fun Bits

First holiday together? Southampton, England Fav TV show to watch together? ‘Game of Thrones’ and ‘Revenge’ If you were to marry a celeb who would it be?

Keith Barry If Joe was to marry a celeb who would it be?

Jessica Alba One thing you would change about your day?

Make more time for ourselves Any hiccups Champagne spilled on one of the bridesmaids dresses just before they left the house and Michelle realized half way through the ceremony that she left Joes Man Utd bits for the speech at home.

Song you walked up the aisle to ‘A Thousand Years’ – Christina Perri.

Song you walked down the aisle to ‘From This Moment’– Shania Twain.

Which couple from your wedding do you think will get engaged next? Barry Duggan and Ciara Hurley or Thomas O’Brien and Lorraine O’ Sullivan because we need another family wedding soon.

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What Type Of

Vintage Bride Are You? The term “vintage” isn’t as straightforward as you might think, and these days there are different categories of vintage. Take our quiz to find out which vintage bride you are!

1.

Which of these accessories are your favourite?

a. An oversized bow and heels.

b. A glittery headband and feathers.

c. Long, dramatic gloves and a cocktail hat.

d. A wide belt and a headscarf.

e. Sequins and dangling earrings. f. Floral hair accessories and beads.

2.

Which of these hairstyles would you prefer on your big day? a. A chignon. b. A sleek bob. c. Bombshell waves. d. Victory rolls. e. Farrah-style flicks. f. Long and loose.

3.

Which of these is a priority when booking the venue?

a. Plenty of space to dance and a jukebox.

b. A fully stocked cocktail bar.

c. A stage big enough for a 15-piece band.

d. An entire area cornered off for extravagant bake-off

style desserts.

e. A light up dance floor. f. A chill-out zone filled with pillows.

4.

Who is your celeb style icon?

a. Grace Kelly.

b. Coco Chanel.

c. Ginger Rogers.

d. Hedy Lemarr.

e. Audrey Hepburn. f. Marianne Faithfull.

5.

Which of these themes best describes your home?

a. Cute and candy-coloured.

b. Arty and eccentric.

c. Boudoir glamour.

d. Thrifty and homely.

e. Funky and fun. f. Psychedelic.

6.

Your ideal first dance song is?.. a. “Love Me” Tender by Elvis. b. “Always” by Irving Berlin. c. “Cheek to Cheek” by Fred Astaire. d. “All of Nothing” by Frank Sinatra. e. “Isn’t She Lovely” by Stevie Wonder. f. “And I Love Her” by The Beatles.

7.

Which of these best describe your dream dress?

a. An A-line skirt that kicks out at the calves.

b. A dropped waistline and fully embellished.

c. Bass-cut with a figure hugging fishtail.

d. Simple with a defined waist and buttons.

e. A white lace pantsuit - better for dancing! f. Long sleeves and a short shift.

8.

When you think of your ideal flowers you picture..

a. A simple but pretty pomander worn on your wrist.

b. A shower of gypsophila, carnations, and foliage.

c. A classic bouquet of white roses.

d. A loose bouquet of wild flowers. e. Anything big and extravagant.

f. A flower crown or circlet.

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9.

Which of these is your signature make-up look?

a. Flawless foundation and a flicker of pink blusher.

b. Pale foundation and a lot of eyeliner.

c. Pencil-thin brows and mascara.

d. Arched brows, brown liner. e. Bronzed skin and smokey eyes.

f. Au naturel, defined eyes and nude lips.

Mostly A’s: The rockin’ 50’s. The era that saw the uprising of rock and roll and rockabilly and is now associated with it. A brightly coloured aes thetic of jukeboxes and American diners.

Mostly B’s: Roaring 20’s. The era that witnessed the rise of the “new woman” and recognised her style. This woman could keep up with the

lifestyle of the decade and could be found frequently at cocktail

bars.

Mostly C’s: 30’s Hollywood glamour. The decade where technology advanced from boring black and white to full-colour film and animation, this woman is just as bright and glamorous as the stars of the blockbusters of this massive Hollywood era.

Mostly D’s: The thrifty 40’s. The first half of this decade being dominated

by the Second World War meant that no one had a lot of money and finding bargains in thrift shops became the trendy thing to do.

Women finding their own individual style in the trends from old

were the way to go.

Mostly E’s: The funky 70’s. The beginning of the disco era; full of glitter balls and strobe lights. Girls took on the trend of big hair and men took easily to sideburns. This decade was all about having a good time, and plenty of dancing.

Mostly F’s: The hippy 60’s. The decade all about living free and taking control.

Outdoor concerts and laid back fashion are what made this decade.

Final Touch are a five piece function band specialising in entertainment for Weddings, Parties and Social Events.

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Let Final Touch take care of your wedding entertainment!

Killarney’s premier wedding venue, The Brehon will open its doors to couples preparing for their big day at a special wedding fair event taking place on Sunday, September 13th from 12-4pm.

As well as showcasing the magnificent Banqueting Suite at The Brehon, this is an opportunity for couples to meet with a selection of Kerry’s top wedding suppliers including photographers and florists.

Email: ftband@live.com Phone: 086 3114007 Facebook: www.facebook.com/finaltouchbandIreland Website: www.finaltouchband.com

The Brehon Wedding Team, under General Manager Brian Bowler and Wedding Co-ordinator Kelly Ann O’Connor, will also be available to meet with couples interested in holding their wedding reception and civil ceremonies at The Brehon.

For more information visit www.thebrehon.com or call 064-6630700.

“Ann was so fantastic to work with on our wedding day, she made my visions a reality and we were thrilled with our flowers,” Karen and Keith (pg 40-42)

Wedding Flowers - great packages available Email - Flowersbyanntralee@hotmail.com www.direct2florist.ie/flowers-by-ann-tralee-f249715

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INSIDE THE BRIDAL ROOM

Photos courtesy of Dennis Moriarty 94

Virginia and Tom Gohagan came to Ireland to marry 35 years ago and returned to celebrate their anniversary in Kerry recently where love blossomed all over again.

Tom is originally from Cape May, New Jersey and Virginia is from Hinsdale, Illinois, USA. They currently reside in downtown Chicago.

“occasions along with Christie, the driver, and Queenie, the horse, to take us to and from the St. Mary’s. “One of the many memories that stands out from our wedding day, as we travelled to and from St. Mary’s Cathedral crowds of pedestrians stopped and clapped as we passed by in Queen Victoria’s horse-drawn carriage as word seemed to have gotten round of our wedding.”

Virginia was 22 and Tom was 36 when the couple was first introduced

by Virginia’s older sister Mar Gee. Almost two years later “confirmed” bachelor Tom and his Gin decided to marry in Tom’s favorite place in the world, Ireland, even though Virginia had never been. Kerry was the chosen destination and The Malton (then the Great Southern Hotel) in Killarney was the location.

The bride wore a two piece wedding dress that “looked as though it was handmade Irish lace” and was found by her mom who insisted that it was perfect for the day, time and wedding venue. Her mother also gifted her with a wedding bouquet made of silk flowers. It was important to her parents that her flowers come from them and that they would be carried with her mom’s crystal rosary for the ceremony. Tom wore a very Irish herringbone tweed jacket.

The couple has very fond memories of their day. “Our wedding day was the most important event in our lives, especially since it took place in an area that we love and to this day enjoy. The interaction with the local people, who received us so warmly and celebrated with us, gave us an opportunity for friendships that we treasure to this day.”

Virginia and Tom used the services of local photographer Dennis Moriarty at the time. “A few days after (they didn’t have digital and instant printing service then), like a miracle, Dennis presented us with the photos and insisted they were his gift to us!

Virginia and Tom wanted a low key wedding “no gifts, no dancing and no hundreds of people.” The pair felt that Killarney was the perfect setting for their meaningful day. “We love the people, the gentle Irish way of life and the natural beauty of the land.” However, the beauty of an Irish countryside wedding came at a certain cost. “Our families and friends and all of whom were and are very important to us and all of whom received our announcement to marry with great joy and wishful hopes to attend, were unable to come to Ireland. Nevertheless, our dear, dear parents (can you imagine how much they loved us to allow us to do this without their being present!) and family and friends were with us in spirit and every step of our wedding journey--including international phone calls right after the ceremony at 6:00 and 7:00 a.m. in their time zones.”

So what is the recipe of a 35 year marriage? “Trust, common interests, patience, and understanding and most importantly true love. The Irish have the great Claddagh symbol; Love, Loyalty and Friendship. We are blessed to share all three,” shares Virginia.

The couple look forward to their next visit to Ireland and have their fingers crossed it will be in the near future!

Virginia and Tom celebrated their Irish wedding in The Great Southern hotel, now The Malton, 35 years ago.

Fast forward 35 years to a much busier time in their lives. They wanted to mark their wedding anniversary with a trip back to where it all begun.

They were “warmly greeted” at the hotel by Martina O’Leary and John Fitzgerald, both of whom were present on their wedding day.

Virginia and Tom have nothing but fond memories of their wedding day and their visit to the Malton allowed them to share their wedding day memories with the fabulous staff from the hotel. “We enjoyed very much reminiscing with them all about the events of our wedding. We had marvelous dinners in the hotel during our visit, seated at the very table and bay window in the grand Garden Room, where Martina served our wedding lunch, and in the impeccable former Malton Dining Room, now the Killarney Wine Room, where maître d’ John once hosted the impeccable, traditional white-glove and silver service dining experience so popular at the time.”

The hotel pulled out all the stops for the couple’s wedding day with touches that they still hold in fond memory. “On our wedding day, Dennis, the concierge, arranged as a surprise for us the use of Queen Victoria’s carriage which we were told was used during the Queen’s official visit to tour the Lakes of Killarney and only brought out on state 95

Wearing Glasses On Your Wedding Day Do you wear glasses? If glasses are part of your everyday life, there’s no reason for them to not be part of one of the biggest days of your life! Here are some tips to help you to incorporate them into your wedding day and look amazing.

• Make your frames match Making sure your frames match your dress can do wonders for making them look good on the day. Even if this means you’ll have to treat yourself to some new frames, go for it; it’s easier to buy new frames than to plan your dress around your original frames!

• Add a little sparkle Many brides wearing glasses on their wedding day can feel like the glasses can look a bit serious and business like, making them feel a bit drab. Definitely not what you want on your wedding day. An easy way to rectify this is to add a bit of sparkle with hair accessories. Lots of sparkles and pearls can easily brighten up your face.

WEDDING FAVOURS Everyone loves wedding favours, they’re that small piece of the day that leaves your guests feeling welcomed and thanked. Wedding favours can have such an impact on the atmosphere of your entire day, so we’re going to take you through some of the best and easiest favours you can give.

Candles Everyone loves candles. They’re just that one thing that everyone can appreciate and no one ever seems to have enough of. The best way to go if you’re going to use this idea is to use a local candle making business. If you can find one and get each individual candle personalised for the guests. If you can’t find a business near you, another good idea is to take a candle making class with your partner so that ye can make the candles yourselves!

• Earrings It can be difficult to do, but if you can find a pair of earrings to perfectly compliment your dress and your glasses, it can pull your entire look together effortlessly. Problem solved.

• Retro A simple way to make your specs work on the big day is to go retro with the entire look. Glasses are basically the unofficial stamp of the retro look and can easily pull the entire look together. Pair some winged frames with a vintage dress and an up-do and you’ll have created the perfect retro look that doesn’t focus entirely on the glasses.

• Lipstick Pairing some stylish frames and bold lipstick can be the perfect match, if you’re going for a voluptuous look. Be bold and make a statement with a shade that works perfectly with your skin tone and your frames.

• Loose locks If you’re going with an up-do, be careful about what look you chose.

Glasses and a tight bun might not be the best idea and could remind people of their old teacher, definitely not something you want! If you want your hair up, a beehive works amazingly with glasses, especially if you’re going for a retro look.

Whatever look you go for, make sure to keep the texture soft and bouncy and fun, the contrast the hard look of your glasses.

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Jam A jam or any sort of preservative is always a good idea because it will last for a long time. You could make this yourself or have them done for you by a company if you want to add a professional look to the design of the jars.

Sweets Possibly the most simple idea you could use, some sweets packaged simply but beautifully inside a box or bag with the wedding date and you and your partners names on it.

Mix CD While this mightn’t be the most legal of wedding favours, it’s still really cute. Making copies of a mix either from a specific playlist you’ve made for the wedding day itself, or of you and your partner’s favourite songs, this is guaranteed to put a smile on your guests faces. Designing your own sleeve for the disc can also eliminate costs from this.

Flower Seeds A trend that has really taken off in recent years, a simple one that lasts well after the wedding itself. Giving your guests plant seeds to plant themselves will leave them with a memory of your special day in their own homes for some time after, giving them something to smile about.

FEATURE

By Michaela Keating

Choosing your bridesmaids dresses can be just as exciting as choosing your bridesmaids. As women come in all shapes and sizes, making sure your gal pals are comfortable on your wedding day is a must. We have put together some guidelines based on dressing for all different body shapes to help you choose wisely for the bridal party.

1. Apple

3. Hourglass

Apple shaped ladies carry their weight above the hips and broaden around the shoulders. Choosing dresses with an empire waistline will be super flattering for apple shapes and will give the illusion of a smaller waist. Choosing good support in the bust area is essential for comfort too. Make like Drew Barrymore or Jessica Simpson and elongate the torso with V necklines and or dare to show a bit more skin with a slit up the leg.

Always the desired shape, the lucky hourglass ladies have the curves for fitted dresses and belts to accentuate that small waist. Good support in the bust area is necessary and try to avoid anything floaty or baggy as it will give the illusion of weight that isn’t there. Make use of the curves tastefully like Beyonce by wearing a figure hugging dress without going overboard.

4. Rectangle

2. Pear Pear shapes have hips wider than their shoulders with a small waist and a well rounded bum. Creating an illusion of balance in the body and owning your curves is essential for the pears by wearing strapless dresses to show off the arms and even out proportions and going for cowl. Go for pointed toe shoes to elongate the leg like the queen of the booty, J Lo!

This shape is typically athletic with the shoulders, waist and hips being the same width. Your best assets are your arms and legs so make the most of them with strapless dresses or short dresses to show off those amazing pins. Avoid overwhelming styles that will swallow your shape and make use of waist enhancing styles to accentuate the slender figure like the fabulous Natalie Portman.

Whether you’re having a large bridal party or one main lady by your side on your big day, sit down with them beforehand and get an idea of what they like and what they are aware will or will not suit their body shape. Many bridal party suppliers provide bridesmaid dresses in one colour in different shapes and styles, which will make matching the dress to the body shape that little bit easier. It is your big day, so what more could you ask for than being comfortable and looking fabulous with your besties? (Aside from the new hubby, of course!)

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Winter issue out in shops on November 30 To book your ad space today call April 085 801 5278 or email April@bridesofkerry.ie

-List your business on our website -Receive write ups and testimonials from brides and grooms -We design your advert at no additional cost -Regular promotions on our FB page -Great package rates available Watch out for our Brides of Kerry Wedding Industry Awards in 2016- information to follow WWW.BRIDESOFKERRY.IE 98

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