“Our wedding colours were black, gold and leopard print.”
Your Names: Mary Browne & Paul Kivlehan
Length of engagement: 1 Year
Wedding Date: 2019-08-17
Wedding location: The Great National Ballykisteen, Tipperary
Photographer: Aoife Kiely Photography (main) and Stephen Corkery (second shooter)
Aoife Kiely
How did you meet and get engaged?
We met in a bar in Dublin Christmas 2015. Paul is from Leitrim and I am from Tipperary, two culchies working in the big smoke! We got engaged July 2018 and announced it to our families August 18th. We wanted it to be less than a year wait for family and friends.
Aoife Kiely
Aoife Kiely
Stephen Corkery
Describe your wedding:
Our wedding colours were black, gold and leopard print. The bridesmaids were allowed to pick any dress they wanted as long as it was black and they chose a beautiful tea-length dress!
I accessorized my own dress with leopard print shoes, belt and watch.
Through Etsy, we got leopard print ribbons and rose petals. My mother made 270 champagne corks bride and grooms, or little Mary and Paul’s as Paul’s niece called them.
I did not want flowers at our reception so we decorated the room with feathers and balloons.
Our fantastic balloon arch of Black, Gold and Leopard Print balloons was built by Philomena from the balloon bar Clonmel. It was fantastic but badly timed as Tipperary played Kilkenny in the All Ireland Final the next day!
Aoife Kiely
Aoife Kiely
Stephen Corkery
Stephen Corkery
Tell us about your bridal look:
My look was very simple and easy going. I bought my dress on JJ House on Black Friday and worked with an amazing seamstress in Carrick On Shannon, Margaret Weinert to make it the perfect fit.
I accessorized with leopard print shoes and belt from Dune.
For hair and makeup I wanted Hollywood vintage glamour. Donna Marie was amazing doing our tan the night before and recommended mud lipstick for long lasting red lips. Ann Marie from Tie the Knot Bridal transformed my usually curly hair into a wavy flow and fastened my headpiece steadfast.
Both ladies also came to the hotel suite the next morning to make sure my bridesmaids and I were perfected for day two! Not an easy task I can imagine.
Stephen Corkery
Stephen Corkery
Stephen Corkery
What did your bridesmaids wear?
Again on a recommendation from HIGM I purchased the bridesmaids’ dresses from Coco Melody on Black Friday. I had sent the link to the girls advising they could pick any dress from the site as long as it was black! My chief bridesmaid chose a tea-length style. The dress came with a flower on the waist which we replaced with gold belts.
I had requested the girls to chose their shoes from Aldo online and let me know. However, they went ahead and ordered striped stilettos. On the day of the wedding as bridesmaid gifts I presented the girls with gold Converse, gold Havaianas, a gold handbag and a black and gold bangle. All of which I had picked up in Kildare village… after a couple of hours in the stilettos they changed into the Converse to dance the night away!
Aoife Kiely
Stephen Corkery
What was your ceremony like?
We both very much wanted a Catholic Church and I was the third generation of my family to marry In St Brigids Church Annacarty which meant a lot to me!
As a surprise to my friends I had booked the Rascals from Galway to do the ceremony music. Paddy and Padraic had both worked the college bar in NUI Galway when I and my college gang had attended in 1999 and we remember them fondly from The Cellar Bar open mic nights! They were amazing mixing the classical hymns with some modern tunes.
Aoife Kiely
Stephen Corkery
Stephen Corkery
Aoife Kiely
Tell us about your wedding venue:
We had booked a wedding venue months before announcing our engagement, and as is Sod’s law they contacted us a month after our engagement to say they would not be available. After much looking we secured The Great National Ballykisteen.
On the day PJ and Fiachra went above and beyond to ensure every detail was executed and the room looked amazing!
As a software development Scrum Master (aka Project Manager) my demands were precise and unyielding and they delivered impeccably on time on budget and with big smiles all round!
Aoife Kiely
Aoife Kiely
Aoife Kiely
Aoife Kiely
Aoife Kiely
Aoife Kiely
Aoife Kiely
Aoife Kiely
Aoife Kiely
What is your favourite memory from your wedding day?
We decided to take our photos at a quiet local bar. I had first asked the landlady who graciously agreed.
We did not inform anyone else so we were the only patrons there.
I really enjoyed this time with the bridal party. The photographer was able to take the individuals away and get the shots while the remaining party enjoyed a drink. This time away from the crowd really helped settle me and prepare me for the night ahead!
And the photos are amazing, you can tell we were having the Craic.
Stephen Corkery
Aoife Kiely
Aoife Kiely
Have you got any advice for other couples?
If you have something in mind or have seen something on Pinterest share it with your suppliers!
Mine superseded every photo I had shared with them and no ask was too much!
I also recommend Etsy for lovely wedding bits and bobs especially if you want something a little different and have time to wait for it to be delivered.
Aoife Kiely
Aoife Kiely
Aoife Kiely
Aoife Kiely
Suppliers
Wedding venue: Great National Ballykisteen | Photographer: Aoife Kiely & Stephen Corkery | Planner/coordinator: PJ & Fiachra | Musician: The Valves | DJ: DJ Dan | Hair: Tie the Knot (Ann Marie) | Makeup: Donna Marie | Dress: JJ House | Suits: Matt O’Brien (Longford) | Bridesmaids dresses: Coco Melody | Cake: KellyLou | Stationery: Minted.com | Jewellery: David Cullen | Flowers: Claire Davy Thurles