Wedding of the Week: Two gowns, two bands, and one big party for Kerry couple's summer wedding
A romantic winter wonderland engagement set the scene for Maureen McCarthy and Kevin Fitzgerald's summer wedding.
The Kerry couple became an item in April 2020. 'We met online around the start of covid but had known each other through friends,' says Maureen, from Fenit.
Maureen McCarthy and Kevin Fitzgerald. Pictures: Padraig Healy Wedding Photography
She and Kevin, from Currow, headed to Vienna to celebrate New Year's Eve 2022, where that December 31, he booked an evening at the opera and popped the question as the clock struck midnight.
Maureen McCarthy and Kevin Fitzgerald. Pictures: Padraig Healy Wedding Photography
Maureen, who owns a hair salon with her mother Frances, Brush'n'Blush, and Kevin, a secondary school teacher, were married in the Church of the Immaculate Conception, Currow, by Fr John Buckley, and held their reception in the Killarney Oaks Hotel.
Helping them celebrate were both sets of parents, Frances and Gerard McCarthy and Maureen and Maurice Fitzgerald.
Maureen McCarthy and Kevin Fitzgerald with their wedding party. Pictures: Padraig Healy Wedding Photography
'My grandmother, Patsy Nevin, was my official witness,' says Maureen. 'It's a memory I will cherish forever.'
Niamh Sheehy was the maid of honour and Kirstin O'Shea, Nicola Warren and Fenagh O'Mahoney were the bridesmaids with Padraig O'Shea as the best man and JJ Hanrahan, Conor O'Leary and JJ Cahill as the groomsmen.
Maureen McCarthy with Niamh Sheehy, Kirstin O'Shea, Nicola Warren and Fenagh O'Mahoney. Pictures: Padraig Healy Wedding Photography
The bride's nieces, Maisey and Abbie McCarthy, were the flowergirls. Horan's Wedding Cars ensured the newlyweds travelled in style.
Maureen McCarthy and Kevin Fitzgerald. Pictures: Padraig Healy Wedding Photography
Maureen wore two different super-elegant bespoke gowns by Irish designer Kathy De Stafford for her wedding day.
'My vision for the first dress was a classic satin strapless gown with buttons down the back and a two-tiered veil, which I wore for the ceremony and meal,' she says.
Maureen McCarthy. Pictures: Padraig Healy Wedding Photography
'I wanted my second dress to be more of a party dress, and it was an ankle-length satin dress with an embellished corset top. I wore both dresses with satin Valentino sling-back heels.'
Maureen McCarthy and Kevin Fitzgerald. Pictures: Padraig Healy Wedding Photography
The groom and his party sourced their suits at Red Church, Cork City.
The bride had no shortage of professional consultants.
Maureen McCarthy. Pictures: Padraig Healy Wedding Photography
'My good friend Zoe O'Carroll, who is a talented makeup artist, made the trip back from Australia for the wedding and did an amazing job on my makeup. My hair was done by the sister of my maid of honour, Grace McDonnell, so it was very personal to have the two of them with me on the morning,' she says.
Maureen McCarthy and Kevin Fitzgerald. Pictures: Padraig Healy Wedding Photography
'Being a wedding hairstylist myself, I had a massive insight into how the day would go, I really wanted to enjoy it all and not worry about small things that you don't realise until after really don't matter.'
Maureen McCarthy with Niamh Sheehy, Kirstin O'Shea, Nicola Warren and Fenagh O'Mahoney. Pictures: Padraig Healy Wedding Photography
Photographer Padraig Healy ( padraighealy.com) and videographer Mike Grace (Vision & Vows) were behind the lens.
'I was lucky enough to have worked with both my photographer and videographer before and was 100% confident to follow their instructions. I let all the suppliers do their thing on the day and trusted the process. My bridesmaid Kristin was married the month after us, and I had the pleasure of doing her hair and being her bridesmaid on her big day, too.'
Maureen McCarthy with Niamh Sheehy, Kirstin O'Shea, Nicola Warren and Fenagh O'Mahoney. Pictures: Padraig Healy Wedding Photography
Maura Sheehy of Maura's Cottage Flowers created the floral décor. Two wedding bands ensured the dance floor was full, Rouge and Super Ceili ('instead of a DJ — it was so much fun!').
For the day-two celebrations in the bride's local, The Tankard Bar and Restaurant in Fenit, singer Seamus Harty, followed by The Little Creatures, entertained.
Maureen McCarthy and Kevin Fitzgerald. Pictures: Padraig Healy Wedding Photography
'Day two was electric,' adds Maureen. 'We wanted the whole weekend to be a big party.'
The Currow-based newlyweds enjoyed a honeymoon organised by Nicola Browne Travel Counsellors that included Cancun, Orlando, and Yosemite National Park.
If you would like your wedding featured in Weekend email eve.kelliher@examiner.ie
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