“We transported 150 vintage tea cups and saucers as well as a similar amount of home made cake pops from Cardiff to Kilkenny. Madness? Yes. Worth it? Absolutely.”
Couple: Triona and Ciaran
Wedding date: 24 May 2019
Wedding venue: Lyrath Estate
Photographer: Stargaze Photography
We chose Lyrath Estate Hotel by chance. My mum and my sister brought me to Lyrath as a surprise birthday treat and I fell in love with it. I brought Ciaran back to see it and luckily he felt the same way. We met with Gill, our lovely wedding co-ordinator, and the rest was history. We booked our wedding with less than a year to go so the count down was on! It was a bit of a challenge at times planning the wedding from Wales but we chose fantastic suppliers who made the experience as easy as possible. It was really important to us that we got married back home.
We wanted to add some personal touches to the day. I enjoy crafting anyway and Ciaran was able to put his carpentry skills to work. We made our own invitations, mass booklets, placenames and most of our decorations. We also transported 150 vintage tea cups and saucers as well as a similar amount of home made cake pops from Cardiff to Kilkenny. Madness? Yes. Worth it? Absolutely. We had a fantastic wedding day and we’re delighted Daragh was there to capture these precious memories.
We first met through a group of mutual friends when we were both in secondary school. We got to know each better, often while Ciarán walked me home after spending a Friday night with friends and then, on St Patrick’s Day 2007 we became a couple. We’ve been together through college courses and apprenticeships, traveled to some amazing places and made the leap across the Irish Sea to set up camp in Cardiff. On Christmas Day 2017, Ciarán got down on one knee, at Sandycove, a very special place for both of us, and of course I said YES!
As much as we have made Cardiff a home from home for the last 6 and a half years, we both knew we wanted to tie the knot back in the Emerald Isle.
The food in Lyrath was incredible, they did an amazing job at catering for all of our guests and we had so many compliments about the food and the service. We had a goats cheese starter followed by a choice of butternut squash soup or blackberry prosecco sorbet. Our mains was either Sirloin of Irish prime beef or Chicken Supreme and to round off a beautiful meal we had symphony of deserts that included raspberry cheesecake, apple and berry crumble and a chocolate fondant.
Suppliers
Wedding Dress & Veil: Cardiff Bridal Centre | Bridesmaids Dresses: Little Mistress in Debenhams Bridal | Shoes: Jenny Packham | Bridal Suits: Love Suits | Hair & Makeup: Powder Room Girls | Invitations and Mass Booklets: Handmade by the bride (with a little help from some friends) | Church: St Colman’s Church Kilkenny | Reception: Lyrath Estate Hotel, Kilkenny | Ceremony and reception music: Laura Colgan Music | Cake: My very talented sister in law, Helena Monaghan | Flowers: A small team of family and friends led by my new mother in law Maria Monaghan | LOVE Letters and Table Plan: Hand crafted by Ciaran Monaghan, the hubby | Band & DJ: Men in Black and DJ Karl | Photography: Stargaze Photography | Videography: Tall Tales Films
