“Our ceremony was short and sweet! There were no padded booklets to be found!”
The couple: Katrina McCarthy & Sam Fletcher
Length of engagement: 7 years (“too long!”) Wedding Date: 1st Sept 2014
Wedding location: The Garryvoe Hotel, East Cork – www.garryvoehotel.com
Photographer: Into the Light Photography
We met… At a house party in June 2002 – he was very near the punch bowl!
Our proposal… It was Christmas morning, Sam gave me a gift of a lovely pendant but hanging off it was my engagement ring!
My look on the day… I wore a short shift dress from Monsoon and gold peep-toe shoes from No.1 by Jenny Packham. My hair was done by Valerie O’Dea. Val is based in Limerick but travels for weddings. She is truly gifted at taming any wild hair and making thin hair appear voluminous! Kate Noonan did our bridal party’s make-up. Kate was amazing and tailored all our looks to what we were wearing. I think I had the best eye make-up on our wedding day that I’ve ever had done!
His suit… Sam wore a navy blue suit with a bowtie and braces. The suit was from Saville Menswear on Oliver Plunkett St, Cork.
What our bridal party wore… Our children were our bridal party. Jack, aged nine, wore a rented suit jacket, shirt and tie from Morleys in Cork. His trousers were chinos from Marks & Spencer. Our daughter Beth, aged three, wore a flower girl dress from Paul Costelloe in Dunnes Stores with matching satin shoes.
My favourite part of the wedding day… Getting to the top of the aisle and taking my vows.
Our ceremony… was short and sweet! No padded booklets to be found! We had a Civil Ceremony overlooking the beach in The Garryvoe Hotel with Registrar Ann Walsh. We just had two small readings – a Celtic blessing read by Sam’s sister Yvonne, and an Opening Monologue to Love Actually read by my sister Moira. Our music was by Here Comes The Trio, who did an amazing repertoire from the Processional, which was Gabriel’s Oboe, to the Recessional, which was Elbow’s One Day Like This.
The Menu
Starters
Vine Plum Tomato & Buffalo Mozzarella & Rocket Salad, Cracked Black Pepper & Olive Oil,
Lightly Spiced Cajun Chicken Salad with Garlic Croutons, Crispy Bacon & Caesar Dressing
Soup Course
Roast Carrot & Coriander Soup
Sorbet Royale – Lemon Sorbet, dressed with Cassis & Champagne
Main Course
Peppered Roast Sirloin of Irish Beef, Potato Rosti & Sauce Chausseur
Pan-Seared Hake Fillet with Fricassee of Savoy Cabbage & Chanterelle Mushrooms, Vine Tomato Couli
Dessert
White Chocolate & Raspberry Trifle, Chantilly Cream & Toasted Almonds
Peach Panacotta with Honeycomb
We chose our photographer because… We had seen some of Into the Light‘s work through a mutual friend’s wedding. Their photos were outstanding, very different to the normal posed wedding photos. Plus they are two very witty guys which made it very easy for a camera shy bride and groom!
Our honeymoon… Has still to be decided!
We chose our venue because… Garryvoe beach has always been a place close to our hearts. We love walking there summer or winter and there’s a lovely view of Ballycotton Lighthouse from the beach. The Garryvoe Hotel has a great reputation for quality food and service. Stephen Belton, M.D. of Garryvoe Hotel, is a gentleman to deal with and was great at ensuring there was a flow to our day. His staff are so customer focused and friendly, we couldn’t have asked for more!
My piece of advice for other brides… Relax and try not to stress too much, it all works out…
