Good morning Missies, how’s the wedding planning going this week? Our couple today travelled all the way from Florida to marry right on the Cliffs of Moher! Planning a destination wedding is no mean feat, we applaud you Katie and Brad! Thanks to Paul Duane Photography for sharing this gem with us.
Katie and Brad met in February 2009; “We were at the beach with some mutual friends and I was talking about my upcoming senior prom, and mentioned I did not have a date. Brad told me he would take me, and I agreed because I thought he was really cute. A few days later he took me on a date, and we’ve been together since,” said Katie.
Brad proposed during a Fourth of July 5K run! Brad coordinated to have Katie’s family there at the finish line, they thought they were there to support her run. Brad held on to the ring the entire time he was running and made sure to run way ahead of Katie so he could beat her to the finish line and when she crossed the finish line he got down on one knee and proposed. Katie had no idea and was so thrilled she got to share the moment with her family!
“At first we started to plan a wedding in the states but as time went on we realised the wedding was more about pleasing our friends and family and not about us getting married. We then decided we wanted to get married in Ireland (we are both Irish). The wedding was then all about us, and it was such a special day. Our closest family and friends were there for the event. It was truly about us getting married, not throwing a huge party for our friends,” said Katie.
“We didn’t really have a theme because the landscape was so beautiful around us and I didn’t want to take away from that. We were married at O’Brien’s Tower on the Cliffs of Moher, how could you make that look any better than it already does!? I wore a simple lace gown that I fell in love with in a local bridal store. When I first saw it the dress was 12 sizes too big but nothing compared and I knew I had to have it! Since it was a destination wedding we didn’t have any bridesmaids, but I did ask the guests not to wear white,” added Katie.
“The day went by so fast! Katie, her mother, mother in law, and two friends got massages in the morning and then got their hair and makeup done. Surprisingly no disasters happened during the getting ready phase. During the ceremony it was so windy! We were all freezing cold and getting blown around. Katie had to take her veil off during photos because it kept pulling her. Katie got ready at the Falls Hotel and Spa, it was such a beautiful hotel! After our dinner at Roadford House the group went to Gus O’Conners, it was such a perfect night. We danced and laughed the night away. Our photographer was wonderful at capturing the whole event. We both think the highlight was our first dance in Gus O’Conners. Even though the place was packed, we felt like it was just the two of us. It was such a remarkable moment,” said Brad.
Katie’s Advice
Make the wedding all about you. Don’t try to please anyone; this is your special day. There’s so much pressure to have a huge over the top wedding, we had no interest in that.
Wedding Suppliers
Ceremony: O’Brien’s Tower, Cliffs of Moher.
Reception: Roadford House, Doolin & Gus O’Connors,
Wedding dress: Maggie Sottero.
Cake: Roadford House, Doolan.
Flowers: West Clare Flowers, Ennistymon.
Entertainment: Noel O’Donohugh.
Photographer: Paul Duane Photography, Loughrea.
