It is always an honour to host a couple's special day here in Fernhill, but when a past staff member's wedding day is here it is just that bit extra special! We had the privilege of hosting the lovely Maeve & Killian's wedding in the gardens this Summer and to say they had a fabulous day would be an understatement.
Both Maeve & Killian are from West Cork but didn't meet until they were on a J1 in Cape Cod. Maeve tells us that Killian had lived next door to her sister the previous year in college so she was sure they had been to the same parties but had never crossed paths. 'We did long distance for the first year while I finished up in UCC and Killian started work as an accountant, and when I finished up I followed him to Dublin. We spent about 5 or 6 years in Dublin, before moving back to Cork in December 2020.'
We asked Maeve how the proposal went, 'it was the weekend after the Christmas holidays. When I got back up to our apartment in Dublin after the break, there were flowers, wine & a voucher to get my nails done on the coffee table - subtle hint! He then suggested we would go to Galway the following weekend, I initially thought it was a strange suggestion for the first weekend back in January after all the Christmas indulgence, but said it would be something nice to get us through the first week back to work. I didn't think too much of it until he started asking why I was getting my nails done before so I had a feeling something might be up! He proposed in private on the Friday night, which was perfect. We had the rest of the weekend to soak it all up before celebrating with friends and family.'
'It's impossible to sum up in a couple of lines but overall I would say our day was relaxed, fun and happy! From start to end, everything went to plan and there was no panic or rush at any stage. I kept waiting for the nerves to hit, but they never came! We wanted it to be quite relaxed and laid back, so a ceremony in the gardens was perfect for us. Also not having to travel anywhere from the ceremony to reception meant all of our guests could relax too. We had wild garden flowers, a ukulele band singing the Beatles, and the ceremony was really personal with lots of friends involved for readings and music. We went for yellow bridesmaid's dresses as the colour yellow just seemed to ooze happiness and positivity! When I look back at the photos, everyone looks happy all day which was the main aim!'
'We set ourselves a few non negotiables from the beginning to help us with the planning process. First off, close to home so grandparents could attend, a venue that didn't restrict us on numbers, really good food and a band that would keep the dance floor full all night! I had worked in Fernhill for about 8 year through school and college, so I knew what an amazing venue it was and that the O'Neill's would take great care of us (I was right, on the day it was Neil fixing my dress and veil before walking up the aisle after my bridesmaids all raced up!). Other than that it was easy to choose Fernhill as the garden ceremony area and the marquee for our drinks reception are a real 'wow' factor.'
We asked Maeve what advice she would give to other couples planning their day in Fernhill. 'Everything gets done so don't stress! Also, the last 6 months fly by - so be sure to enjoy it al. All couples put loads of time and effort into the finer details, myself included. I should have taken the advice on board at the start that all your guests will notice is the company, good food and a great band. Everyone was raving about the fillet of beef and the band the next day. Finally, when you start to question if you have forgotten something important, just remember - if Ann hasn't asked you about it - you haven't. They have everything covered!'
Maeve & Killian went on a mini-moon to Alicante for a couple of days after the wedding & are heading to the Maldives, Thailand and Dubai over Christmas - something to look forward to!
Photographer: Mark Coombes
Maeve & Killian, we wish you every happiness for the future & thank you again for choosing Fernhill to host your special day.