Sharon & Mike met in 'certainly not the most romantic setting but we met during a night out at the Lodge nightclub at the University of Limerick in September 2011!' But the proposal more than makes up for it! 'The proposal was stunning', Sharon told us. 'We live in Canada and Mike shocked me by popping the question along the Wild Pacific Trail in Ucluelet, British Columbia while out walking. We were visiting BC for our birthdays.'
'We were blessed with insanely good weather on our wedding day - so much so that guests were provided umbrellas for the sun instead of the rain! A lot of work had gone into preparing for the day, so on the day we just sat back and relaxed and let Ann and the team take over! It was just fantastic to not have to worry and know that everything was taken care of in the best way.'
'Good food and good music were our two key priorities and it's safe to say that those boxes were ticked! So many guests complimented the food in the days after the wedding. Music-wise, we had Wedding Music by Jewel for our ceremony and it was beautiful. We had 'The Stars' Wedding Band and they put on a brilliant show and had everyone on their feet. It was also important to us to be able to spend as much time with friends and family throughout the day, so having Ann and the team be so incredible at what they do made us just relax and enjoy every moment!'
Sharon is from Clonakilty and has frequented Fernhill for various occasions for many years. Mike had been to Fernhill a few times, including a wedding and was very impressed. Sharon tells us 'when we got in touch with Ann to discuss dates etc., it was a no-brainer! We knew we could trust Fernhill to do as good a job as they did. We also wanted to have everything at the one venue so having the option of getting married in Fernhill's stunning gardens made the decision even easier. We did have to change date due to Covid but we have to say that Ann and the team were incredibly supportive and patient and we're so grateful to them for that.'
Sharon and Mike's advice to anyone looking for a wedding venue, 'Trust Ann and the team! They are absolute experts and will handle everything. Know that the food will be faultless - guests will rave about the meal!'
Sharon & Mike planned a beautiful honeymoon, 'In late March we jetted off to Argentina and Chile for two weeks to explore and hike Patagonia. It was a trip of a lifetime.' - Sounds amazing!
Sharon & Mike, it was our pleasure to host your special wedding celebrations here in Fernhill, we look forward to seeing you both on your next visit home to Clonakilty.
Photographer: Mark Coombes