Oh, are you in for a treat with this picture-perfect and ever-so-creative wedding day! Embracing the beauty of the South West coast of Ireland and all of its historic offerings, Tara and Dave tied the knot outdoors in an old church ruin in the beautiful seaside village of Ballybunion, Co. Kerry. Helped by their family and friends, creative DIY elements were seen throughout the wedding ceremony and onwards to their castle venue, and thanks to Kevin Murphy, all the magic was captured in the images below – time to show them off!
Our real wedding couple, travelled all the way from San Francisco back to Ireland to tie the knot in the wonderful coastal village of Ballybunion. They roped in the help of family, friends and neighbours to set up the incredibly unique ceremony space by cutting the lawn, building a stage, setting out the chairs, sculpting a life-like cake-topper, sourcing the beautiful carpets and tying up colourful bunting – and boy did they pull it off!
Zac and Grace were the stars of the show! Not only did they look the part but they even helped with passing the rings around for a ‘ring warming’ ritual.
So how did these lovebirds’ story begin? Tara recalls: “We met at an Irish bar in San Francisco just after we both moved out there. We were friends for a year before we finally got together. Then one day, Dave got me by surprise when he got down on one knee in Joshua Tree National Park, California!”
Tara’s bridal style speaks is contemporary minimalism at its best, with a glamorous addition of a cathedral cape from Varca bridal, which attached as sleeves and draped magnificently to the floor in dreamy layers. She complemented her style with a pared back ponytail and striking amber earrings that match her bridesmaids to perfection!
The couple praises their wonderful friends and family for helping them with the lead-up to their wedding day. “Since we were stuck in America, we were so thankful that our families and friends could help us with the ceremony venue. We were spoiled really, but also got to enjoy the fun of working together on something with the people we love!” they say. Dave the groom made the creative and eye-catching stained glass party favours that we see glistening throughout the ceremony. “It was such a unique gift. The guests have used them as windchimes, jewellery and decorations. As if that didn’t make me emotional enough, the personal vows were a very special touch too!” says Tara.
Captured above is a beautiful moment as Dave’s sister read a ceremony reading, and was quite emotional while reading the words of Today. The reading was followed by a touching rendition of Enya’s Orinoco Flow on the harp as the newlyweds left the ceremony as husband and wife.
On to the wedding party style! Tara’s bridesmaids added a ray of sunshine to the overcast summer’s day with vibrant pop’s of warm zesty orange gowns. They opted for a relaxed mix-and-match selection of dresses that were tied together with cheerful bouquets bursting with vibrant colours. The gentlemen scrubbed up exceptionally well in their three-piece navy suits, matching bowties and smiles!
Ballybunion is a special spot where the bride has spent every summer growing up. “I love the town and wanted to share it with everyone. It’s a small town, so there were limited options to host a ceremony. I had the wild idea to hold it in a ruins site of a church that my mother used to attend when she was a child. Thankfully the owner of the site was happy to let us use it as long as we got liability insurance.” As for the wedding venue, Ballyseede Castle was the ideal venue for Tara and Dave to host their celebration. “They had the most professional staff that made us feel like royalty and were great at coordinating with us being in a time zone eight hours off. Their beautiful reception room really sealed the deal along with the hanging greenery on the wooden beams made it so charming and intimate,” they add.
The aesthetic was inspired by a popular TV wedding – Ross and Emily’s wedding in Friends – but without the name mix-up of course! The castle wedding day was described as a hectic, all-hands-on-deck, bright and colourful celebration! As a nod to their Joshua Tree proposal, their reception tables were garnished with mini cacti centrepieces!
So what advice did the couple have to offer, especially for those who are planning from abroad: “Everyone who loves you is eager to help you and fulfil your dream wedding. Don’t be afraid to ask for help, and your crazy ideas can come true. In fact, we found that even the people who don’t know you put in so much effort to make you happy too.”
They took to the dancefloor, where The Cazettes rocked the room dancefloor with their epic set! They shared their first dance as husband and wife to Take Yo’Praise by Camile Yarbrough. A very special thank you to the couple and Kevin Murphy for sharing the colourful castle wedding day with us at One Fab Day!
If you enjoyed this beautiful castle wedding, why not check out more here! Don’t forget One Fab Day’s 100 Best Venue Guide for 2022/2023 is available to buy here!
