It’s not every day we get to bring you a real wedding inspired by a famous work of art, but thanks to our couple Katelyn and Kieran, here we do just that. Taking place in Co. Cork, in the South of Ireland, a historic cathedral was the epic setting for their I dos as loved ones travelled from California to Cobh, across the Atlantic Ocean, to celebrate in the wedding style! Anna G Photography captured the magic, from every sparkling smile to each flickering candle. With a pastel cottagecore wedding theme, a wedding dress change and DIY stationery that will knock your socks off! Let’s take a closer peep…
We knew we were in for a stylish celebration after witnessing the handmade stationery created by the ever-so-talented bride. The presentation of these fine details is simply gasp-worthy!
Katelyn and Kieran currently live in Atlanta in the US, but first met at a music festival in Seattle. After sparking up conversation, they talked for more than eight hours that day, which was a pretty good indicator that this was something very special. Katelyn explains: “Kieran’s Irish and I am American, but I’ve had an affinity for Barry’s tea for a long time (I have family in Ireland). He said that when I invited him over for the first time and offered him Barry’s tea then he was immediately smitten!”
Wondering how Kieran popped the question? The magic happened in the Botanical Gardens in Atlanta. “I knew that it would be coming sometime soon, but I didn’t know that it would happen that day! My hair was a mess, and I was still in my gym clothes, but the moment was beautiful and simple,” says Katelyn.
Katelyn’s breathtaking wedding dress was by Jasmine Bridal, and features an embellished bodice with sequinned embroidery, with dainty buttons running down the length of her subtle cathedral skirt. She finished her elegant look with pearl drop earrings and a soft upstyle. How adorable is Katelyn’s flower girl wearing a beautiful dress, handmade by Katelyn’s mother. It is clear to see, that the creative apple didn’t fall too far from the tree.
As Cobh in Co. Cork is Kieran’s hometown, the spectacular St.Coleman’s Cathedral served as the idyllic location for the wedding ceremony. “We absolutely loved our ceremony music, sung beautifully by John Daly. We chose many traditional Irish songs that were new to me during our research but quickly became favourites. The song we both liked most was Gabriel’s Oboe, though it’s not Irish,” says Katelyn.
The priorities for Katelyn from the beginning was ensuring she remained calm and present on the day. “For me, that was the only real thing that mattered – that I felt like I was actually there and could enjoy Kieran, my family, and friends. I’ve heard over and over, that your wedding day goes by in a flash and you feel like you don’t get enough time with everyone (which turned out to be so true), and I didn’t want to miss a bit of it and lose focus on what really mattered, which was marrying and sharing that moment with the people we love,” says Katelyn.
Soft and dreamy pastels with a classic and romantic feel were the overall theme of the wedding day, and it was executed to perfection! The six bridesmaids dazzled in dusty rose, paired with loose curls and simple long-stemmed pastel rose bouquets. The men’s three-piece navy suits worked wonderfully with this palette and we love how Kieran differentiated his look from his groomsmen with a snow white tie.
The wedding venue holds a very special place in the hearts of Kieran and his Family – the luxurious Fota Island Resort. Situated on a 780-acre estate, this opulent venue is surrounded by the natural beauty of its surroundings. The newlyweds explain what made it the one: “The venue and ballroom at Fota Island Resort are lovely, and the event coordination team are world-class. It was a perfect choice for us!” One element that Kieran and Katelyn chose to do differently was doing the speeches outside during the drinks reception. “Everyone was still standing with their drinks in their hands, which took some of the formality out of it and made for a more relaxed environment. We really loved this, and several people came up to us afterwards to say that they preferred it too,” they say.
The two main focal points of Katelyn’s mood board drew inspiration from the cottagecore design trend and a painting of a sunset by Monet. The wedding tables were kissed with pastel perfection from the tapered candles to the garden-style floral centrepieces. “I was also very concerned about making the reception party fun. I didn’t want our wedding to feel stuffy, which is hard to do with such a formal event. We kept the lights low, added candlelight, and hired the best band that got everyone laughing and dancing. The aesthetics of the wedding also mattered a lot to me. I created about 20 mood boards until I landed on the final vision, which included lots of soft colours and romantic touches,” she explains.
Katelyn and Kieran opted for a wedding with 140 of their nearest and dearest, and their advice to all those who are on the fence between a small, intimate wedding or having a bigger celebration, is to do the larger wedding if you can make it happen. “The love you feel from everyone is amplified with each person there!” To keep the celebrations going, they jetted off on honeymoon to Florence and the Amalfi Coast. “Italy has it all; amazing food, wine, history, culture, art, and scenery. We also spent a few days in Prague on the tail-end of our journey, and I’d recommend this as a good honeymoon spot. It’s also very romantic while not being as crowded as Florence and the Amalfi Coast, and things are so inexpensive, so you get really nice accommodation and you feel like you’re splurging!” they say.
Check out the couple’s first dance shots! They chose Your Song by Elton John whilst everyone encircled them on the dancefloor to serenade them. It’s one of their favourite memories from the day. Also, is that a second wedding dress we spot? Indeed it is – Katelyn let her hair down – literally!
A very special thank you to the wonderful couple and Anna G Photography for capturing the moments from this elegant Cork wedding day and sharing them with us all on One Fab Day. There are lots more fabulous photos in the gallery below to inspire your own planning.
