Wedding of the Week: Roman holiday leads to wedding proposal for Áine and Gerard

A twenty-first celebration led to a big day out for Áine O’Callaghan and Gerard Nagle.

They met six years ago at Áine’s friend Donna McInerney’s birthday party in Gerard’s native Edenderry, Co Offaly. “I and all the girls went down from college for the weekend and I never left,” said Áine.

Áine, from Millstreet, Co Cork, organised a holiday in Rome as a surprise Christmas present for Ger — but as it turned out it was she who was left speechless once they arrived in the Eternal City in January of last year. “It was wonderful — Ger brought me up to this viewing point at night time and popped the question,” she said.

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“I’m a massive foodie and he had dinner booked in a Michelin Star restaurant in the hills of Rome — I don’t know which I was more excited about, the proposal or the dinner!”

They exchanged vows in St Patrick’s Church in Millstreet in a Mass led by Canon John Fitzgerald and Fr Paddy Byrne and singer Sibéal performed in the church.

“We are extremely close to our families and both our parents come from large families so it was such a massive family celebration and wonderful to have all relations together,” said the bride.

The celebrations at the reception venue, the Great Southern Killarney, continued from Friday until Monday over the August bank holiday weekend. “The Great Southern is the most special and magical place where every member of staff can not do enough for you,” said the bride.

“Denise Kelliher was the wedding planner and she made the day so perfect and was a pleasure to work with. This venue also holds a very special place in my family as my father’s mother worked there and my dad also worked on building the convention centre there many years ago.”

The wedding photography was by international award-winning photographer Micheál O’Sullivan. “The weather was unfortunately not on our side, it was a wet and miserable weekend, but Micheál got the most amazing scenic photos,” said Áine.

The bride was very close to her grandmother, Theresa Perdisatt, and remembered her in a special way on the occasion. “We knew her as Mammy P and she was a massive part of my and all my cousins’ lives,” said the bride.

“Not many people would have noticed but we included thistles and a lot of blue in the wedding flowers and that was to represent her as she was from Doonun in Scotland. In addition, my mother Veronica and her sisters Jacinta, Fionna and Siobhan all wore one Mammy P’s rings to make sure she was with us on the day as she loved attending Mass and church in Millstreet.”

Mother-of-the-bride Veronica also proved the perfect wedding planner. “We would like to say a special thanks to my parents Veronica and Micheal O Callaghan who were an amazing support for us both,” added the bride. “Without my mother’s management skills the day wouldn’t have been a success at all, if all else fails I think she can make it as a wedding planner on her retirement!”

The bridal party featured Áine’s childhood friends, twins Fiona O’Donoghue (maid of honour) and Blathnaid O’Donoghue (bridesmaid) and, of course, Donna McInerney, bridesmaid.

Maid-of-honour Fiona’s daughter Meabh Boland was flowergirl.

Richard Whelan was by Ger’s side as best man with Greg Quinn and Kenneth Garry as groosmen and Ben Cullen as pageboy.

Áine looked stunning in a Mark Lesley dress while the groom was dapper in a Louis Copeland suit.

The bridal hair and makeup were by Tricia O’Sullivan and Annette O’Brien respectively. “Both were absolutely amazing and a pleasure to work with,” said the bride.

Garden Of Eve, Millstreet. Created the floral arrangements while All Events Limos provided the wedding transport.

The couple describe their wedding as “a very relaxed, fun time”. “The day was so special to us as everyone we had wanted came from all over Dublin, Cavan and Edenderry even family and friends from the states to celebrate with us,” said Áine.

Providing the entertainment at the reception were the band Deuces Wild and The Loungeman Conor O’Shea.

The newlyweds enjoyed a road trip around New Zealand for their honeymoon.

“Ger’s a dairy and beef farmer so he really wanted to see the farming culture over there so we went on a road trip around the north and south island which was amazing then for my little bit of luxury we stopped off in Singapore and stayed in the amazing Marina Bay Sands,” said Áine.

The bride, an accident and emergency nurse, and groom will reside on Gerard’s farm in Edenderry.