Wedding of the Week: Kerry couple elope to Las Vegas to say 'I do'
'Elvis', Aine Sheehan and Michael Anthony O'Sullivan.
Kerry couple Aine Sheehan and Michael Anthony O’Sullivan eloped to Las Vegas to tie the knot.
Aine, from Carhan, Caherciveen, and Michael Anthony, from Gleesk, Kells, both now based in Carhan, exchanged vows in the Bliss Wedding Chapel on September 21.
“We had the time of our lives and it was the day of our dreams,” says Aine.
The bride started planning in February to ensure every detail was in place.
“It was very difficult to do it in secret (no one knew this was happening except for my sister Joan Sheahan and our witnesses) but it all paid off and we achieved the element of surprise for all our family and friends when we finally revealed the news,” she adds.
“We had three guests in total — they were friends from home who are living in the US — Brian O’Neill, Marie O’Mahony and Paul O’Dwyer.”
Aine and Michael Anthony’s families have been friends for years. “He and I have been pals from when we were knee-high, right through to our teenage years – with no romantic intentions.”
This changed in 2008 after a night out in the Harp nightclub in Caherciveen. “And the rest is history!” says Aine.
Neither was keen on a conventional big day, they add. “We wanted a wedding which was cool, casual, and quirky with as little stress as possible so we could both enjoy it, so when we first visited Vegas on a holiday in 2010, straight away, we both knew it was our dream future wedding destination,” says Aine.
The day started at 9am when a “glam squad” arrived at their hotel to attend to the bride.
“The groom’s morning was a lot more laidback with a ‘lads’ breakfast’, a stroll on the Vegas strip and some sneaky gambling,” she adds.
“At 1pm we had a ‘first look’ at the fountain in Caesars Palace Hotel lobby. This is when we finally got to see each other in our wedding attire, and it was a nice moment with loads of cheers from random onlookers. We rang our parents to reveal the news we were getting married in an hour which was met with serious excitement and made it all very real.”
The couple were ferried from the hotel to the chapel for the 3pm ceremony, which was officiated by “the King” himself.
“Our ‘Elvis’ treated us to four classic songs, dancing and plenty of laughs throughout the proceedings,” adds Aine.
“Our three guests were in the chapel. My sister Joan (who was the only one who knew the wedding was happening), my mam (who had found out an hour beforehand) and my three-year-old miniature dachshund Ispini attend virtually from at home in Caherciveen on Facetime.”
The bride wore a Nadine Merabi dress, and the groom paired Tommy Hilfiger trousers with an Eton shirt.
“It was always my vision that we'd step out in red-soled shoes for the big day so we both wore Christian Louboutins (my heels were higher and not quite comfortable as groom’s trainers),” adds Aine.
Their wedding photoshoot took the couple along Fremont Street which is often referred to as ‘Old Vegas’.
“It is quintessential Vegas with bright lights, bustling bars and casinos and a lively atmosphere. We walked around Fremont Street and then had Elvis drive us around in an open-top pink Cadillac,” adds the bride.
“We had our wedding meal in the Top of World restaurant in Las Vegas which is located on the 106th floor of the iconic Stratosphere Tower. It is 844 feet above Las Vegas Boulevard.”
The bride and groom had begun the trip of a lifetime in Miami. “We then travelled to Vegas, and on to Hawaii for the official honeymoon in Turtle Bay Resort and finished with some retail therapy in New York,” says Aine.
The bride works for Fexco and the groom is an electrician.
- If you would like your wedding featured in Weekend, email eve.kelliher@examiner.ie
CONNECT WITH US TODAY
Be the first to know the latest news and updates
