Wedding of the Week: Druid ensures Kerry castle wedding is 'out of this world'

Nicola Holly wears pink Jimmy Choos as she and Chayse Byrnes exchange vows in Ballyseede Castle Hotel

Sat, 25 May, 2024 - 02:00

Eve Kelliher

A castle, a druid and a big branch from Dingle — and not to forget 40 Australians wandering around Tralee.

No wonder Nicola Holly and Chayse Byrnes say their wedding was “out of this world”.

Selfie time: The wedding party. Pictures: Louise Scott

Nicola, from Tralee, and Chayse, from Newcastle, New South Wales, were married in Ballyseede Castle Hotel on May 4, by the Dingle Druid Julí Ní Mhaoileóin.

The bride, who is the president of the Irish Australian Support Association of Queensland, adds: “We had so many people from Australia come over — about 40 of our guests — which was very humbling. Tralee was full of Australians!”

Nicola Holly and Chayse Byrnes with their wedding party.

Nicola had not one but three wedding dresses, which she teamed with pink Jimmy Choos. “The main dress was from Milla Nova, an Ukrainian brand, and I purchased it in Brisbane,” she says.

“I changed into a different dress for dancing, from Eliya, a Melbourne label. We hired the boys’ suits from Tuxedo in Tralee.”

Nicola Holly with her parents Mary and Dannie Holly.

The newlyweds began their honeymoon by flying to Italy, seeing what the Amalfi coast had to offer. Now they’re back, exploring Ireland before they return to their base in Brisbane.

It's in Queensland’s capital city that this story began, when they met there in June 2020 — in the middle of the covid pandemic. “Our first date was an adventure climb on Story Bridge in Brisbane, which was a very ambitious first date when you think about it!” says Nicola.

The groom's family: Skye Wenta, Jodi Byrnes, Chayse Byrnes and Ken Byrnes.

Two years later, as soon as travel restrictions eased, they were gazing out at the Atlantic, when they got engaged in Kerry, in April 2022. “After the international borders finally opened in Australia we returned to Ireland. I hadn’t been home in three years,” she says.

Chayse popped the question in Ballybunion, which is where Nicola’s dad is from. “It was unexpected but fab. I hadn’t a clue that Chayse was planning it,” she says.

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Nicola Holly and Chayse Byrnes. Pictures: Louise Scott

Padraig Harris was Nicola’s man of honour and Tamarra Tranter was the maid of honour with Jennifer Savage and Kate Kelliher as the bridesmaids. By Chayse’s side was the best woman Skye Wenta and best man Kalum Gepp, with Darren Holly and Sebastian Thompson as the groomsmen. Sienna Tranter and Briar Wenta were the flowergirls and Roman and Jia Gepp were the pageboys.

Ensuring the bridal look was camera-ready were hair and makeup team Maureen McCarthy of Maureen McCarthy Bridal Hair and makeup artist Maeve Carey.

Wedding photographer Louise Scott captured the big day on camera and Ann Sullivan created the floral arrangements.

Nicola, who is the gallery manager of Griffith University, Brisbane, and Chayse, an industrial spray painter, also celebrated with both sets of parents, Mary and Dannie Holly and Jodi and Ken Byrnes.

Mary and Dannie turned out to be adept wedding planners. “The time difference didn’t make things easy but we got there in the end,” says Nicola.

It was the bride’s mum and dad who sourced their celebrant. “Julí is very much a custodian of Irish culture and folklore. I knew we didn’t want to get married in a church. The Dingle Druid brought in a lot of spiritual elements and also Celtic traditions,” says Nicola.

Julí also brought what the bride describes as “a massive branch from Dingle” — to serve as the ceremonial broomstick.