Wedding of the Week: Winter wonderland at the Woodlands for Caroline and Walter

Caroline O'Sullivan and Walter Dunphy say 'I do' at Fitzgerald Woodlands House Hotel & Spa, Adare, Co Limerick
Wedding of the Week: Winter wonderland at the Woodlands for Caroline and Walter

Caroline O'Sullivan and Walter Dunphy. Pictures: Black Diamond Photography

Sharing engagement news with the mother of the bride-to-be is always special — but for Caroline O’Sullivan it was particularly joyful.

The paths of Caroline, from Lissycasey, Co Clare, and Walter Dunphy, from Waterford City, first crossed in 2011, during their first year at the University of Limerick. “He was studying maths and I was studying cybersecurity and met at the famous Lodge nightclub,” says Caroline.

Caroline O'Sullivan and Walter Dunphy. Pictures: Black Diamond Photography
Caroline O'Sullivan and Walter Dunphy. Pictures: Black Diamond Photography

Walter popped the question nine years later. “Our engagement story is unique in that in December 2020 my mum, Eileen, was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and it was terminal. Without me knowing Walter went shopping for an engagement ring with his mum and sister,” says Caroline. “He proposed in January 2021, during lockdown, in our apartment in Cork, where we were living at the time.

Caroline O'Sullivan and Walter Dunphy. Pictures: Black Diamond Photography
Caroline O'Sullivan and Walter Dunphy. Pictures: Black Diamond Photography

“It [the proposal] was a total shock to me as there was so much going on at the time but it turned out to be the best thing ever as we were able to share the news with my mum and she was so thrilled about the engagement. She passed away a few weeks later but to this day we are delighted that she got to share in our happy news and that it brought her and us so much joy in her final weeks.”

Caroline O'Sullivan and Walter Dunphy. Pictures: Black Diamond Photography
Caroline O'Sullivan and Walter Dunphy. Pictures: Black Diamond Photography

Four years later, Caroline and Walter exchanged vows in Fitzgerald Woodlands House Hotel & Spa in Adare, on January 3, 2025. Celebrant Patricia Irwin led the ceremony and the reception took place in the same venue.

Caroline O'Sullivan with Mairead O'Sullivan, Jessica Dunphy and Emer O'Connor.
Caroline O'Sullivan with Mairead O'Sullivan, Jessica Dunphy and Emer O'Connor.

The bride’s dad Cyril O’Sullivan and the groom’s parents Anna Dunphy and Michael Dunphy helped them plan the big day, as did Caroline’s sister Mairead O’Sullivan (maid of honour), Walter’s sister Jessica Dunphy (bridesmaid), Caroline’s college pal Emer O’Connor (bridesmaid), Walter’s friends Sean Purcell (best man) and Kiren Digpal (groomsman) and Caroline’s brother Cyril O’Sullivan (groomsman).

Caroline O'Sullivan and Walter Dunphy.
Caroline O'Sullivan and Walter Dunphy.

Suppliers went “above and beyond” says Caroline, adding: “We can’t thank David Fitzgerald and his team at the Woodlands enough. David was like a personal wedding planner. Dad forgot his reading glasses and David organised to get his speech printed in big font so he was able to read it. From printing speeches to fixing dicky-bows on suits, David did it all.”

Caroline O'Sullivan and Walter Dunphy. Pictures: Black Diamond Photography
Caroline O'Sullivan and Walter Dunphy. Pictures: Black Diamond Photography

Not even a sporting injury sustained by the groom could slow the action as the Pat Fitz band and DJ Paul Prendiville tuned up. “Walter broke his ankle playing indoor soccer six weeks before our wedding day and we did not know if he would be off crutches by January 3. Safe to say I wasn’t exactly impressed,” says Caroline. But it all worked out: “He may have needed an orthopaedic boot for dancing and the good news is he didn’t leave the dance floor all night so the boot did its job.”

Caroline O'Sullivan and Walter Dunphy. Pictures: Black Diamond Photography
Caroline O'Sullivan and Walter Dunphy. Pictures: Black Diamond Photography

Caroline sourced her dream wedding dress, a Justin Alexander Estelle ballgown-style design, in Cinderella’s Closet, Cork, while the groom and his party were dapper thanks to Esquire Suits, Limerick. Niamh Lee and Coco Rouge formed the hair and makeup team. Black Diamond Photography and Ger Griffin Wedding Film were behind the lens and Victorian Posy, Ennis, created the floral decor.

Caroline O'Sullivan.
Caroline O'Sullivan.

Caroline, a senior systems analyst for Fidelity Investments, Galway, and Walter, who works for Citco, live in Roslevan, Ennis, Co Clare, and chose Paris and Portugal for their honeymoon.

If you would like your wedding featured in Weekend email eve.kelliher@examiner.ie

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