Wedding of the Week: J1 in San Fran leads to Kerry proposal and big day in Clare

Megan Lawlor and James Ensor are wed at the Armada Hotel, Spanish Point, Co Clare

Sat, 07 Jun, 2025 - 14:05

Eve Kelliher

Once school’s out, it’s summer romance season. For Megan Lawlor and James Ensor, their sunshine chapters have unfolded into a life-long love story.

Megan, a primary school teacher, says: “We met in San Francisco while we were on our J1 in the summer of 2016. We were introduced by a mutual friend, Tomás Barry.”

Six years later, another holiday trip set the scene for the engagement. As Megan and James — who works for Google — motored around Kerry in a campervan, they decided to stop off at Dingle marina, which is where James popped the question in August 2022.

Megan Lawlor and James Ensor. Pictures: Awake and Dreaming

Their pal Tomás played a key role yet again, as groomsman; as Megan, from Ballinasloe, Co Galway, and James, from Sandymount, Dublin, were married recently by celebrant Gráinne McGibney, Atlantic Vows, at the Armada Hotel, Spanish Point, Co Clare — with a reception at the same venue.

“Gráinne made the ceremony so personal. Everyone was raving about how great she was,” says Megan. “A golf cart transported me, my dad, and the bridal party the short journey across from Armada House [where they got ready] to the Armada Hotel. The ceremony music was by Rachel Goode and the flowers were kindly sourced and arranged by the groom’s mother, Lydia Ensor.”

Lydia and the groom’s father Simon Ensor, along with Megan’s parents Caroline and Robert Lawlor, celebrated with the newlyweds, as did the bride’s grandfather, James Lawlor Sr.

“It was very special to have my grandfather in attendance on the day, in his 87th year,” says Megan. “The speeches were also a highlight, especially my dad’s — as I am an only child, it was an emotional day for him and my mam.”

Megan’s close friends Áine Kinsella, Ciara Corbett, Claire Keane, Jane Corbett, and her cousin Sinéad Doherty were her bridesmaids. James had his friends by his side also, with Christian Stevens as best man and Andrew Cloonan, William Shanahan, and Oran Mulvey joining Tomás as groomsmen.

Their big day was “full of laughter, love and lots of dancing”, says Megan: “The food at the Armada Hotel was a standout highlight for the guests, especially the drinks reception snacks [tacos and bao buns] and the duck starter at the meal.”

Brian Dalton performed the entertainment for the drinks reception.

“He set the perfect vibe, accompanied by his friend Johnny,” says Megan. Mixtape had everyone dancing later in the evening. “Our first dance song was an acoustic version of Times Like These by the Foo Fighters [James’s favourite band].”

Megan bought her dream dress at The One by Sinead Corcoran in Rathmines: “It is called ‘The Hamilton’ by Moira Hughes and was so comfy to wear! The veil and earrings were from Kyna Maree online, and I wore shoes from Asos.”

Eilish Moran was the makeup artist.

“My own hairdresser from Dublin, Kelly Griffin, assisted by her friend Ruth, did my hair,” says Megan.

Megan Lawlor and James Ensor with their wedding party. Pictures: Awake and Dreaming

The groomsmen’s suits were from Tector, Rathmines. Photography was by David Olsthoorn and Laurie Brosnan of Awake and Dreaming (Awakeanddreamingweddings.com), with videographer Kevin Caffrey of Little Bear Film.

The newlyweds spent a week in Morocco as “part one” of their honeymoon.

“We plan to go away somewhere else in the summer for ‘Honeymoon: Part Two’.” says Megan. She and James live in Harold’s Cross, Dublin, in the house they bought and renovated last year.