Wedding of the Week: Vintage Escort takes pride of place at Reuben and Niamh’s big day
Niamh O’Connor and Reuben O’Hea with Niamh's dad's Ford Escort Mk2. Pictures: Janusz Trzesicki Photography
A RED Ford Escort owned by the father of the bride motored into the limelight as it ferried Niamh O’Connor to say "I do" to Reuben O’Hea.
Jerry O’Connor, a mechanic, had ensured his red MK2 Mexico was in such good order that it “stole the show”, say the bride and groom.
“It had not been taken out for a spin in many years, but Jerry managed to get it running just in time for the big day, while Niamh's uncle Denis had polished it to perfection,” says Reuben, from Woodfield, Clonakilty, Co Cork.
Niamh, from Banteer, Co Cork, adds: “I had spent many a Sunday as a back-seat passenger in my childhood, so to be driven to the wedding ceremony in that same car by my dad really meant a lot.”
To their delight, other "star attractions" awaited Niamh and Reuben at Ballyseede Castle Hotel, Tralee, Co Kerry, in the form of the venue’s two resident Irish wolfhounds, Joe and Dolan — Dolan being the castle's newest wolfhound pup.
"We are both huge dog lovers," says Niamh.
Celebrant Linda Foley led the civil ceremony, and Niamh’s walk up the aisle made her “extremely nervous”, says the bride: “I could actually feel my legs trembling, but the moment Reuben and I saw each all the nerves melted away. We both just felt pure joy.”
Reuben agrees: “Meeting one another at the top of the aisle was a ‘pinch me’ moment.”
The couple's paths first crossed on December 28, 2016, in a busy McSorley’s nightclub in Killarney. “It was after a Coronas concert in the INEC,” says Niamh.
They got engaged while travelling in New Zealand and Australia in spring 2024, on Tallow Beach, Byron Bay, in April 2024.
Their big day “completely surpassed” their expectations, she adds. “It was out of this world and felt very ‘us’,” says the bride.
Leading the celebrations were Niamh's parents, Joan and Jerry O’Connor, Reuben's mother and father, Mary and James O’Hea, and Niamh's grandfather, Paddy Hennessy. Niamh’s friends Vicky O’Mahony and Marguerite Roche were her bridesmaids, and Reuben’s pals Tom Nyhan, Gearoid Brennan, Jack Barrett and Eamonn Downey were his groomsmen.
The bride wore an ultra-chic Havana gown by Herms Bridal, bought at De Stafford Bridal, Nenagh, Co Tipperary, wth alterations by Urata Designs, Ballincollig. Ruthanna Crowley was the bridal makeup artist, and Laura Boyle created the bridal hairstyles.
The groom and his party sourced their suits at Deasy Suit Hire, Rossmore, Clonakilty.
Janusz and Justyna Trzesicki (Janusztphotography.com) were the wedding photographers, and 2Pot Film House was the videographer.
Maura Sheehy of Maura’s Cottage Flowers created the floral décor.
Reuben’s mum, Mary, baked wedding cakes and his cousin, Aileen Hickey of West Cork Cakes, iced and decorated them.
“Reuben’s brother Cian, a carpenter, made the cake stands and did a reading, Reuben’s brother Tomás, a pianist, performed during our ceremony, and my brother Diarmuid and Reuben’s brother Barry did the readings,” says Niamh.
Reuben adds, “Niamh’s dad, Jerry, does sound engineering for different musicians around Cork as a weekend hobby. His friends, Jack Doherty and Der O’Riordan (Remedy), joined forces with John Murphy (bass guitar), Diarmuid Galvin and John Murphy (drums) to create the most talented wedding band to ever exist! Tim Mullane provided the brilliant music at our drinks reception.
“Our DJ, Patrick Ahern, kept the dance floor full until the early hours.”
Before their Madeira honeymoon, the Carrigtwohill-based newlyweds spent a night in Barrow House, Fenit.
Niamh is a primary school teacher at Carrigtwohill Community NS, and Reuben is a researcher and lab manager with H&H Research in Moorepark, Fermoy.
- If you would like your wedding featured in email eve.kelliher@examiner.ie
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