Wedding of the Week: Halloween vows are 'a dream come true' for Cork-based couple
Clara Donnelly and Dmytro Bykovskyy with Anna O'Donoghue, Irene Donnelly, Max Bykovskyy, and Peter Losberg. Pictures: Black Diamond Photography
SAYING their "I do's" at Halloween was “a dream come true” for this Cork-based couple, according to bride Clara Donnelly.
Clara and her bridegroom Dmytro Bykovskyy were married this time last year at Ballygarry Estate Hotel & Spa, Tralee, Co Kerry.
“I have always been a big fan of Halloween — even more than Christmas — between dressing up for the occasion and seeing the dragon on Shandon Street [the 36-foot Samhain dragon that leads a night-time parade in Cork] to watching , and ,” says Clara.
Although the bride, from Listry, Co Kerry, and the groom, who is originally from Lithuania and spent his early childhood in Ukraine before settling in Cork, both studied at the Institute of Technology in Tralee they did not meet until both moved to Cork.
“We first exchanged long conversations on Bumble,” says Clara. “Our first date started with sushi in Wasabi, then coffee, then Baracadia for some video games and a disastrous game of pool.”
Dmytro popped the question on December 5, 2021, on Knockomagh Hill overlooking Lough Hyne in West Cork and three years later they were wed by humanist celebrant Denis Hobson.
Clara chose her sister Irene Donnelly to be her maid of honour and her college friend Anna O’Donoghue to be her bridesmaid. Her nieces Jessica and Amber Donnelly were the flowergirls and her nephews Oisin and Christopher Donnelly were the pageboys.
Dmytro’s twin brother Max Bykovskyy and Peter Losberg, Skibbereen, were the groomsmen.
The star of the show was Bram Donnelly-Bykovskyy, Clara and Dmytro's son, who was the ring bearer. “Bram had been due on Halloween the year before but had arrived two days later — so on our wedding day he was just shy of two days from turning one,” says Clara.
We are speaking this week as Clara, Dmytry and Bram — named after the author, of course — mark their first anniversary, together with the family’s latest addition, Bram’s younger brother, Torin, who was born this summer.
For the big day, Ballygarry’s general manager Thys Vogels and wedding co-ordinator Amanda O’Connor brewed up a magical atmosphere, adds Clara. “It was amazing to have the whole event in one place and Thys and it was all so chill,” she says.
Kaspars Sarovarcenko Black Diamond Photography captured the occasion on camera. “We had a Halloween theme — but overall we kept it very minimal,” says Clara. “We had masks for people if they wanted to wear them — they were more masquerade-style masks than scary Halloween masks!”
The bride, who works for Amazon, and groom, an officer with the Irish Navy, received a a guard of honour from Dmytro’s naval colleagues.
“There was an arch of swords ceremony entering and exiting the chapel,” says Clara. “It was very cool, actually!”
Clara’s parents Marie and Eamon Donnelly and Dmytro’s mother and father Valeriy and Lyudmyla Bykovskyy helped lead the celebrations, with guests arriving from across Ireland the world.
Clara looked ethereal in a Madison James gown which she sourced in The White Ivy, Kenmare, and the groom purchased his tux at Simply Suits, Cork. Sandra Flynn of Sandra Flynn Beauty, Clara’s sister-in-law, was the makeup artist and Amy O’Donoghue was the hairstylist.
Maura Sheehy, Maura’s Cottage Flowers, created the floral arrangements and Gabi’s Cakes, Killorglin, baked the wedding cake. “Fergus O’Sullivan performed on saxophone for the wedding ceremony, and. Sax on Fire, our wedding band, kept the party going, adds Clara.
The newlyweds and Bram enjoyed a “familymoon” in Sheen Falls Lodge, Kenmare.
- If you would like your wedding featured in Weekend email eve.kelliher@examiner.ie
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