Wedding of the Week: Down Under to West Cork, Katie and Kyle celebrate in style
Katie O’Donovan and Kyle Walstow-Smith. Pictures: Dermotsullivan.com
They're based in Australia, so when Katie O’Donovan and Kyle Walstow-Smith exchanged vows in the bride’s native West Cork, they could not have been more delighted.
Katie, from Dunmanway, Co Cork, and Kyle, from Castleford, West Yorkshire, were married in July in St Patrick’s Catholic Church, Dunmanway, by Fr Pat O’Donovan and held their reception in Fernhill House Hotel & Gardens in Clonakilty.
“We live on the other side of the world and don’t get to see friends and family often — we hadn’t been home in three years — so to have all of our loved ones in one room celebrating us was just amazing,” says Katie.
The newlyweds travelled in style in a 2007 Bentley, and both sets of parents, Catherine and Noel O’Donovan and Julie and Shaun Smith, as well as the bride’s grandmother, Maudie O’Donovan, toasted to their future happiness.
Katie’s maid of honour was Grainne O’Donovan, with Mariena McCarthy, Niamh McCarthy, Pamela Murray and Anna Lovell as her bridesmaids, and Kyle chose John Fenwick and Curt Bryan as his best men with Danny Wadsworth, Barry O’Donovan and Steven O’Donovan as the groomsmen. “Ace and Bodhi Walstow-Smith, our two kids, were our pageboys, and Emily McCarthy and my niece Fiadh O’Donovan were the flowergirls,” adds Katie.
The bride and groom’s paths first crossed in February 2020 in Melbourne, where they live. “We met on a night out, exchanged socials, and the rest is history,” says Katie.
They got engaged at Dunmanway Lake in August 2021, on the day of their son Ace’s christening.
Long-distance wedding planning “came with its struggles”, according to the bride, who adds: “The help from family, friends and vendors made it possible. My vision was always the same, simple and just full of love, nothing too fancy.
“Everyone played a part, but if I had to name one person, it would definitely have to be my auntie Dolores. She was always one step ahead of me, and went above and beyond for us — we would have been lost without her, to be honest.”
Shopping for the gown was a real highlight for Katie, who said yes to her dress at Melbourne boutique Raffaele Ciuca. “One of my childhood dreams was to get married, so getting to dress up in all the different styles was so exciting, and I did it when my mum was over visiting, so she got to enjoy the experience with me. Loved it!” she says.
Makeup artist Emily Nowotynski (@emilynova_makeup) and hairstylist Debbie McCarthy (@bridalbyhoneybee) added to the big-day glamour. “Both were absolutely incredible to deal with and made me feel so beautiful on my special day,” says Katie.
Photographer Dermot Sullivan ( Dermotsullivan.com) and videographer Greg Mulcahy captured every special moment for posterity, and West Cork Flowers created the floral décor.
Niamh Kirby was the singer for the church and reception, and Hot Fuss kept the dance floor full. “Our first dance was ‘Say You Won’t Let Go' by James Arthur," says Katie.
“Seeing our two boys out dancing with grandparents, aunts, uncles, childhood friends of ours — some of whom they had never met — filled our hearts with so much love!” Katie, a hairstylist, and Kyle, a machine operator, are now back in Melbourne with Ace and Bodhi. “We did a big family holiday to Tenerife after the wedding — my parents, Kyle’s parents, my two brothers and their partners and my niece, the best honeymoon ever. We may do our own little honeymoon in the new year over here in Australia,” says Katie.
- If you would like your wedding featured in Weekend email eve.kelliher@examiner.ie
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