Wedding of the Week: Outdoor humanist ceremony was ‘dream come true’ for Cork couple
Gemma Hayes and Paul O’Regan. Pictures: Ted Murphy
This Cork couple’s wedding day was “a dream come true”, according to bride Gemma Hayes.
Gemma, from Carrignavar, and Paul O'Regan, from Kerry Pike, exchanged vows in an outdoor humanist ceremony at Fernhill House Hotel, Clonakilty, Co Cork, in July, led by celebrant was Norma McElligott. “It was so special,” says the bride.
Gemma chose her lifelong best friend, Conor Cronin, as her man of honour while her college pals Nicola Walsh and Alice O’Shaugghnessy were her bridesmaids along with her cousin Ella Barty.
Paul’s brother Kevin O’Regan was by his side as his best man and his brother Graham O’Regan, cousin Jack O’Shea and nephew Seán O’Connell were the groomsmen.
The groom’s cousin Addison Landon was the flower girl and nephew Noah O’Connell was the pageboy.
Toasting to the newlyweds’ future happiness at the reception, which was at the same venue, were both sets of parents, Sally and John Hayes and Deborah and Pat O’Regan and Gemma’s grandfather Edwin Barty and Paul’s grandmother is Celia O’Shea.
Gemma and Paul, who have known one another since they were 18, started dating in 2019, when they were 25 “with the help of Tinder”, they say. “Paul had been travelling in New Zealand and had moved back to Cork,” says Gemma.
“He had put a bib on our dog Beamish with the words, ‘Will you marry my dad?’ written on it,” says Gemma.
Despite being a sizeable Bernese German shepherd cross, Beamish’s performance as he walked about displaying the message went unnoticed by Gemma. “I didn’t see it, so I ended up carrying on with my evening and going to bed,” she says.
Luckily, Paul succeeded in asking her to marry him that November 2023. He went down on one knee on Titchfield Haven beach during a holiday in England. “We were staying with my uncle, Pete Barty, so it was really special as family were able to celebrate with us,” she says.
Beamish and the couple’s cat Luna didn’t join them on their big day — “It would have been too chaotic!” says Gemma — so the couple ensured a photograph of the four-legged family members featured on their wedding booklet.
Gemma looked super-chic in a dress from Sharon Hoey in Dublin. “Paul got his suit in Red Church in Cork. My hair was done by Christine O’Sullivan and the makeup artist was Jessica O’Sullivan,” she says.
Harpist Carys Ann Evans performed the ceremony music and wedding band The Aristocrats was followed by DJ Patrick Ahern at the reception. “Our best man, Kevin, used to be the lead singer with the band so he got up and sang — he sang 'Mr Brightside' by The Killers,” says Gemma.
Both Gemma and Paul “absolutely loved” planning the event. West Cork Flowers looked after the floral décor. “The cake was made by Paul’s aunt Therese Landon,” says the bride.
Behind the lens were photographer Ted Murphy ( Tedmurphy.ie) and videographer Ian Armstrong from Story Begins Wedding Films. “We also had a content creator, Bethan + Mark weddings,” adds Gemma.
Gemma is a medical scientist in the blood transfusion laboratory in the Mercy University Hospital in Cork and Paul is a data analyst for Cystic Fibrosis Registry of Ireland, live Killard, Blarney. “Our honeymoon was amazing, we went to Mauritius to chill out and then South Africa to do a safari,” says the bride.
- If you would like your wedding featured in Weekend email eve.kelliher@examiner.ie
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