Wedding of the Week: Grace and Nathan’s special day ‘exceeded expectations’

Grace Carvalho and Nathan Whiting are married in Aghada Presbyterian Church, with a reception in Garryvoe Hotel

Sat, 13 Dec, 2025 - 01:00

Eve Kelliher

GRACE CARVALHO and Nathan Whiting were thrilled when their big day “exceeded their expectations”, says the bride.

Grace, who is originally from the village of Orlim in south Goa, and Nathan, from East Ferry, Midleton, exchanged vows in Aghada Presbyterian Church in August in a Baptist ceremony led by Pastor Kevin O’Connor. “Walking down the aisle was a very emotional and exhilarating experience — I never imagined I would be so nervous,” says Grace.

Grace Carvalho and Nathan Whiting. Pictures: Dermotsullivan.com

The bride and groom travelled in style to the reception venue, Garryvoe Hotel, where they celebrated with 130 family members and friends. “A good friend drove us in his elegant BMW, which was very special,” adds Grace. “Post-ceremony was absolutely fun and such a joyful celebration. Overall, it was the best day ever; we were totally over the moon.”

Joining the fun were the bride’s parents, Apolonia and Bosco Carvalho, and the groom's mother and father, Miriam and Peter Whiting. Also wishing them well from Dublin was the groom’s maternal grandmother, Rebecca Gladys Gibson. Grace’s sister, Esther Carvalho, and sisters-in-law, Amy Whiting and Clare Whiting, were her bridesmaids. Nathan’s brother Bobby Whiting was his best man, and his friends Oliver Norton and Jeremy Yon were the groomsmen. The pageboys were Jeremy Gomes, who arrived from Denmark for the occasion, and Soren O'Connor, while the couple’s niece, Rosalie Whiting, and Fiadh Sandquest were the flowergirls.

Grace and Nathan first met in October 2022 at a young adults' evening hosted by Calvary Cork church and got engaged in November 2024 at Inch beach. "Nathan surprised me with the proposal after a sauna and swim session," says Grace. "

Inch beach had been where they had gone on their first date, and similar seaside activities had topped the agenda then, too. "That was also the first time that I went surfing, invited by Nathan, after which we enjoyed a sauna and swim session with Nathan's friends (and now also mine) and their family from Sweden who were visiting," says Grace.

Grace Carvalho and Nathan Whiting with their wedding party. Pictures: Dermotsullivan.com

As they planned their wedding, the couple were determined to have the “best day ever” with friends and family, according to the bride. “Also, we wanted to be close to our home where most of our friends and family live by the beach — and Garryvoe was an ideal location for that,” says the bride.

Any advice for other brides-and-grooms-to-be? “The rehearsals are very important. There will almost always be some minor or major (hopefully not) issues, but it is the best day of your lives and important to prepare yourselves that no matter what happens, you will still enjoy this day to the fullest because it's only once in a lifetime," says Grace.

On their wedding day, photographer Dermot Sullivan (Dermotsullivan.com) was behind the lens and led a shoot that took in scenic Ballycotton.

Grace found her dream dress, a Madi Lane Bridal design, at Cork boutique Memories, and Nathan wore a Benetti suit. “My sister-in-law, Clare, did an amazing job with my makeup, and a friend, Marie-Louise, did a great job with the hair,” says the bride.

Nathan’s mother, Miriam Whiting, and a family friend, Karen Meikel, created all the flower bouquets for the bride and bridesmaids as well as the corsages for the groom and the groomsmen. “And not only that, but she also did a wonderful job decorating the church, which was so beautiful,” says Grace.

DJ Stevie G ensured the dance floor was full. “Our first dance was to ‘A Thousand Years' by Christina Perri. It was so emotional and joyful at the same time, realising we made it and our forever begins now,” says Grace.