Wedding of the Week: ‘Our ceremony felt like a reunion concert with our music friends’
Claire Heffernan and Brendan Long. Pictures: Black Diamond Photography
Limerick-based couple Claire Heffernan and Brendan Long met when singing in the same choir so music played a key role on their big day.
In fact, the groom confesses he awoke that morning “hoping that Lidl had enough pastries to feed the choir”. “There were no nerves, and marrying Claire felt like the most natural thing in the world,” he says.
The bride adds: “We dreamed of a ceremony that felt like a reunion concert of our music friends from different parts of our lives, with singers from choirs we were in and are in, musicians from when Brendan used to be in the army band in Cork, and from when I was in Cork School of Music.”
Claire from Limerick, and Brendan from Waterford, were wed in St John’s Cathedral, Limerick, by Fr Niall Mackey, the bride’s grand-uncle, in a Mass co-celebrated by Fr Sean Harmon.
“Our biggest memory is sitting in the church, surrounded by 50 of our friends making music for us — it felt like magic,” says Claire. “All of our ceremony music was significant — so much so that we added our personal ‘programme notes’ to our mass booklets, telling the stories of how we chose each song and its significance to us and our story! For the entrance music (‘The Ground’ by Ola Gjeilo) we had choir and orchestra, conducted by our friend, Daniel. It felt absolutely regal walking down the aisle.”
Claire, a singer/musician, mostly in the wedding industry, and Brendan, who works in the tech industry, first encountered one another in Cork in 2012.
“I joined a choir called Voci Nuove and Brendan was already a member of it. We were friends first and became an item in May 2014,” says Claire. “We got engaged in August 2023 in Magic Kingdom, Disney World, Orlando.”
The reception was in Ashley Park House, Nenagh, Co Tipperary.
“We loved the idea of then heading off to a private venue where we could all relax, guests could stay on site, and where we could have a late-night sing-song around a piano,” says the bride.
“The Trips were our wedding band and DJ. They stole the show towards the end of the night with an acoustic version of ‘Can’t Help Falling In Love’. Our guests surrounded us like a musical hug while we all sang the Elvis song together in harmony!
“Ashley Park’s food is amazing and our wedding cake (Cakes by Deborah) looked like a fairytale and tasted amazing.”
Claire’s friends Louise and Sharon were maid of honour and bridesmaid, and Brendan’s brother Stephen was best man, with his friend Paul as groomsman. “The pageboy and ring bearer was my six-year-old nephew, Sho, who travelled all the way from Tokyo with his dad (my brother), mom, and two brothers. The flower girl was Clodagh, Brendan’s three-year-old niece and goddaughter,” says Claire.
Claire chose her Eva Lendel dress at Lilac Rose Bridal, teamed with a bespoke cape by Orlaith Carroll (owner of The Attic). She sourced her “second-look” evening wedding dress, from the Dominiss label, in Virginia’s Bridal. The men’s suits were from Red Church in Cork City. “My cousin-in-law Claire Heffernan did our hair. Sarah Dineen (SMO Makeup) was an absolute wizard with makeup.”
Black Diamond Photography led the photoshoot and Wedding Stories by Maurice was the videographer. Moss and Mushroom created the floral décor.
The couple’s key advice to other couples? “Hold hands, smile, look around, and soak it in,” says the bride.
The newlyweds honeymooned in Bali and Singapore.
- If you would like your wedding featured in email eve.kelliher@examiner.ie
Read More
CONNECT WITH US TODAY
Be the first to know the latest news and updates
