Wedding of the Week: Puppy love as Sarah and Steve bring their pooches to their Kerry wedding
Sarah Nolan and Steve Clifford. Pictures: Dermotsullivan.com
Their pooches took centre stage when Killarney-based Sarah Nolan and Steve Clifford exchanged wedding vows in Ballyseede Castle Hotel, Tralee, Co Kerry.
Sarah, from Skibbereen, Co Cork, and Steve, from Killarney, were married in December in the venue’s belfry by Alison Driscoll, Bespoke Words.
The couple’s dogs, Tayto and Mona, arrived at the venue beforehand. “They are our pride and joy, so it was very important to us that they were included,” says Sarah. “Tayto and Mona came to the hotel before the ceremony for photos (which was a little risky with the white dress — but it all paid off!).
“We were lucky enough to have the help of Ann from Salty Dogs, who kindly brought them to the venue, made sure they looked their best in their little outfits, and then took them back to her home, where they were spoiled for the rest of the day, and so well looked after.”
Sarah looked super-chic in a Rosa Clara gown purchased at The White Ivy bridal boutique in Kenmare, and Steve was dapper thanks to Tuxedo, Tralee.
The couple had planned that the groomsmen would have “lost” the wedding rings when asked for them. “Our celebrant asked our guests to look under their chairs, where two ring boxes were pre-planted,” says Sarah. “It got a great laugh, but in the madness of the lead-up to it all, we forgot to tell our parents [Mary and Tommy Nolan and Mercy and John Clifford] that this would be happening. They got an awful fright and were scrambling to give us their own rings before they realised it was a set-up!”
Sarah’s sister Rachel Nolan was her maid of honour, and Samirah Thomas and Ella McNally were the bridesmaids.
Steve’s friend Mark Twomey was his best man, and his brother Paul Clifford joined forces with his friend Emmet Heneghan in the role of groomsmen.
The bride’s sister’s fiancé, Ken McVitty, and schoolfriend Marybeth O’Mahony, performed the music for the ceremony, and Sarah’s sister Rachel and dad Tommy sang as the newlyweds signed the register with their moms, Mary and Mercy.
Sarah and Steve first met in 2018 in Dublin, where they were both living at the time, Sarah working as a broadcaster with AA Roadwatch and Steve completing his master’s degree in advertising.
Electric Picnic hit all the right notes for the seasoned festivalgoers’ engagement in 2023. Steve got down on one knee in a wooden cabin by the Hazelwood stage area in the Stradbally sunshine.
Their big day was another big party, add the couple. “Simply put, it was magic,” says Sarah. “Our ceremony was our dream ceremony — lots of laughs, a few tears, gorgeous music. It was so special having people from different chapters of your life all under one roof, beaming up at you.
“The staff at Ballyseede were wonderful. Despite having so many weddings each year, they treated our wedding as if it were their own.”
Steve adds: “Sarah’s dad also did a fantastic job of creating our seating chart — a lovely shelving unit that he built from scratch with pictures of us and our friends.”
Photographer Dermot Sullivan (Dermotsullivan.com) led a shoot that took in the castle’s scenic grounds, where the resident wolfhounds roamed, greeting guests.
For their honeymoon, the newlyweds will travel around Asia in April and May.
Sarah works in communications for UCC and Steve works in advertising for Droga5 Dublin.
- If you would like your wedding featured in , email eve.kelliher@examiner.ie
CONNECT WITH US TODAY
Be the first to know the latest news and updates
