In this gorgeous wedding, rustic meets romantic! The barn wedding venue perfect complemented the fresh wildflowers, floating candles and twinkling fairy lights. This wedding theme comes to life with the colourful decor, flowers and bridesmaids dresses.
We had Catherine Casey on our Wedding Wednesdays Podcast this week, talking about her wedding. Take a listen here!
Couple: Catherine & Damien
Engagement length: Under 2 years
Wedding date: 2024-05-11
Wedding location: Hotel Doolin
Photographer: Paudie Healy
Catherine and Damien’s love story began when they met on a night out in Killarney. Fast forward to August 2022, when they got engaged Bali!
This is the story from Catherine’s perspective:
“Damien arranged for a driver, Benny, to take us around for the day. He brought me to the most breathtaking viewing spot. Benny mentioned he had never visited this place before, so I invited him to join us. Unbeknownst to me, I was inadvertently sabotaging my own engagement! Eventually, Benny gave us some privacy, and that’s when Damien got down on one knee. It was absolutely perfect.”
Their wedding venue was a rustic barn with fresh wild flowers, floating candles and twinkling fairy lights. They embraced a colourful theme and opted for rainbow bridesmaid dresses, and every detail, from the mass booklets to the signage and decor, reflected this pastel palette.
“We aimed for a mix of heartfelt emotion during the speeches and lively entertainment, and I’m thrilled to say I think we hit the nail on the head. The atmosphere was electric, with so much laughter and tears. We set out to have one big party and we definitely achieved that.”
Catherine wore a fit and flare dress from Pearls and Lace in Donegal.
“I can’t praise the team there enough—they made the experience truly special. The dress featured capped sleeves and lace cutouts on the sides. Kathleen Gallwey added pearls along the neckline and down the back, with clusters of pearls on the sides.
Damien wore a tux from Simply Suits. He was extra handsome!
Hair and makeup was done by Niamh Lee & Aine McMahon – both were absolutely incredible and they made the girls and I feel amazing.”
The bridesmaids wore pastel midi dresses with cowl necks and bows on each shoulder. Catherine sourced the fabric from Threads of Green in Kilkenny, and the dresses were beautifully made by Magic Stitch in Killarney. Diane brought their vision to life perfectly!
The groomsmen looked incredibly dapper in their tuxedos from Simply Suits in Killarney.
“On the morning of the wedding, my bridesmaids and I wore fabulous personalised robes by Hanalee Studios. The quality was amazing and they photographed so well.”
Catherine and Damien describe their ceremony as ‘absolutely perfect’.
“Our priest, Fr. Larry Kelly, conducted a beautiful mass and remembered my beloved aunt, whom we lost last September, which meant so much to us. I walked up the aisle to ‘Bless The Broken Road,’ beautifully sung by the incredible Sharon Lyons.
My auntie Pat wrote an amazing poem about Damien and I and recited it so eloquently. It was so special.
Our flower girl and page boy, our niece Hanóra and my little cousin Milo, stole the show as they walked up the aisle. They were so cute!
Ian (amazing) from Órga car hire greeted us with a beautiful vintage car and took us to Doonagore Castle which was a fabulous backdrop for our photos.”
The party continued at Hotel Doolin, a barn-style wedding venue.
“Although we had never attended a wedding there before, we were completely sold after our first visit. We fell in love with its rustic charm and the lovely outdoor area perfect for a drinks reception. We also hosted our Day 2 BBQ there, allowing our friends and family to enjoy the entire weekend together. We couldn’t recommend it enough. Our wedding coordinator, Niamh, was absolutely flawless. The food and the craic were a perfect 10/10.”
The festivities were beautifully captured by Paudie Healy!
“Where do I even begin with Paudie? From the moment he arrived, he brought a sense of fun and relaxation that radiated through every single photo he captured. We couldn’t have asked for better weather, and with the gorgeous backdrop of Doolin, Paudie worked his magic to ensure that every shot was nothing short of perfect.
We had a specific vision in mind for our photos—natural, candid moments—and Paudie absolutely nailed it.
If you’re in search of a wedding photographer who not only captures stunning images but also brings a sense of fun, enthusiasm, and professionalism to your special day, then look no further than Paudie. He exceeded all of our expectations and then some.”
Catherine is so happy she has a wedding video! Here’s what she said about Stephen from Odicci Films:
“His keen eye for detail and his ability to blend seamlessly into the background allowed him to capture the most intimate and spontaneous moments without ever feeling intrusive.
We had the pleasure of witnessing Stephen’s work firsthand when he filmed Damien’s sister and her husband’s wedding, and the result was nothing short of spectacular. His ability to capture their love story left us amazed, and we knew without a doubt that we wanted him to document our own journey.
We’re so excited to see our video and relieve all those special moments!”
Catherine and Damien went big on entertaining their guests! Here’s what they planned:
The wedding band, Pat Fitz Band, got the dance floor buzzing all night long. Paudie Walsh then kept the energy high as the wedding DJ!
“To add an extra touch of fun to our drinks reception, we invited the mind-blowing Oisin Foley, a magician and mind reader, to entertain our guests. He is such a talent.”
And then came the big surprise: the singing waiters, Love Shack, who had everyone fooled with their brilliant act.
“With one waitress dramatically collapsing to the floor and the other hilariously addressing me by the wrong name, they had everyone in stitches before bursting into song, getting every single person up on their feet. It was an unforgettable highlight of the evening that had everyone talking.”
They chose to forgo traditional wedding favours and instead made a donation to the Irish Cancer Society.
“This was in memory of Damien’s lovely aunt in law, my uncle who is in palliative care, and my bridesmaid and best friend, Clio, who bravely battled this horrible disease and thankfully overcame it. With cards from the Cancer Society placed on each table, it was our way of honouring those we have lost and supporting everyone affected by cancer.”
They both have countless highlights from the day! Here’s what Catherine had to say:
“The morning was filled with so much laughter, as I shared special moments with my best friends, creating memories that I’ll cherish forever.
Doing a first look with my parents was incredibly emotional—my family means everything to me, and their love and support filled my heart.
But one of the most unforgettable moments was seeing Damien’s smile as I made my way down the aisle. In that instant, all my nerves melted away, and I was overcome with a sense of peace and contentment. It was a surreal “pinch me” moment, a reminder that I was about to marry not just the love of my life, but my best friend.”
We love asking newlyweds for their best wedding advice and Catherine gave some incredibly helpful and unique tips:
“Your suppliers know what they are doing. They have done this umpteen times before so put your trust in them. Trusting complete strangers can be quite nerve-wracking, but they’ll really go the extra mile.
Create a wedding email and email all of your suppliers using this so you don’t lose any emails. Make an excel sheet of deposits paid plus the date so there is no confusion.
Take as many photos as you can before your ceremony. After this, it becomes a little crazy. Make a list of photos you want to capture and give this to your photographer. The day goes so fast so you don’t want to forget any.
Stop checking the weather!! I was glued to the weather app for 10+ days before the wedding and it was constantly changing and this got me so down. Unfortunately, it is out of our control – rain, hail or shine you will have a ball.
Savour each and every moment of this special day. It flies by in the blink of an eye! This day is all about you and your partner, surrounded by your family and friends. Don’t sweat the small stuff. Take it all in.”
Suppliers
Photographer: Paudie Healy | Videographer: Odicci Films | Ceremony venue: Corpus Christi Church, Lisdoonvarna | Reception venue: Hotel Doolin | Planner/coordinator: Niamh Burke | Magician: Oisin Foley | Musician/band: Pat Fitz Band | DJ: Paudie Walsh | Hair: Niamh Lee | Makeup: Aine McMahon | Tan: The Beauty Room, Miriam | Couple’s outfits: Pearls and Lace and Simply Suits | Wedding party outfits: Magic Stitch & Simply Suits | Celebrant/solemniser: Fr. Larry Kelly | Stationery: Ruby Roo Design | Jewellery/rings: Keanes Jewellers | Accessories: Robes & PJs – Hanalee Studios, Earrings – Megan Therese Couture | Flowers: West Clare Flowers | Music: Sharon Lyons | Singing Waiters: Love Shack | Wedding Car: Orga Wedding Car Hire
