MEGHAN & ALEX
“We had the privilege of working with Love & Gatherings for the planning and styling of our wedding and we could not be more grateful. As an American couple getting married in Ireland, they made the process of planning a wedding abroad so easy. We were left speechless throughout the day all thanks to the work of the L&G team.”
A traditional church ceremony & classically refined castle reception
Classic Elegance for this Irish Castle Wedding
There are weddings that stay with you — not just in the photographs, but in the particular quality of light on a given evening, the hush before the church doors open, the moment a room full of people collectively catches their breath. Meghan and Alex's day at Luttrellstown Castle was precisely that kind of wedding, and I can't help but admit that I feel an enormous privilege, even now, in having been the one they trusted to bring it all to life.
What made this one particularly special to me was the love story behind it. Twelve years together — from a chance meeting at senior homecoming in Colorado, through college, graduate school, New York City, and eventually… to Ireland. Alex proposed at sunrise on the shores of Dingle Bay, which is honestly the most romantic thing I have ever heard, and the decision to get married here was made over a Thai dinner after a long day of touring venues in New York. I love that. I love that Ireland won over a takeaway dinner, because that is exactly what this country does — it gets under your skin, quietly and completely.
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As a luxury wedding planner based in Ireland, helping destination wedding couples find the venue is always the goal, and Luttrellstown Castle is one of those venues that simply delivers. We dressed the long dining tables in plush velvet napkins and lined them with candles until the room glowed like something out of a painting. The Library with its roaring fire, a Guinness pub setup that had guests absolutely delighted, and a surprise performance by Irish dancers — this was the kind of castle wedding that Ireland does best, and it was every bit as elegant as it was genuinely fun.
The flowers — all white blooms with trailing greenery by The Studio Florist — were exactly what I had hoped for: simple yet elegant, noticeable without ever competing with that incredible room. And I must confess to a small behind-the-scenes moment… Meghan's bouquet was very nearly left behind at the castle before the church ceremony. Rather than let that detail derail a single second of her morning, I quickly fashioned a makeshift arrangement from the church's own flower arch, and truly, I think it was one of my better improvisations (though I cant say the rather particular Jules, of The Studio Florist agreed). These things happen, and you handle them, and that's why you have a planner. Meghan, in her breathtaking Ines Di Santo gown, deserved to walk down that aisle with flowers in her hands, and she did.
The ceremony at the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary was genuinely moving. Meghan and Alex had shared a faith throughout their relationship — Sunday Mass with her grandparents was a fixture of their college years together — and you could feel that meaning in the room. These are the moments that remind me why I do this work. I've been fortunate to witness many ceremonies as a wedding planner in Dublin, but the ones rooted in something true to the couple always land differently.
And then came the evening — candlelight, Guinness, laughter, Irish dancers, and two people surrounded by everyone they love, in a castle, in Ireland, twelve years after a homecoming dance in Colorado. Michael from Story of Eve captured every bit of it, brilliantly.
I am so grateful to Meghan and Alex for choosing Ireland, for choosing Luttrellstown, and for choosing me. If you're dreaming of a destination wedding in Ireland or a castle wedding of your own, I'd love to hear from you… do say hello.
PLANNING & design: Love & gatherings
PHOTOGRAPHY: Story of Eve
VENUE: Luttrellstown Castle
CHURCH: Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary
BRIDAL WEAR: Ines Di Santo, Anna Bé, Denver
FLORALS: The Studio Florist
STATIONERY: The Ivory Feather
CAKE: Colhoun Creations
HAIR: Michelle Grimes
MAKEUP: Mandi Jay
“My favorite part about working with Kate was her thoughtful recommendations - whether it be suggesting the best floral arrangements for a certain part of the venue or bringing in a Guinness-only bar to add life to a room, Kate always knows exactly what is needed to make the details unforgettable. If you are looking for a wedding planner in Ireland look no further than Kate!”