Wedding day
July 13, 2019
O.M.G. That was a wedding like no other! First of all, the weather has been overcast, misty and cold since we arrived in Ireland, but this afternoon, the skies were blue and the temp was in the 70s. Just a gorgeous day!
Steven, Laura, David and i went to Monaghan to find something to eat. The first person we saw was Ciaran. He had completely lost his voice! He could barely even whisper and he was in town looking for a remedy! We grabbed a sandwich, visited the cathedral, and then headed back to our place to get ready for the big day. The clouds cleared away,leaving blue skies. The ceremony took place on the lakes edge with two white swans swimming around and a string quartet playing beautiful music.
Ciaran amd Kristin had written their own vows and Alex Bjorling, Kristin's cousin, officiated. it was a lovely service. once over, cocktails and hors d'oeuvres were served from 4 to 6 while photographs were taken. At 6,we went into a room where every guest had a glass of Prosecco with their name on a little flag stirrer and their Table number.
We were seated with Ned and Stacy Clark and their kids, Matt and Camille, Colin and Carla Buchholz, Linda Funchess, and Rose Brady. The tented room was beautifully decorated and had a billowing and draped ceiling of white fabric which was lit from above by strings of white lights. Seven people gave speeches, including Amanda, the only girl. The others included Ciaran’s dad, brother, and best friend. Al and Allen did as well. The speeches were all very well done. The Irishmen were so hilarious!
The six courses for dinner came with time in between. A basket of assorted breads, crab and avocado cold salad was first, followed by a potato and leek soup. Next was a frozen sorbet with fresh strawberries to prepare the palate for the main course - either a filet of beef or salmon. Root vegetables and mashed potatoes were passed. There were plenty of waiters and they would surround the main table, which had, I figured 32 people, and put down the courses in unison. After the main course, a brownie and ice cream. Then coffee service with homemade petit fours. This meal stretched for about two hours, I suppose. Red and white wine and Prosecco flowed and the bar was open for any other drink you’d prefer. Kristin and Ciaran cut the cake with a sword in some Irish tradition, but the cake was not served yet, that would happen much later!
The dance floor was readied and the band played from 8-midnight. The traditional father daughter and mother son dances, then the bridal party and then a group of Irish dancers came out. They were fabulous! Ciaran and Kristin joined in at one point. From then on it was lots of dancing and Irish love circles, where the crowd surrounds the couple and closes in on them and then back out again over and over. . The last dance was Ciaran and Kristin slow dance to Frank Sinatra’s New York song. Next, a DJ came in and there was more dancing until 2am. At that time, they served the wedding cake and fish and chips. There was a cigar party for the men and a photo booth with crazy props that was busy all night inside the castle.
Beginning around 2, a few of Ciarans friends brought out guitars and they sang Irish folk songs. The closest bar to that room stayed busy still pouring beers, wine and cocktails. Rose had told me that at most Irish weddings, there is a cash bar for the guests after a certain point, but now we’re on about 12 hours of open bar!
The bridal party and family all had rooms in the castle. Amanda and Guece had the Eagles Nest room with a balcony overlooking the lake. Al and Yvette had the room that Paul McCartney and Heather Mills used when they got married here. I don’t know how many rooms they had, but it was several stories of bedrooms with a massive staircase leading the way.
O.M.G. That was a wedding like no other! First of all, the weather has been overcast, misty and cold since we arrived in Ireland, but this afternoon, the skies were blue and the temp was in the 70s. Just a gorgeous day!
Steven, Laura, David and i went to Monaghan to find something to eat. The first person we saw was Ciaran. He had completely lost his voice! He could barely even whisper and he was in town looking for a remedy! We grabbed a sandwich, visited the cathedral, and then headed back to our place to get ready for the big day. The clouds cleared away,leaving blue skies. The ceremony took place on the lakes edge with two white swans swimming around and a string quartet playing beautiful music.
Ciaran amd Kristin had written their own vows and Alex Bjorling, Kristin's cousin, officiated. it was a lovely service. once over, cocktails and hors d'oeuvres were served from 4 to 6 while photographs were taken. At 6,we went into a room where every guest had a glass of Prosecco with their name on a little flag stirrer and their Table number.
We were seated with Ned and Stacy Clark and their kids, Matt and Camille, Colin and Carla Buchholz, Linda Funchess, and Rose Brady. The tented room was beautifully decorated and had a billowing and draped ceiling of white fabric which was lit from above by strings of white lights. Seven people gave speeches, including Amanda, the only girl. The others included Ciaran’s dad, brother, and best friend. Al and Allen did as well. The speeches were all very well done. The Irishmen were so hilarious!
The six courses for dinner came with time in between. A basket of assorted breads, crab and avocado cold salad was first, followed by a potato and leek soup. Next was a frozen sorbet with fresh strawberries to prepare the palate for the main course - either a filet of beef or salmon. Root vegetables and mashed potatoes were passed. There were plenty of waiters and they would surround the main table, which had, I figured 32 people, and put down the courses in unison. After the main course, a brownie and ice cream. Then coffee service with homemade petit fours. This meal stretched for about two hours, I suppose. Red and white wine and Prosecco flowed and the bar was open for any other drink you’d prefer. Kristin and Ciaran cut the cake with a sword in some Irish tradition, but the cake was not served yet, that would happen much later!
The dance floor was readied and the band played from 8-midnight. The traditional father daughter and mother son dances, then the bridal party and then a group of Irish dancers came out. They were fabulous! Ciaran and Kristin joined in at one point. From then on it was lots of dancing and Irish love circles, where the crowd surrounds the couple and closes in on them and then back out again over and over. . The last dance was Ciaran and Kristin slow dance to Frank Sinatra’s New York song. Next, a DJ came in and there was more dancing until 2am. At that time, they served the wedding cake and fish and chips. There was a cigar party for the men and a photo booth with crazy props that was busy all night inside the castle.
Beginning around 2, a few of Ciarans friends brought out guitars and they sang Irish folk songs. The closest bar to that room stayed busy still pouring beers, wine and cocktails. Rose had told me that at most Irish weddings, there is a cash bar for the guests after a certain point, but now we’re on about 12 hours of open bar!
The bridal party and family all had rooms in the castle. Amanda and Guece had the Eagles Nest room with a balcony overlooking the lake. Al and Yvette had the room that Paul McCartney and Heather Mills used when they got married here. I don’t know how many rooms they had, but it was several stories of bedrooms with a massive staircase leading the way.
Comments
Post a Comment