Some practical advice from recently married West Cork-based couples.

This article was featured in our Weddings West Cork 2026 magazine – you can read the full magazine here!

Alana and Kenneth

TWO hot water bottles were the most important accessories for Alana Murphy who travelled from her Kinsale home to her wedding venue in a 1921 Standard, without windows, despite it being barely above zero degrees. 

Alana and her family are huge vintage car enthusiasts and their impressive collection of vehicles, including miniature steam engines were always going to play a role in her nuptials last December. 

Her husband Kenneth O’Leary (known as Chops) travelled in Alana’s brothers 1922 Dodge while the bridesmaids came in a 1938 Austin. 

Her sister-in-law’s 1974 Fiat 500 and two of her family’s miniature steam engines, one of which she usually drives, were also on display at their venue, Innishannon House Hotel last December 30th and for the after party on New Year’s Eve. 

‘We have such fun during the year with these so it only felt right they were brought for the wedding fun too,’ said project manager Alana. 

The couple had an intimate and fun wedding ceremony with 51 adults and eight children, followed by celebration  with 180 adults and eight kids the following night. 

‘New Year’s Eve has become a let-down of a night for so many so I suggested that for a party night and worked backwards from there and it worked brilliantly!’ said Alana. 

‘Our wedding was officiated by the joyful celebrant Patricia Stephens. We did a ring warming, overseen by my niece Amelia, our glitterball princess! Instead of traditional poems etc, we got our nieces and nephews to share some fun lines, it was great to have them involved. They also had bells which they rang when we got married. Instead of traditional candles, we used my family’s engine lamps, to make it more personal to us.

‘We got a friend of ours, Shona O’Shea to sing and a neighbour, Kiely Lehane, to play the harp. They took so much time to come together and practice, on the day they made it so much more personal and meaningful. One song didn’t work well on the harp, so they enlisted Shona’s brother Charlie to help on the guitar, it was a lovely surprise,’ said Alana. 

The vibe throughout was meaningful yet relaxed celebrations. 

‘We focused on adding in personal touches from newspapers on the tables outlining the day, to kids involvement, table names and even anniversary cards from each table for us to read in years to come. 

‘We also got a live illustrator Sarah Rohu to help capture those that came – so often  you attend weddings and there is no evidence of you being there. All our guests were captured having fun!’

Alan’s top advice for brides to be is to focus on what’s important to you and prioritise that:  ‘We wanted fun – our hotel and photographer helped us with that vision. Remember to breathe, if something or somebody was booked out it wasn’t meant to be! Have trust in your service providers and join some Facebook groups to see the bridezilla comments – they  really ground you!’

Katie and Stephen

Drimoleague Church Wedding Ceremony, Fernhill House Hotel Wedding Reception, Owenahincha Beach Sunset Bridal Photographs, Winter Wedding In Ireland

WHEN Katie O'Driscoll and Stephen Crowley first crossed paths on the football pitch at Clann na nGael u10s training they had no idea they’d end up as team mates for life!

Both from Drimoleague, they got married in a traditional ceremony in All Saints Church in Drimoleague, last December 6th. 

‘That was actually where we both received our Confirmation together back in 2007!’ said Katie, a primary school teacher in Bantry.  ‘The celebrant was Fr. Eoin Whooley. It was followed by reception in Fernhill House Hotel and Gardens where we were joined by our parents, families and friends with 260 guests in total.’

The couple were also in the same year in secondary school together in MICC in Dunmanway, but only started dating when they were in college, and are together for 10 years now. 

Stephen, an electrician who works in Macroom, got down on one knee at the Christmas markets in a rainy Amsterdam in December 2023. 

‘We started the wedding the following January to give ourselves plenty of time,’ said Katie. 

That’s one of Katie’s top wedding tips, along with having a photographer or videographer that make you feel relaxed and at ease on the big day. 

‘I’d also advise to plan the big things well in advance and tip away at the smaller things as you go. But remember that it all works out in the end!’ she said. 

Reflecting on their wedding, there’s nothing the couple would change and a stand out moment included arriving at Owenahincha beach, for sun to break through the clouds on what was a cloudy day, to allow them capture beautiful sunset pictures. 

They enjoyed a mini-moon in Tromso in Norway a few days after the wedding and are looking forward to a trip of a lifetime to Thailand during the Easter holidays. 

Laura and Niall

Straightforward, stress free and absolutely splendid – that was the vibe that Laura Corkery and Niall McCarthy wanted for their big day, and that’s exactly what they got. 

Laura, originally from Limerick and Niall, from Skibbereen tied the knot last June in Fernhill House Hotel, Clonakilty 

Niall, who works as an electrical sales assistant in Drinagh Co-Op popped the question the previous July at the top of the 100 steps overlooking the gardens of Bantry House. 

‘We started wedding planning then in October 2024, so had around eight months to get everything organised,’ said Skibbereen Community School teacher Laura. 

The couple knew they wanted to get married in Fernhill, so that was their first decision made, and everything flowed from there.  

‘We also wanted to have everything take place in the one location so we had a solemniser, Alison Driscoll for our ceremony which took place in their new Fernery room in the gardens. During the ceremony we had a hand fasting ritual. I crocheted the cords and some of our guests were involved in bringing them up and laying them on our hands which was a lovely example of how our ceremony was unique to us. Our fathers also each carried a cord in their respective county colours which went down well given the hurling rivalry at that stage in the summer!’ said home economics teacher Laura. 

She purchased her dress from Brides of Éire in Clonakilty, the bridesmaids dresses were from Folkster in Kilkenny, and suits were from Seán Murray in Skibbereen. 

In keeping with their desire for simplicity they chose not to have a videographer or content creator: ‘Our photographer. Aidan Fitzgerald from Dingle did a fantastic job capturing special candid photos of our 180 guests.’ 

Among their top tips is at the outset to individually write out what each wants from the day.

‘This can help you see what the day looks like for both of you,’ she added. 

For Laura and Niall what was important was to snatch a few minutes together at some point. 

‘We planned some quiet time together on the day of the wedding. So much happens on the day, it is lovely to have time together, even 15 minutes away from the hustle and bustle to take it all in,’ she said. 

They also advised to spend on what’s important to you. 

‘Less is more we decided, and didn't stress on the small things like wedding favours. Instead we put our time and money into things  like our band, photographer, food/drinks  – things people will remember. 

‘Also, people had warned us not to worry about the weather and they were right, the weather didn't matter. We had a great time and the venue made sure to be ready for rain and sunshine!’

After their big day the couple enjoyed a week in Malta and travelled to China in November.