A Year of Planning, A Weekend of Magic: Stephanie & Patrick's Wedding at Luttrellstown Castle

Love Story

Stephanie and Patrick's story started with a screenshot and a friend's enthusiastic text. "We met on Hinge in October 2019," Stephanie recalls. "He caught my eye not just because he is so handsome, but because it said we went to the same college and graduated the same year." What happened next could only be described as serendipitous. "He looked familiar, so I took a screenshot of his profile and sent it off to one of my sorority sisters," Stephanie explains. The response was immediate and telling: "She immediately texted back that he is the sweetest guy and that I had to go out on a date with him."

Their first date in San Francisco revealed an incredible twist. "It turns out he was in a fraternity that we would hang out with all the time," Stephanie shares. "I knew a bunch of his friends and had even been to his old house for parties, but somehow we had never met." After six years together, it's clear that timing really is everything.

The proposal came full circle at the breathtaking Cliffs of Moher in Ireland. "When we booked a trip, I made a joke saying 'Are we going to get engaged in Ireland?'" Stephanie remembers with a laugh. "I immediately saw the wheels start turning in his head." After ring shopping together at Yadav, a local San Francisco jeweler, Stephanie had her suspicions. "I had a feeling it was going to happen on the trip but I wasn't sure where or when. Then, while I was making our itinerary, a few weeks before we left, he was adamant that we go to the cliffs on December 3rd, so I pretty much knew after that."

Today, Stephanie works in medical device sales while Patrick serves as a firefighter for the San Francisco Fire Department. When they're not working, you'll find them gardening, exploring interior design, running, playing soccer, or simply enjoying walks around the city with their two cats. "We love traveling, trying new restaurants and nights in on the couch," Stephanie says, painting a picture of a couple who treasures both adventure and quiet moments together.

About Your Wedding

After 1.5 years of planning, Stephanie and Patrick's vision came beautifully to life. "I really wanted a wedding where most of my guests could stay on site so it felt like one big friends and family weekend trip with everyone together," Stephanie explains. The couple chose a “romantic, classic, chic and fun” aesthetic that perfectly complemented their chosen venue.

The inspiration came naturally. "I think the venue itself," Stephanie says when asked what inspired her most during preparation. "I wanted the wedding to fit in with the venue and foliage. I wanted the colors and flowers to reflect the ivy growing on the outside of the castle." This thoughtful approach created a seamless blend between the historic Irish castle and the celebration it hosted.

Morning Details

Every detail of this wedding was carefully curated to reflect the couple's style and the venue's timeless elegance. Jane Kelly from Fresh Squeezed Design created stunning invitations that set the tone for the celebration, and later designed beautiful bar signs and seating assignments that guided guests throughout the evening.

The couple's wedding bands, chosen together at Yadav in San Francisco, complemented Stephanie's engagement ring perfectly. For the ceremony, Stephanie wore simple emerald cut studs that added just the right touch of sparkle without competing with her show-stopping dress.

One of the most personal touches came in the form of custom placecards. "We wrote personalized notes for each guest on the back of an old photo - these were the placecards at each table," Stephanie shares. The couple also created matchbooks, cocktail napkins, and custom hats embroidered with the venue, which became an unexpected hit during the reception.

Bride Getting Ready

Stephanie's preparation took place in the elegant Aileen Plunkett suite at Luttrellstown Castle, surrounded by her closest friends and family. Her dress choice was a love-at-first-sight moment that happened long before the engagement. "I saw my dress randomly on Instagram probably a year before I was even engaged," Stephanie reveals. "I sent it to my mom and best friend, and said this is my wedding dress!!"

The Dana Harel Moe dress was everything Stephanie had dreamed of. "Everyone who knows me, knows I love a turtleneck. Especially one that is slightly sheer because I just feel like it is so sexy and chic. So when I saw this dress, I just knew." Even after trying on approximately 25 other dresses at Jin Wang in San Francisco, she kept returning to the Moe dress.

Stephanie completed her bridal look with a long cathedral veil with blusher, Amina Muaddi white slingbacks, and those perfect emerald cut studs. Her second look for the reception was equally stunning - the Palm dress from NEWHITE, which she had fallen in love with during her initial dress shopping but had set aside as not quite "the one" for the ceremony.

Sue Brophy worked her magic on makeup while Dani Pattison and Danielle Whelan created Stephanie's beautiful hairstyle. Heather from Flowerpop crafted a breathtaking bouquet that was a complete surprise. "The only flower I had explicitly wanted were fall-colored hydrangeas," Stephanie says. "She did such an amazing job and it was stunning."

For the bridesmaids, Stephanie took a relaxed but sophisticated approach. "I told the girls to go for 'rich neutrals' - any color from champagne/gold to chocolates/coppers," she explains. The result was a cohesive yet individual bridal party that perfectly complemented the autumn-inspired palette.

Groom Getting Ready

Patrick and his groomsmen prepared in the distinguished library at Luttrellstown Castle, a space that provided the perfect backdrop for these pre-ceremony moments. Patrick chose a sharp suit from Suit Supply that struck the ideal balance between classic elegance and modern style, perfectly suited for a castle wedding.

First Look

The first look took place on the main staircase of the castle, and it was a moment neither Stephanie nor Patrick will ever forget. "I had to take a moment before to stop crying because when I walked out and saw Patrick standing there, turned around, I just couldn't keep it all in," Stephanie recalls, her emotion still palpable.

Patrick's reaction was equally touching. He was "very emotional and said he thought I looked so beautiful," Stephanie shares. "We are both so happy we did the first look. It was so special and emotional."
The decision to see each other before the ceremony proved to be one of the best choices they made. "We were both crying," Stephanie remembers. "Overwhelmed with emotion!" It was an intimate moment that allowed them to share their feelings before standing before all their guests.

Ceremony

"The ceremony was supposed to be outdoors, but due to weather, we had to move inside," the couple explains. What could have been a disappointment turned into something magical as the ceremony took place in the Gothic Hall, a space whose dramatic architecture and historic presence created an atmosphere of timeless romance.

As Stephanie walked down the aisle, the string quartet D-Strings played "Linger" by The Cranberries, a beautiful Irish touch that honored the location while creating an unforgettable moment. The ceremony was made even more special by Stephanie's brother, who served as officiant. "My brother was also our officiant and did such an amazing job," Stephanie shares with obvious pride.

The most memorable part of the ceremony came during the vows. "Our vows. We wrote our own and read them during the ceremony and it was so special to share these in front of our closest family and friends," Stephanie says. It was a moment of vulnerability and commitment that left hardly a dry eye in the Gothic Hall.

After the ceremony, Patrick's childhood friend Brendan added an authentic Irish touch by playing the bagpipes, leading guests out of the ceremony space in a moment that connected the celebration to the country's rich cultural traditions.

Photoshoot After The Ceremony

Wedding Venue & Decor

Luttrellstown Castle provided a setting that was nothing short of enchanting. The color palette of greens, burgundy, and creams was carefully chosen to complement the natural beauty surrounding the venue. "I really wanted to reflect the foliage growing on the castle," Stephanie explains, and this thoughtful integration of indoor and outdoor elements created a cohesive aesthetic throughout the celebration.

The castle itself, with its ivy-covered walls and historic grandeur, needed little embellishment. Instead, the décor enhanced what was already there, creating an atmosphere that felt both elevated and natural.

Reception

The reception was filled with surprises, laughter, and moments that guests will talk about for years to come. Stephanie and Patrick's first dance was to "Live Forever" by Noel Gallagher (Acoustic version), a song that perfectly captured the eternal quality of their love.

Throughout the evening, Prestige Band kept the energy high before DJ and Sax took over, ensuring the dance floor stayed packed. Ms Cupcake Cork provided a delicious wedding cake that was as beautiful as it was tasty.

One of the biggest surprises came during the break between the band and DJ. "We kept these a total surprise for guests," Stephanie says excitedly. "During the break between our band and the DJ, we got everyone outside for a champagne toast/tower and then we surprised them!" The fireworks display by Emerald Fireworks lit up the Irish sky, and Brendan spontaneously began playing his bagpipes during the spectacle, creating a moment of pure magic.

The custom embroidered hats proved to be another hit. "We handed them out during the reception - they were a total hit and the band and venue staff were all wearing them too," Stephanie laughs. These small touches transformed a beautiful wedding into an unforgettable celebration.

Looking back on the day, Stephanie is full of gratitude for the team that made it all possible. "I am truly obsessed with all my vendors. I was surrounded by a team of badass women hyping me up all day. I loved them! Specifically Nessa, Anouska, Emilly & Aoife. I couldn't have had a better team to support me throughout the day."