Wedding of the Week: A big, traditional Kerry wedding for Emma and Dylan

“We wanted a big wedding and a big celebration — a traditional Kerry wedding,” says Emma.

The bride, a primary school teacher, and the groom, a technical support engineer, now live in Carrigtwohill, Cork, and first met in the Listowel Arms Hotel, in 2014.

“I was on a night out and Dylan was working behind the bar and we got chatting,” says Emma. “He added me on Facebook and that was it.”

Dylan popped the question in September 2023 at one of Emma’s favourite spots, Lough Hyne, in West Cork. 

“When we got to the top of the hill, there were so many people there sitting around and taking photos that Dylan had to wait for everyone to go before he got down on one knee," says Emma. "This made him very nervous — but he did so well and it was such a romantic proposal.”

They chose the month of romance to wed, exchanging vows on February 1 this year.

“Our day lived up to our expectations and beyond,” says Emma. “We wanted a personal ceremony and our priest, Fr Jim, ensured it was very special and so beautiful,” says Emma. 

“Our friends Helena Grace, Aideen O’Connor, and Stacey Taylor played the music for our ceremony, which was so meaningful.”

Joe Grimes was the wedding chauffeur. The couple’s photographer, Emily Doran (emilydoran.com), and videographer, Emily’s husband Aodhagán ( onelove.ie), organised the photoshoot.

The bride’s parents, Mary and Alan Grimes, and the groom’s father, Tony Roche, led the toasts. “It was lovely to see our parents having just as much of a ball as we were," says Emma. It was really special too to have Dylan’s nana Phil with us at the top table.”

The groom’s mother, the late Jackie Roche, was very much in their thoughts on the occasion. “We had a photograph of Dylan’s mom in the church and also at the wedding reception,” says Emma.

Emma’s school friend Laura O’Connor was her maid of honour, and her friends Olivia Quilter, Maura Stack, and Ally Treacy joined her cousin Elaine O’Sullivan as bridesmaids.

Dylan’s brother Keefer Roche was his best man, and his pals David Hogan, David Ryan, Dominic Kissane, and Jeremy Lyons were the groomsmen.

“Two groomsmen came home from Canada and two bridesmaids came from Australia for the wedding,” says Emma. “My brother and his boyfriend travelled home from Canada, too, to be with us.”

Emma looked chic in a Fortune gown by designer WToo, which she sourced in Memories in Cork City. “A holy medal from my auntie was my something blue (it had belonged to my granny),” she adds. 

“And for my ‘something borrowed’, I borrowed my veil from one of my bridesmaids, Ally.” 

Laura Lou Hair Stylist and makeup artist Orla O’Connor ensured the bridal party were ready for their close-ups, while the groom and his party were dapper thanks to Tuxedo, Tralee.

“The best man left his suit in the car the night before, and the next morning someone went off with the car — not very funny but funny looking back,” says Emma.

Eleanor’s Florist, Tralee, created the floral décor, while The Old Moderns band ensured the dance floor was full. The newlyweds honeymooned in the Maldives.

• If you would like your wedding featured in Weekend, email eve.kelliher@examiner.ie.