Cara & Matthew's Trump International Wedding

A luxury golf resort hugging the expansive Doonbeg coastline, Trump International Golf Links is more than just a picturesque venue; this 5-star property in West County Clare combines luxury, elegance, and warm Irish hospitality to create an exceptional venue for the wedding of executive assistant Cara Scales and entrepreneur Matthew Shea on August 29th 2025. Photographed by Christina Brosnan Photography and featured in the Spring issue of SOCIAL & PERSONAL Weddings, this coastal celebration was as joyful as it was beautiful!

The pair's first official meeting was in New Hampshire, at a friend’s lake house. Cara attended college with Matt’s best friends from home, and that group quickly became her closest friends as well. The two had crossed paths a few times at the University of New Hampshire, but nothing ever really came of it back then. It wasn't until a weekend in New Hampshire that everything changed. Between the laughter, the late-night conversations, and the easy comfort of being around him, something just clicked.

"Matthew proposed in Vail, Colorado, by a fire pit on a quiet evening. It was just the two of us, and the moment couldn’t have been more perfect. The village has always meant a great deal to us. It was the first place we travelled together when we started dating, and being in the same place where so many of our favourite memories began made it even more special. When he asked me to marry him, I was more in love with him than I had ever been. Vail is truly one of our favourite places in the world, and now it holds one of the most meaningful moments of our lives."

For her beauty journey, Cara had monthly facials and lymphatic drainage massages in Boston in the months leading up to the wedding. But just three days before the big day, she received a Diamond Energy facial at the White Horses Spa at Doonbeg. "Sarah gave us all the treatment, and it truly made me glow, leaving my skin incredibly hydrated."

"We chose our wedding scents at JFK Duty-Free on our way to Ireland, both opting for a fragrance from Maison Francis Kurkdjian Paris. I was a bit stressed about making the right choice and had a few backups, but in the end, I settled on À la rose, and Matthew chose l’Homme À la rose."

Cara always knew that she wanted a dramatic wedding gown—that’s just her style! And once they chose Doonbeg as the venue, she knew the dress had some high expectations to match its stunning beauty. "My dress was completely custom. It was a blend of the top from one dress, the bottom from another, and the skirt from yet another. The designer worked closely with me to ensure it fit perfectly, and I had no complaints. It was truly my dream dress, everything I had envisioned and more."

"Matthew chose a classic black tuxedo with a shawl lapel, adding a fun touch by lining the inside with emerald green and shamrocks, and by sewing our wedding date into the pocket. We let the groomsmen wear classic black tuxedos, which complemented my choice for the bridesmaids to select their own dresses."

Her bridesmaids included her three sisters-in-law, Matthew's twin sister Julia, his step-sister Paige, and Cara's sister-in-law Emily, along with her brother’s girlfriend Saffia, and three closest friends—Kristina, Nikki, and Lauren. "I had all of my bridesmaids choose their own dresses, with only one requirement: they had to be floor-length black gowns. I wanted everyone to feel beautiful and confident on their wedding day. Their dresses were purchased from various places, including Meshki, Odd Muse London, Revolve, and L'Elite Bridal Boutique. They all looked stunning!"

"Our original plan was to hold the ceremony on the ocean-view lawn, but, in true Irish fashion, the rain was lashing all morning, and the wind was whipping around. So, we had to switch to the courtyard instead. I won’t lie, I was actually glad about this, as I had always hoped to have it there. Just as all our guests took their seats, the sun began to shine through, and our ceremony turned out to be perfect. Luke, one of our best friends, led the ceremony and did the role justice, but he truly exceeded our expectations. He brought so much emotion to the moment, and we couldn't have asked for a more fitting person to share our lives with."

"In 2023, we took a family trip to Ireland, and my dad brought us to Doolin in County Clare to see the house where my Pepa grew up. I instantly fell in love with the landscape, the stones, and the area's charm. Little did I know that my boyfriend at the time did too. Less than a year later, he got down on one knee and asked me to be his wife. Shortly after, he suggested we get married in Ireland. I never would have expected that, but I instantly loved the idea. I wanted our wedding to be a multi-day celebration, and choosing Ireland made that possible. My father was both shocked and thrilled. He had spent many summers in Ireland with his family and never imagined that his daughter would get married there."

After exploring nearly every venue in Ireland, Cara's father, who had been to Trump Doonbeg before, suggested the couple visit, already knowing that she would love it. He was right. "Matthew and I both instantly fell in love with the venue. I remember that drive as if it were yesterday. We had our moms with us, and as we drove through the stone wall into the courtyard, we were all honestly floored by the beauty of the location. The stone building, the beach views, and the golf course, which is among the most impressive in Ireland, sealed our decision." Since their guests were travelling from the States, the couple wanted a place that was both exquisite and easily accessible. The staff there exceeded all expectations, and the venue turned out to be the perfect choice, offering everything the group could have wanted and more!

In a more American fashion, the couple chose to have a DJ for the entire reception and cocktail hour. They also hired a trad band to perform during the cocktail hour to bring that authentic Irish feel. "DJ Eoghan O'Sullivan was incredible—I couldn’t recommend him more. He listened to what we wanted, added his own touch to the music, and even had Matthew and me up on the DJ booth to play a song. It was truly a memorable moment and one of our favourites from the wedding weekend."

"For the ceremony, we had Ivonne Hernandez on fiddle and Tamas Molnar on piano. During the trad set, Ivonne was on the piano, Rosemary O'Malley played the fiddle, Ciarán O'Connell played the accordion and uilleann pipes, and Esteban Flores played guitar. The music really added an authentic Irish atmosphere, and our guests absolutely loved it."