Set in 36 acres of woodland, Marlfield House is a haven of tranquillity, boasting an ornamental lake, rose, vegetable and herb gardens. Welcoming guests since 1978, the venue was the perfect setting for the wedding of cybersecurity specialist Hazel Aherne to company director Aodhan O’Donnell on April 11, 2025. For lovers of timeless vintage elegance, this is the wedding your mood board has been waiting for, perfectly captured by Jenny McCarthy.
"In February 2024, we took a trip to the beautiful city of Ghent in Belgium. On Valentine’s night, after a lovely dinner together, we strolled through the old town. On the historic St. Michael’s Bridge, Aodhan got down on one knee and proposed. It was a perfect, unforgettable moment in a beautiful setting."
Hazel was incredibly diligent about her skincare in the lead-up to the wedding, with monthly facials that included microneedling, chemical peels, and vitamin C treatments to even out her complexion and leave her skin looking absolutely radiant. "When it came to choosing a signature scent, I wanted something special, a fragrance that would forever remind me of the wedding each time I wore it. After trying many perfumes, I chose Parfums de Marly Delina, a romantic, floral, and feminine fragrance."
When it came to finding her wedding dress, she made sure to do her research. "I knew I wanted something classic and timeless, inspired by Grace Kelly’s wedding dress," with the Spanish brand Pronovias being particularly eye-catching. As luck would have it, the Truly Bridal Boutique in Naas stocked the collection, so it was her first stop. It was there that she laid eyes on the high-neck, long-sleeve, floral appliqué princess dress (You couldn't meet the Grace Kelly mark more perfectly!), "I brought my mum along for the appointment, and the moment I tried on the dress, I felt it was the one." Not wanting to put all her eggs in one basket, she tried on a few more gowns but kept returning to the original.
"Aodhan was looking for a style that was both timeless and classic. After weighing up his options, it was clear that nothing suited the occasion better than a tuxedo. Wanting a touch of Tyrone on the day, he chose to source the suit from Tom Morrow’s shop."
For her bridal party, Hazel had two of her closest friends, Rachael and Emer, by her side. When it came to choosing their dresses, she was certain that she wanted something elegant that would complement her wedding dress, and so the girls wore A-Line chiffon dresses with a high Illusion neckline. "Baby blue has always been one of my favourite colours, and I thought it was the perfect choice for a spring wedding."
"Tom Farrell was our celebrant. He created a warm, personal and relaxed atmosphere that immediately put us at ease. The setting felt intimate, filled with love, laughter and a few happy tears. Our favourite moment was being pronounced husband and wife."
From the moment they set foot on the grounds of Marlfield House, Hazel and Aodhan knew it was the venue for them. "It felt intimate yet grand, relaxed yet refined. The staff were exceptional, and on the day, they went above and beyond to make everything run smoothly." One of the biggest draws for the pair was the ample indoor and outdoor space that they and their guests could spread out in. "The house itself is steeped in charm and history, and the gardens created the most romantic backdrop for our day."
Being acutely aware of the role good entertainment plays in creating the atmosphere of the day, Aodhan and Hazel made sure to get it right! "For our ceremony, we had the talented Doug Sheridan. His music was heartfelt, setting the perfect tone not only throughout the ceremony but also during the drinks reception." To add a fun twist, they hired a caricature artist, Mark Heng, to entertain guests during the reception. "He was a huge hit; his creative sketches had everyone laughing and gave our guests a unique keepsake to take home." Then, for the evening celebration, the pair chose DJ & Sax. "It turned out to be the perfect choice: the mix of live sax with classic and modern hits kept the dance floor busy and the party atmosphere alive all night long."
"One of the best decisions we made was choosing Jenny McCarthy as our wedding photographer and Joey Ryan as our videographer. Jenny captured the day so beautifully, with a mix of natural shots and timeless portraits that really tell the story of the day. Joey caught all the important moments on the day."
"As for the worst decisions, if we had to choose, it would be not giving ourselves a little more time between the ceremony and dinner to mix with guests, as the day went by even faster than we imagined. We also spent far too much time worrying about tiny details in the lead-up that didn’t really matter in the end."
- Gráinne