Hugh & Gareth's Cashel Palace Hotel Wedding

Located in the heart of Ireland, Cashel Palace Hotel is one of Ireland's most luxurious five-star hotels. Meticulously restored from its 1732 beginnings, the manor house was a fabulous backdrop for the wedding of entrepreneur Hugh O’Flanagan to lawyer Gareth Dunne on September 1st 2023. Featured in the Spring issue of SOCIAL & PERSONAL Weddings and shot by Under the Veil, there's only one word to accurately describe the floral styling by The Garden in this late summer wedding, and it's sumptuous!

The pair spent years unknowingly crossing paths in the same part of Dublin - Gareth worked with Hugh’s sister for about three years before he met his husband-to-be, and they unknowingly shared the same gym for about a year without ever speaking. Fate stepped in when Gareth finally messaged him on Instagram after stumbling across his profile. That very day, Hugh moved into a new home directly across from him, turning them into neighbours overnight! From that moment, everything fell into place. Their first date was on 1 September 2018, and in the days that followed, the two couldn’t stay apart, having five dates over the next five days, and not looking back since.

"Hugh planned every detail of a surprise weekend away, even throwing in suggested items to pack, like my passport and sun cream, to keep me guessing where we were going. We hit the road, and quite quickly I realised that we weren’t going to the airport but setting off on a 4.5-hour drive (another red herring). As we drove through Adare, I admired the gates of Adare Manor and said it would be lovely to stay there someday. With a mischievous smile, Hugh replied, “Sure, we’ll go in and have a look around.” I still remember the mix of shock and delight when I realised he wasn’t joking. Moments later, I discovered we were actually checking in! After settling in, Hugh suggested exploring the hotel—in particular, the library."

"We arrived at the library door only to be turned away by a member of staff, who advised that it was closed for a private event, unaware that it was reserved for Hugh’s pending proposal. The plan was eventually put back on track with some quick thinking by a member of staff. When we went into the room, I was marvelling at the ceiling and furniture, only to be taken by surprise to see two ring boxes on the table and Hugh on one knee. It was the most surreal and joy-filled moment, made even sweeter by how invested the staff were in making it perfect. The staff at Adare went above and beyond that weekend."

For his wedding day cologne, Hugh wore Tuxedo by Yves Saint Laurent, a sharp patchouli fragrance with notes of black pepper and ambergris. Gareth opted for L’Immensité by Louis Vuitton, a clean, citrusy scent with notes of grapefruit, ginger, and sage.

"We both wanted to go for a black tie for the wedding party and guests. For our tuxedos, we went to Henry Dixon at Paul Henry Tailoring in Dublin. For us, this was one of the best decisions. Henry and his team are incredible tailors and guided us from start to finish on styles, cuts, and colours. We went for a classic look that we felt wouldn’t date or that we wouldn’t regret when looking back at photos in 20 years! Each tuxedo was custom-made by Henry’s team from scratch. Seeing everything come together in the morning felt incredibly special. We’ve recommended Henry to all and sundry looking for a wedding suit."

For their groomsmen, Gareth & Hugh had a mix of the most important people: Gareth's brothers, Geoffrey and Daryn, and their friends Andrew, Sebastian, Ben, Martin, and Fergus. For the wedding party, they rented black Magee 1866 tuxedos from Aston Formal Wear in Dublin that complemented their own.

"Our ceremony took place on the beautiful grounds of Cashel Palace, and we poured our hearts into making it deeply personal. Our dear friend Cormac officiated and did an incredible job. The Dublin Gospel Choir filled the air with soulful music, setting the perfect tone. We added meaningful touches throughout: our sisters walked us up the aisle, and our mothers wrote heartfelt letters that they read aloud during the ceremony. Friends from different chapters of our lives shared short, special moments that reflected the bonds we cherish. It was unforgettable—a celebration of love we’ve listened back to countless times. We were absolutely blown away by Mark Grehan’s floral arrangements throughout the orangery; it felt like walking into our own private botanical gardens and set the scene perfectly for our walk down the aisle together."

For Hugh’s 30th birthday, the pair visited Cashel Palace without any intention of finding a wedding venue. The hotel had only recently reopened, so they didn’t know much about it. "During our stay, we met the manager and events planner, who shared their vision for weddings at the venue. At the time, Cashel Palace was just beginning to host events and was wonderfully open to creative ideas." The more the guys explored, the more they fell in love with the venue, the staff, and the atmosphere. It had this calm elegance that made everything feel welcoming rather than formal. When they discovered they had a date available—September 1, 2023, their fifth anniversary—it felt like fate.

"We spent a lot of time debating whether to have a band, but nothing in Ireland truly felt right for us. In the end, we chose a DJ for the after-dinner dancing, and it worked perfectly. One of the best ideas, bringing in the Minimalist Manila Strings for that post-dessert transition, actually came from Hugh’s sister! They were incredible, lifting the energy and avoiding the usual post-dinner lull. For the ceremony, the Dublin Gospel Choir filled the room with joy and soul, while Nikki Stones, a fabulous Dublin drag queen, brought her magic to the drinks reception and later kept the dance floor alive as our DJ. For our day-two celebration, Jon Sadlier performed, and he was absolutely epic—his energy tore the roof off the pub and had everyone on their feet. It was the perfect finale to a celebration filled with music, laughter, and unforgettable moments."

"When planning a wedding, it’s easy to get caught up in the idea that it’s 'your day,' but in reality, you’re hosting a big celebration for your family and friends. Most guests simply want great food, great music, and a great time. For us, that meant focusing on what truly mattered and not sweating the small stuff—like party favours, trinkets, and gimmicks—that consume time, energy, and money without adding much to the experience. Keeping things simple allowed us to create a day that felt joyful, relaxed, and unforgettable."