Built between 1825 and 1831, Belleek Castle is a magnificent, historic castle wedding venue. From fragrant ancient forest to roaring coastline, sweeping lawns and grand spaces, luxury weddings at Belleek Castle are drenched in fairytale magic. There's no fairytale quite like Kamila Krukowska and Mathieu Doran, falling in love and building a life together in the castle, bought by the Doran family in 1961. The two both work in the stunning venue and on the 1st of October, 2022 they said I do to each other in the same hallowed halls. This beautiful wedding was photographed by K Photography.
The pair met in Jersey Channel Island, through a mutual friend at Christmas 12 years ago. Two beautiful children later, and the rest is history!
In 2021, amidst COVID challenges, at Hotel Revere in Jersey, Mathieu surprised Kamila on her birthday with an unexpected dinner in the hotel restaurant. It was closed due to the pandemic, but having it to themselves with a private chef and waitress was a surreal moment. As an extra cherry on top, Mathieu had arranged childcare for the couple's children, then proposed, jokingly remarking that if they survived the pandemic, then they could survive anything!
Kamila went dress shopping with her mother-in-law Isabelle, and boy, was it a comedy! "She loved every dress I tried on, and believe me, I tried a bunch. I initially went for a princess gown, but woke up the next day and decided on a fishtail. Yep, I was one of those brides! But besides that, everything else was smooth sailing!"
The couple opted against having bridesmaids and groomsmen. Instead, having flower girls and a flower boy. Kamila & Mathieu's daughter was one of three flower girls, and their son rocked it as the flower boy. "They looked adorable in their white dresses, complete with flower wreaths and baskets filled with blooms." Her best friend Lucy took on the role of Maid of Honour.
The ceremony had a relaxed, lighthearted vibe, with the kids stealing the show. "It was amusing when my 2-year-old tried to grab all the flower baskets, adding a laugh-out-loud moment and a heartwarming touch to the occasion. We were overjoyed and thoroughly enjoyed the experience."
Choosing the venue was a breeze since it's been in Mathieu's family for over 60 years. From the rich history and nostalgia to the authentic Irish castle experience, it was a perfect fit for the pair. The entertainment band was Toxic Twins and they were outstanding. "We also had Rolling Tones Vinyl Van for our American Style buffet afterparty the next day which was a fun and relaxed event."
Regarding the best & worst decisions, Kamila said, "I cannot think about any bad decisions but the only thing I would add would be to have a videographer. The best decision was the venue!"
- Gráinne