An enchanting 19th-century country house, Ballykealey House in Carlow, was born out of love, making it a fitting setting for the wedding of secondary school teacher Katie Moloney and Glen Daly, owner of Daly Exercise, on May 31st, 2025. A celebration 17 years in the making, this wedding was a heartfelt celebration filled with style, joy, and even a surprise appearance from their beloved dog, all beautifully captured by Pawel Bebenca.
Katie and Glen met at the age of 13! While representing Dublin in a basketball tournament in Belgium, the pair got to know each other over the weekend, and two weeks later, they were an item! "No one thought it would last, but here we are 17 years later, happily married."
"The proposal happened on our 15th Anniversary. I instigated a walk as Glen knew I would, and we went to my favourite place, The Royal Hospital Kilmainham. We sat in the gardens, drinking our coffee and chatting. Glen seemed on edge and was wearing a jumper and a gilet, even though the sun was splitting the trees. I thought nothing of it until I asked to leave, and he wouldn't let me! He eventually got down on one knee and popped the question! He proposed with his mother's engagement ring, adding a diamond to it especially for me. It was the most amazing day, and we celebrated with family that evening!"
Katie's brow journey played a significant role in her beauty regimen in the lead-up to the day, as she regularly got laminations and tints. "Apart from that, I was pretty chill with the beauty end of things. Debbie (Makeup Master) was doing my makeup. I knew she would make me look incredible on the day. She had done my first makeover at MAC when I was 16 and then did my Debs makeup, so I needed to have her as part of my Wedding day!" For her signature scent, Katie wore Mojave Ghost Absolu by Byredo, a musky floral fragrance with notes of ambrette, magnolia and cedarwood.
Katie and her bridal party took a trip to Belfast, with the intention of trying on wedding dresses but not buying any. Lo and behold, she came home with her dream dress! "We visited Verona Bridal, and it was the most fantastic experience! Maria, who works there, was brilliant and really went the extra mile for me." Before her appointment, Katie did a social media scan of the boutique so she knew going in that they stocked a Milla Nova dress (Montana) she had been eyeing online.
Not trying to be too eager, she didn't immediately jump into the gown, trying on two other options before it. However, as soon as she had the long-sleeved off-the-shoulder mermaid wedding gown on her body, she was sold. "I think I surprised everyone with the dress, which is exactly what I wanted."
"Glen went to The Groom's Room at Diffneys on Henry Street. He had previously been there with friends for their weddings and enjoyed the experience. I went with him to choose his suit, and it was a lovely experience. Brian, who works there, was very accommodating and put Glen's mind at ease with styles and so on. Glen then visited with his Groomsmen and our dads, making a day of it. I think it's nice for the lads to have a similar experience to the girls, and this is precisely what The Groom's Room offers!"
For her bridal party, Katie had five of her nearest and dearest by her side. "My maid of honour was my best friend Jen, I had Jade, my now sister in law, and three of the most important girls in my life, my cousin Heather, Cliona & Samantha. They were always going to be by my side!"
The group went to Dresscode to choose their dresses. Katie kept the process incredibly simple, letting the girls pick a style of dress that they felt most comfortable in, while she settled on the final colour. "In the end, I decided on a silk Jade colour as I felt like it complemented the groomsmen in black tie. Overall, it was a really lovely experience, followed by plenty of drinks to celebrate afterwards!"
"Our Ceremony was perfect. We got married in the Barn in Ballykealey. Finesse Weddings pulled out all the stops, and the place was covered in flowers; I almost didn't recognise it! Our ceremony was intimate, short, and sweet, and I nearly didn't want it to end. My favourite part was being announced as Mr and Mrs Daly, and on leaving the barn, being surprised with our Dog, Charlie! We had decided not to bring Charlie to our wedding; he's a Labrador with a big personality and would have left us covered in hair. However, Glen decided he couldn't be there, so he surprised me by being there on the day!"
To say Katie had her heart set on Ballykealy House is a bit of an understatement, considering she had been following the venue on Instagram from before she was engaged! "I took a trip down with Glen's mum and sister and knew immediately as I drove up to the house that there was something special about it." A significant draw for the couple was the exclusivity of the space; knowing it would be filled with their loved ones really sealed the deal.
"We chose the Event Band for our entertainment, and honestly, it was the best decision we made. I had seen them on Instagram and thought they were Amazing! They didn't fail, honestly; the dance floor was packed the entire night, and it's all anyone talks to me about when we recap the wedding. We also had Andy James, the magician, at our reception, and he was incredible. Guests were blown away, as were we!"
"The best decision was picking the band. I think cost may put you off, but honestly, they were worth every penny."
"I can safely say that I don't have a worst decision; everything just went perfectly. If you had shown me what my wedding looked like before I lived it, I wouldn't have believed you."
- Gráinne