Kristana & Ryan's Dromoland Castle Wedding

Rooted in the landscapes and local legends of County Clare, the historic halls of the 16th-century Dromoland Castle served as an iconic venue for the wedding of medical device sales representative Kristana Piechocki to executive director Ryan Johnson on August 30th, 2024. Elegant and refined, there are few better words to describe this lavish summer celebration photographed by Christina Bronsan and planned by WaterLily Weddings.

The couple initially met while studying business administration at the University of Iowa, but their love story didn't begin until they reconnected on a dating app in 2021.

"We got engaged in Chicago, about a few blocks from where we live, on a bridge on a beautiful summer Friday, Memorial Day weekend. I thought that we were going to dinner with friends and was SO surprised & happy when Ryan got down on one knee. We then celebrated with family and friends at a local Irish Bar called the Kerryman. All of our friends and family surprised us, making it a night we wouldn’t forget. "

Given their beautiful venue, Kristana knew that she needed a dress that matched the WOW factor. "I wanted to sparkle in the dark walls of the castle with a long train and elegant ball gown while being able to take off a portion of the dress to dance." Making a weekend of the search, she set out with her mum and MOH to scout six of the best bridal boutiques in Chicago, eventually finding her dream Galia Lahav dress at Bella Bianca Couture.

For Ryan, a simple black tuxedo purchased at Suits Supply in Chicago was exactly what he wanted. For the reception, he traded his black jacket for a classic white alternative.

The couple had eight bridesmaids and eight groomsmen, ranging from siblings to childhood and college friends. "I saw the La Lune dresses at a previous wedding and loved how they were a silver sage green, which I thought would match the venue and my dress beautifully. The dress came in multiple styles, catering to the preferences of my bridesmaids. The green blended in with the beautiful Irish grounds and made the white flowers pop in the photos."

"We had our ceremony in the Walled Gardens of the castle on a beautiful sunny summer day. We had a clear marquee tent covering the guests in case of rain, but it wasn't needed. It did provide some shade for our guests. Our officiant was my godmother, and she did an amazing job, given it was her first time."

"We had beautiful flowers lining the aisle with a flower arch at the end and a string quartet playing beautiful music as guests arrived. Our favourite part, aside from seeing all our lovely guests, was sharing our vows publicly. We laughed, we cried, and we listened to each other’s life promises. It was such an intimate moment, but felt so special to share with all our family and friends."

The pair toured four different venues within Ireland, with Dromoland being the first. "I honestly wasn’t sure I even wanted to go to Dromoland because I envisoned a venue closer to Dublin, but from the moment we got there, we were in awe of every aspect of the castle. From the wedding coordinators to the extended tour envisioning our special day, we felt like royalty, which was exactly what we wanted our guests to feel like."

"The staff at the venue were most accommodating and provided beautiful settings for our 3-day event. We wanted all of our wedding festivities to be on site, and Dromoland offered that for our guests, especially after a long travel day. From the welcome party at a local pub, to activities on site, including spa, golf, tea, falconry, archery, etc. Dromoland had it all!"

"We wanted music to be a part of the entire weekend, including local Irish music and a unique non-traditional wedding band. We had a 3-piece band, including a fiddler, playing Irish music at our welcome party. We had a beautiful string quartet at our ceremony and cocktail hour. We had a bagpiper leading guests from the ceremony to the cocktail hour. The same bagpiper led us into the ballroom upon our first announcement as a couple. We had a 14-piece interactive band for our reception, which included an electric violinist and saxophone player. The musicians moved around the dancefloor, making it an enjoyable experience for everyone. And finally, we had a late-night DJ who played all our favourite hits."

"Our best decisions were choosing Dromoland as our venue and Michelle at Waterlily as a wedding planner. Given that we aren’t local, we depended on our wedding planner for most decisions, so her input was priceless!"