A listed 18th-century Georgian house, The Johnstown Estate in Co Meath, is a haven of four-star comfort and luxury and was the stunning venue for the wedding of corporate events coordinator Laura Grant to brand manager Ciaran Shah on the 26th of April 2025. Photographed by Jenny McCarthy, their celebrations blended vibrant Indian tradition with Irish charm!
As all good love stories do, Laura and Ciaran's journey began in Krystle nightclub in Dublin! "Although we might start telling people we met on Tinder!"
"Ciaran proposed in one of my favourite Volkswagen vans, which he had beautifully decorated with Polaroids from our holidays and date nights. Candles and flowers lined the path leading up to it on Portmarnock Beach, where he had a bottle of champagne waiting, along with all my favourite brunch treats. I was completely unaware — I hadn’t even brushed my hair that morning! Later, we celebrated with Christmas afternoon tea at the Westbury Hotel with all our immediate family (and yes, I did brush my hair for that!)."
There’s so much online about what a bride “should” be doing before the wedding, it can feel overwhelming. Laura did what we consider the smartest option and consulted with the professionals at the Aislbury Clinic to make a comprehensive plan. "I started peels and microneedling about 8 months before the big day, and they put together a full skincare routine for me when I didn’t even know where to start." Taking lead from her skincare success, Laura also took the advice of her hair and makeup artists, "They shared so many tips for hair and scalp care in the lead-up — from toners and treatments to what makeup I should have in my bag on the day itself. Honestly, they felt like two extra bridesmaids throughout the whole process!" For her wedding day scent, Laura wore Chanel Mademoiselle, a sentimental choice as it was worn by her Auntie Bernie, who sadly passed away.
When it came to finding her dress, what Laura thought she would walk down the aisle in it and what she actually chose ended up being completely different! "I never imagined myself in a halter neck, but the girls in Angelo’s were so helpful, and I loved the idea of an overskirt that could be removed for dancing."
"I think I always knew I wanted to wear a tux for the big day, even though I had originally planned on traditional Indian wear, which we did enjoy the night before. Working in fashion, I also knew it had to be a Joop! Suit — their fit and fabric are just unbeatable."
Laura had four of her closest girls by her side on her wedding day. With her sister Emma playing the role of maid of honour, "the best “little” big sister anyone could ever ask for," and her childhood friends Caoimhe, Kerrie, and Laura as her bridesmaids. "We didn’t have a set colour in mind and just wanted dresses that would suit everyone (which isn’t hard for this bunch!). When I spotted the backless lemon dress from Karen Millen, it instantly reminded me of How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days — I had to order it for the girls to try on, and they loved it just as much as I did!"
"As a couple from two different cultural backgrounds with no idea where to begin with ceremony planning, we felt completely overwhelmed — but Ann, our wedding celebrant, immediately put us at ease. Her warmth, humour, and genuine care turned what could have been a daunting process into something exciting, meaningful, and full of joy. One of the most special touches was how she involved my nieces, making them feel like stars with their very own bows as the best flower girls. Those thoughtful, personal moments are what made the ceremony so memorable. Even now, two months later, my four-year-old nieces are still playing “Weddings” and taking turns pretending to be Ann — a true testament to the impression she made!"
In celebration of their mixed culture wedding, the pair were eager to host a Mehndi party (A pre-wedding celebration in Hindu and Sikh culture, during which the bride has a red-orange mehndi "stain" applied to her palms, the back of her hands, and her feet.) the night before, but most venues couldn’t guarantee the space for two days. "We ended up booking Johnstown while it was still only on building plans, just over a year before the wedding — looking back, we were probably mad!".
The team at the Johnstown Estate worked tirelessly to ensure Ciaran and Laura had the perfect wedding day, from the traditional Indian menu for the Friday night Mehndi to the beautiful Irish wedding menu for the Saturday. "We just loved everything about the venue — from the cosy traditional pub at the front, to the stylish Parterre cocktail bar, and the beautiful orangery, where I could immediately picture my uncles on the wedding night, happily avoiding the dancefloor while drinking tea. The grounds were just as stunning, and we were so lucky to be able to take full advantage of them with the gorgeous sunshine we had on the day."
"The most important thing for us on the day was simple — we wanted plenty of music and plenty of food! Our wedding singer, Olivia Romeo, was accompanied by Courtney Cullen, who treated us to beautiful renditions of Blue Moon and Champagne Supernova. We had the amazingly talented Zay Williams on saxophone for the weekend — he was absolutely incredible, knew how to make an entrance, and we even managed to teach him how to ‘split the G’! Before our first dance, The Highkickers Irish Dancers took to the floor and brought such great energy — especially for all our friends and family who had travelled from abroad — and then joined us again after the first dance to keep the party going."
"At our reception, we also had the wonderful wedding illustrator, Linda Byrne. Our guests adored her work, and so many now have their illustrations framed at home!" When it came to music, the pair had a stacked set list, with not one, but two bands! "We had Tropical Storm. People were dancing on tables and chairs before the soup was even served. Our wedding band was The Blue Romantics, a group we fell in love with at their showcase. They had everyone singing along and even got us going on conga lines that lasted all night!"
"Our best decision — and she definitely didn’t ask us to say this — was booking Jenny McCarthy as our photographer. Just having her happy presence on the morning of the wedding was such a joy. She is unbelievably quick at getting photos (we were at our reception in less than an hour after the ceremony!), and she has an amazing way of keeping the whole day running smoothly and effortlessly on time. From her fun, relaxed way of working with kids to her incredible eye for capturing the most natural and meaningful moments, Jenny is truly amazing at what she does. We feel so lucky to have had her capture our day."
"Honestly, the worst decision is a hard one. It’s so easy to get caught up in the little details, but at the end of the day, the only thing that truly matters is marrying the love of your life. Everything else fades into the background."
- Gráinne