Set on 40 acres of parkland planted in the 1800s, Dromquinna Manor is a stunning waterside estate unlike anyother. Stylish beyond words with views of Kenmare Bay, it was a fitting venue for the wedding of diagnostic radiographer Louise McCarthy to Macro Stainless director Shane McNamara on August 8th 2024. Photographed by Studio Lordan and featured in the Autumn issue of SOCIAL & PERSONAL Weddings, the day blended black-tie style with a relaxed summer mood, helped along by sunshine, sea views, and a very full dance floor.
The couple met as teenagers in Kilkee, at a mutual friend's house party when Louise was 16, and Shane was 17. "We spent every chance we could together from then on. We have had many lovely memories from our summers in Kilkee together over the years. There’s no place like it, especially when the sun is out!"
"Shane proposed to me on Doughmore Beach, Doonbeg, Co. Clare, on February 4th 2023. It’s a gorgeous wild beach that we often visit to escape the hustle and bustle of Limerick. On this particular day, it was extra surprising because it was pouring rain and we had just been to Paris for New Year's, so I honestly thought if he didn’t propose there, he never would! He said some lovely words, got down on one knee, and asked me to marry him. It felt entirely right, back in Clare where we met, by the sea where we always feel our happiest."
Louise's beauty journey consisted of levelling up her skincare regimen. She visited Skin 26 Limerick for regular facials and new skincare products tailored to her needs. Her sister-in-law, Fiona McNamara, is an incredibly talented makeup artist, so she took charge of her glam on the day. "She's a truly calming presence to be around." FMN Studio also did our hair on the day, which we were all happy with as well. I’m not a picky perfume person, but my sister gifted me a gorgeous perfume from Joe Malone called Poppy and Barley cologne before the wedding, which I wore on the day, and that made it extra special.
Louise decided to go dress hunting alone, as that’s the way she always shops. "If I brought an entourage with me, I risked picking something that didn’t suit me but suited the style of others. I visited many stores in London, Northern Ireland, Dublin, and Kinsale, and genuinely loved every minute of it." She didn’t find the one she was looking for, but didn’t give up hope! Eventually, spotting her dream dress (the Rozalli dress from Eva Lendel) on the Brummell website. "I loved the garland neckline and the dress's fitted silhouette. I headed up as soon as I could, tried it on and knew it was the one!"
"We decided on a black-tie dress code for our wedding very early on. The only thing is that it can be hard for the groom to stand out when every man is wearing the same thing, so Shane's suit had to be a cut above the rest, literally. We received a recommendation from a friend to try Abrahams in Dublin, as they had a great experience there."
Louise had five bridesmaids: her two sisters, Hazel and Emily and three best friends, Hilary, Meg and Julianne. "I chose Maids to Measure Sage green dresses because I loved the different style options available in each colour, which suit all body shapes and sizes. I chose Sage green as it would be a gentle, pretty colour in the summer, especially at the venue, surrounded by many shades of green in the Manor gardens."
"Our ceremony was quite traditional, which we loved. The priest who married us also married my parents! My favourite part was walking down the aisle to the song Sweet Sixteen by the Fureys. We opted for a quartet, but I requested the addition of a banjo. I played it countless times at home in the lead up to the wedding, pretending to walk down the aisle, and Shane said that as soon as he heard the banjo, he started to well up! It was an extra-special moment because my dad plays that song on guitar, and he and my mum met at 16, and so did Shane and I. Dad didn’t know I had chosen that song to walk down the aisle to, and he also sang it in his speech!"
Our non-negotiable for the pair was that their venue had to be by the water. "As much as we love Clare, we wanted to go elsewhere to make it feel like a more special occasion and to start our fresh journey somewhere new! Dromquinna Manor, Kenmare, Co. Kerry, was the first place we visited, and we completely fell in love with it." The accommodation of the two stunningly decorated, large modern houses (which the pair envisioned each of their families taking over for the wedding, including the lead-up and aftermath, with a minimum 5-night stay), the various double-bed lodges, and luxurious glamping tents ticked all the boxes. "Furthermore, the staff on-site were fantastic. They seemed genuinely excited for us!"
"The quartet and Banjo, along with our singer, worked beautifully together, and Shane and I found ourselves swaying and nearly breaking into song during the ceremony. We have always loved Riffshop. We had seen them play a couple of times in House Limerick and absolutely loved them. They are so energetic. We love the saxophone and their mix of songs. We booked them immediately after putting down the deposit for our venue, and thankfully, they were available. They played outside for our reception in the sun and played us into dinner with the saxophone and surround sound, which was brilliant. Everyone was up dancing before dinner and swirling their napkins."
"The best decision we made was arriving at the venue two nights before the wedding, which gave us time to get settled in, unpack, and get organised. We loved all of our vendors. From the moment the day started with the flowers, to the photographer, videographer, content creator, the venue, the ceremony, and our band, Riffshop. We just loved every minute!"
"Ellen from Your Story by Elle was incredible. She had all the content ready for us the following morning! I woke up feeling like the day was a dream, but as soon as I received her reels and content from the day, I nearly had to pinch myself to believe it had all happened. She was like having a best friend by your side, just looking out for you and your partner!"
- Gráinne