With its charming 18th-century mansion and 300-year-old listed gardens, the Maryborough Hotel is nestled in the leafy suburbs of Douglas and bursting at the seams with character and style. This family-owned boutique hotel was the perfect venue for the wedding of midwife Nicola O’Brien to wedding videographer Killian Murphy on the 2nd of May 2025. Capture by Two Souls Photography, there's no better way to ring in 2026 than with this elegant, moody inspiration!
After finding each other traditionally, the way that modern-day couples do, online, Killian won his future bride-to-be over with a cringey pick-up line that somehow made her laugh. They met for their first date in Cobh, just weeks before the Covid lockdowns. "He was very easy to converse with, and he was just very handsome, so it was a win-win situation."
"In the months of preparation, my engagement ring sat humbly in my home for 6 months before Killian proposed. I joke that he waited so long to give it to me in case he changed his mind. Still, really, it was because he was meticulously planning a perfect proposal. Killian had booked a holiday to Rome as my Christmas present. Booking holidays instead of buying gifts was common for us on big occasions like birthdays and Christmas, so I didn’t suspect anything. He had booked a beautiful Airbnb with a balcony overlooking the Colosseum and proposed there on the last morning of our holiday, which took me by complete surprise. It also caught him by complete surprise, as he had planned to do it in the evening before dinner. Still, he was so stressed and nervous about carrying around the ring another day in his bag, he couldn’t wait any longer, so I suppose no one expects to get engaged at half 10 on a Thursday morning."
Nicola stuck to the skin care routine she had been using before the wedding to reduce any last-minute breakouts or changes in her skin texture. "However, I had our second baby on 2nd of April 2023, giving me 13 months to get back into my dress, so really focusing on my diet and trying to get out for a walk or a run were the biggest parts of my ‘beauty journey’, but it all paid off because I felt like a million dollars on our wedding day."
"We actually chose our wedding scents in Rome after the proposal and kept them until our wedding day, which made them feel extra special. After feeling the pressure to choose Jo Malone, since it’s most commonly seen among brides, it just didn’t speak to me, and I ended up choosing a floral scent by Narciso Rodriguez Pure Musc. Killian chose Azzaro Most Wanted."
In an unexpected turn, Nicola accidentally picked her wedding dress 3 weeks after getting engaged! "My mom and I were going to collect my ring from the jeweller after it was resized, and we saw there was a sale on in a bridal boutique, so we went in to have a look to see if it would be worthwhile going back to that shop when the time came to choose a dress. I had no intention of trying on dresses, but the shop assistant encouraged me to try some on. I had no idea what type of dress I wanted. All I knew was I wanted something down the line that gave a regal vibe. I saw a dress at the bottom of the shop, and I knew by just looking at it on the hanger that it was very much me. It was the 3rd dress I had tried on, and I instantly loved it and knew I didn’t need to try any more. This was it. There was not a single thing about it I would have changed. However, as I didn’t even have a wedding date picked yet, I walked away from it. Had absolute instant regret and drove back the next day to buy it, leaving it to reside at my mother-in-law's house for over 2 years."
"It was a bit of a no-brainer. On the hottest day of the year, you will find Killian wearing black; it’s his go-to colour for clothes, so when he was trying on suits, black was the colour he felt most like himself in. Black tuxedos were picked for all the boys. It was a pretty straightforward process, really."
Her bridal party consisted of two of her best friends, her sister, and her sister-in-law. "I wanted to choose a bridesmaid dress that complemented my wedding dress and the overall vision I had for the wedding day. I tried to keep them simple and elegant and ended up choosing a light blue satin dress that complemented everyone’s complexion, and they all looked amazing."
"We had our ceremony in Cobh, as it was where we had our first date. It also helped that Cobh Cathedral on the hill is just stunning. My favourite part had to be Killian's emotion when he turned to see our daughter walking me up the aisle, which we kept as a little secret until the day. He believed my mom was giving me away. The music by the Munster String Quartet echoed through the space, filling it with elegance and emotion."
Initially, the pair had different visions for their wedding day, with Nicola favouring timeless elegance at a Manor House or castle and Killian wanting a more modern feel at a contemporary hotel. "So we compromised and went completely with my vision." Having previously stayed at the Maryborough Hotel for a random night away, it was already on their radar for a potential venue, but it wasn't until they attended another wedding at the hotel that they were set. "Aesthetically, it was beautiful and full of character, the orangery and garden were so elegant and intimate, the staff were so welcoming, and the level of care they gave to their guests was excellent. The level of communication throughout the planning process was outstanding; no question was too silly, and no task was too big."
"Our entertainment was booked by Killian, who saw them perform at a wedding he was filming. I was told when he got home that night not to worry about a band, that he was after booking one. You can only imagine my shock and horror that a band I had never seen before was booked without even a discussion. HOWEVER, massive credit to the legendary Truly Diverse Band! They were the main event of the day. They had the crowd engaged from the minute they began, right up to the last song; the floor was overflowing with people dancing. What made them stand out amongst the rest was their willingness to learn our first dance song, which wouldn’t be known to many people. The fact that they discovered it and played it so perfectly was just so special for us. I am happy we were able to get them for our wedding, and I couldn’t imagine the day would have ever been the same without them."
"One of the best decisions was hiring Auntie Katie’s wedding nanny. I could write a book about the girls who came to look after our children, about how above-and-beyond amazing they were. They would be the first vendors I would book if I were to do it all over again. They were worth every penny and more. Obviously, following on from them, every vendor we chose was carefully selected. They were a cohort of people we sought out for and delivered incredible work that we are so proud of. The second best decision, which might be controversial, is not having any children there except our own. The day was stress-free for the parents who got to come and relax and enjoy their time."
- Gráinne