Set on 1,100 acres of sweeping Kildare parkland, the magnificent Carton House Hotel is a haven of period details and refined luxury. This timeless Palladian mansion was the perfect venue for McKenzie Johnson's wedding to Patrick Stafford on the 5th of July, 2025. Captured by Livia Figueiredo Photography, the couple exchanged their vows in a beautiful, flower-filled marquee ceremony on the estate.
"Most of Patrick’s dad’s family lives in Ireland, and he spent every summer here growing up. After proposing, he quickly mentioned wanting to get married here. Ireland has always held a special place in our hearts, so when it came time to plan our wedding, we knew there was nowhere else we’d rather be. It’s so special to us, in fact, that we moved here with our two cats earlier this year."
"Patrick proposed to me in one of my favourite places in the world, out among the stars and trees on the deck of our rented cabin. It was absolutely perfect, quiet, and private. When we first started talking about marriage, I told Patrick how important it was to me that our moment be completely our own, without even a photographer. I wanted to experience it fully and have a completely genuine reaction, which I knew wouldn’t be possible if anyone else were there. Before he slipped the ring on my finger, Patrick made me step inside. He knows I can be a bit clumsy and didn’t want to risk my dropping the ring through the slats of the deck."
When it came to her beauty, McKenzie had a pretty typical beauty journey for a bride. She grew out her hair, became more consistent with a skincare routine, and focused on finding products that made her feel like the best version of herself. "I wanted a timeless, natural look that still felt like me. The scent I chose is Cloon Keen Lá Bealtaine Eau de Parfum."
"I tried on over 50 dresses before finding the one. I knew I wanted a strapless ball gown with a long train, and I finally found the perfect dress at Galia Lahav. I wore the Dove gown, with a few custom tweaks to make it completely my own."
Patrick went and tried on a few options at CT2 suits, eventually finding and settling on a traditional peak-lapel black tuxedo.
For her bridal party, McKenzie had six bridesmaids: her friends Taylor, Sydney, Jillian, and Jasmine, her cousin Becca and Patrick's younger sister Logan. They all wore Jenny Yoo dresses in Luxe Satin, in the colour Whisper Blue. "I wanted everyone to feel comfortable and confident, so they each chose their own dress style as long as no one else had already claimed it."
"We had a short, traditional American-style ceremony. Since we took care of the legal paperwork beforehand, we kept things simple with our vows, the exchange of rings, and a few kind words from our lovely officiant, who is also a close family friend."
The couple knew that they wanted to get married in Ireland, so after plenty of research, they took a road trip around the country in search of their venue. "When we arrived at Carton House in Maynooth, we instantly knew it was the one." One of the huge appeals of the venue was its proximity to Dublin, since about one hundred of the wedding guests were travelling from outside of Ireland, mostly from the U.S. "Beyond that, the estate’s history, stunning grounds, and timeless charm made it feel like the perfect place to celebrate our story coming full circle."
"We chose Redwood Wedding Band for our reception, and they were absolutely fantastic. They played for about two hours before their DJ took over, and both kept the dance floor full all night. We received so many compliments from our guests about how much fun they had. For our ceremony and drinks reception, we had Avoca String Quartet, whom I can’t recommend highly enough. Their repertoire is incredible, and they made my Bridgerton-meets–Taylor Swift dreams come true."
"Our best decision was choosing to get married in Ireland, surrounded by the people we love most. Every choice after that just felt right."
- Gráinne