An impressive 18th-century Manor House & Orangery in County Meath, Tankardstown House was the enchanting venue for the wedding of clinical practice administrator Sarah Fasanando to laboratory supervisor Anthony Meier on the 3rd of June 2025. Captured by Syona Photography and planned by The Ireland Wedding Planner, the day was full of personal touches, from the incredible live music woven throughout the celebration to the sweet full-circle feeling of two former band-class best friends finally getting their happy ending.
Anthony and Sarah first met in sixth grade during ninth-period band class. He played the trombone, and she played the flute. The two quickly became best friends and stayed close, but it wasn't until they left for college that they realised their friendship had grown into something more. "One night, we went to see a scary movie together, held hands, and from that moment on, Anthony knew we needed to start dating. We’ve been by each other’s side ever since, supporting one another through college, graduate school, and fellowships. Anthony followed me across the country to Washington State and later to Virginia, where we now live with our little dog, Rocky. Through it all, we’ve continued to share a deep love of music."
"We got engaged in the stunning town of Lauterbrunnen in Switzerland. This trip was one of the best experiences of my life. By that point, we had been dating for about seven years, so I had a feeling a proposal might happen during the trip. We love taking couple photos on vacation, so I suspected he might do it, but Anthony didn’t seem nervous at all. He typically asks me about what to wear and whether he should shave, but he did not do this, which made me second-guess whether it would happen. Then, on a cool, very early morning, he got down on one knee. Even though I had suspected it, I was still completely surprised. I can’t even remember exactly what he said—I was just so excited."
Sarah has always loved skincare and makeup, so about 10 months before the wedding, she started a practice of monthly facials. "During that time, I also did several peels and microneedling treatments, and adjusted my skincare routine based on my esthetician’s recommendations. I began using Face Reality products, which completely transformed my skin and helped me get my acne under control." Right before leaving for Ireland, she had a hydrafacial with lymphatic drainage and dermaplaning to ensure her makeup would apply smoothly.
"Since we were planning a destination wedding, I wasn’t able to do a hair trial and only managed to book a last-minute makeup trial the day before the wedding. I spent a lot of time on Instagram researching different makeup artists and hairstylists. I had a clear vision of the look I wanted, and I loved the work that Asta and Irma shared. I felt confident choosing them and was so happy they were available. I was also able to meet with Irma virtually, where we discussed what I wanted and came up with a plan for the day! I was going for a natural glam look with Hollywood waves, and they absolutely delivered. They were amazing and made all of us feel and look so beautiful—the bridesmaids and moms couldn’t stop raving about them and were thrilled with their hair and makeup. I cannot say enough about them. They felt like an integral part of my day and made the start of that day a wonderful experience!"
Sarah's dress shopping took her on a tour of the states: visiting her dad in Texas early in the engagement, then on to Kleinfeld in New York, and finally back to her home state of Virginia. "I almost cancelled this appointment because it was a cold, rainy day and I was feeling a little hangry, but my family encouraged me to go." Sarah knew she was on the hunt for a princess gown that felt elegant, timeless, and unique—something simple, but not too simple. She picked out a few dresses to start with, and while Sarah loved each one, something felt missing. She mentioned to her bridal assistant that she liked the idea of a slit but wasn’t sure about it for her wedding dress. With that in mind, she was presented one final gown, which just so happened to be the one. "I tried on a few more gowns, all of them beautiful, but I couldn’t stop comparing them to that one. When I put it back on, I just knew. I felt so beautiful, completely like myself, and like it perfectly captured the vibe of my wedding. I FaceTimed my entire family, including my mother-in-law and then said yes. I’m very grateful I didn't end up cancelling that appointment!"
"Choosing the groom’s suit was actually very straightforward—much easier than picking a dress! Since we envisioned the wedding as timeless, elegant, and truly memorable, and had set a formal dress code, we always knew he would wear a classic black tuxedo. The only real decision was whether to include a vest. He ultimately decided against it, though he brought one along just in case he changed his mind. In the end, his look was absolutely perfect, and he looked so handsome."
Sarah's sister and sister-in-law were her bridesmaids. "I went back and forth on what colour I wanted them to wear. At first, I thought I’d go with black to match the overall theme, but with the lush green scenery in Ireland, I ultimately chose sage green. I also wanted them to feel confident and beautiful, so I let each of them pick a dress they loved." They both found their dresses at Anthropologie, and her maid of honour chose a design by V. Chapman.
"When I first imagined the ceremony, I always pictured a string quartet. As we planned, though, I realised I really wanted a cantor for the hymns, which shifted everything. We worked with the church’s organist, who connected us with a wonderful cantor—and even helped arrange for a violinist, so I didn’t have to fully give up the idea of strings. There are honestly no words to describe how beautiful the music was. I told the musicians I wanted music to be woven throughout the entire ceremony and gave them full creative freedom—and they created something truly unforgettable. We couldn’t stop talking about it afterwards, and our guests were completely captivated. Another meaningful touch was including our grandparents in the ceremony—they did the readings, which made the day feel even more personal and special. Both sets of grandparents have been together for over 50 years, and we truly look up to them and what they have created together, so we wanted to be sure that they played an important part in our ceremony."
The couple did a lot of research when choosing their venue. "This was probably the most nerve-wracking part of the process since we were planning from abroad and couldn’t visit any venues in person. We had to rely entirely on photos, reviews, and a Zoom tour. I kept coming back to Tankardstown, though, especially because of the Orangery. We had originally envisioned an outdoor dinner, but once we realised how unpredictable that could be, the Orangery felt like the perfect alternative with its beautiful windows." Since they couldn’t do a food tasting, the team at the venue went above and beyond by sending photos of every dish and helping Sarah & Anthony thoughtfully craft a menu that would flow well and appeal to all of the guests.
"We had Mark Wilde perform during cocktail hour—an incredible saxophonist who stood outside Tankardstown, serenading guests as they arrived. Alongside him, Liz Holdsworth joined us to engrave compact mirrors and shot glasses, giving everyone a personalised keepsake. Music is incredibly important to us, so we were very intentional about incorporating as many live instrumental elements as possible throughout the day. We really wanted to create a memorable, elevated experience so our guests felt truly treated, as if they were attending a black-tie celebration. After dinner, Kristian Grey delivered what was probably the most unique highlight of the evening: a magic show. When we were first planning the entertainment, we weren’t sure what direction to take and had no idea what a magic show at a wedding would even feel like—but it turned out to be incredible. Guests couldn’t stop talking about it, and it absolutely added that extra “wow” factor to the night."
"The best decision we made was having a small, intimate wedding. We were initially unsure whether our guests would still have fun without a DJ or a traditional party atmosphere, but it turned out to be so unique and incredible in every way. The entertainment we chose made the day feel truly one-of-a-kind—the magician, musicians, and calligrapher created a refined, elevated experience. Because it was a smaller wedding, we were able to spend meaningful time with everyone and really connect with our guests. It was also very important to us to truly treat our families, especially knowing how much effort it takes to attend a destination wedding. We were so grateful that they were able to travel and be part of such a special day, and we wanted to make every moment feel worthwhile for them. We were even able to have our rehearsal dinner at Slane Castle, where we enjoyed a whiskey tasting, castle tour, and dinner with our families. It honestly felt like we were on a beautiful vacation surrounded by the most important people in our lives. My husband and I often look back on our rehearsal day/wedding day and still cannot believe it. We are so grateful to our families and friends because it honestly feels surreal that the day we had was ours. It was the most incredible wedding we’ve ever been to, and it’s hard to believe it was ours."
"Before the wedding, I would probably have said the hardest decision was not travelling to Ireland beforehand to tour venues and churches, do tastings, and meet our vendors in person. I felt quite anxious leading up to the day and had to put full trust in everyone involved, knowing they would take care of everything. In the end, everything turned out even better than I could have imagined, so I truly don’t have any regrets—but if I could go back, I might still have made the trip just to ease some of that pre-wedding anxiety. The one decision that still feels the most difficult, though, was not bringing our pup, Rocky, with us. We made that choice intentionally because we knew how challenging it would be for him to handle the full trip, but we still missed him deeply. He has been such an important part of our lives, and it would have meant so much to have him there with us on such a special day."
- Gráinne