This intimate real wedding in the West of Cork was cinematically beautiful. Time stood still as Megan and Luke said 'I do' in a whimsical celebration surrounded by 18 of their loved ones. The scenic Cork countryside played a starring role as they tied the knot at St. Finbarr’s Oratory and held their flower-filled reception at Gougane Barra Hotel.
Their wedding celebrated the sacrament of marriage, with an ethereal aesthetic driven by seasonal flowers and a fairytale-worthy bridal look. They wanted to incorporate elements of their travels and to celebrate nature which included a family hike into the mountains on the wedding morning and an impromptu row boat for the newlyweds after the ceremony. With award-winning photographer Shane O’Neill of Aspect Photography on hand, you can expect breathtaking photos by the bucket load, we know you'll love every detail.
Megan and Luke live in Chicago and the jury is still out between them about how they met. They explain, "The first happy coincidence is still contested between the two. Megan remembers Luke choosing to sit next to her and strike up conversation on their first day of Calculus 1, first day of Freshman year at Notre Dame. Luke remembers Megan just appearing next to him - same time, same day, same year."
They fill us in on how their forever love blossomed. "The second happy coincidence occurred when Megan and Luke were both accepted into a summer study abroad program at Fu Jen Catholic University in Taipei. They shared a wonderful summer learning Mandarin and traveling around Taiwan together. The third happy coincidence, nine years later, involved Megan (or was it Luke??) reaching out for some camping advice. Megan was a resident at Johns Hopkins in Baltimore at the time, and Luke frequently visited his family living in Maryland. A few dinner dates later and the two were inseparable."
Luke's proposal location left us swooning, he popped the question in Shenandoah National Park. "Luke asked Megan if she wanted to go on a hike on a day with a 100% forecast of rain the whole day. She raised her eyebrows and said yes. He proposed at the base of a waterfall and Megan was very surprised and said YES! The weather cleared and sun came out just after the proposal."
They enjoyed incorporating elements from their travels and the bride was a glittering goddess wearing a floral lace and sequinned wedding dress by Spanish designer Higar Novias which she accessorised with a Manu Garcia veil, pearl and crystal earrings and dark green velvet platform Jimmy Choo heels.
It was important to them to celebrate the sacrament of marriage and they chose the magical St. Finbarr’s Oratory for their ceremony. Dating back to the 6th century, it is one Ireland's oldest chapels and it is bewitchingly located on a tiny island encased by mountains.
The music in the ceremony included Lord of All Hopefulness and Sing to the Mountains. Megan sourced her wedding ring in a jewellery store in Taipei in Taiwan while Luke bought his from a man named Dragon in Pokhara, Nepal.
For the couple, it was essential to created a relaxing atmosphere for their guests. "We prioritised quality over quantity. We wanted to be ourselves and not feel pressured to put on a show. We wanted to create a cosy and remote environment where our guests could get to know one another in a peaceful setting. We wanted our guests to have fun and not take anything too seriously. Seeing our close friends and family that hadn’t previously met develop independent friendships with one another was very special."
With their glaciated valley setting, how beyond dreamy are their wedding photos by Aspect Photography?
The gorgeous green bridemaids dresses with mix and match necklines were from Azazie.
When they met Neil and Katie at Gougane Barra they knew they had found 'the one'. "It is a special place that we knew was right when we visited. It feels connected to nature and God."
Tailoring their menu using local and seasonal food and drinks was another priority and the newlyweds and their guests tucked into a mouthwatering meal to remember in the floral-filled reception space.
Their fabulous fete also included a first dance to Annie’s Song by John Denver, a late-night pyjama dance-off, and Nepali knitted sheep wedding favours.
The couple has wonderful wedding planning advice to share. Luke suggests, "Designate people in your wedding party to take care of paying vendors with pre-sealed envelopes etc on your wedding day, or helping with facilitating timing so you can enjoy your wedding day and not be a manager. (Do not give this task to your mother no matter what she says so she can enjoy the day as well.)"
Megan says don't sweat the small stuff! "Our original wedding cake arrived toppled after we attempted to drive with it from Cork to Gougane Barra. Gougane Barra amazingly made us a new cake within 12 hours. Things won’t go according to plan. You are surrounded by people you love marrying the one you love and the rest doesn’t matter as much."
Megan and Luke made a lifelong dream come true on their honeymoon as they went on a scuba diving liveaboard boat around the Visayas in the Philippines.
Megan and Luke we can't stop smiling after seeing your sensational Cork wedding. A very special thank you to Shane O’Neill of Aspect Photography for sharing all the gorgeous images with us. Check out the gallery for even more!
Tying the knot? Check out more Irish Real Weddings for more inspiration!
