Planning a spring wedding and looking for some spring wedding inspo? Aoife and William’s celebration at the chic Kilshane House is sure to inspire. Their beautiful April Irish country house wedding was full of fresh blooms, warm vibes, and joyful moments. Aoife wowed everyone in her gorgeous ballgown with a big, stylish bow, while the whole crew looked sharp in their black-tie best. Surrounded by family and friends, the day was all about love, laughter, and memories to last a lifetime. Claire from Studio Brown captured every magical moment with her gorgeous imagery.
Today's real wedding couple are the lovely Aoife and William, originally from Kerry and Cork and now based in Cork City, who celebrated their wedding on the 26th of April 2025. The couple will tied the knot surrounded by 150 of their loved ones at the stunning Kilshane House — a perfect setting for their elegant and joyful celebration.
The pair first met while studying Pharmacy at UCC, where they were in the same class and always shared a friendly smile. However, it wasn’t until the summer of their third year, when they both took on roles with the same company, that their connection truly began to blossom. Frequent train journeys to attend training days gave them the perfect opportunity to sit near each other and chat — conversations that quickly turned into something more. From those early journeys, their story together began, and they haven’t looked back since.
Friendship turned into love and William had been planning the proposal for some time and wanted to create a thoughtful and peaceful escape for Aoife, especially after a particularly busy period at work. He surprised her with a weekend away at Finn Lough, a tranquil retreat in Northern Ireland known for its spa-like setting and unique bubble domes nestled in nature.
Aoife had no idea where they were going, but when she spotted the domes in the distance, her heart skipped a beat—she had seen them online before and always dreamed of staying there. Everything about the weekend felt magical: the serene surroundings, the beautiful food, and the sense of calm that came with being surrounded by nature.
On the second night, after a memorable dinner, William had arranged for rose petals to be scattered throughout their dome. He let Aoife step inside first to take in the scene, then followed her in and dropped to one knee. Although they had been together since October 2014 and the proposal came as no surprise, the moment was still filled with nerves and raw emotion.
Aoife tells us more, "William had planned a surprise trip, and even as we were en route I had no idea where we were going. When we arrived at Finn Lough and I spotted the bubble domes in the distance, my heart skipped - I had come across them online before and had dreamed of staying there. Everything about the weekend was so thoughtful. William made sure it was perfect from start to finish - the setting, the food, the peace of being surrounded by nature. We stayed in one of the domes and just soaked up every moment."
With the stars overhead and no one else around, William asked Aoife to marry him. It was quiet, intimate, and incredibly romantic—a perfect moment we're sure they’ll never forget. "Just us - and it couldn’t have been any more perfect," the bride reminisces.
Once engaged, Aoife and William set about planning a wedding that would feel warm, joyful, and inclusive. From the very beginning, their priority was to be surrounded by the people who love and support them, and to create a celebration that everyone could enjoy just as much as they would. They wanted the day to feel special not only for them, but for all their guests. Judging by the atmosphere on the day—and the glowing feedback in the weeks that followed—they succeeded. With fantastic food, a heartfelt vibe, and plenty of joy, the celebration turned out just as they’d hoped.
Aoife and William described their wedding day as 'something straight out of a storybook' — elegant, romantic, and made all the more magical by perfect sunshine after days of rain. Set against the stunning backdrop of Kilshane House, the celebration felt intimate despite their large extended families, with the day passing by in a beautiful, joyful blur.
For their ceremony, Aoife and William carefully selected meaningful music to set the tone—Aoife walked down the aisle to the stunning sounds of A Million Dreams, performed live by the Delta String Quartet, perfectly complemented by sunshine on their special day. The pair also chose the heartfelt Wedding Poem by Whitney Hanson Poetry. The signing of the register was beautifully accompanied by Book of Love, creating a truly memorable and personal ceremony.
"The ceremony felt incredibly meaningful - our celebrant, Catherine, really understood us. So many of our guests remarked on how personal it felt. We wrote our own vows, and while we kept them simple, we felt they really fostered the intimate, romantic vibe that we were going for. The Cockatiels in the Conservatory in Kilshane House, (where we had our ceremony) seemed equally pleased - they were pleasantly chatty throughout the ceremony - it was truly magical. We worked closely with the Delta String Quartet when selecting the music for our ceremony. It all came together so well on the day, we couldn’t have asked for more."
Aoife and William tell us they chose Kilshane House because it perfectly matched their vision for an intimate and welcoming celebration. They wanted a venue where the ceremony and accommodation could all be in one place—a rare find for their guest list size. Even on a rainy first visit, the beauty of the grounds and the warm atmosphere convinced them it was the ideal setting for the relaxed, joyful day they had always dreamed of.
It was that romantic charm of Kilshane House inspired their overall wedding aesthetic, with its peaceful, elegant, and warm atmosphere. The conservatory, filled with the gentle chirping of cockatiels, added a magical touch.
Aoife's bridal look is pure fairy-tale elegance and truly made us gasp when we first laid eyes on it. The Stephanie Allin Kendall ballgown dazzled with its classic full skirt and a stunning oversized bow draped gracefully over one shoulder, adding a modern, sculptural touch. She paired her gown perfectly with chic Carvela shoes, delicate pearl drop earrings and a hairpiece from One Dame Lane, a flowing veil by Urata Designs, and a refined bracelet from Diana O’Mahony Jewellers.
William looked effortlessly sharp in a tailored Louis Copeland suit, perfectly complemented by sleek Magnanni shoes. His look was elevated with sophisticated accessories—a classic Cartier watch and elegant cufflinks from Keane’s Jewelers—adding just the right touch of timeless style.
Makeup was flawlessly done by Sarah Dineen Bridal, creating a radiant and natural bridal glow. Hair stylist Val O’Dea ensured the bride was perfectly aisle-ready with a stunning, polished look.
Bridesmaids wore elegant Dessy dresses in the soft Mist shade, a whisper soft blue, crafted from luxurious chiffon. Their looks were completed with matching shoes, all sourced from Diamond Bridal in Cork City.
Mad About Flowers crafted stunning spring bouquets and displays bursting with sweetpea, soft blue delphinium, ranunculus, and garden roses—pure seasonal perfection.
What made the day truly special was how personal and authentic it felt to them. Aoife and William aimed to create a calm, welcoming atmosphere—nothing too formal or staged. They wanted their wedding to be a genuine celebration with their favourite people. Having their nephews and nieces there added a wonderful sense of family and fun, from toddlers dropping in just for the drinks reception to older kids dancing the night away. "It made the celebration feel full of heart, and for that we are so grateful," Aoife says.
"The venue itself contributed so much. Amy and Saoire, the coordinators in Kilshane House were wonderful. In the lead up to the wedding, they really made us feel as though everything was under control. I must commend Chef Ralf too - he helped create the most wonderful menu on the day and no ask was too big."
"And of course, we were so lucky to have worked with suppliers who really understood us, and were able to capture our vision perfectly. It allowed us to absorb it all on the day, without having to worry about a thing."
Alongside an incredible team of suppliers who helped bring their dream day to life, Aoife and William also collaborated closely with two talented artisans. Aoife worked with Italian artist Donata Curlotti of Lebianchemargherite to design a stunning cake topper that perfectly complemented Sandy of Wild Rose Artisan Cakes's beautiful cake — an exquisite piece that now serves as a cherished keepsake from their wedding day.
She also teamed up with Barbara Hubert of Hubert Book Bindery in Cork City to create the perfect guest book. They wanted an album-style book to hold Polaroid photos and heartfelt notes from their guests — a rare find that Barbara brought to life with care and creativity.
The couple absolutely loved having the children included in their celebration, which they say added so much joy and warmth to the day. Many nephews and nieces played a big part in the day and feature in lots of the photos—especially those captured with the polaroid camera, where they doubled as excellent little photographers and had a fantastic time!
The wedding cake was an exquisite all-white sugar flower creation by Wild Rose Artisan Cakes, combining delicate artistry with timeless elegance.
The couple honeymooned in the Maldives and highly recommend it. "We spent 10 days relaxing and enjoying the fine weather and beautiful white sandy beaches."
Their first dance was to the hauntingly beautiful “Haunted” by Shane MacGowan — a perfect, heartfelt choice that captured the emotion of the day. After, The Mixtape kept the dancefloor buzzing and full all night long!
In a seriously chic twist, Aoife swapped her white bow for a black one later in the evening. So stylish!
Their advice to other couples? Enjoy every moment—it truly flies by—and try to keep stress to a minimum. "We spent 10 days relaxing and enjoying the fine weather and beautiful white sandy beaches."
A very special thank you to our lovely couple Aoife & William and to Claire from Studio Brown for sharing this incredibly stylish Kilshane House wedding with One Fab Day! See even more pictures in the gallery below.
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