Today, we’re honoured to share the beautiful real wedding of Nicola and Riccardo. This inspirational bride, who now embraces life with a bionic arm, poured her creativity and love into crafting much of the wedding décor herself, making the day truly personal and meaningful. After spending several years living in the vibrant energy of New York City, Nicola and Riccardo chose to honor their Irish roots with a warm, homecoming-style wedding in Co. Clare.

When the bride first got in touch with her incredible wedding photo of her holding her bridal bouquet with her bionic arm, we were truly in awe—capturing not just the beauty of the moment, but also the strength and spirit that made the day so special. We just knew we had to share their incredible day.

The reception took place at the elegant Bellbridge Hotel in Spanish Point, Co. Clare, offering a stunning coastal setting. Their blend of tradition and personal flair made for an unforgettable, heartfelt celebrations—truly a beautiful homecoming for Nicola and Riccardo. The day was captured by Fra Lucchesi, whose photography skillfully preserved every detail crafted by the bride, along with every heartfelt moment and joyful smile — including that dream moment of bionic bride Nicola holding her wedding bouquet.

Bride Nicola, originally from County Clare, and Groom Riccardo, from County Louth, are now happily based in Clare together. Their love story brings together two counties and is a beautiful blend of their shared roots and new beginnings.

Nicola moved to New York in October 2009, followed by Riccardo a year later in October 2010. Fate brought them together at Luke Kelly’s, their local neighborhood bar in Queens, where they both worked. What began as a strong friendship grew over the years, until Riccardo eventually asked Nicola out—and the rest, as they say, is history.

In 2022, after Riccardo had recently moved back home, he surprised Nicola with a birthday trip to Galway. As part of the celebration, he rented a boat for them to stay on overnight—a romantic idea, though met with some hesitation given the chilly November weather. Nicola, not thrilled at first, stayed quiet, and after dinner the couple even debated booking a hotel instead. But wanting to honour Riccardo’s thoughtful gesture, she agreed to return to the boat with a bottle of wine in tow. A couple of hours later, Nicola heard their favourite song playing. She turned around to find Riccardo on one knee. Overwhelmed and touched, any earlier doubts quickly melted away—it was the perfect surprise proposal, and a story they’d never forget.

Once engaged, Nicola and Riccardo started planning a celebration in Co. Clare. From the very beginning, their top priorities were good food and great music. Nicola wanted their wedding to feel fun and relaxed, with a focus on creating an unforgettable experience for their guests. It was important to them to include personal touches and a few unexpected elements—things their friends and family might not have seen at a wedding before—to make the day feel truly unique.

And the perfect venue for their day? The Bellbridge Hotel at Spanish Point in Co. Clare. Nicola had always loved the area, and with its seaside location and reputation for exceptional food, the Bellbridge quickly felt like “the one.” What truly sealed the deal, though, was the experience with the team. The couple tell us the wedding coordinator was incredibly supportive and accommodating, especially when Nicola decided to take on the décor herself to add an extra personal touch to the day. "They really went out of their way to be helpful and made sure I was happy. The staff were truly amazing!", the bride tells.

Nicola was drawn to a romantic and elegant aesthetic for their big day, taking inspiration from hours spent scrolling through Pinterest and Instagram. She envisioned a celebration filled with soft pink and white tones, abundant florals, candlelight, and carefully considered details that added a touch of magic.

The result? A beautifully elegant celebration, filled with thoughtful details and a soft blush pink and white colour palette.

On June 6, 2025, in the beautiful coastal town of Miltown Malbay, County Clare, Nicola and Riccardo exchanged their vows at the charming St Joseph’s Church, surrounded by 137 cherished family members and friends.

Nicola made her way up the aisle to the song “You Are The Reason” by Calum Scott — a choice that held deep meaning for her. "It's a song that means a lot to me after living apart from each other for over 2 years."

Being very close with her brothers, Nicola wanted them all to share in the significance of the day. So, as her father walked her down the aisle, her five brothers followed closely behind, each one playing a special role in this unforgettable moment. No doubt, the tears were flowing!

What made the day extra special for Nicola and Riccardo was having their closest friends—who had become like family during their time living in New York—travel all the way to Ireland to celebrate with them. Having recently moved home after many years abroad, it meant the world to be surrounded by the people who had shared so much of their journey. "Riccardo had returned home 2 years ago from New York, and I returned after 16 years, just 2 months before the wedding. It meant the world to have our friends that became our family over the years to come to Ireland for the wedding it made the day truly special for us."

Nicola’s bridal look was the perfect balance of timeless elegance and modern romance. She found the dress at The Ivory Dressing Room in the UK, pairing it with a delicate veil from the same boutique for a beautifully cohesive ensemble. Her accessories added a subtle sparkle—Rosie and Dott earrings lent a touch of refined glamour, while chic, white Be Mine heels from ASOS completed the look with understated sophistication. Makeup was beautifully done by Aoife Garrihy, while Martina Garrihy of Mimi’s worked her magic on hair, ensuring the bride was effortlessly aisle-ready. Every detail came together effortlessly for a bridal style that felt both classic and uniquely her.

But the most beautifully unique feature of all? The bride’s bionic arm, which she wore the morning-of with grace and confidence—adding a powerful, personal touch to her bridal look that was as unforgettable as it was inspiring. "One personal touch I loved for myself was having a picture of my bionic arm holding my bouquet. I spent 4 years applying for it so I knew on my special day I wanted my hand to be part of it."

The bride carried a stunning all-white peony bouquet, beautifully crafted by Emily Keating Florists.

The bridesmaids wore soft blush pink dresses with a charming bow-back detail from the brand Dessy, sourced from Kate’s Kloset in Limerick. The flower girls, Saoirse and Aoife, looked absolutely adorable in their sweet dresses from Next.

The groom’s suit and shoes were both from Louis Boyd in Newry, perfectly tailored and styled for the occasion. The groomsmen looks were also from Louis Boyd, while pageboys Matteo and Eli donned sweet, dapper looks from Next.

The ceremony kept things timeless and romantic with white florals and candlelight, while the reception featured tall centrepieces, delicate bow chair accents, and décor lovingly created by Nicola herself—adding a personal touch to their effortlessly stylish day. Nicola says, "From doing all the hotel decor myself it made it extra meaningful to me to look around and see the room the way I’d imagined from the moment of planning."

Their advice to other couples planning their special day is simple: don’t stress the small stuff. Everything will fall into place, and that you’ll soon wonder why you ever worried. They encourage couples to enjoy every part of the planning process and to truly savor every moment of the day. "Enjoy all the planning and take in every moment of your day, it’s true, the day flies!"

At the reception, the couple surprised their guests with a special performance by Singer Secreto, the singing waiter, who truly got the party started and added a fun, unforgettable twist to the evening celebrations.

The newlyweds first dance was to "From Now On” from The Greatest Showman — a heartfelt choice that perfectly captured the beginning of their new life together.

After the wedding, they took a few days away to unwind, spending a night at Parknasilla in Co Kerry before heading to London for three days. Looking ahead, they are excited to travel to Bali in September for their honeymoon.

Congratulations and a huge thank you Nicola and Riccardo for sharing your dreamy wedding with One Fab Day and to Fra Lucchesi Photography for your exquisite imagery.

Tying the knot? You'll find so much inspiration in our Irish Real Wedding section!