NYC based couple Julia & Luke dreamed of an Irish castle wedding and hosted an elegant & classic black tie affair in the lush and regal surroundings of Luttrellstown Castle. When we think of fairytale wedding destinations, this spellbinding castle venue in the picturesque Dublin countryside is right at the top of our list! And today's nuptials is everything you'll need to convince yourself of the same. Guests celebrated the newlyweds in style on the castle grounds on a day that exuded a relaxed grandeur from start to finish, and that seamlessly blended both the grandeur of an old Irish castle with the warmth of an autumn wedding celebration. Their day is just one of those weddings that everyone will love. Not just because it's beautiful, but also because you can feel a sense of quiet joy, of restrained elegance, of attention to the finest of details through each and every image. Photographed by Niamh Smith of The Photography Hub fall in love with this elegant Ireland celebration just as all of us here at One Fab Day have.
First things first, let's get to know our couple a little better, shall we? Bride Julia is from Alexandria, Virginia in the USA, while groom Luke hails from Castleknock, Dublin.
The newlyweds are currently based in Brooklyn, New York where they first met through friends. Julia had recently moved to the city and Luke's roommate matched with her roommate on a dating app. The first time they were introduced was through those two friends, and the rest, as they say is history!
The proposal happened one sunny evening in New York. Luke fills us in, "I got down on one knee during a sunset evening walk in Prospect Park, down the road from our apartment in Brooklyn. We were both so excited and celebrated together in our favorite neighborhood Italian restaurant followed by a few calls to our family & close friends."
Once engaged the couple began planning a wedding in Ireland with room for their 130 person guest list. Wanting a weekend of celebration and vacation with their loved ones, the couple landed on hosting their wedding at Luttrellstown Castle, a magnificent 15th-century exclusive hire castle in the Co. Dublin countryside. "We were looking to get married somewhere historic which could bring intimacy to a wedding of over a hundred people," the pair tell One Fab Day.
Nestled amidst lush, rolling landscapes and pristine green fields, it’s no surprise why the couple choose their venue Luttrellstown Castle, but when asked what made it “the one” for them they say, "With its history and ivy-covered beauty Luttrellstown is truly a dream location - add to that impeccable service and its proximity to central Dublin and it was impossible to beat. Almost half our guests flew in from overseas so accessibility was important to us."
"We also immediately noticed upon touring how well laid out Luttrellstown was - this feels minor but has a big impact on the day! From the ceremony to the drinks reception, followed by dinner and dancing, to finally cozying up with a nightcap in library, the layout of the venue enabled the whole event to flow so fluidly."
"Not to mention, Luke is from the neighborhood. Being able to get married essentially in his backyard was such a treat, with his parents just down the road. Plus it made everything logistically much smoother."
"Lutrellestown gave us full run of the venue from seven in the morning day of the wedding to midday the day after, allowing our full wedding party and immediate family to get ready together. With almost half of our guest list staying on location, we truly felt like the castle was ours."
"It was important to us both that our family could be an active part of the day and lead up, which the on-site accommodation really enabled. There’s nothing better than being able to run down the hall to your dad’s room for extra socks on the day, or nip into your mom’s room the morning after for a debrief. There was something so special about seeing everyone enjoy not just the wedding festivities but the chance to poke along the passages and backstairs to explore the castle itself."
"Lastly, it was important to us that our venue had a ceremony room that felt like a real wedding space - not a barn or conference room - but something special and fit for purpose. The Gothic Room at Luttrellstown was exactly that."
With their dream Irish venue secured, the pair set about creating a day with a "classic, elegant and a bit moody" vibe. " We erred on the side of simplicity quite a bit to allow the history of the venue to shine through. We wanted our photos to feel timeless—images we could look back on years from now and still see as classic. Clean lines, understated beauty, and a sense of simplicity were at the heart of our vision. Luttrellstown needs little embellishment!"
"We’ve always been drawn to black-and-white photography and the storytelling of classic films and wanted that same feeling in our wedding imagery. Our photographer, Niamh Smith, and videographer, Joseph Berg, shared that sensibility. Their skill with traditional film brought out the wistful, vintage quality we’d hoped for, they captured something that feels both cinematic and enduring."
The couple say the day itself felt "so joyful, there was overflowing happiness and fun that just continued to ramp up through the day."
For her Irish destination wedding nuptials, bride Julia wore a timeless off-shoulder ballgown wedding dress by Casablanca Bridal which she sourced at RK Bridal in New York. She completed her wedding day look with lace-trimmed veil and lace bridal shoes from Bella Belle, an antique rhinestone necklace from her grandmother, and a diamond bracelet which was a 30th birthday gift from Luke. Hair by Jennifer Hennessy and makeup by Noeleen Cunningham ensured she was aisle ready.
Luke looked equally dapper in a formal black tie look from Enzo Custom suits in New York, which he paired with Allen Edmonds dress shoes and cuff links from Brooks Brothers, a gift from Julia’s Dad, Edward.
Julia's bridesmaids were her 'something blue' in their gorgeous mix-and-match gowns from BHLDN, by Anthropologie, while the couple's flower girl looked adorable in her dress sourced from NEXT.
Adding an extra special touch to the wedding morning Julia's mom Deborah gave her a little bag of “something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue” - "It was so sweet, and filled with all little things that would come in handy at a wedding, like a blue handkerchief", the bride reminisces.
On November 9th, 2024, at the Gothic Hall in Luttrellstown Castle Julia and Luke exchanged vows led by Rev. Natasha Quinn-Thomas and sealed the deal with wedding bands from Tiffany’s and Delphi Antiques.
"One of the most memorable moments of our ceremony was Julia’s brother, Andrew, reading James Kavanaugh’s poem To Love is Not to Possess. Its message—a reflection on how individuality and independence can strengthen a marriage—was really meaningful to us. Luke’s godmother Thérèse also read a heartfelt and beautiful scripture on love."
"Most importantly, Rev. Natasha brought a huge amount of warmth and insight as our celebrant. She spoke thoughtfully about what marriage represents and brought a touch of levity too. Having a young, passionate celebrant made all the difference and lent so much energy to the ceremony."
After the 'I do's' guests enjoyed a cocktail hour while the couple nipped away for couple portraits. The delicious reception dinner was then served at Luttrellstown Castle's Van Stry Ballroom atop crisp white linens and tables filled with candle light.
Then the Bentley Boys wedding band kicked things off. The newlyweds shared a first dance to Frank Sinatra's The Way You Look Tonight. "An oldie but a goodie! We wanted a true first dance, and took foxtrot lessons with Laurie at New York Dance Connections in Brooklyn. She made it all so fun, I may even be able to convince Luke to go back for more…!"
The wedding weekend was topped off with a day two after-party a O’Donoghue’s Pub in Dublin, where the couple cut their wedding cake made by the groom's sister. "Orna, Luke’s sister was kind enough to make us a beautiful lemon wedding cake which we had the next day at our “day two” . It came out wonderfully, she took so much care - it was professional level good!"
"And years ago my mom’s sister, Brenda found a cake topper with a bride who looked a bit like me as a little girl. She saved it and gave to me for my wedding. Luke doesn’t look quite like the figurine groom… but we used it all the same!".
Adding a little touch of their home back in NYC the couple designed custom match boxes featuring a line drawing design (from Etsy) of the venue and on the other side drawings of little things important to them, including Dogwood flowers, Virginia’s state flower, and their 'feisty' cat, Mateo!
After planning such a gorgeous day form thousands of miles away, the couple have some pretty solid advice for engaged couples, "Choose what speaks to you, rather than what you think is “right”. Be individualistic, you won’t get many days like this that are truly yours to orchestrate and treasure. And use it as an opportunity to grow (cheesy we know, but true!). At the core of planning a wedding is communication, so it’s a wonderful chance to learn about your partner, one anothers’ families, and deepen your bond as a couple."
"Lastly, and practically speaking, avoid leaving planning to the last minute. If you take on a task each week or so it can be an enjoyable process, don’t be afraid to start early."
The newlyweds booked a honeymoon for immediately after their wedding escaping to the sun before returning home to NYC. "Because the weather is temperamental at best in November, we chose southern Portugal as our honeymoon destination, hoping for some sun. We can’t recommend Casa Mãe, a boutique hotel nestled in the ancient walls of Lagos, highly enough. It was an enchanting setting and the staff could not have been kinder."
Huge Congratulations to Julia and Luke, hope you're enjoying your first year as a married couple! Thanks as well to Niamh Smith from The Photography Hub for sharing their gorgeous Luttrellstown Castle wedding with us.
Tying the knot? Check out more Irish Real Weddings and get inspired!
