Elegance met fun in the most unforgettable way as Tanya and Stephen tied the knot in the decadent surrounds of Kilkea Castle in Co. Kildare. A New Year’s Eve wedding date gave them the perfect excuse to go all-out and their breathtaking black-tie celebration married timeless elegance with lively, modern glamour.
With an utterly magical monochrome palette, the decor exuded luxurious and sophisticated romance. Photographer Colin Colleran captured every treasured moment and gorgeous detail with exquisite beauty. For the couple it was so important that their 250 guests had a night to remember and just wait until you see how they rung in the new year and their happily ever after.
Tanya is from Offaly and Stephen is from Carlow and while they have known each other for 12 years and the timing didn't initially align for them but their forever together was always destined. Tanya explains, "We went to college in Galway and Dublin, then Stephen did a Master’s and I went travelling but the timing was finally right for us in 2018 when we were both working in Dublin and finally made it official. It has been a busy seven years, we’ve travelled, bought our first home, got married and now we are expecting our first baby in October 2025."
Tanya is obsessed with Christmas and Stephen popped the question on Christmas Eve in 2022 in their new home in Carlow. She reflects, "It was very special. Stephen was keeping things traditional and he asked my dad’s permission a few hours earlier. The original plan was to ask me on top Pico Ruivo in Madeira which we were travelling to for New Year's Eve, but Stephen was worried my dad wouldn’t be able to keep a secret for that long especially over the Christmas period. It turned out for the best because hiking up Pico Ruivo was not for the faint hearted, and the weather was awful."
Their wedding planning kicked off with finding their dream wedding venue. They needed somewhere that had capacity for 200+ guests and accommodation was very important as they had a lot of family travelling and staying overnight. Of course, it had to be utterly fabulous too. While they had eight venues booked for viewings they only toured one, Kilkea Castle. "We had never been before even though it was only 20 minutes away from our house which meant we could get married in our local church, which was something we really wanted. It ticked all the boxes and of course it is absolutely stunning."
Their flower girls joined them on the wedding morning with Tanya’s goddaughter Sophia getting ready with the bridal party in Kilkea Castle and Stephen’s niece Amile getting ready with him. The groom was also joined by their adored pooch Phoebe!
Tanya and Stephen secured their New Year's Eve wedding date and from their many key suppliers fell into place – photographer, band, makeup, fireworks and videographer. The bride has a top tip for engaged couples about suppliers. "If there is a supplier that you have your heart set on book ASAP – it may seem crazy booking so far in advance, but these suppliers are great for a reason and get fully booked very quick."
Tanya couldn't have loved the dress shopping process more and she always knew she would walk down the aisle wearing a Suzanne Neville creation. "It was a classic 'the first dress I tried on'. I have been obsessed with her dresses for years and it was a dream to wear one of her designs. Although I had my dress picked out quite early on that didn’t stop me from travelling the whole county trying on dresses just to be sure but nothing compared to design and fit of Suzanne Neville. I was genuinely sad when the dress shopping was over."
Bridesmaids in black is a trend we will love forever. Her leading ladies wore elegant black velvet gowns with satin skirts and bow details on one shoulder by Désir Couture.
The couple tied the knot at Holy Cross Catholic Church in Killeshin and the flower girls stole the show holding hands walking down the aisle.
Their guests are still talking about how magical the music was. "Rebecca Creighton who did our ceremony and reception music and our band The Event Band has still been spoken about today – they blew us and everyone else away!"
Impeccably stylish groom Stephen sourced his timeless Remus Uomo suit, which included a white blazer with contrasting black lapels, and his patent brogues from The Groom's Room at Diffney.
The bride shines more light on the vibe of their modern castle celebration, "The venue is rich in history and romantic charm, the castle setting added this magical, fairytale energy. We leaned into a glam aesthetic The night felt luxurious yet full of heart."
When it comes to wedding planning the bride says, "Do it all, don’t have any regrets – it’s your day and do it how you want to do it. Five people or 500 people if that’s what you want, do it. I also think the build-up is everything for me it wasn’t just one day, it was all the preparation, make a day out of picking your shoes and your perfume with your bridesmaids/friends/family. Go on dates after you get you your marriage course cert, or six months before or have a bottle of wine (your wedding wine) when choosing your wedding songs – It’s such a special time and small things may seem small at the time but they will be memories you’ll never forget."
Their wedding favours were DIY personalised black satin bows that acted as place settings. How chic!
The couple put a unique and fun stamp on their reception after the speeches with their expresso martini bar. "The whole vibe of it really captured the spirit of our wedding— laughter, and excitement that defined our wedding day!"
"It was really important to us that our guest had the best night as it was NYE too, so we felt we needed to put on a show and that’s exactly what The Event Band did. The Event Band did their pre-dinner performance, and it set the place alive for the night. From the moment the bell rang until after midnight they performed." They leaned into the jubilation of the midnight moment with champagne tower and a fireworks countdown, the magical moments just kept coming.
Sunseekers will want to emulate their honeymoon plans. "We went to Australia for our honeymoon in April 2025 for 3.5 weeks – it was amazing. We got to see Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Bryon Bay (recommend staying at Elements of Byron) the gold coast and Whitsundays / Hamilton Island. It was a trip that included everything from City life and the iconic Bondi Beach to relaxing on one of the words top five beaches, Whitehaven Beach and seeing the Great Barrier Reef. I don’t think Australia is your typical honeymoon destination, but I feel it gives plenty of variety if you want an action-packed honeymoon or relaxing it really caters for both. Queensland was nothing short of amazing and we got all the honeymoon feels – their beaches and scenery are unmatched."
Congratulations Tanya and Stephen! A very special thank you to our wonderful couple and Colin Colleran Photographer for sharing today's magical Kilkea Castle wedding with One Fab Day!
Want to party like royalty on your special day? Check out 27 Fairytale Castle Wedding Venues in Ireland!
