Prepare to fall head over heels for this festive fete featuring the lovely Emma and Fionán. The couple celebrated saying yes to forever in the sumptuous surrounds of Cahernane House Hotel in Killarney surrounded by their loved ones. With a plush colour palette brimming with burgundy tones and lustrous golds, elegant yet wintery decor, glamorous bridal style, and moody florals, get ready to swoon, swoon and swoon again. Luxurious and glamorous winter wedding inspiration awaits in the beautiful photos from Sally MacMonagle below.

Emma and Fionán are both from Kerry and they live on the farm in Aghatubrid, Cahersiveen, with their two sons Maitiú and Ruairí. While Emma grew up in Killarney she spent her holidays on Valentia Island while Fionán is from Renard, Cahersiveen. Fionán is from a farming background and continued on the family business.

The breathtaking bride could've passed for an Old Hollywood starlet with her dazzling makeup look which included a picture-perfect scarlet red pout.

Back to their love story! Emma tells us, "We got together in August 2010. We were introduced by our friends at the Cahersiveen Music and Arts Festival. We started going out officially two weeks later on August 15th. Fionán proposed with the help of our son Maitiú who was seven months old at the time. It was my birthday on the 17th of July, and he proposed just before our son was going to bed. It was very sweet."

For the couple, the most important thing was creating a relaxed atmosphere for their family and friends so they could soak up the magic of the day in the utmost comfort. "Our wedding was unique. Danielle, from Tie The Knot Weddings, created our dream day. Our family gathered around the large open fireplaces in Cahernane House and drank mulled wine and ate gingerbread men. It was the essence of Christmas."

Show-stopping! The bride sparkled with every step wearing the fully beaded and semi-transparent Irina wedding dress by Milla Nova. Her something blue? Her mum's sapphire earrings!

They travelled in style in a black Porsche that belonged to their family friend.

The couple exchanged vows at St Mary’s Church in Beaufort which was styled with rose and foliage arrangements while candles brought a romantic glow and there was plenty of sparkle. "Our day was amazing from start to finish. Having Maitiú with us made our day so much more special. Seeing his little face as I walked up the aisle to Fionán was sheer magic."

"The church is beautiful, it is secluded in an idyllic setting. It was the perfect size and not too far from our wedding venue," Emma reflects.

Ensuring that their son Maitiú and Fionán’s grandmother could be there to celebrate with them was their top priority. "Maureen is our only living grandparent and we wanted to make sure she was involved in our special day. She presented us with our coins to exchange during our wedding ceremony, which belonged to both our grandparents. It was a very special moment for Fionán which he will remember forever."

From the slick black tuxes to the bridesmaids dresses in deep red, you couldn't find more timeless winter wedding style. The younger members of the wedding party were smashingly dresses too with their three-month-old flower girl wearing a frill-necked burgundy velvet dress to complement the bridesmaid.

Their priest’s message during their ceremony really struck a chord and has stayed with them. "It was ‘love isn’t cancelled’. It was very meaningful as so many people’s lives had been put on hold with Covid at the time. In our wedding video his words echoed throughout and spoke about the importance of love."

"Sally our photographer and our videographer Gintas of Pilgrim Films captured the whole vibe of our wedding perfectly. They are true artists. Having photographs of four generations is a privilege," she adds.

Cahernane House Hotel ticketed every single box imaginable for the couple. "It was small, intimate and homely. Emer, the hotel manager, was a delight to deal with. She made all our dreams come true and could not have done more for us. We recently stayed in Cahernane for our second wedding anniversary and it brought all of our memories flooding back."

Emma and Fionán's reception styling had a cherry coded twist which is one of the hottest wedding trends right now.

Can we take a moment to appreciate their divine wedding cake which was a blooming beauty adorned with flowers.

Fionán’s first cousin Didi was instrumental throughout the whole wedding planning process. "She made beautiful personalised Christmas decorations for each guest as their place settings. Having Didi at our wedding was one of the most special moments for us, she was our rock throughout it all. Didi passed away in May 2023 and it broke our hearts. But we remember her every time we put up our wedding decorations on the Christmas tree."

"Always be true to yourself and what you would like for your special day," is Emma's top wedding planning tip and we're here for it!

For their first dance, the couple put their own spin on Elvis Presley's timeless love song Can't Help Falling in Love. "Its tempo was increased and played in a trad music style."

After all their celebrations the couple enjoyed a magical mini-moon at Hayfield Manor. "It was a wonderful stay. Our honeymoon is still in the works, we were blessed with our second son, Ruairí, in November 2023."

Emma and Fionán, your wedding day was simply magical! A very special thank you to Sally MacMonagle for sharing the beautiful imagery, you can see even more in the gallery below.

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