Róisín FitzGerald and Ciarán ‘Dug’ Doyle from Co. Wicklow first met on a night out Aughrim. The pair became friends, bumping into each other in their local Ballymanus and spending more and more time together until one night they sealed the deal with a kiss: “it all went so smoothly from there and just felt right,” recalls Róisín.
The Proposal
As far as popping the question goes, Ciarán played a blinder with his surprise proposal. The couple were painting the walls of their new house when he asked Róisín if she fancied taking a break by heading out on a bike ride, simple enough.
I was reluctant at first as we had had a little bit of a tiff that morning but I knew he was quite eager and I didn’t want to be stubborn so we headed out in Ballymanus. I was moaning at first saying things like ‘why are we going this way, this hill is so hard’…but I then softened up with the beautiful scenery. He insisted we keep going and eventually we pulled in to a gorgeous view.
As soon they were off the bikes, Ciarán was down on one knee asking her to be his wife: “we both laughed and cried together”. To top it off, Ciarán stealthily pulled out a bottle of champers and a pair of flutes he had hid in the bushes earlier that morning (remember that tiff they had earlier in the day?!) and the two shared a few sips before heading back to share the news: “Dug still will not let me live it down how quick my little legs biked back to tell our good news to all our family and friends!”
They tied the knot at Ballybeg House in June, their humanist ceremony officiated by celebrant Amy Brown. The day was inspired by the beautiful setting of Ballybeg, a venue Roisin says was “everything I had wanted for a wedding.”
The Dress
As wedding dress shopping goes, Roisin’s experience was as straight-forward as they come, and despite thinking it would take time to source a style that suited, she found ‘the one’ on her very first outing.
Myself and my mam headed to The White Room in Mullingar for an appointment I assumed would just be to tease out what suited me and what didn’t. I never in a million years thought I would get my dress on the first outing but that was it – one day, and the second dress I tried on I knew was the one for me.
Róisín completed her look with a headpiece in Folkster in Kilkenny and a veil which she had shipped over from America. Her bridesmaids’ dresses were from Jarlo London:
I loved the bridesmaid dresses. The girls just looked amazing on the day.
The Suits
Ciarán’s groomsmen’s suits were from Jack Dunne and Son in Gorey:
We went there with the intention of renting the suits,
explains the bride,
But then of course I was taken with the more fitted suits that weren’t available for hire! When Dug tried one on, it was like ‘Yes, we have to have them’. They were so stylish and modern and the navy was to die for! As my Mam said, he would give Daniel Craig a run for his money.
The couple bought the groomsmen their suits as a gift – “they did not complain!
The Venue
The couple decided to visit Ballybeg House on recommendation from Roisin’s mother, who had attended a wedding there and been very impressed. Owner Paddy O’Toole showed the couple around and they were instantly taken with the place.
I have never got such a feeling when walking around Ballybeg as this is just everything I have ever wanted for a wedding and it was so us. I literally said I feel like I always wanted to get married here and I didn’t even know it was here.
When we entered the ceremony room I gasped. It literally took my breath away.
“By the end of the tour, we looked at each other before turning to Paddy to ask if he had our date. He laughed and said ‘do you want to go away and think about it?’ which we did, but we didn’t look anywhere else. We knew this was the venue for us!”
