Today's real wedding is a splendidly glamorous affair. San Diego-based couple, Kathleen and Liam brought their friends and family to Ireland for their intimate destination wedding at The K Club in Kildare. Making the most of having so many loved ones in the same place, they treated their guests to the best of Irish music and hospitality. Their celebration was refined, intimate and elegant, with stunning style and beautiful florals, the day and the gorgeous couple at the centre of it, were captured by Anna G Photography in her ever-dreamy style!
Kathleen tells us how she and Liam first met, “Liam is originally from England with Irish roots (he is half Irish) and I'm from the US. We met in a restaurant in San Diego where neither of us would ever normally go - he was meeting with his cousin and I was so hungry after flying in on a delayed flight. We got talking - they had me laughing so hard with their jokes, it was really fun. Then he asked me out.”
What a stunning sparkler! Kathleen's beautiful ring is a pear-shaped stone with halo embellishment and a pavé band - definitely one for the magpies among you!
Liam popped the question on Kathleen’s birthday weekend, “We had plans to go for dinner at Addison, our favourite restaurant in San Diego. They brought out champagne and a birthday card for me at the restaurant. I absolutely had no clue he was going to propose that evening. He reached into his pocket and said it's time and I just started crying - I was crying so hard and so long I didn't even get a chance to say yes. He asked "is that a yes" and I just nodded my head.”
It turned out the staff in the restaurant were in on the plan, “They came over to congratulate us. Liam had arranged with the maître d' in advance and he came over and handed us menus headed "Engagement Menu", a card of congratulations and more champagne. It was really a special evening. It makes us laugh every time we talk about it.”
The couple said their vows in an intimate room in The K Club with an elegant floral arch.
For Kathleen and Liam, having their wedding in Ireland was a dream come true. “It was my first time in Ireland and it was breathtaking,” says the bride. “The K Club could not have been a better venue. We had a golf tournament the day before the wedding followed by a barbecue with a trad band in the pub in Straffan (also owned by the K Club) it was so much fun! Everyone stayed at The K Club and enjoyed its beauty and the history of the Manor House.”
On the big day itself, the couple ensured their guests were wined, dined and entertained, “We had Riverdance Irish dancers at the reception which some people had never seen before and the band ‘Houseparty’ were great. Every time I think of that day I smile... the way it came together was just beautiful.”
The couple lucked out with a bright sunny day - and, as you'll see, it made for some pretty stunning wedding photos!
These two look like a pair of movie stars! Liam rocked a suave black tux while Kathleen wore a stunning lace Anne Barge gown with a Bardot neckline, fur stole and pearls.
Kathleen passes on her key nuggets of advice for other brides, “Know what you want before you speak to the wedding planner. Love your dress. It will make you radiant in the pictures. It's your day so have it your way. Make your own personal dream come true. Have a good team. Everyone was referred by our wedding planner, Alina, she was great. We had the best photographer, florist, cake maker, hair and makeup, string quartet, dancers and bands and really good food and service at the wedding. Our guests said it was "the best wedding ever". I think so too!”
The K Club offered up lots of beautiful backdrops for the couple's wedding portraits.
The couple loved the idea of having all their favourite people in one place, “A destination wedding is a very intimate affair. We had a chance to spend time with everyone who travelled to the event. They came from the US and UK so it was a rare occasion for everyone to meet.”
What a pretty floral cake - the perfect size for a small wedding!
Thanks so much to Kathleen and Liam for sharing their glamorous wedding day with us - and to Anna G Photography for sending the beautiful pictures our way. Visit the gallery to see more from their day.
