Wedding of the Week: From Muckross to the Maldives for Cork couple
Douglas Rachael O’sullivan Nigel And Elphick Osullivanphotographyirl Pictures: Micheál Photography,
THEY'RE just back from their honeymoon, travelling first to Sri Lanka for nine days, followed by a week in the Maldives — where the Cork newlyweds celebrated the bride's 30th by chilling on the beach.
Rachael Elphick, from Ardgroom in Beara, Co Cork, and Nigel Douglas, from Bartlemy, Fermoy, Co Cork, met in 2014. “We both lived in several different locations for work, but we have settled in a lovely house in Drake's Point, Crosshaven,” says Rachael, who works for a pharmaceutical company in Ringaskiddy.
She and Nigel, who is employed in cybersecurity, headed across the border to Kerry, to exchange vows in the five-star Muckross Park Hotel in Killarney.
The ceremony, in the hotel's atrium, was led by celebrant Sharon Quigley and attended by 30 guests.
The newlyweds and their attendants departed by jaunting car for a photoshoot in nearby Muckross Abbey, in Killarney National Park, led by award-winning Kerry-based photographer Micheál O’Sullivan (www.osullivanphotographyirl.com).
Later, 130 guests arrived for the Prosecco reception, dinner and dancing. “Our original vision for the wedding was to have only about 30 people for the day — but we decided to have an intimate ceremony, while still getting to eat and dance with all 130 of our family and friends after,” says Rachael.
The bride chose her younger sister Michaela Elphick to be her maid of honour and her friends Samantha Crowley and Aimee O'Sullivan were her bridesmaids. “Aimee lives in Vancouver, Canada, and after Samantha and I visited Aimee last year for a holiday, Aimee thought it was only fair to travel all the way back to Ireland for the wedding, which I appreciated!” says Rachael.
Nigel’s friend Shane Duggan was his best man and Kevin Elphick and Alan Elphick, the bride’s brothers, were the groomsmen.
Toasting to the newlyweds’ happiness were both sets of parents, Claire and Michael Elphick and Heather and John Douglas.
Back when Nigel was about to pop the question, he called Rachael’s dad Michael beforehand to share his plans. “Dad seemed delighted but Nigel noticed he was a little quiet — it transpired my father had answered the phone while it was in speaker so my mum and sister had heard the whole conversation,” says Rachael.
But while the surprise element was “ruined for them”, the pair faced a fun challenge in the lead-up to the proposal, at Fennell's Bay, near their home, adds Nigel. “Rachael’s mother, sister and Rachael are very close, so the only thing they could do to keep this quiet was not talk to her for those three days!” he says.
The couple were thrilled with their wedding coordinators at the Muckross Park as well as Elevate Weddings and Events. “Bernie at Elevate Weddings and Events helped us choose the venue, organise all suppliers and was there all day on our special day,” says Rachael.
The bridal hairstyling was by Joanne Henderson, with makeup by Sandra Flynn Beauty and the décor was by Divine Blooms and the candles were from Scents by Sarah.
Cork duo Violini provided the music for the ceremony and later Arklight ensured the dancefloor was a lively spot.
Welcoming the honeymooners back home was the third member of their family, their one-year-old Labrador, Sadie.
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