Wedding of the Week: Cork shows its best Bollywood moves for Ballincollig couple
Pictures: And Alice Gupta Sharma Kartik Dermotsullivan
A birthday party led to love for Alice Sharma and Kartik Gupta. Alice from Delhi, India, has lived in Cork since 2017, while Kartik, from Himachal Pradesh, India, has been a Cork man since 2020.
The Ballincollig-based couple were married recently in a traditional Hindu wedding at Maryborough Hotel & Spa in Douglas, Cork, which was also their reception venue.
They first laid eyes on one another four years ago, on November 15, 2020, at a birthday celebration for Alice shortly after Kartik had arrived in Ireland to pursue his master’s degree at University of Galway.
“Due to the pandemic, his classes were online, so he decided to stay with his old friend from India, Sid, who was living in Cork. Sid and I were also friends, so I invited him to my birthday party and extended the invitation to Kartik as well,” says Alice.
She and Kartik hit it off straight away. “We started hanging out almost every weekend with friends together. Interestingly, we didn’t exchange numbers until after we kissed; our weekend gatherings were enough to bring us together,” says Alice.
They got engaged three years later, in October 2023, when Kartik organised a surprise weekend trip to the racecourse at Ballinrobe, Co Mayo. “I had no idea what was happening until we arrived and saw a helicopter in the field,” says Alice.
“My reaction was a mix of excitement and fear! The experience was incredible, with stunning views of Croagh Patrick, Lough Mask, and Lough Carra from above on a clear day. Later, we visited Doolin Cave, where he proposed.”
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For their wedding ceremony, Alice and Kartik set up a traditional mandap (canopy) in the gardens of Maryborough.
The bride’s parents Meenakshi and Rameshwar Sharma and the groom’s mother and father Indra and Surinder Gupta congratulated the newlyweds, as did Alice’s sister Shelly Sharma and brother Manav Sharma.
“Our wedding day was a dream come true,” says Alice. “The baraat, or groom’s procession, started around noon. My entry was traditional, escorted by my brother Manav and some friends under a red veil. The ceremony began, and we took our vows and performed various rituals.”
Their wedding photographer, Dermot Sullivan (dermotsullivan.com) then organised a photoshoot.
“Dermot is a fantastic photographer and made us feel so comfortable on the day,” says Alice. Oak & Oak wedding video-grapher Arthur Janowsky was also behind the lens.
“Arthur told us that we wouldn’t even notice him on the day, but we’d remember him for the rest of our lives and he was absolutely right.”
Guests moved to the ballroom for the reception, while the newlyweds changed into new outfits.
“We made our couple’s entry and had our first dance, followed by lunch and heartfelt speeches.
“Then everyone showed their best bhangra moves to Bollywood beats,” says Alice.
“It was an intimate wedding with 50 guests, and our Irish friends enjoyed every moment. I am deeply grateful to the Maryborough team. They made everything effortless.”
Both bride and groom sourced their wedding outfits in India, while Nichole Corcoran Hair & MakeUp ensured the bridal party were picture-perfect. The groom wore a three-piece suit from Red Church, Cork, at the reception.
“We hired Julia Lefande from Love At First Sight for the decorations, and she did an absolutely phenomenal job,” says Alice.
“We’d also like to say thanks to our friends — Sid, Vivek, Akhilesh, Priyesh, Iain, Harsh, Madhu, Deepika, Anushmita, Ishita, Srujani and colleagues from work for making our day special.”
The newlyweds, who work at a business software firm in Mahon, have yet to decide on their honeymoon destination.
“I became an Irish citizen in June, so I’m waiting for my passport,” says Alice.
- If you would like your wedding featured in Weekend email eve.kelliher@examiner.ie
