Wedding of the Week: Flowers, fireworks and fun for Samantha and Mark
And O'brien O’brien With O’regan Jake And Samantha Diamond Pictures: Photography Madison Black Mark
Super-glam bride and groom Samantha O’Regan and Mark O’Brien first laid eyes on one another at a birthday celebration.
That was over a decade ago and Samantha, from Clonmel, Co Tipperary, and Mark, from Dublin, were married in Fitzgeralds Woodlands House Hotel & Spa in Adare, Co Limerick, in a ceremony led by Jacqui Lee, The Serene Celebrant.
“We met 11 years ago at my brother Jason’s birthday,” says Samantha. “Mark is good friends with Jason and although Jason wasn't too keen on the idea of his sister and close friend being together, he eventually came around to the idea!”
Now based in Clerihan, Co Tipperary, they got engaged one Sunday evening in September 2021, with friends and close family, including their two children Madison and Jake, enjoying the moment.
“Mark took his time and eventually popped the question eight years down the line!” jokes Samantha.
“He had originally planned to take me away that October but in true Mark fashion he couldn't wait, gathered the kids and my best friends and surprised me after dinner back in my mam’s — of course, I said yes!”
Samantha immediately set about planning the big day. “My original vision for the wedding was lots of white, clean aesthetics — the bridesmaids wore white and the beautiful flowers added subtle colour,” she says.
The floral décor was by Tie the Knot and guests were wowed also later in the evening by a fireworks display by Rocket Pyrotechnics.
An Eva Lendel design proved to be “the one” for this bride. “I got it in Lilac Rose in Limerick — the team there were amazing,” says Samantha.
Sara Condon created the flowing bridal hair look with Daniell Condon as the makeup artist. “My bridesmaids and my mam’s hair was by Chloe Cornu (the Upstyle Girl) and their makeup was by Edel Morrissey,” adds Samantha.
“Our photographs were taken by the wonderful Kaspar from Black Diamond Photography and our videographer was Greg from DG video who was every bit as fabulous!”
Raising a toast were both sets of parents, Carmel and Michael O’Regan and Ann and Anthony O’Brien.
The couple’s daughter Madison O’Brien and son Jake O’Brien were centre stage as flower girl and pageboy respectively and their nieces Riley Lawless and Fiadh O’Regan (flowergirls) and nephews Jack O’Regan and Hunter Condon (pageboys) also enjoyed being at the heart of the action.
Samantha’s friends were also by her side, with Danielle Condon as maid of honour and Stacy Brian, Lauren Peters and Jacqui O Sullivan as bridesmaids.
Keith O'Brien, David O’Brien, Glenn Lawless and Damien Hickey were the groomsmen.
The bride, an early years educator, and groom, who works for Radleys Engineering, chose a Greek island for their honeymoon. “We went to the Gennadi Grand Resort in Rhodes — it was fantastic!” says Samantha.
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