Set on an 80-acre estate comprising magnificent woods, courtyards, walled gardens and parkland, the illustrious Tankardstown House was the venue of Alexis Kurpess' wedding to Marcus Hide on the 6th of June 2024. Capture by Niamh Smith Photography, this gorgeous summer wedding is absolutely swoon-worthy!
The couple actually first met 10 years ago on Marcus’ J1 in Boston! Alexis is from Boston and was in college, working at a restaurant that Marcus ended up working at, too. "We became fast friends and had so much fun together that first summer. Fast forward a few years later, Marcus had an opportunity to move back to Boston, and we were able to reconnect. Our friendship very quickly turned to more and we’ve been inseparable ever since!" Right now the pair still live in Boston together and are planning to make the move back to Ireland soon!
Marcus and Alexis share the same birthday so every year the two plan a big birthday trip! That year, their first stop was in Paris, and then the two had plans to meet Marcus’ family in San Sebastian the following week. At the airport, Marcus’ bag got pulled aside for search. He was so nervous they would take out the ring and spoil everything! "He quickly told me that my birthday present was actually in the bag and to continue to the gate without him so I did not see. I didn’t think anything of it!" On the second night in Paris, the couple went for a walk along the river and Marcus asked if Alexis wanted to stop for a photo in front of the Eiffel Tower, he asked a passerby to take the photo and as the two were posing, Marcus turned, got down on one knee, and asked Alexis to marry him. "I was completely surprised! To top it all off, it turns out the passerby was no stranger at all but a hired photographer Marcus had organized to capture the moment. We spent the rest of the weekend celebrating in Paris and then again when we flew to Spain to meet up with his parents, brother, and brother’s fiancé. It was so magical."
Alexis has quite sensitive skin, so has to be very particular about the products she uses. "About a year prior to the wedding, a friend introduced me to Korean skincare, which focuses heavily on hydration and calming the skin. This routine gave me that true bridal glow! I also made sure to consistently drink 2-3 litres of water every day per the recommendation of my makeup artist Natasha Ray." It was important to Alexis that she had a signature scent on the day, as she wanted to be able to look back and associate it with her wedding day. "Leading up to the wedding, Marcus gifted me a trial set of Le Labo perfumes, so I could try a different one each day and choose a favourite. I absolutely fell in love with Lys 41 – it's so pretty and light, very floral with slight hints of vanilla. I was even able to get the bottle personalised with my new last name and wedding date!"
Choosing the dress turned out to be quite a journey! "I started shopping right after getting engaged, which I realize now was far too soon, as in the end, we had two years of planning before our actual day." She ended up purchasing a dress before the couple had even decided on a venue or date. As the wedding came together she realized that the first dress was far too casual for what she had planned. So went back and forth for a few months on whether she would stick with the dress or allow herself to shop again. "Then I saw another dress online and I fell in love! I eventually allowed myself to go to the shop and try it on. It was absolutely perfect. My bridesmaids and mum were there and we all knew straight away this dress was the one. I am so glad I listened to my instincts and got the second dress, it truly could not be more perfect. The first dress is very sadly still sitting in my closet!"
Marcus was looking for something slightly different from what his groomsmen were wearing, which was a standard black tux. After looking in shops across Ireland and the U.S., he found a shop that was able to create a custom tux that was exactly what he was looking for. In the end, he went with a velvet double-breasted tuxedo, complete with a Gucci bowtie.
The bridesmaid's dresses were all ordered online from Show Me Your Mumu. "I had been eyeing their dresses for ages as I loved the idea that the girls could choose whatever style they wanted, in a matching shade. It was so important to me that the girls felt comfortable and like themselves on the day! I thought the steel blue would complement the venue and the girl's skin tones so well. "
Alexis & Marcus decided to do a first look prior to the ceremony. "It was so nice to have that special moment to start things off, just for the two of us. I think that took a lot of pressure off the ceremony as well, as Marcus had already seen me, and he really calmed my nerves before walking down the aisle. We had so much fun catching each other up on our mornings so far and sharing our excitement for the rest of the day! It also allowed us plenty of time to go to the drinks reception which was one of the highlights of our day!"
The pair always said if they got to do the ceremony outside, that would be the perfect day! "We had a receiving line after the ceremony, and not until the very last guest stepped inside, it started to rain. It cleared up quickly and the sun came out again for our drinks reception!" Marcus & Alexis were eager for their ceremony to feel personal and intimate, they friends and family as much as possible. "During the candle ceremony, my brother and Marcus’ oldest brother lit the candle for each family. My mum read “What is a Soulmate” by Emily Matthews, and Marcus’ mum read a poem by Imelda May. We also had my bridesmaid Katie, and Marcus’ youngest brother Daniel, share hopes and blessings." Afterwards, their guests remarked on how relaxed and happy the couple looked during the ceremony. "My favourite part was the ring exchange – I could not get Marcus’ ring on his finger! Marcus was eventually able to get it on himself, but we had such a laugh while we were trying (as did the guests!) It's something we still look back and smile about. The little imperfections and hiccups are what make the day feel real!"
Living abroad in Boston, the pair didn't have the luxury of seeing all the venues in person. They were eager for Alexis’ American side of the family to see the more scenic parts of Ireland, without being too far from Dublin where most of Marcus’ family and friends live. "We looked through so many websites and social media pages of venues and finally settled on our top three choices. Marcus had a trip planned back home to Dublin, so we sent him home with the very important job of touring the three and making the final decision. He said as soon as he stepped foot in Tankardstown House he knew. Not only are the venue and grounds stunning, but the level of service and kindness from everyone he interacted with is what truly set it apart. There are so many details we love about the venue, from the gorgeous glass orangery to the stunning grounds and walled garden. The food was unbelievable as well. It ticked every single box!"
A friend recommended The Event Band, the couple thought they were so unique as they truly put on a show! "Their setlist has something for everyone. We actually got the chance to see them at a friend’s wedding about a year prior to ours and we were so impressed."
Regarding the best decision, Alexis had to say, "Our best decision was having The Event Band do a pre-dinner show! We decided just a few weeks before the wedding to go for it and we are so, so glad we did!
Each band member was standing on a silver podium placed throughout the dining room. As guests entered and found their seats, the band started playing. By the time the dining room was full, it was already a full-on dance party! Everyone was having so much fun. When the band finally announced the bride and groom were about to enter and started playing our song – the crowd was buzzing! We danced into the dining room and everyone was so high energy. The song continued even when we got to our table and we got to dance and sing with our guests. It set the tone for the rest of the night, everyone had an incredible time."
Regarding the worst decision, Alexis had to say, "The worst decision was us worrying about anything at all leading up to the day! We chose such amazing vendors and they made the day go without a hitch. We are so happy with how the day turned out."
- Gráinne