Nestled in the historic Boyne Valley, Co. Meath. Steeped in history and set within acres of beautiful unspoilt countryside, Ballymagarvey Village was the sumptuous backdrop for Karyn Leigh Prendergast and Simon Finbar Murphy's wedding on the 28th of June 2024. Captured by Wonder & Magic, this stunning summer elopement was well worth the thousands of miles the couple travelled to celebrate it!

The pair met in December 2017 at a mutual friend's wedding in Cleveland, Ohio. Despite not being in the mood to go out, Karyn's friend (and future bridesman) Brad convinced her and her best friend Danielle (another future bridesmaid) to go so they could meet a cool Irish guy he knew. "When we met, all I could think about was how I wished Danielle would stop talking about her upcoming trip to Ireland so he could talk to me instead! Later that night, a close friend asked me if I had an eye on anyone there. I said, "The Irish guy, Simon." The friend told Simon, and after he finished an intense game of darts, he came over to talk to me. We've been together ever since!"

The pair were visiting Ireland for a friend’s wedding. Simon had planned a trip to Clifden, as they usually travel a bit when they visit. "On July 27th, 2022, he took me to two spots. The first was a hike up Diamond Mountain, where we climbed to the top very early in the morning. However, "too many" people were there, so he "chickened out." The second spot was the beach, which was utterly deserted. We were sitting on the sand, and when I stood up to walk toward the water, I heard him clear his throat. I turned back around, and there he was. While he was proposing, I was so excited that I didn’t even remember what he said, but it made me cry, and of course, I said yes. We celebrated in Clifden and had the best night."

When it comes to her makeup, Karyn prefers a more natural look. In the hunt to find the perfect makeup artist, Lisa Redmond was recommended by a friend who had hired her the previous year. And much to Karyn's luck, natural, effortless bridal makeup is precisely what Lisa specialises in! "For my hair, however, I faced a challenge. My usual hairstylist was on maternity leave, and I struggled to find someone else. Just three weeks before I was set to leave, she reached out to let me know she could do my hair in her basement before I left. I felt incredibly fortunate and relieved. She also handled my extensions, which turned out stunning."

As so many brides do, Karyn made the mistake of bringing too many people to her first wedding dress appointment and chose a dress everyone else loved, but she was second-guessing. "The following day, I emailed Radiant Bride, where I had purchased the dress, to see if I could schedule another appointment—this time, just for myself. I felt guilty because I wanted to share the experience with the people I love, but I knew I needed to do it independently to pick the dress I loved. The staff at Radiant Bride were terrific. During my second visit, I tried on two dresses, and the moment I put on the second one, I knew it was the one! 

"Three months before our wedding, we were back in Ireland for a friend’s wedding, where Simon was a groomsman. While trying on his groomsmen’s suit, he scheduled an appointment for the following week at Fitzgerald’s in Waterford to explore options for our wedding. At Fitzgerald’s, Simon looked through magazines and shared his preferences with the staff. The tailor brought out a suit that perfectly matched Simon's vision. We both instantly knew it was the one when he tried it on."

Karyn's wedding party consisted of her sister Kelsey as her matron of honour, younger sister Kristie as her maid of honour, her best friend Danielle as a bridesmaid, and her best friend Brad (the person who introduced the couple!) as a bridesman. "Choosing the Bridesmaid dresses was easier than I care to admit. I had seen and worn Show Me Your Mumu dresses at other weddings, and they always looked amazing and flattering on everyone. While browsing their website around Christmas, I noticed they had a 50% off sale. I had already received swatches, so I knew the colour and style I wanted them to wear. I quickly sent the link to my sisters and Danielle, who purchased the dresses immediately. I knew they’d appreciate the price, and the dresses looked fantastic! As for the Bridesman, we wanted him to match the groomsmen. However, this was challenging since Fitzgerald’s, the store we were using, is only located in certain areas of Ireland, and Brad was in California. Simon and I must have looked through hundreds of suits until we finally decided on one that matched my dad's and Brad's. It wasn’t an exact match, but it was close enough, and Simon and I were happy with the result."

Initially, the pair considered marrying in the States and had a few places in mind. However, one night at a friend’s party, an acquaintance showed Karyn photos of her wedding in Ireland, and her heart was set on a destination wedding! "We were close to deciding on one until Simon’s sister, Jill, suggested we check out Ballymagarvey. She sent me their Instagram, and I was instantly captivated. I emailed them to reserve a date without even visiting because it checked all the boxes of what we were looking for. When we finally visited, we were at a loss for words. Our wedding coordinator asked several times if we liked it because we were so quiet. We could hardly believe we would get married in such a stunning location. It was breathtaking."

Simon was responsible for finding and booking the reception entertainment and watched over a hundred YouTube videos on wedding bands to find the perfect one! "Sway Social stood out to us because they offered a comprehensive package, executed exceptionally well and were present almost all day. I would joke with Simon that I would blame him if the band weren’t good. I think he took this comment seriously and did an excellent job selecting them!"

Regarding the best decision, Karyn said, "The best decision was getting married to my best friend at Ballymagarvey. The staff there made me feel like I didn’t have to worry about anything that day. Everyone asks if anything went wrong, and I can honestly say nothing did. They were so professional and had everything down to a T. Another fantastic decision was choosing Wonder & Magic as our photographer and videographer. Emmylie and Richie were incredibly professional and captured our day beautifully. Simon isn’t exactly a fan of having his picture taken—let’s be honest, what countryside Irishman is?—but the photos and videos tell a different story. We received over 600 stunning photos of our favourite day, all edited and delivered just two weeks after the wedding."

Regarding the worst decision, Karyn said, "There truly wasn’t a single bad decision. The night before the wedding, Simon and I hosted a welcome dinner at Trim Castle Hotel. It was a delightful evening that set the tone for what was to come. The following day at Ballymagarvey was magical, and the celebration continued at Paddy Swans in Ashbourne for Day 2. From start to finish, everything was seamlessly executed and felt utterly surreal. The entire experience was perfect, filled with joy, laughter, and unforgettable moments."

- Gráinne