An avenue lined with majestic oak trees guides you from stunning views of mountains, lakes, and sea to the beautifully restored country manor four-star boutique hotel. Set in 14 acres of mature landscaped gardens, Tinakilly Country House was the breathtaking venue for Sarah Jane Kenny and Padraic Brennan's wedding on the 4th of December, 2024. Captured by Ryan Devereux, we're delighted to show off this stunningly elegant winter wedding!
The couple met while working together in the same Veterinary Practice in Tipperary. "Padraic worked as a large animal vet while I worked mainly with small animals. Our first dates likely trace back to our daily work lunch breaks! Officially, our first date was at the Tannery in Dungarvan. It was lovely that we got to know each other prior to dating officially. There was undeniable chemistry from the very start."
The engagement happened on a trip away to the Cotswolds while on a walk around the grounds of Blenheim Palace. "Padraic had picked a beautiful ring a few months prior in Voltaire Diamonds – I couldn’t have picked better myself. It was amazing to have the ring straight away. The Cotswolds at Christmas were truly magical." Having been together for 7 years at this stage, it wasn't a shock to the pair's family and friends that this trip might be where Padraic popped the question!
"I didn’t sway far from the normal bridal prep. I established a consistent skincare regime and invested in Guinot skincare. One amazing product I invested in was SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic. It was expensive, but I thought it was worth it. I applied skincare masks regularly and had HydraFacials done every couple of months. I attended Dr Alex of The Alex Clinic, who helped with my glow-up. I tried my best to keep hydrated, wear SPF daily and take my vitamins/fish oils. I also started to pay more attention to my hair by investing in quality shampoos/conditioners (Olaplex and Ouai). Having spent years highlighting my hair, I wanted to return to my natural colouring, so book myself in for a visit to The Craft Dundrum."
Not wanting to leave any stone unturned, Sarah Jane booked appointments in six boutiques only a few weeks after her engagement. "I enjoyed finding the wedding dress and making a day out of each try-on day. I found my wedding dress (Chosen by Khya, Rafferty) in the Suite, Rathmines and was with my Mam, but even though both my mom and I loved the dress on the day, I wanted to think about it and show it to my sister, who had returned to Canada." A week later, she returned to The Suite alone to try the dress again and make sure it was the one. Luckily, it was! "The dress was classic, timeless, and elegant with a hint of glamour. I would recommend that future brides dress shop at least once. My friend mentioned this to me when she was getting married and said, ‘When we go shopping for our normal clothes, we don’t go in groups’, which I thought was very true! I kept things simple and didn’t deviate too far from my typical shopping experience and style."
"It was a straightforward, no-fuss process! Padraic wanted to wear a tuxedo. He visited Detail, Carlow and fitted on a few tuxes before settling on a lovely Remus Tux. As it was Christmas time, he went for a velvet jacket and dickie bow."
Sarah Jane kept her bridal party intimate, only having her sister Katie by her side. "I wanted to keep things very simple and pared back. Katie and I have the most incredible bond, and I think if you knew us, it would be no surprise that she was my only Bridesmaid." The pair picked a beautiful Reformation dress as Katie's bridesmaid dress. "I was happy for her to lead with her dress choice. The dress picked was fashion-forward but elegant."
"We adored our Ceremony at the picturesque Church of St. Patricks Kilquade. When asked about our favourite part, the ceremony honestly was the one we liked best. The atmosphere was incredible, and so many people commented on it afterwards. Our Priest, Father Shelley, is Padraic’s parish priest, which made it very personal. We spent a lot of time selecting our music choices for the string quartet, Bohemian Strings and asked close family and friends to do our readings. My favourite part was walking down the Aisle and seeing Padraic. I walked into Cosmic Love – Florence and the Machine played by the String Quartet."
When it came to finding their wedding venue, day-of exclusivity was essential to Padraic and Sarah Jane. "We both adore the countryside and were incredibly impressed with Tinakilly on our first visit. The venue was a snippet of the old world, super relaxed and oozed charm. I loved that I could watch horses grazing with a sea view backdrop on the morning of the wedding while getting my hair and makeup done. The staff were incredibly attentive and friendly, and I knew we would both feel very welcomed by them at Tinakilly on our wedding day."
For an extra touch of fun at their wedding reception, the pair hiredCat Flynn White Studio to create live fashion illustrations of the guests! "As a person/bride who enjoys fashion, she was the perfect addition to our day. I wanted something truly memorable at our reception and thought the guests would love the keepsake of a fashion illustration and the enjoyment of watching Cat paint." For the music, the couple chose Trio Royale as their reception band. "They created a gorgeous atmosphere and lived up to all our expectations. My vision for the day was to have live music from start to finish. Paul Fagan played the piano throughout the wedding meal. It was such a lovely addition. The Mix Tap were our chosen band for the night. I opted for the brass upgrade with the DJ sax. The dance floor was going all night! I picked the Mix Tape from word of mouth and online reviews and was delighted with their performance."
Regarding their best decision, Sarah Jane had to say, "Starting the wedding planning journey straight away. It meant I had plenty of time to enjoy the buildup and think of all the little details. Being organised allowed me to enjoy the process and, in turn, avoid unnecessary stress build-up. Another great decision was making a bride’s speech. I know this added extra work for me, but I loved that I could speak about my own Family, In-Laws, Friends and Husband from the heart. I enjoyed thinking of my speech and putting into words what everyone meant to me. I had never made a speech before, so it was definitely out of my comfort zone, but on your wedding day, you are surrounded by everyone who loves you and would highly recommend future Brides to go for it!"
Regarding their worst decision, Sarah Jane had to say, "Building a House and Planning a Wedding all in one year! But hey, we got it done and had such a blast. It's only when we look back that we think, wow, that was a lot of decisions all at once!"
- Gráinne