One of Ireland's most breathtaking wedding venues, Gloster House, is a luxury Georgian country house nestled at the foot of the Slieve Bloom mountains. Built in 1720, it was the stunning venue for Dr Siân Kneafsey and solution architect James Farrell's wedding on September 7, 2024. Photographed by Studio Brown and featured in the Winter issue of SOCIAL & PERSONAL Weddings, we couldn't imagine a more beautiful day if we tried!
The couple's story began on Bumble in February 2017 (where all great love stories start!). The two had a few mutual friends in common, allowing them to make some subtle enquiries about one another before finally deciding to meet for a real-life date at 37 Dawson. "We hit it off immediately, with a few strangers even noticing how 'keen' James was—a fact he later highlighted in his groom's speech!"
"James managed to pull off a complete surprise proposal! He had organised a big group ski trip with our college friends in St Anton, Austria, and I joined two days late after a work conference. On my second day, James asked me to stay back to film the group as they skied down. Suddenly, in the middle of this snowy winter wonderland, he was down on one knee, asking me to marry him. My best friend captured the moment in beautiful photos and videos. Later, we skied down to find our friends waiting to celebrate, followed by a mountainside lunch with everyone and lots of bubbles to celebrate —the best après-ski ever!"
In the run-up to the wedding day, Siân kept her beauty journey simple, not deviating much from her usual routine. "My mum taught me the importance of good daily habits; I use SPF and vitamin C in the mornings, an alternating evening regime of retinoids, and a deep moisturiser in the evenings." Because her skin can be prone to acne, she drank lots of water and tried to cut down on sugar in the coming weeks, to reduce the risk of a breakout. She had a chemical peel four months out to get a clear base and used an LED mask nightly. She also invested in regular facials with Kakie at Floraison, and raved about their Day Before Facial!
"On the day, we kept the makeup light and dewy; I loved the natural look and wanted to feel like myself. I wore my hair up, which, in hindsight, was a great decision, as it meant we didn't have to fix it or worry about it at all for the day. Ailbhe and June were terrific—such sweethearts and great hype women who made us feel a million dollars."
For her scent on the day, Siân took the advice (likely from our magazine!) that having a new scent for your wedding can be an excellent idea, so the smell will always remind you of the day and weekend. In that spirit, she chose Nomad by Chloe after trying over 30 perfumes (far more than dresses she tried on!), and it was perfect: a woody, floral fragrance.
Unlike most of our featured brides, dress shopping was unexpectedly easy for Siân! She visited several boutiques in Dublin with her mum and sister, who were always there for advice. On a trip to The White Room in Mullingar, she fell in love with and said yes to a Jesus Peiro dress with a full skirt, strapless bodice, floral brocade, and the best part - pockets!
"We went with a black-tie theme, and James had a beautiful custom tuxedo made by Abrahams Tailoring. Declan and his team were fantastic, helping us choose every detail. The tux was perfectly tailored, and James looked incredibly handsome! The groomsmen also wore tailored tuxes from Abrahams, matching the timeless elegance of Gloster House."
"My bridesmaids were my sister, Iseult, and my best friends, Aideen and Emma, who went above and beyond to make the lead-up and the wedding unforgettable. They made me feel so special during the whole lead-up, planned the best hen party, and were the most enthusiastic hype-women for the wedding weekend. In the morning, I gifted the girls, my mum, and my mother-in-law Piyama pyjamas, which were cotton and so comfy to get ready. They looked so cute!"
For Siân, finding her bridesmaids' dresses was just as easy as finding her own dress! She saw the butter-yellow dresses at Bec and Bridge, with differing necklines to complement each girl. The yellow was beautiful against her wedding dress and complemented the blue and white hydrangea bouquets.
"We held the ceremony on-site in Gloster House in their stunning White Chapel. It was this ceremony space that sealed the deal for us. It is an incredible, deconsecrated chapel, so it had the grandeur of a church ceremony without feeling like we were tied to a religious ceremony. Jennifer Carey was our celebrant, and together, we created a ceremony that felt deeply personal. She was an excellent guide, and we loved putting the ceremony together and making it feel like "us". James's favourite moment was watching me walk down the aisle with my dad, while mine was our vows, which we hadn’t shared until the ceremony—a truly special moment."
The pair fell in love with the breathtaking architecture and lush grounds of Gloster House. "Nigel Alexander and his family, the owners, were incredibly accommodating, ensuring the whole weekend went off without a hitch. I remember seeing photos of a wedding in Gloster a few years ago and thought it looked so stunning. It was one of the first places we saw after we got engaged, and wow, it was even more impressive in real life. I wanted the wedding to feel like a bubble for all our guests for the weekend. I hope we managed to achieve it!"
"Music was a huge part of our wedding experience; we both felt it was so important for the feel and vibe of the weekend. The Glas Quartet set a beautiful tone for the ceremony, playing a fantastic variety, including Can't Help Falling In Love with You, which I walked down the aisle to, Dreams by The Cranberries, and Portuguese Love Theme from Love Actually. The Beams kept the energy high at the reception with an incredible jazz set and, later, an eight-piece band with the dancefloor packed all night. Miguel’s late-night acoustic set in Gloster House’s Speakeasy Snug, which went late into the night, was unforgettable. For Day Two, The Ril Dil and The Solids (a crowd favourite from Devitts on Camden Street) wrapped up the weekend with lively, feel-good tunes. It was the perfect end to the most amazing weekend!"
Regarding the best decision, Siân said, "The venue! Nigel, Tom, and Mary, our hosts, made the entire experience smooth, welcoming, and magical. No request was too big or too small, and they made the whole weekend run seamlessly. The house and grounds are incredible; it was truly the wedding venue of our dreams."
- Grainne