July 07 2017, Cloghan Castle and Hag’s Head, Cliffs of Moher
Chris and Josh decided to get hitched Hag’s Head, the Cliffs of Moher in Co Clare and hold their reception at the resplendent Cloghan Castle, Co Galway despite neither them, or anyone in their wedding party living in Ireland.
They met on a rooftop bar in Manhattan in April 2014 and after a couple of years together, got engaged in South Africa during a cage dive with great white sharks. Josh popped the question holding a wet piece of paper in one hand and the ring in the other while deep in the ocean, surrounded by sharks. How could Chris say no??!!!
The Wedding Details Chris and Josh opted to have a joint stag party in Dublin ahead of their wedding that began with a mead toast and ended with a drag show at The George. The couple were both donned out in suits purchased in Manhattan. Josh’s from Century 21 and Chris’ from Black Lapel. Although opting not to have a large floral presence, they both wore corsages that came from Victorian Posy in Ennis, Co Clare.
Sandra’s Cake House in Galway provided the cake, which was a naked madeira cake with lemon frosting and a mixed berry compote between the layers, and it was topped with fresh strawberries and blueberries. Needless to say, it went down a treat!!
Music was a big part of both the wedding ceremony and the reception. Joyce O’Leary of Sephira took care of the duties for the ceremony, while Eoin O’Neill and his group, The Fiddle Case played traditional Irish music at the reception.
Invites for the wedding were created by Paperlesspost.com and the RSVP’s were managed by Chris and Josh’s personal website for the wedding. The ceremony itself was officiated by Helen Webb of Wedding Ceremonies Ireland.
Chris and Josh had no wedding cars but used Glynns Coaches to provide transport for their entire time in Ireland. They have not gone on honeymoon as of yet but plan on going to Australia and New Zealand.
The happy couple decide not to have a formal theme for the wedding but were determined that their own sense of adventure would be prevalent. As they said themselves: “Our mutual sense of adventure and desire to explore the world are foundational to our relationship and it was important for us to share those passions with our loved ones.
“That’s why we chose to marry abroad in the first place and why we chose the Cliffs of Moher, a spectacular natural wonder, as our ceremony site. It’s why we chose Cloghan Castle for the welcome dinner and reception, and it’s also why we planned events in Dublin, Galway, Edinburgh, and London.”
Favourite Memories As is to be expected, Chris and Josh have a lifetime of memories from their wedding but a couple stood out. Chris said his favourite was Josh reciting his vows, while Josh said that watching the guests come in as they waited for them at the Cliffs of Moher was a highlight. Joyce playing ‘Over The Rainbow’ topped off a magical moment.
Special Touches “Our best man, Bradley Troll, his wonderful husband, Seth McMillon and dear friend, Caralie Chrisco-Simpson, pitched us the idea to record a music video for Carly Rae Jepsen’s “Cut to the Feeling” while we were in the castle and on the cliffs.
“We, of course, said yes, and what ensued was a wonderful bonding experience and a magically unconventional record of our wedding captured entirely on smartphone. It’s something we’ll always cherish.” Check it out via the following link: https://vimeo.com/228483175
How great was it working with your wedding coordinator Kate Deegan? “We would be remiss if we didn’t mention our wedding coordinator, Kate Deegan. She was the lynchpin of this entire endeavor. Without her we wouldn’t have found Cloghan Castle, and we wouldn’t have secured that particular site on the Cliffs for the ceremony (as it was privately owned).
“It was also her recommendations and relationships that brought us our musicians, caterers, décor, officiant, and transportation. She’s really just fantastic at her job and working with her was truly a pleasure.”
Tell us about your experience with Cloghan Castle? “Cloghan Castle was a pillar of our grand plan that truly elevated our wedding events from lovely celebration to fairytale adventure. We knew as soon as we pulled into the drive that it was something special. From the well-kept grounds to the photo-friendly tower top, Cloghan is endlessly charming. It manages to be something out of a story while also being incredibly inviting.
“It was the site of our welcome dinner, wedding reception, and much of the wedding photography. It’s a lovely venue with some really great spaces, including a courtyard, battlements, a banquet hall, a large drawing room, and seven bedrooms.
“It provided lodging for us, our immediate family, and the wedding party for those two critical days and nights of wedding events. It was a comfortable stay with excellent facilities, including modern conveniences like laundry, wi-fi, and a smartphone-friendly sound system.”
How great was it working with your photographer Michael Dillon? “Working with Michael was a fantastic experience. His enthusiasm, attentiveness, and artistry came through not just in the product but also in the process. He was easy to work with and made us feel very comfortable. He captured so many great moments, both staged and candid. We really couldn’t have asked for anything more.”
