Irish couple weds in dream bucket list destination

In the age of digital romance, Arianna and Lukas met in a rather old-fashioned way — in person, through a chance encounter at a birthday brunch in London. For their wedding, they chose Ireland specifically, the breathtaking region that many have already added to their travel bucket lists. From the beginning, we knew we wanted a place that held personal meaning for both of us. It quickly became clear that Kerry was the only real option, they say about the region that felt like the perfect destination. Arianna spent all her childhood summers in Kerry, and her family still spends several months a year there. Lukas, meanwhile, fell in love with the landscape, the people, and the way of life on his very first visit about six years ago. Life in Kerry is the complete opposite of the hustle and bustle of central London, where they currently live together. Every time we land on the tiny runway of the local airport nestled between farms, the fresh Atlantic air and the scent of the earth wipe away all traces of stress.

The Fashion Wedding

Surrounded by a subtropical paradise along the Kenmare River, a place of rare beauty, exotic plants, coral inlets, and wooden bridges connecting tiny islands, Arianna and Lukas said their heartfelt “I do.” Their celebration was hosted by Parknasilla Hotel, a historic venue dating back to 1895. The name Parknasilla, meaning field of the willows, first appeared on maps over a century ago, and for more than 125 years, this iconic hotel has welcomed royalty such as Prince Rainier and Princess Grace of Monaco, literary figures like George Bernard Shaw, and world leaders like Charles De Gaulle. Today, it stands as a symbol of romantic escapes with a nostalgic charm. Arianna’s sister Lauren got married at the very same place ten years ago. Since Parknasilla hosts only a handful of weddings each year, Lukas took a leap of faith and booked the venue months before he proposed, luckily, Arianna said yes, he adds with a smile.

The wedding was envisioned as a nostalgic journey through time; elegant, classic, and deeply personal. Romantic photos were captured by the sea, beneath drifting clouds, with a castle in the background, during an emotional weekend-long celebration that moved and delighted their guests. The festivities began the night before the wedding at a traditional Irish pub, Dan Murphy’s, where guests enjoyed live Irish music, drinks, and freshly caught local oysters sourced by Arianna’s father. On the morning of the wedding, Lukas gathered a brave group of guests for an early dip in the wild, cold sea, followed by a warm recovery in the hotel’s sauna and steam rooms. The ceremony itself took place at St. Michael’s Church, a charming little chapel in the heart of Sneem.

Arianna found her wedding dress in Barcelona. She knew she wanted something contemporary and immediately fell in love with the gown’s uniqueness and drama, the dropped waist and custom slit in the skirt made it the perfect choice, she says of her selection. The dress beautifully complemented the historic setting, adding a modern twist. Lukas provided an elegant contrast in a butter-colored tuxedo jacket. The floral arrangements were entirely green and natural, made exclusively from local greenery, carefully chosen so as not to overpower the breathtaking natural beauty of the location. Not even the famously unpredictable Irish weather could dampen the atmosphere — a gentle drizzle during the aperitifs didn’t stop the guests from toasting, dancing, and celebrating late into the night, Arianna shares.

At Parknasilla, Arianna and Lukas weren’t just celebrating their marriage, they were honoring everything that binds them: family, nature, peace, and that feeling of home we find when we know we’re in the right place, with the right person.

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Photo: www.thefashionwedding.com