Nicholaus and Katherine’s destination Adare Manor wedding was full to the brim with of style, personality, and thoughtful details that made it truly their own. Their wedding weekend was two days filled with love, luxury, and unforgettable moments, celebrating with family and friends from near and far. The couple aimed for a timeless celebration, yet they put their own spin on tradition, with the ceremony officiated by Nick’s brother-in-law and no bridal party. Irish and American traditions were thoughtfully blended to celebrate their unique love story, and with 140 guests travelling from near and far, every detail, from the music and ceremony to the joyful celebrations afterward, was designed to create an unforgettable experience for everyone. Add in killer fashion with a black-tie dress code, an abundance of white roses, and a love that radiates off the screen, and you have a truly beautiful wedding weekend, perfectly captured by Bradley Henderson from “once upon a time” all the way to “happily ever after.”
Nicholaus, originally from California, and Katherine, from Armagh, Ireland, are now based in San Francisco, California. Like many modern love stories, Nicholaus and Katherine first connected on Hinge in April 2022. From their very first date, everything just clicked, and they’ve been inseparable ever since.
“It was the most magical surprise,” Katherine says of the proposal. “Nick proposed while we were on vacation in Cabo, Mexico. He woke me up at 6:30 a.m. for a walk along the beach, his nerves wouldn’t let him sleep. It was very intimate and heartfelt. As he got down on one knee and I said yes, we suddenly heard cheers coming from above, our friends and family were watching from the hotel rooftop, capturing the moment and celebrating with us. It was beautiful.”
“From the very beginning, the ceremony was our top priority,” they share. “We knew early on that we wanted everything to take place in the same venue, creating an intimate and emotional setting. We asked Nick’s brother-in-law, Ryan, to officiate and, as a longtime musician, we knew he would beautifully convey our love story. We had a string quartet set a classical tone, followed by a fun and personal introduction and heartfelt speeches from Nick’s mom, Jeannette, and Katherine’s sister, Méabh. We finished with our own vows, read aloud. With Katherine growing up in Ireland and Nick in California, many guests were meeting for the first time, so it was important to us to tell the story of how we came together. We wanted our wedding to feel like an experience, not just a day, for both us and our guests.”
The pair wed on August 22nd, 2025. As Katherine entered the ballroom, music from a Dublin string quartet filled the space, while clusters of white roses lined the aisle, creating a stunning and romantic atmosphere.
When it came time to plan their wedding, the couple gravitated toward a setting that could reflect both heritage and levity. “For us, the venue had to feel just as special as the day itself,” they say of choosing the show-stopping Adare Manor in Limerick, Ireland. “While it’s easy to see why we chose Adare Manor, our decision went far beyond its breathtaking beauty. From our very first visit, we were met with genuine warmth and kindness from the staff, including Alex, Philip, PJ, and so many others. As we were welcoming guests from all over the world to Ireland, it was important to us that they experienced true Irish hospitality, something Adare Manor has truly mastered. Ultimately, it was the people who made Adare feel like home and made it ‘the one.’”
The couple envisioned a celebration that balanced timelessness with personality. “Our goal was ‘timeless,’ an aesthetic that would feel just as beautiful decades from now,” they share. “We wanted to look back in 10 or even 60 years and still say, wow, we really did that.”
Timeless and elegant it certainly was, and the couple’s choice of wedding day looks only reinforced that vision. Katherine wore a divine strapless corset gown with lace detailing and a dramatic satin overskirt by Kim Kassas Couture, sourced from Kinsley James Couture, and completed the look with a lace trimmed veil and Jimmy Choo heels. She carried a dreamy bouquet of long-stem white roses by Vintage Violet Florist, completely timeless and elegant.
Hair and makeup were by Rachel Donnelly and Hannah McArdle of Vibe Hair Cork. The look was polished but understated, with soft curls that felt classic and intentional alongside the veil.
Nicholaus looked effortlessly stylish in a Tom Ford suit, paired with Gucci shoes and finished with Guinness cufflinks, a thoughtful nod to his bride’s Irish roots.
The couple made a point of blending American and Irish wedding traditions to create a truly unique experience for their guests. “Inspired by American weddings we’ve attended, we hosted a welcome party the night before from 5–10 p.m., which we were delighted to see embraced by nearly all of our Irish guests as well. We also chose a personalized civil ceremony, something very common in the U.S., and to honor Katherine’s Irish roots, we included a lively day-after celebration, giving many of our American guests their first experience of this tradition. Live music played a huge role throughout the weekend, adding to the energy and allowing us to show our U.S. friends how the Irish truly know how to celebrate.”
In a sweet inclusion, Buddy, their toy poodle, couldn’t make the trip to Ireland, so they featured him on custom drink napkins with the caption “Drinks on me.”
For their first dance, the couple chose “Thoughts Flood Back to You” by Amble. “We had been big fans for a while and had finally seen them live in San Francisco during their U.S. tour recently,” they share. “This isn’t one of their most popular songs, but the lyrics and sound just felt incredibly fitting and meaningful.”
Looking back on their gorgeous Adare Manor wedding, the couple sums it up perfectly: “Our wedding was the perfect blend of Irish and American traditions, thoughtfully intertwined to celebrate our love story. The day felt timeless, intimate, and deeply personal.”
The couple’s advice to other couples is simple: make sure to schedule intentional time together. “We blocked off 6:30–8:30 a.m. on the morning of our wedding to have breakfast together, practice our first dance, eat, and laugh before going our separate ways. With so much of the day spent surrounded by others, those alone moments become the ones you look back on and treasure most.”
For their honeymoon, the couple opted for a mini moon in Italy. “Since we were already in Europe, we stayed in Ischia for four nights before traveling along the Amalfi Coast to meet up with friends and family. We highly recommend carving out a few days just for the two of you—it’s such a special time to decompress, relive the memories, and look through photos and videos from the wedding. It was equally lovely to reconnect with friends afterward and relive all the stories together.” They add that a larger honeymoon to Bora Bora or another tropical destination is likely in the near future.
Nicholaus & Katherine, a huge congratulations from all of us at One Fab Day! A very special thank you to our lovely couple and to Bradley Henderson who captured their Adare Manor wedding so beautifully. You can see even more stunning details from their Adare Manor wedding weekend in the gallery below.
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