Kendall and Conor partied like royalty and their wedding was full of show-stopping style! Kendall always dreamt of being married in a castle and they tied the knot in one of the most opulent venues in Ireland. They said ‘I do’ surrounded by 80 of their loved ones in a vintage and intimate celebration at Markree Castle in Co. Sligo which oozes otherworldly luxury at every turn. Their wedding aesthetic was inspired by the ornate style of the rococo era with Marie Antoinette as a muse with their style at the heart.
Kendall exuded regal glamour in a breathtaking bespoke wedding dress by Irish bridal designer Niamh Lynch of Bespoke Bridal and the elegant groomswear included vintage brooches, so chic! Every moment was wrapped in lavish splendour as the couple tied the knot in a beautiful chapel before their dazzling ballroom reception. Plus there is not one but two absolutely adorable first looks to look forward to! We know you will be smitten over their timeless and joyful celebration which was captured magically by Jenya Johnston.
Conor is from Dublin and Kendall is from New York and their love story began in the spring of 2022. He tells us, “Kendall was in the second half of her master’s at Trinity College Dublin, while Conor, having grown up in Ireland, was living at home and working in Dublin. They both decided to take ‘one last chance’ on the most romantic of dating apps —Tinder. They matched, Conor used the line ‘You look like someone who works in a museum,’ and Kendall immediately was interested because she in fact worked in museums before moving to Ireland (nerd alert!). Unfortunately, Kendall was in the grips of project deadlines and accidentally (she swears) ‘ghosted’ Conor (for the older generation, she forgot to message him back). Thankfully, this did not deter Conor as he reached out after Kendall’s deadlines, and after much hinting from Kendall, Conor asked Kendall for their first date at the Irish Museum of Modern Art (IMMA).”
Due to road works, Conor was more than 15 minutes late and Kendall thought she had been stood up! “All worked out and Kendall used her (very expensive, and truly valuable) Art History degree to teach Conor about Modern Art and later bonded over chicken wings. The date didn’t end there. Conor taught Kendall how to drive manual in his 2007 Peugeot (Conor’s first love) right there in the IMMA parking lot. Things were going so well that Conor gave Kendall a lift home where Conor met Kendall’s two (cat) children, Milo and Oliver. Milo and Oliver initially had their doubts about Conor, but in the end, they welcomed him with open paws.”
Seven months flew by, with Kendall completing her master’s, and the couple took a huge step in their relationship as they moved in together. “They found a lovely place by the sea, a long-time dream of Kendall’s, and after just one viewing, they knew it was perfect. Conor seamlessly stepped into the role of Milo and Oliver’s new father, and the little family was complete – or so they thought. Things didn’t slow down there, as on Christmas of 2022, they welcomed a new addition to their family, their dog-ter, Tilly! Since living together they have had lots of amazing new memories together. They’ve taken trips to London, Fuerteventura, Upstate New York, Pennsylvania, Paris, around most of Ireland, and even had the pleasure of interacting with US Immigration at the Canadian border. Their bond definitely grew stronger.”
Thanks to many hints from Kendall, Conor finally got the idea to propose! “With some help from her father, Conor secured the perfect ring from Los Angeles and brought it back to Ireland after their NY trip in May of 2024. Conor proposed to Kendall in County Sligo with a photographer present and in front of the picturesque Gleniff Horseshoe Cliff. Though it was not only a surprise to Kendall, but also to Jenya, their photographer, as well. In true Conor fashion, he had forgotten to tell her too.”
Kendall and Conor wished for a romantic castle wedding which played into their rococo theme and all their dreams came true at Markree Castle. “We have a connection to Sligo as that is where Conor proposed and for some reason, we always find ourselves there.”
It was important that their celebration had an artistic allure and their budget prioritised their attire so they could create unique and long-lasting looks. The results were spectacular!
Conor got the sweetest surprise during the first look as Kendall showed the dog Tilly, who is a Malshi, first who was sporting an adorable dress. “Leading up to this, Kendall has ‘refused’ to let Tilly be in the wedding.”
Their first look was so magical!
Kendall walked down the aisle to our celebrant and pianist performing Go the Distance from Disney’s Hercules. “It was a dream come true for Kendall, approved by Conor after going to the Hercules musical in London.”
Adorably Tilly sat on Kendall’s lap during the ceremony and their readings included What I Learned About Love, I Learned From My Dog which was read by Kendall’s cousin Reigan.
The aesthetic was inspired by Kendall’s passion for art history and her love of the rococo period which happened to be a big trend in weddings that year but Kendall had been saving inspiration on her Pinterest boards for many years.
One of the most memorable moments of their big day was when they shared their beautiful vows to each other. “Conor was serious, Kendall was the funny one which is was surprising for everyone as this is a reverse of our personalities.”
Kendall’s silk taffeta ballgown by Bespoke Bridal which boasted a dazzling corset adorned with sparkling beading and pearls made our jaws DROP.
She accessorised with Carvela heels and a seriously dreamy veil.
Selina G did Kendall’s radiant makeup look and Ella Rose Bridal was behind her effortlessly elegant up do.
The couple’s wedding planning advice centers around suppliers, they certainly recommend it hiring a videographer. “If you’re at all questioning if it’s worth it, then get a videographer. Kendall’s one regret from the wedding. You don’t need flowers… If you’re like me you questioned it up to the day before, but you don’t need them. Especially if your dress and venue are already extravagant. You can have a great wedding on a budget, or you the venue doesn’t have to take up all the budget.”
Adding to the vintage romance was their tiered and decadently swagged Lambeth buttercream wedding cake by Park Lane Cakes.
Conor’s slick wedding suit was from The Groom’s Room at Diffney and his accessories included vintage brooches. “We both provided personal accessories, vintage brooches and a diamond necklace for our wedding party.”
The newlyweds and their guests tucked into a tantalising meal with an Irish and Asian infusion menu.
They gave live portrait paintings for wedding favours which artist Graberry brought to life exquisitely. “We felt this added an experience and a personal touch. Our guests LOVED it. Conor’s uncle surprised us with a painting of us standing in front of Markree Castle the night before. This was displayed in the reception area for people to see. We also recreated the painting with our photographer.”
A sparkler first dance to At Last by Etta James under the stars in the courtyard, how can it possibly get anymore magical?
Bespoke Bridal created a mini skirt version of Kendall’s dress too. Incredible!
Finding the perfect band to make their celebration a party to remember was of the utmost important. They wanted an interactive and engaging band and Spring Break ensured the dancefloor was packed all night long. “The after-party was held downstairs, which was intimate and allowed us to be close to the band. Kendall requested them to perform a song of their choice which was Still Into You by Paramore. “The lead singer actually thanked Kendall for this request as it’s a song she has wanted to perform!”
Kendall and Conor will be soaking up the magic of cherry blossom season in Japan for their honeymoon. “We’d recommend going on a honeymoon or mini-moon directly after the wedding though to reset. This is something we regret not doing.”
Congratulations Kendall and Conor! A very special thank you to our wonderful couple and to Jenya Johnston for letting us share this magical Markree Castle wedding with One Fab Day! Be sure to check the gallery below for even more breathtaking details.
Want to party like royalty on your wedding day? Check out 31 Fairytale Castle Wedding Venues in Ireland!
