Another August Bank Holiday Weekend wedding was Ciara and Allan's spiritualist ceremony which took place in Ballyseede Castle, Tralee, Co. Kerry. Ciara and Allan, both Irish, came all the way from Australia to have their wedding here, and travel was the theme of the day. During the ceremony, they each said their own personal vows, referencing a love of dogs, travel, and a commitment to make each other at home, wherever home may be, and there was hardly a dry eye in the room, it was really, really sweet! 

Before the ceremony, Ciara asked us to play Stairway to Heaven for Allan, and we loved his reaction when we started! Lord of the Rings is his favourite movie so music from that was also included during the ceremony, along with the theme music from Home and Away which was a very witty inclusion! Here's the ceremony music in full:

Entrance Music: One Day Like This
Lighting of the Ceremony Candles: Concerning Hobbits
Signing of the Register Music:  Home and Away Theme Tune
Recessional: All You Need is Love


We stayed for the drinks reception and played some more pop and rock music, as well as a bit of Irish music for those guests who had travelled, and probably some classical too! Between the ceremony and drinks reception we had time for a chat before Ciara changed her veil for an awesome crown of flowers for the rest of the day! Photographer Emily Doran did an amazing job and put together a stop-motion video here where you can see all the wonderful photos from the day! We loved being a part of this day, they had so many cool ideas for the venue décor, drinks reception entertainment, and evening entertainment! They all look like they are having a ball in these photos, congratulations on arranging a very special ceremony, throwing a wonderful party, and on being married! Best wishes for the next adventure =D

For our only church wedding in July (I can't explain the popularity of civil ceremonies in July for us, just coincidence?), we went all the way west to Liscannor, Co. Clare for Edel and Brendan's big day. We still haven't forgotten the Priest's various additions to the ceremony - in the photos above you can see the bridesmaid and best man with a wicker circle which they place around the couple as part of  a fertility rite, and in the photo under this, he has come out into the congregation with a basket of rose petals which he is throwing in the air and around the guests in celebration! 

The wonderful Maeve Curry joined us for a few songs in the ceremony - we had previously performed in productions together in Cork Opera House and the Everyman Theatre such as Hey! Mr Director and Candide, it's a small world! Gus Hayes joined us for a song at the Signing of the Register too, it was lovely to have a few family members and friends contributing to the ceremony through music, it meant a lot to Edel and Brendan. Here's the full list of music we played:

Entrance: Bridal Chorus (“Here comes the bride”) 
Lighting of Candles: Inis Oirr (sure we could see Inis Oirr from outside the church!) 
Responsorial Psalm: Set you heart on the higher gifts with Maeve
Offertory: Canon in D Major (Pachelbel)
Sign of Peace: Jesu, Joy of Mans’s Desiring (Bach)
Communion: 1.‘Nella Fantasia with Maeve, 2. Ave Maria (Schubert) with Maeve
Signing of Register: 1. You Raise Me Up with Gus Hayes 2. Hornpipe in D from Handels Water Music 
Recessional:  Mr Blue Sky

For the drinks reception, we played outside the Falls Hotel, Ennistymon. The weather was beautiful, the champagne was flowing, and the bride and groom stayed around (see below) for the photos so everybody got to see them and get their photograph with them throughout the day. Guests were most complimentary, and the couple took time to come up to us, thank us and wish us a safe journey back. You wouldn't believe the weather we passed through on the way back to a very rainy Cork, you were so lucky! Congratulations on a lovely wedding! 

On a gorgeous mid-July afternoon we played for Anne Marie and Barry's ceremony in Fota House, celebrated by Pastor Tom Burke of the Grace Christian Church, Cork. The ceremony took place in the room where dinner would later be served, and it was transformed during the drinks reception! Here's the music we played for the ceremony:

The ceremony was almost as short as a civil ceremony (eg those by the HSE), but included some religious elements and blessings, and they could really personalise it with readings (one in French!) and poems. It was a beautiful ceremony! 

Afterwards,, guests enjoyed the good weather outside, the candy buffet (Lisa's Candlyland) and the mix of popular, classical and rock music we played for them. We took a little break in the middle and took some requests from a few guests, so for the last 45 minutes we just played what their guests wanted to hear! We had a great day in Fota and I'm sure our wonderful newlyweds and their guests did too. Congratulations Anne Marie and Barry!!