For Alyssa and Larry, getting married was always going to be an adventure. Both passionate travellers, the Chicago-based couple wanted to give their guests an unforgettable international experience, so they swapped the idea of a traditional wedding at home for a destination celebration in Ireland. After touring five Irish castles, they fell head over heels for One Fab Day Recommended Supplier Kilkea Castle, returning with 70 of their favourite people for a magical spring wedding weekend filled with Irish music, folklore, whiskey, céilí dancing and plenty of thoughtful personal touches.

With a rich green palette, candlelight, velvets and abundant flowers creating their dreamy “moody spring vibe”, every detail felt deeply personal, from meaningful ceremony music to custom cocktails named after their grandmothers. Beautifully captured by another One Fab Day Recommended Supplier Awake and Dreaming, including gorgeous 35mm film photography, Alyssa and Larry's Kilkea Castle wedding is romantic, atmospheric and completely, unapologetically them.

Originally from Metro Detroit, Michigan and the Bay Area of California respectively, Alyssa and Larry are now based in Chicago, Illinois. The couple met at work, where they had always known of each other but didn't start dating until three years into working together.

The proposal took place during the very first hour of a five-day trek to Machu Picchu in Peru. The couple had stopped to take in the views when Larry told Alyssa he had something for her. Completely caught off guard, Alyssa assumed he was about to hand her a granola bar. Instead, he pulled out an engagement ring!

When it finally came to setting at date for their wedding, the couple had initially considered eloping, as the idea of planning a traditional wedding at home didn't feel quite right for two people who love travel, adventure and the outdoors. That all changed when a colleague mentioned having attended a wedding in an Irish castle. Intrigued, Alyssa and Larry booked a last-minute trip to Ireland and toured five castles before discovering Kilkea Castle.

After staying overnight and exploring the grounds, they knew they'd found the one. "The staff were incredibly friendly, the food was phenomenal, the grounds were so beautiful and fun to explore, but what sold us was the lawn where the ceremony would be hosted… It felt like being in a storybook," they tell us.

On 27 April 2026, Alyssa and Larry welcomed 70 guests to Kilkea Castle for a romantic spring wedding with a distinctly moody feel. Their aesthetic was inspired by their love of the outdoors, with a palette of rich greens, velvets and abundant florals, all brought to life by the warm glow of candlelight and low lighting. As the couple put it, they wanted a “moody spring vibe” with “lots of candles and low lighting, greens, velvets, and flowers.” They both loved the idea of bringing the outdoors in, explaining that they wanted the reception to feel “like you were having dinner in a garden”, so greenery and flowers were a key part of the décor. The result was an atmospheric, romantic setting that felt right at home in the historic castle.

In fact, the wedding was just one part of a much bigger celebration. The couple planned an entire Irish experience for their family and friends, with four optional days of events surrounding the wedding. There was a Viking Splash Tour and bar night in Dublin, a golf tournament at Kilkea Castle, afternoon tea at The Shelbourne, and a welcome party complete with an Irish whiskey tasting, Print My Pint, live Irish music and céilí dancing lessons. An Irish storyteller then shared the history of Kilkea Castle and tales of Irish folklore over Irish coffee and dessert. The day after the wedding, guests were whisked off by bus to the Guinness Storehouse, while everyone received a welcome bag filled with Irish treats and whiskey.

"We wanted to give our guests an amazing international experience," the couple explain. "Our goal was to give them a full Irish experience and to fall in love with the beauty and culture of Ireland."

Their wedding day itself was filled with equally personal touches. Family who couldn't be there were remembered throughout the ceremony, with Larry's late father, Larry Sr., and uncle Marty honoured with photographs and a candle. Alyssa, who was named after her maternal grandmother Alice, walked down the aisle to the music of her grandmother's favourite artist, Elvis. There was also a particularly special surprise for Alyssa's mother, who had eloped herself but had always dreamed of having Pachelbel's Canon in D played at her wedding. The couple arranged for it to play as their mothers lit the unity candle.

Even the couple's personalities came through loud and clear during the ceremony. Larry chose music from The Lord of the Rings, included a reading from The Princess Bride and had a Star Trek reference in his vows, promising to "live long and prosper" together. Alyssa, meanwhile, brought her love of Taylor Swift and Christmas into the ceremony, including two Taylor Swift songs, a reading featuring lyrics from Invisible String and a promise to make Larry's Christmases even more jolly. For their recessional, they found common ground with Shaboozey's A Bar Song (Tipsy), which proved to be the perfect soundtrack to lead guests into cocktail hour!

Alyssa kept her bridal look effortlessly elegant, and clearly knew what she wanted when it came to finding her dress. In fact, she didn't need to try on dozens of gowns, she picked the very first wedding dress she ever tried on at The Wedding Shoppe! She accessorised with sparkling Swarovski pieces and switched between playful Betsy Johnson shoes and classic Jimmy Choos throughout the day, proving you don't have to stick to just one pair for the celebrations.

Her beauty look was kept fresh and softly defined, with makeup by Aoife Callaghan and hair by Dani Pattison creating the perfect polished finish for her romantic castle setting.

The bridesmaids looked gorgeous in green dresses from AW Bridal, perfectly complementing the wedding’s moody spring palette. The couple’s two flower girls, the bride’s nieces aged six and four, wore sweet dresses from Azazie, while the green colour palette extended to Alyssa’s mother, who looked stunning in a gown from Terani Couture.

Larry opted for a smart, personalised look for the big day, wearing a custom suit from Billy Reid. The made-to-measure service allowed him to create a suit tailored to his exact measurements and personal style, while accessories from The Tie Bar added the finishing touches.

The personal touches continued into the reception, where the couple named their signature cocktails after their paternal grandmothers. They also surprised guests with a special wedding entertainment touch: custom designs were printed directly onto pints through Print My Pint.

For their first dance, Alyssa and Larry chose What Makes My World Spin Around by Jordan Davis, a song they love for its celebration of life's simple pleasures. The couple even took ten dance lessons to learn a two-minute choreographed routine. "That anticipation was the most stressful part of the whole wedding day," they admit. Luckily, they pulled it off!

Looking back, Alyssa and Larry describe their wedding as “the most fun day of our lives”, and they’re so glad they chose to celebrate with their favourite people rather than elope. Their biggest piece of advice to other couples is simple: “Hire a wedding planner! Especially if you're planning from abroad.”

“We could not have planned this wedding from abroad with our busy work schedules, so many events throughout the weekend, and countless suppliers to coordinate without Martina,” they explain. “She was an absolute lifesaver.” In fact, “aside from trying to remember our first dance choreography, we had zero stress during our wedding weekend because we weren't worrying about timelines, logistics, or putting out fires.” Instead, they were able to “be fully present with our family and friends”, an experience they describe as “honestly priceless.”

The reception brought Alyssa and Larry’s “moody spring vibe” to life, with lush greenery, abundant flowers and plenty of rich texture creating an atmospheric, garden-inspired setting inside Kilkea Castle. Beautiful stationery from Invites by Jen, florals by The French Touch and a gorgeous cake by Anna Burke Cakes all added to the beautifully layered look, while candlelight and low lighting gave the room an intimate, romantic glow.

Their other piece of advice is to make your wedding your own, even if that means breaking with tradition or embracing ideas that might be considered a little “cheesy”. “Our ceremony, reception, and the entire wedding weekend reflected who we are as a couple, and that's what made it so meaningful,” they say. “The best weddings are the ones that feel genuinely and unapologetically you.”

After the celebrations, the newlyweds headed off on honeymoon to the Maldives and Sri Lanka, combining four nights in an overwater villa with five nights exploring Sri Lanka. “We loved the variety,” they say. “We love to hike and adventure, so we could only do so many days by the pool/sea without going stir crazy!” For a couple who love to explore, the combination of blissful relaxation and adventure was the perfect way to round off their wedding celebrations.

Huge congratulations to Alyssa & Larry! And thank you to Awake and Dreaming for sharing this dreamy spring Kilkea Castle wedding with One Fab Day.

Planning your own Irish wedding? Follow One Fab Day on Instagram for even more inspiration.

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