Ciara Elliott
If there was one wedding on all our radars here in Ireland all this summer, it was PR guru Rob Kenny and musician Shane Cassidy's spectacular French celebration which exploded on to our sites and socials in real time from May 30, 2026, when they married in exquisite elegance in a luxe villa on the French Riviera. The couple, originally from Howth in Dublin and Gibbstown in Meath, returned to their favourite place in the world for the occasion ((it was where they were engaged three years earlier), hiring out the super exclusive Bastide du Roy, a former French royal residence once owned by designer Jeanne Lanvin, for their dreamy French destination 150-guest summer celebration. Photographs are by Social Media and Content Manager Trench Medium. Get ready to take notes! It was on the Cap d'Antibes where Rob originally proposed eight years after they first met. "We were on a yacht when I got down on one knee. We both cried and hugged before realising Shane still hadn't actually said yes... which, of course, he then did!". Wedding planning began in earnest as soon as they got home, to Dublin. Due to the fact they wanted the June bank holiday weekend, however, the first date they could secure was three years down the line. "Not that that mattered," says Rob. "We absolutely loved being engaged!" The grooms’ fashion was meticulously curated, blending exceptional tailoring with deeply personal morning gifts. Rob stunned in one of only eight Alexander McQueen tuxedos of its kind, paired with Prada loafers and a Cartier Love bracelet gifted by Shane. Shane perfectly complemented the aesthetic in a navy and black double-breasted Louis Vuitton tuxedo from Paris, Gucci loafers, and a special-order Rolex from Rob, brilliantly bridging the chic black and navy palettes worn by their stylish wedding parties. The sprawling, Versailles-inspired grounds of the Bastide allowed the day to unfold across a series of spectacular garden reveals. Guests first gathered in the 'Welcome Garden' among fountains and manicured mazes, where they were served lavender spritzes to keep them refreshed under the searing Riviera sun. From there, the team of French event staff gently ushered everyone into the breathtaking ceremony space. The musical direction, managed by Shane and his talented Trinity College alumni (Shane impressively has a PHd in music!) elevated the atmosphere to new heights. Both mothers of the groom looked sensational. Officiated by the Rob's close friend Fiona Gratzer, the ceremony perfectly balanced raw emotional depth with perfectly timed humour, anchored by a hilarious and touching handwritten reading by their friend, influencer James Kavanagh. The standout moment was an absolutely beautiful surprise friend choir, where twenty-five guests stood from their seats in the audience to sing stunning harmonies. Rob's groomsmaids wore dresses by Maria Lucia Hohan, Victoria Beckham and Dior. Shane let his groomsmaids choose their own dresses, with the only requirement being that they were navy. "On an aside - neither of us thought we'd like diamonds in a man's wedding ring," says Rob. "But when Chupi showed us just how understated and beautiful they looked, particularly stacked with our engagement rings, we both loved them instantly." Following a stint in the 'Champagne Garden' where guests mingled to a French string quartet and enjoyed over a hundred bottles of Laurent-Perrier - the spectacular dinner space was finally revealed. In terms of wedding aesthetics Rob says they leaned into the "old world charm of the South of France" and "deliberately avoided traditional wedding or bridal styling". There were no oversized bouquets, floral arches or obvious wedding florals. Instead, everything centred around dramatic greenery and foliage. Audible gasps rippled through the crowd as the four enormous, candlelit banquet tables came into view directly in front of the château. The energy skyrocketed when the grooms made their grand entrance to a saxophonist playing ABBA's Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!, laughing and dancing through human tunnels formed by their favourite people in the world. Culinary and cocktail experiences were a massive priority, highlighted by the phenomenally talented mixologists keeping the drinks flowing all evening. The grooms, both avid wine lovers, personally selected the pairings during a French wine tour, featuring Chablis, Sancerre and an Irish-owned Château La Coste Rosé. Bypassing the traditional wedding cake entirely, the couple instead surprised their seated guests with 150 bespoke espresso martinis, each embossed with their custom wedding logo, delivering a massive injection of fun and energy post-dessert. One of Rob's non-negotiable design requests was having four enormous long banquet tables instead of traditional round tables. He had imagined these tables long before he was even engaged: overflowing with greenery, grasses, wheat, even asparagus, with huge candelabras running the full length of each table. The evening’s entertainment and visual spectacles were nothing short of extraordinary, with Irish DJ Billy Bunzari and strolling band The Shocking Papas keeping the dance floor packed. A major, secretly planned wow-moment occurred at the end of Shane’s speech when he lifted Rob up for a kiss. Exactly on cue, a massive display of green dry fireworks erupted behind them, tying flawlessly into the wedding's verdant colour scheme and sending the crowd into a frenzy of cheers. Shattering another tradition, the couple delayed their first dance to Lana Del Rey’s Young and Beautiful until nearly 2 AM. Surrounded by an intimate circle of their remaining guests, the heartfelt moment lasted just ninety seconds before seamlessly remixing into a massive dance anthem to close out the night. Following the unforgettable celebration, the newlyweds embarked on a luxurious mini-moon along the French and Italian coasts, dreaming of a grander adventure to Mauritius or Bali in 2027. Huge congratulations to Shane and Rob and thank you so much for sharing your day with us. If you want to see even more of their gorgeous French wedding please see the gallery below, and check out their très chic wedding film right here. For lots more more destination wedding inspiration please see our dedicated section here
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