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Real Wedding: Courtney & James’ fairytale day at Carton House
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After falling in love with Carton House, A Fairmont Managed Hotel, while studying abroad at Maynooth University, Courtney Cornell always knew she wanted to get married there. Years later, when she introduced her soon-to-be husband, James, he fell in love with it too and together, they turned that dream into a fairytale reality.
THE COUPLE
Courtney Cornell, business development manager, and James Cornell, director of administration.
THEY LIVE
In California, USA.
THE VENUE
Carton House, A Fairmont Managed Hotel. I (Courtney) studied abroad at Maynooth University, and when my parents came to visit and stayed at Carton House, I instantly fell in love. From the moment I stepped onto the estate, I knew I would one day get married there. Four years later, when I brought James to Ireland and to Carton House for the first time, his immediate reaction was: “Why have you been keeping this place from me?”
PHOTOGRAPHY
Daga & Rafal, wedding photography and film.
THEY MET
At work in Washington, DC. From the moment James introduced himself, I instinctively felt he was the one… though it took him about a year and a half to finally ask me out!
THE PROPOSAL
I had planned what I thought was a family photography session for my mom’s birthday in her hometown of San Diego, California. Unbeknownst to me, James had been secretly coordinating with my family to propose at the end of the photo shoot. With my family gathered and the Pacific Ocean as the backdrop, James got down on one knee and asked me to be his wife.
THE WEDDING ATTIRE
I wore a Milla Nova gown and veil from La Mariée Capricieuse in Paris, while James wore a tuxedo by Giorgio Armani.
THE CEREMONY & RECEPTION
Both were held at Carton House. We exchanged vows in a secluded woodland setting on the grounds, followed by champagne and canapés in the Gold Salon. Dinner and dancing took place in the Carton Suite Ballroom. Carton House surpassed anything we could have imagined. From the moment we arrived, we were so well cared for, and our wedding day unfolded so seamlessly and perfectly, it was beyond anything we could have dreamed. Nothing compares to Irish hospitality, and that showed in everything Carton House did during the wedding weekend.
THE ENTERTAINMENT
A harpist for the ceremony and cocktail hour, a DJ for the evening celebrations, and we had some Irish dancing to surprise guests. It was an unforgettable performance.
THE DECOR
I wanted the beauty of Carton House and the Irish landscape to speak for itself, so I focused on enhancing its natural elegance rather than overpowering it. My overall vision was a romantic, garden-inspired aesthetic. We incorporated a vibrant, seasonal colour palette of soft pinks, corals, butter yellows, lavenders and pops of blue, woven throughout everything from the florals to the candlelight. Arrangements were lush and whimsical, featuring garden roses, delicate wildflowers and airy greenery. One of our favourite playful touches was a custom neon sign as part of a photo booth that read “Kiss Me I’m in Ireland.”
THEIR TOP TIPS
Prioritise your guest experience. While your wedding is about you, it’s the guests you share it with who make it truly unforgettable, especially when travelling from abroad. Having a day-of coordinator was invaluable and allowed us to be fully present and stress-free. Take moments throughout the day to pause, breathe, and soak it all in with your partner.
And don’t be afraid to include fun surprises, big or small. We served Baby Guinness shots before the ceremony (a huge hit), included custom coffee beans from our favourite coffee shop in welcome bags and surprised guests with an Irish dance performance.
THEY WISH THEY HAD
More time… we wished the week could have lasted forever, as it truly felt like a fairytale.
THEIR BEST MOMENTS
It’s impossible to choose just one. The celebration unfolded over four days, each with its own magic, from kicking things off with a Guinness Storehouse tour and restaurant buyout in Dublin that turned into a late night dance party, to the welcome dinner in the Carriage House at Carton House with live music, to the wedding day, and a day after traditional afternoon tea gathering in the Gold Salon at Carton House. What made it all so special was having our favourite people together in our favourite place.
Carton House staff also became like family over the course of the week, making the experience even more meaningful.
FIRST DANCE SONG
Lover by Taylor Swift
THE CREW
Day of coordinator: Angela, The Wedding PA. Hair: Jennifer Clapham. Make-up: Noeleen Cunningham. Dress designer: Milla Nova. Invitations: Aimee Willow Designs. Style, Decor & Florist: Frog Prince Wedding. Custom neon sign: Ledstuff.ie. Photography and videography: Daga & Rafal. Content creator: Grey Arce Studios. Cake: Caroline Goulding Wedding Cakes. DJ: Soundguys.ie. Harpist: Irish Wedding Harpist, Aisling Lyons. Irish dancing: Celtic Dance Fusion. Marquee: All in One Event Hire.
See more photographs from Courtney and James’ wedding here.
Photography by Daga & Rafal.
Want to see your Real Wedding on IMAGE.ie? Email shayna.healy@image.ie with the subject line ‘Real Wedding’.
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