Real Weddings: Róisín and Andy get married in style at The Westbury

Tying the knot in a hotel that holds a very special place in the bride's heart, Róisín and Andy's Christmas wedding at The Westbury was picture perfect.

THE COUPLE
Róisín Padayachee, pharmacist, and Andy Doyle, commercial director at Kubix Media Ireland.

THEY LIVE
in Malahide.

THE VENUE
The Westbury Hotel, Dublin.

PHOTOGRAPHY
Richard Gavin Photography.

THEY MET
on Bumble in 2017.

THE PROPOSAL
Andy caught Róisín by surprise in Paris in October 2021. Seeing that she had organised the holiday last minute, a proposal was the furthest thing from her mind.

On their second day, Róisín booked a boat trip on the River Seine. The couple bought an ice cream on their way to the jetty and were enjoying the backdrop of the Eiffel Tower on a sunny autumn morning until they realised that they had got the timings wrong and were going to be late. Ice creams were scoffed and the race to the boat commenced.

The couple eventually made it, just on time, and arrived on deck to settle into the tour. Róisín, however, wasn’t feeling great after the overindulgence coupled with that last-minute sprint. Turning to Andy she asked if he had a Rennie. Róisín, who had her back to Andy, could hear him rustle around for what seemed a lifetime.

“Andy, have you got that Rennie?” Andy seemed to be struggling with opening the packet and eventually said to Róisín, “I haven’t got a Rennie.” He then put his hand in front of her and said, with the ring “But… will you be my wife?”

THE DRESS AND THE SUIT
Róisín’s dress was from Marian Gale in Donnybrook, who were exceptional to deal with. Andy’s suit was from Louis Copeland & Sons on Pembroke Street. Andy was guided through the process with the help and expertise of Adrian Copeland Jr.

THE CEREMONY
Who doesn’t love a Dublin City wedding? The venue for the ceremony was St. John Newman’s University Church on Stephen’s Green, a historic piece of 19th-century architecture, right in the heart of Dublin and, helpfully, a short stroll from the reception.

This beautiful church is almost hidden from the main road but once you cross the threshold a spectacular interior awaits. The walls are adorned with brilliantly painted mosaics; it feels like stepping back in time – a distinctive, hidden gem for a city centre wedding.

CELEBRANT
The ceremony was overseen by Fr. Brendan Quinlan. A long-time friend of Róisín’s family. Fr Brendan had actually married Róisín’s sister back in 1989. This connection added a warm personal touch to the ceremony.

MUSIC
The wedding music included the lovely Soprano Hannah Traynor, with Teresa O’Donnell on harp and Mick O’Brien on low whistle.

THE RECEPTION
The Westbury is an institution in Dublin. It’s by far one of the best hotels in the city and has a magic about it that very few hotels possess. From the grand entrance stairway to the warm yet classy atmosphere, it really is a special place, just off Grafton Street. The hotel also holds a special place in Róisín’s heart. For her, growing up, most Sundays would include a visit to The Westbury for lunch with her mother, Mary, and late father Nanthoo. For both Andy and Róisín, a Dublin wedding was always the dream.

With the help of Katie and Rachel on the events team, everything was organised in a way that was as efficient as it was easy. On the day itself, all went flawlessly. Each staff member was amazingly welcoming and they know how to make their clientele feel special in a way that very few venues can replicate. Special mention on the day must also go to Sean, who kept Róisín’s mother, Mary, topped up with tea. His kind and caring nature really helped all the guests feel personally looked after.

THE ENTERTAINMENT
There were no bands at this wedding. It was a DJ-only affair. Róisín and Andy doubled down, thinking “Why not have two DJs?”. Arveene Juthan and Andy Bell, with sound systems and lighting courtesy of Shay Hannon Eq Audio & Events, belted out top tunes across the dance floor all night, keeping the energy high. The buzz they brought to the room was incredible and, much to their credit, the dancefloor was full into the early hours.

THE DECOR
All the decor was courtesy of The Westbury! With it being a Christmas wedding, there wasn’t a huge amount that needed to be added to this already beautifully decorated hotel. The place looked stunningly festive.

There are very few places that can capture Christmas in Dublin quite so well. The sights and even the scents in this hotel truly created a vibe of tranquillity and relaxation in the middle of a bustling city. It’s a magical venue, especially around the holidays.

THEIR TOP TIPS
With the team at The Westbury, everything was meticulously planned out. Rachel, in particular, was a huge help. This allowed the couple to sit back and soak up the day, totally stress-free. They highly recommend it as a Dublin City venue.

There’s nothing like walking down Grafton Street in your wedding gear with jovial heckles from well-wishers and local characters. The pictures of this part of the day were a truly unique bonus.

Get a videographer! After the dust settled on the festivities and the video was delivered; it really captured the day in a way the couple can revisit any time to get a quick fix. Gintas from Pilgrim Films captured everything to perfection from start to finish. The video was really amazingly put together.

THEY WISH THEY HAD
Nothing — everything was more than we could hope for.

THEIR BEST MOMENTS
It’s difficult to pick out any particular moment. The whole day was like living in a film. Sitting down after the first toast and looking around that amazing room with all their friends and family smiling and sharing that moment with them was more than they could have ever wished for.

THE CREW
Wedding Dress: Marian Gale. Groom’s Suit: Louis Copeland & Sons. Florist: Bird of Paradise, Rush. Venue & Decor: The Westbury. Cake: Mae Mutia. Videographer: Pilgrim Films.