Katie and Mark tie the knot

"We would do it all again in the morning!”That’s according to Katie Stack who chatted to us recently about her wedding to Mark Lenihan.

Katie from Doneraile, and Mark from Newtownshandrum, tied the knot on 26 July in Doneraile.

This is where Katie was baptised and had her communion and confirmation.

As for the reception, the couple picked the Midleton Park Hotel.

Katie tells us that her cousin got married years ago in the hotel and “it was fabulous”.

Katie says: “We heard the hotel had recently been renovated too so we were drawn to the hotel to see it. Martina, the wedding coordinator, was so friendly and helpful when we first met her so it made our decision to pick the hotel very easy.

“We also had been to a lot of weddings in Kerry so we said we would change up the location. The hotel staff went above and beyond for us when we first visited the hotel. The staff made things so easy and were always willing to help.”

The beautiful couple met when they worked together and were engaged for two years before the big day.

“We got married two years to the day of getting engaged,” Katie says.

How long did it take Katie to find the perfect dress? Not long at all!

She says: “I fitted on two dresses. I knew straight away when I put it on that it was the one.”

Speaking about how memorable the day was, Katie says: “Watching our families and friends coming together for our special day. The journey to Midleton from the church was lovely as it was just us two and we could chat about the day and take it all in.

“We would recommend to all couples to take some time out from the busy-ness of the day just to soak it all up for even 10 minutes.”

Katie and Mark’s advice to couple is not to stress: “Everything works out. Don't worry about kids, if you are having kids at the wedding.

“They just take it in their stride. Our little boy was on the dance floor until 11pm and loved every minute of it.”

We asked if the work was divided up equally. “Mark seems to think so,” Katie laughs.

“Only joking, yes, we both were involved in all the decisions about the day,” Katie adds.

The hardest part to organise was the seating plan: “Trying to make sure everyone would be happy and sit with people they know. We wanted to make sure everyone would have good craic at their tables,” Katie says.

As for anything quirky, there was two things that the couple had.

Katie says: “We had an ice-cream cart set up for when we came out of the church for all the guests which they enjoyed.

“There wasn't much left when we got to it,” Katie jokes.

Katie’s mother also organised a singing waiter as a surprise.

Nobody knew he was going to perform, bar her mother.

“It was amazing everyone was up singing and dancing! The bar staff even joined in,” Katie tells us.

Speaking about if it was hard to keep the guestlist down for their special day, Katie says no, it wasn’t adding that they had everyone they wanted to be there.

“We were thrilled everyone could make it. People travelled from New York, North Carolina, Australia, England, and all over Ireland to be with us.

“We were so lucky to have everyone there,” she says.

Would they change anything about the day?

“No. We would do it all again in the morning. Best day of our lives,” Katie says.

Bridal party

Maid of honour - Tracey Sweeney

Bridesmaids - Marion Sheedy and Emily Cole with junior bridesmaids Orna and Cara Stack

Best man - Paul Lenihan

Groomsmen - Stephen Lenihan and Padraig Noonan

Page Boys - Cillian Lenihan, Mark Lenihan and Weston Carey