Dublin couple Emily Stolberg and Ciarán Courtney’s paths first crossed at the city’s Hogans Bar on Fade Street on February 10, 2019.
That was about six months after Emily had moved from her home city of Chicago.
Emily Stolberg and Ciarán Courtney. Pictures: Gareth McGaughey
Emily and Ciarán, from Carrickmacross, Co Monaghan, had both gone out that night with friends.
“I saw Ciarán and thought he was super-cute, so I introduced myself and we chatted for hours,” says Emily.
Emily Stolberg and Ciarán Courtney. Pictures: Gareth McGaughey
“We got each other’s numbers but didn’t chat much because it was around Valentine’s Day (too soon!) and then ran into each other at Hogans again two weeks later and started dating from then on.”
Emily, a UX designer, and Ciarán, a senior software developer, got engaged on December 20, 2023, in Austin, Texas.
Emily Stolberg and Ciarán Courtney. Pictures: Gareth McGaughey
“It was on a short trip I’d surprised Ciarán with for his birthday — you can imagine my surprise getting engaged on a trip I planned as a surprise — we both can be full of surprises!” says Emily.
They exchanged vows exactly 18 months later, on June 20, 2024. “Weirdly, we realised only recently that this was the exact date in 2021 that Ciarán took me home to meet his family for the first time!” says the bride.
Emily Stolberg with Ashley Stolberg, Jillian Stolberg, Carlye Nealon, Barry Kavanagh, Bonnie Katz, Daniela Olano, Maya Siman and Clara Madroszkiewicz.
The ceremony and reception were both at Bellinter House Hotel and Spa, Co Meath.
“We chose a humanist celebrant who allowed us to pick out every detail of the ceremony and hand-pick readings and share our own written vows, and both of us would say the ceremony really was the most magical and beautiful part of the day and our lives,” says the bride.
“We also had special ‘us’ parts of the wedding day and weekend, including personalised napkins, personalised beer koozies and speciality featured beers (as big beer drinkers ourselves), and most importantly, Irish wolfhounds to feel like Lilly – my late family dog, who was part Irish wolfhound – was still a part of the day with us.”
Emily Stolberg and Ciarán Courtney. Pictures: Gareth McGaughey
Photographer Gareth McGaughey ( garethmcgaughey.com) was behind the camera to capture the occasion the couple describe as “everything we could have wanted and more”.
“And the highlight (besides marrying each other, of course!) was seeing all our family and friends from throughout our lives come together and collide and see how well everyone meshed together,” says Emily.
“It truly was the most beautiful thing we’ve experienced in our lives, especially with 50% of the guests flying in from America to be there.”
The bride dazzled in a Milla Nova Elada dress, teamed with a veil from Anna O Veils in Dublin.
“I wore Jimmy Choos, blue iridescent sandal heels for my ‘something blue’, and then my jewellery was mostly from my grandparents — a diamond necklace I inherited from my paternal grandmother, a gold bracelet I inherited from my maternal grandmother, and diamond studs my paternal grandparents gifted to me on my 16th birthday,” she says.
“My rings (engagement and wedding band) were custom-made from Loyes Diamond on Wicklow Street in Dublin 2.”
Ciarán Courtney. Pictures: Gareth McGaughey
The newlyweds, who live in Rathmines, enjoyed a minimoon at the TRS Ibiza Hotel.
“Another crazy timing thing that happened was I had applied for my Irish citizenship in November 2024 and was invited to the ceremony to officially become an Irish citizen the Tuesday after our wedding, so that was part of our mini-moon celebration and made the week even more special!” says Emily.
“We are planning a honeymoon to Japan, South Korea and the Maldives.”
The reception at the wedding of Emily Stolberg and Ciarán Courtney at Bellinter House Hotel & Spa. Pictures: Gareth McGaughey
If you would like your wedding featured in Weekend email eve.kelliher@examiner.ie