breathtaking five day wedding at adare manor

REAL WEDDING FEATURE

Ever dreamed of hosting a wedding in Ireland that blends sophistication, celtic traditions, outdoor adventures, and brimming with romance and fun? Let Sara and Alec’s celebration at Adare Manor be your inspiration.

When Sara and Alec decided they would travel from the US to Ireland to tie the knot, they didn’t just settle for a one-day celebration. Instead, they gathered their friends, family, and three children for an unforgettable FIVE DAYS of celebrations at the breathtaking Adare Manor. The result was a once-in-a-lifetime experience brimming with gourmet dining, archery, falconry, whiskey tastings, traditional Irish dancing, lively party games, and packed dance floors that carried on into the early hours.

Sara and Alec outside 1826 Adare Restaurant

The Beginnings

Sara and Alec first connected through the unpredictable landscape of online dating. "I was captivated by Sara’s photos," Alec recalls, mentioning one particular image of her at a rally advocating stricter gun control. "But initially, she ignored my outreach—actually, she ignored all outreach!" Persistence, however, proved fruitful, and their first date—an unforgettable four-hour sushi dinner at New York’s Shuko—sparked what became a lasting tradition of seeking out extraordinary sushi (and sake) across the globe.

Alec’s proposal came unexpectedly during a lively family ski trip in Park City, Utah. "I had the ring in my backpack, waiting for the right moment," Alec explains. When he finally proposed, the busy family barely noticed. "Everyone was so wrapped up in their own activities—Sara’s brother somehow securing martinis in Utah, kids dancing or heading off to bed—that it took quite some time for anyone to realize I’d proposed right in front of them."

Planning perfection…

When planning the wedding, Sara immediately reached out to acclaimed destination wedding planner Michelle Rago. "We knew we wanted a destination wedding, but nothing felt quite right," Alec says. Michelle suggested Adare Manor in Ireland—a destination they hadn’t even considered. "We hopped on a plane to visit and fell instantly in love with Adare—the manor, the village, and especially the people," Alec says. Sara adds, “A memorable highlight from the planning process was their spontaneous first visit to Adare. Sara vividly recalls, "We assumed it would be a quiet evening in the village, but instead, we walked into the entire town celebrating the local hurling team's victory at Bill Chawke’s pub. The atmosphere was electric, and we’ve been captivated by Adare ever since." Alec adds another favorite memory: "Our tasting with Sara’s great friend Georgietta, trying every dish on The Carriage House menu. Sara kept adding days, transforming what was meant to be a quick wedding into a five-day celebration."

Sara and Alec officially married two months earlier in a civil ceremony at The Roxy Hotel in New York City, attended by 18 close family and friends. Alec humorously notes, "One sick child ended up getting every other child sick, forcing us to extend our stay—but Sara somehow remained unaffected, flying directly to her bachelorette party."

welcome dinner at 1826 adare

Above: To set the tone for the celebrations ahead, Sara and Alec hosted an intimate welcome dinner at 1826 Adare in the village of Adare, a charming thatched-roof restaurant known for its cozy atmosphere, old world charm and incredible modern Irish cooking. The evening was all about good food, warm conversations, and letting guests settle into the magic of Ireland. With logs burning on the stove and glasses clinking, it was the perfect way to start the week.

"The Manor's staff are quite possibly the most welcoming and attentive of any hotel in the world, and many feel like old friends even though we've only known them for a handful of years."  

Their wedding theme centered around authenticity and fun. Alec emphasises, "We wanted to host the kind of party we ourselves would love to attend." Sara further elaborates, "Given that we both have children from previous relationships, hosting the wedding over Easter weekend allowed our kids' vacations to overlap perfectly. The incredible teams at Adare Manor, especially Sandra Flavin, ensured an unforgettable all-age experience."

Bride and groom at the Carriage House in Adare

Interior spaces of the Carriage House in Adare

Bride wearing black wedding dress at Adare Manor

Wedding party at Bride and groom at the Carriage House in Adare

Bride wearing black tulle dress at Carriage House in Adare

Sara collaborated closely with TPD Design House on the wedding stationery. After initial setbacks, inspiration struck from a wrought iron gate at Adare Manor, shaping their elaborate invitation suite and event designs. Each day of the five-day extravaganza had its own theme, beautifully blending Irish traditions with modern aesthetics.

“I worked with TPD Design House and there are almost no words to describe how talented and hard working they are -- and the magnitude of effort that they put into our wedding. From the digital Save the Date to our logo, to bespoke beer pong cups, TPD was behind so many magical moments” Sara explains.

For those who love a bit of adventure, a day trip to the Cliffs of Moher is a must-see for anyone visiting Ireland. The dramatic cliffs and sweeping ocean views provide the perfect backdrop for stunning photos (and a few quiet moments to take it all in).

“Sarah Halpern, our travel guru, who meticulously plans all of our family vacations organised a Cliffs of Moher excursion as a welcome trip for our guests. Sarah worked to offer our guests two different tour options, including packed lunches, a kiddie visit to a nearby sheep farm while other guests tossed back pints of Guinness in a local tavern”, Sara humorously recalls.

The Dress

Sara’s custom Danielle Frankel wedding gown was brought to life by stylists Carrie Goldberg, Lex, and Souri Kim. Sara praises their artistry, noting, "Carrie took my desire for something modern yet timeless and created a gown perfect for the setting. The three-piece ensemble captured the whimsy and elegance suited to Adare Manor."

“Carrie and Lex pay particular attention to "who" the bridal couple are (they knew me better than I knew myself!) and they are thoughtfully focused on the location of the event so that the outfits are enhanced by the beauty of the surrounding environment.

From billowing black tulle, elegant lace flower overlays and sparkling grey sand earrings to strong patterns alongside delicate fabrics, that speak to the history of Adare Manor and Ireland, Carrie and Lex perfectly captured the whimsy and romance.

As old friends and despite being on maternity leave, Danielle and Carrie quickly landed on a design that they felt strongly met the moment for my wedding day, incorporating the low back and tight silhouette that I fell in love with. To achieve the full look, Carrie and Lex alongside Rachel Siekman designed the most beautiful silk corset that would be placed over the silk sheath and lace overlay.”

Alec fondly recalls stylist Souri Kim’s impeccable touch, humorously admitting, "He even got me into outfits unlike anything else I owned!"

amist a canopy of candles & foilage in the walled garden

When the wedding day finally arrived, it was nothing short of magical. Set in a stunning glass marquee within Adare Manor’s walled garden, the ceremony felt both intimate and grand. Sara recalls her favourite moment from the five days of celebrations, “Probably the kids walking down the aisle together. Which I didn't even see in person(above)! But, from all of the pictures and videos, it was so sweet.”

Spectacular glass marquee wedding at Adare Manor

Glass marquee at Adare Manor under the stars

“Lindsey and Cherish from Le Reve Films are these videographer rock stars, who are so friendly and easy to be around that I kept trying to see if they wanted to fly their kids out to attend. But they are as hard-working as they are easy-natured – and we could see them going to every single length to capture all of the highlights as we and our guests experienced them, while simultaneously filming from multiple angles (including by drone).” Sara

"Each day offered something unique, effortlessly enriching Sara and Alec’s unforgettable five-day celebration."  

Throughout the week, guests embraced evenings filled with playful revelry and Irish charm. One night saw Alec enthusiastically pulling endless pints of Guinness behind the bar at Bill Chawke’s pub, while friendly competitions of beer pong brought out everyone’s inner competitor. Another evening at the historic Dunraven Arms combined an elegant gourmet dinner with lively traditional Irish dancing, setting a spirited yet refined tone.

Meanwhile, signature cocktails and gourmet canapés at Adare Manor’s chic Carriage House offered a sophisticated respite, delighting guests as they mingled and toasted.

Each day offered something unique, effortlessly enriching Sara and Alec’s unforgettable five-day celebration.

“Victor Henao did my make-up (and a number of the bridal party guests, including my daughter and mother-in-law) and Brian Buenaventura styled my hair. As close friends to Carrie, Lex and Souri, we were surrounding by a stunning group of fashion professionals. Victor and Brian are a magical pair who I trusted so much with every look that they often had to remind me to look in the mirror after they were done. I trusted them implicitly to the point I’d forget to the look in the mirror to admire everything they’d done! From applying green sparkly eye shadow in a dark restaurant hallway to styling hair for behind me the entire time just knowing that it would be perfect from the front...they are the consummate professionals and creative partners.” Sara.

Alec and Sara both praise the warmth and talent of their photographer, Michael from Story of Eve. Alec jokes, "Michael promised me I wouldn’t look terrible, and he somehow managed it—now that’s real talent! Having him around our family and friends was great; it takes someone truly special to blend in so naturally while capturing incredible moments."

Sara wholeheartedly agrees, adding, “We absolutely loved working with Michael and his team. One thing I think isn't as appreciated is that as the bride and groom, you end up staring at the people taking your pictures for a huge portion of the wedding. And so, to have Michael as the friendliest face, smiling at and reassuring us was such a wonderful addition to the experience. I can't even count how many people (family and friends) came up to us to say how much they loved our photographer, how comfortable he made them feel taking pictures and how nice he was. So, it was just such a great fit. Michael also captured some all-time photos between my family and our friends who’d never even met each other - they were high-fiving across the heads of other guests. Just an absolute commitment to memorialise everyone who came to celebrate with us.”

Alec recalls, “For me the most important thing in a “vendor” was that they could fit in culturally with the party we wanted to throw. And all of them did that – they, of course, did their jobs immaculately but we also really enjoyed their company. Souri was amazing with the boys, my dad (who sadly and unexpectedly passed away a few months before the wedding) and Sara’s dad. He even got me to wear some things that didn’t look like everything else I owned!”

" I can't even count how many people (family and friends) came up to us to say how much they loved our photographer, how comfortable he made them feel taking pictures and how nice he was."  

Guests at Adare Manor enjoyed more than just elegant celebrations. Between festivities, they immersed themselves in quintessentially Irish experiences like falconry and archery.

Under the guidance of expert falconers, guests met majestic birds of prey and for those who preferred something hands-on, archery and axe-throwing provided a delightful blend of tradition and fun, allowing both adults and children to test their skills with recurve bows and authentic medieval-style longbows.

These memorable activities perfectly complemented the sophisticated yet relaxed atmosphere of Sara and Alec’s destination wedding.

Sara and Alec after Archery at Adare Manor

Wedding decor in the ballroom at Adare Manor

Flowers played a transformative role, orchestrated by Mark Grehan of The Garden. Sara explains, "We wanted a modern 'Secret Garden' atmosphere, and Mark masterfully brought this vision to life across all five days, brilliantly transforming Adare Manor’s spaces with stunning floral designs and creative decor."

Sara continues, “Alec and I know zero about flowers and greenery (to our embarrassment), but we know what we like and how we wanted the wedding to feel. Mark had a gargantuan task of transforming multiple rooms into the most stunning parties (and I say parties because as soon as the cocktail hour ended, the suite was completely flipped into a kids’ party spot, including F1 sim cars.

Mark brought so much expertise to the selections that we made: from aubergine and mauve florals for the tables to using grey fringe to encircle the crystal chandeliers. He knows when to have a soft moment (by lining the ceremonial aisle with a garden of pale blue, purple and white flowers) and when to bring the drama (using neon lights to transform the lush garden wall installation that served as the backdrop for our ceremony into a DJ background at the after party). He was able to transform my many unsophisticated thoughts into the most beautiful arrangements and designs.”

"We wanted a modern 'Secret Garden' atmosphere, and Mark masterfully brought this vision to life across all five days..."  

"There’s something special about Ireland—its resilience and genuine warmth mean joy is always within reach. You simply can’t help but feel happy at Adare Manor."  

Reflecting on their wedding, Alec shares, “The coolest thing was hearing how many people told us it was the most fun wedding they’d ever attended. Some of our guests had experienced bigger, more elaborate weddings, but ours ranked at the very top. Knowing we brought people together like that felt incredible.”

Sara echoes this sentiment, saying, “Everyone was on their feet dancing throughout the wedding and into the after-party, which speaks volumes about how amazing the music and atmosphere were. There’s something special about Ireland—its resilience and genuine warmth mean joy is always within reach. You simply can’t help but feel happy at Adare Manor. We’re deeply grateful we could share such a joyful experience with all the people we love.”