Real Weddings: Aoife and Colm’s magical wedding at Mount Juliet Estate

by Shayna Sappington

Irish model and primary school teacher Aoife O'Sullivan recently tied the knot with fiancé Colm at the picturesque Mount Juliet Estate in Co Kilkenny. The couple travelled down from Cork for the big day and were quite the stunning pair, sporting a classic navy velvet jacket and a gorgeous Jane Hill gown with detachable sleeves.

THE COUPLE
Aoife O’Sullivan, model and primary school teacher, and Colm Spillane, maths and PE teacher.

THEY LIVE
in Blackrock, Cork.

THE VENUE
Mount Juliet Estate, Co Kilkenny.

PHOTOGRAPHER
Adam and Grace Photography.

THEY MET
Online when we were in college.

THE PROPOSAL
We took a trip to Italy in 2022, and Colm proposed to me on a boat off the Amalfi Coast in Positano. The setting was beautiful, and it remains one of my happiest memories.

After the proposal, we couldn’t immediately celebrate with our families as we continued our travels, heading straight from Italy to Vietnam and then The Philippines. Even though we had to wait a few weeks to share the news in person, the extended adventure made the experience even more unforgettable, giving us time to savour our engagement.

THE DRESS & THE SUIT
I found my dress at The White and Gold Bridal Kinsale, a boutique I was particularly drawn to because I’ve worked and modelled for them before. Knowing the quality of their gowns, I trusted Sorcha, the shop owner, to help me make the perfect choice.

We opted for a figure-hugging, structured gown with a classic design from the Australian brand Jane Hill, which was showcased at the store during a trunk show. We customised the dress by adding delicate, removable off-the-shoulder sleeves that I could take off later in the evening.

Colm got his suit from Saville Menswear in Cork. He initially wanted a traditional tuxedo with a dickie bow, but during his fitting, Lucaz, the salesman, suggested he try on a navy blue velvet jacket. Once he did, it was clear there was no comparison to the black— the velvet added a luxurious feel to the suit, making him stand out and giving him a distinctive look compared to his groomsmen.

THE CEREMONY
Our ceremony took place at St Colmcille’s Church in the picturesque village of Inistioge, Kilkenny. Initially, we considered the church in Thomastown, but after a colleague suggested visiting Inistioge, I instantly fell in love with the village. We knew right away that it was the perfect place to bring our friends and family for the ceremony. Fortunately, my local priest from Ballinadee, Father Michael O’Mahony, was able to travel to Kilkenny to officiate the mass, which added a deeply personal touch to the day.

THE RECEPTION
I first discovered Mount Juliet Estate online and could only have dreamed of getting married there. When we visited the venue one weekend, we knew immediately that no other place could compare. The Estate had everything we could have wished for – a stunning backdrop for photos, exceptional staff and service, and a resort-like atmosphere.

From the moment we drove through the gates, we felt completely immersed and able to fully relax. We loved the idea of hosting our drinks reception in the elegant Manor House, with our guests then moving to Hunter’s Yard for dinner and dancing.

THE ENTERTAINMENT
I have a deep love for music, so I invested a lot of time in carefully selecting the performers for our wedding. We were thrilled to have the brilliant Glenn Murphy sing in the church, and his beautiful rendition of Pavarotti’s Ave Maria as I walked down the aisle was unforgettable. Glenn has previously performed with Adele and even appeared on The Ellen Show, so we were overjoyed that he could be part of our special day. For the drinks reception, we enjoyed some smooth jazz, followed by an unforgettable night of dancing with the incredible Bentley Boys, who kept everyone on their feet all night long.

THE DECOR
Mount Juliet Estate hardly needed any additional decor, as the period home decor spoke for itself. However, we did add a flower cloud above the top table, which I absolutely loved. It created a beautiful backdrop for our wedding speeches. This stunning arrangement was provided by Daisy Chain Kinsale.

I asked all of my best friends and my sister to be bridesmaids on the day and thought the more girls the merrier! It really felt so special having them all by my side. I told them the bridesmaid dress theme was going to be floral and I’m pretty sure they all probably made a face at the thought of it, but I trusted my gut and really thought they looked so beautiful on the day. I loved that a lot of bridesmaid dresses in the 90s had floral prints and I wanted to pick a dress I would buy for myself for an occasion. The girls looked spectacular and I adore all the photos of us together.

THEIR TOP TIPS
While the common advice to “relax and enjoy it all” is valuable, I’d like to offer something a bit more specific. I absolutely loved having extensive coverage of our day — not just with our photographers and videographer, but also with a content creator and a photographer for the night before the wedding. My advice is to invest in capturing the entire experience, especially if it’s a weekend celebration. Don’t just focus on the wedding day itself; document the whole weekend to preserve all those special moments.

THEY WISH THEY HAD
Time to do it all over again (in slow motion).

THEIR BEST MOMENTS
Spending time with our family and friends – it really is so magical and you are just in one big love bubble for the weekend.

THE FIRST DANCE SONG
Until I Found You by Stephen Sanchez.

THE CREW
Wedding Dress: Jane Hill from The White and Gold Bridal Kinsale. Groom & groomsmen’s suits: Saville Menswear. Bridesmaids’ dresses: Reformation. Make-up: Lisa Shannon. Hair: Sarah Keogh. Stationery: The Invite Hub. Cake: Trace of Cakes. Flowers: Daisy Chain Kinsale & Kay’s Flowers. Church singer: Glenn Murphy. Reception music: Sax Appeal. Band: Bentley Boys. Wedding car: AT&T Chauffeurs. Mass booklet & signs: McNamara Printers. Videographer: Little Bear Film. Content creator: Your Story. By Elle.