Real Weddings: Cliona and Stephen’s fairytale French Chateau wedding

by Shayna Sappington

Cliona and Stephen recently tied the knot at a picturesque venue in the French countryside – Domaine d’Essendíeras. Think romantic gardens, a marquee by the pond and a dazzling firework display...

THE COUPLE
Cliona O’Callaghan McCarthy and Stephen St. Leger.

THEY LIVE
in Cork.

THE VENUE
Domaine d’Essendíeras, Saint Medard d’Excideiul, France.

PHOTOGRAPHER
Frances Mary Sales.

THEY MET
Through the gym, specifically CrossFit.

THE PROPOSAL
While we were waiting for our house to be finished, we had to pay for our new kitchen, which meant a few expensive months ahead. As someone who loves going on holidays, I wanted to ensure we could get away before the kitchen expenses kicked in. So, I put a deposit down for a week in Santorini in August, knowing that once the deposit was paid, we’d have to go!

Stephen had nothing to do with organizing the holiday, which is probably why I didn’t suspect anything. During the trip, we each took a day to plan a surprise activity for one another. On our second evening, Stephen arranged a private catamaran for a sunset cruise. As the sun began to set, we went to the top of the catamaran to take some pictures.

In a sweet moment, Stephen attempted to propose, but I thought he was losing his balance and quickly helped him up! A few minutes later, he got down on one knee for the real proposal, presenting me with a stunning blue sapphire ring — my birthstone. He also told me that I would be going to Dubai to have my actual engagement ring made, which made the moment even more special, it was just a dream!

THE DRESS & THE SUIT
The dress I chose for my wedding day was not at all what I initially expected. I knew a plain gown wasn’t for me, but I also didn’t want anything too large or sparkly. In November, about 18 months before the wedding, I visited Memories Bridal Boutique in Cork. I was accompanied by my grandmother, mother, and sister, which made the experience even more special. It was the first shop I visited, and I was fortunate to have Karl assist me. He was incredible in helping me find exactly what I was looking for.

I tried on numerous dresses, but once I slipped into my gown, I just knew it was the one. It’s a Watters Design, Sirena, in a classic ivory colour. I absolutely loved the beaded lace with floral cutouts, and the neckline truly made it stand out. Interestingly, I was the only one in my family who loved it, but that was enough for me!

For alterations, I worked with Alterations by Laima on the Old Blackrock Road in Cork, who was an absolute perfectionist in her craft. My second dress was a strapless Odd Muse London design, which I was particularly grateful for given the 30-degree heat on our wedding day.

Stephen wore a classic black tux from Morley’s Menswear in Cork City. He wanted a timeless look but also desired a fun outfit change for the reception, which is how the white suit jacket made its debut after our cocktail reception.

THE CEREMONY
Our ceremony took place outdoors in the beautiful English Romantic Garden, which provided a stunning backdrop of the old chateau. One of the most special moments of the day was walking down the aisle to “Caledonia” being sung by our two friends, Sean Birney and Ruth Fitzgerald. This song holds such an important place in my heart and to have them sing me up the aisle was such a surreal moment.

Our celebrant, Michelle Roberts, was amazing. She crafted a ceremony that felt incredibly personal, as if she had known us all our lives. Her warmth and heartfelt words made the moment truly unforgettable.

THE RECEPTION
The reception was held in The Pagodes, situated next to a large pond surrounded by stunning tall palm trees, creating a lovely old Italian atmosphere. Even before the festivities officially began, we entered the reception to “Freed from Desire,” and from that moment, the energy was electric. Everyone was dancing and having a blast — it was an experience you simply couldn’t plan; we completely lost ourselves in the moment!

We completed our speeches before dinner, and then we were treated to the most delicious food, making for a perfect start to the evening. We enjoyed a spectacular fireworks display at 11pm following the cutting of the wedding cake. Afterwards, we indulged in a chocolate fountain, a selection of wedding cake, and delicious pizza. (I would definitely not recommend a chocolate fountain with a white dress on, but I made it work!)

THE ENTERTAINMENT
For our ceremony, we were fortunate to have Loose Covers Music, featuring husband-and-wife duo Allie and Brian. Brian played the white grand piano while Allie provided stunning vocals. They were simply amazing and also performed during our cocktail reception on the terrace of the Grand Chateau.

For our evening entertainment, we chose Brightlights. In fact, we had them booked even before securing our wedding venue because we knew we wanted them — they are truly out of this world! Their performance was incredible; they even came down into the crowd with the microphone, and we found ourselves singing along with them. It felt like being at a live concert, as they played one hit after another, making it hard to sit down the entire night. They also served as our DJ and kept the party going until 3am.

THE DECOR
The decor for the reception was beautifully planned and executed by our amazing wedding planner, Karen from Perfect Days by Karen, along with her assistant, Mya. They wowed us with a theme of blush pinks and pastel tones that truly brought our vision to life. As travel enthusiasts, we chose to name our tables after our favourite trips, and Stephen added a personal touch by including descriptions of each destination alongside pictures from our holidays there.

Our planning and decor were expertly handled. All decor items were hired from Our Fabulous Things, and the stunning floral arrangements were created by Jenny Fairbanks of Fairyfleur.

Our amazing cake was made by Cake Baby. We wanted to bring in the French Theme so opted for a tier of macaroons for the middle with a Kinder Bueno tier above and a Ferrero tier below. It was delicious!

THEIR TOP TIPS

Hire a wedding planner: This is especially crucial if you’re getting married abroad. We wouldn’t have enjoyed our day as much without Karen. Even during the planning process, she was extraordinary – words can’t fully capture how amazing the whole weekend was; it truly felt like a dream.
Hire a content creator: Elle from Your Story by Elle became like a wedding guest by the end of the weekend. I booked her a year before the wedding to capture moments from Day 1 to Day 3, but she added so much more to our experience. The pictures, videos, and special moments she captured throughout the weekend are something I will always cherish.
Enjoy the whole day: I loved being abroad because it felt like we had a whole weekend of celebrations. So, if that is an option I would go for it! On the wedding day itself, I felt like I was living in a dream, and I truly enjoyed each and every moment so take that time to just stand back and remember that happy feeling because it’s just like no other.

THEY WISH THEY HAD
I could literally wish for nothing more from our wedding day. Everyone who made the effort to travel to celebrate us will always hold a special place in our hearts and I couldn’t ask for any more than that.

THEIR BEST MOMENTS
The entire day was truly magical, but one of my favourite moments was just before our first dance. Our wedding planner, Karen, and content creator, Elle, suggested a surprise champagne spray. We had planned to do this after our first dance, which we both weren’t so keen on doing, so we invited everyone to join in after a minute or so. As we danced, the band suddenly began playing “Mr. Brightside”, and the energy in the room exploded. We then grabbed the champagne bottles and sprayed everyone outside — it was absolutely hilarious and an unforgettable experience!

THE FIRST DANCE SONG
A Thousand Years by Christina Perry.

THE CREW
Wedding dress: Watters Design from Memories Bridal Boutique. Second dress: Odd Muse London. Groom’s suit: Morley’s Menswear. Content creator: Your Story by Elle. Wedding planner: Perfect Days by Karen. Make-up: Linzi Buckley. Hair: Eleonora Hairstyliste. Celebrant: Michelle Roberts. Cocktail reception music: Loose Covers Music. Wedding DJ & band: Brightlights. Cake: Cake Baby. Florist: Fairyfleur. Videographer: MotionCraft Creative.