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Irish Examiner

Wedding of the Week: Cork couple head 'over the rainbow' for Kerry castle celebration

Considering this bride has herself joined many couples' hands in matrimony, the ceremony was always going to be important Cork couple Alison Driscoll and Alan Bell. Alison, a celebrant and solemniser with Bespoke Words and Alan, a primary school teacher, exchanged vows in Ballyseede Castle, Tralee, Co Kerry, which is where the reception also took place. Alison Driscoll and Alan Bell. Pictures: Studio Lordan 'I live and breathe weddings, and because I'm a celebrant myself, the ceremony was such an important part of the day,' says Alison, from Ballinlough. She and Alan, from Parklands, were wed by Linda Foley (@lindafoleycelebrant on Instagram). Alison Driscoll and Alan Bell. Pictures: Studio Lordan "Linda was absolutely incredible and our ceremony was phenomenal," says Alison." Alan and I wrote our own vows. We kept them secret from one another, so it was so lovely to hear them. "One standout moment in the ceremony was our hand-tying ritual — this is a reimagining of a Celtic tradition. We had some friends and family come up one by one to place a length of ribbon over our hands. We also used a tie that belonged to Alan's late dad.' Alison Driscoll and Alan Bell. Pictures: Studio Lordan Singer Lily MacMonagle (@lily_m_music on Instagram) and violinist Rebecca McCarthy Kent (@rebeccal08 on Instagram) performed during the ceremony. 'Lily sang 'Blue Moon' in honour of Alan's dad as we lit the remembrance candle.' Photographer Seán Lordan of Studio Lordan captured the occasion on camera, as did videographer Tom Halpin (@whitephoenixweddingfillms on Instagram). Alison Driscoll and Alan Bell. Pictures: Studio Lordan 'The weather co-operated with us — we even got a rainbow!' adds the bride. 'My two older sisters were my bridesmaids, along with my best friend, and my niece was my flower girl. Alan had four groomsmen made up of his good friends from school, college and the GAA club.' The bride and groom's paths first crossed a decade ago. 'We connected on Tinder in 2015 and met first in The Bowery,' says Alison. Alison Driscoll and Alan Bell. Pictures: Studio Lordan A romantic break in Paris seven years later set the scene for their engagement. 'Alan proposed with a beautiful vintage emerald promise ring from Caragh Jewellers in Killarney, one that I had admired passing by about six months previously. That December, we were in town to sign our contracts for our house when I spotted a stunner of a ring in Diana O'Mahony Jewellers on Winthrop Street, which is my forever ring. I wore both my emerald and my diamond on the wedding day.' Alison Driscoll and Alan Bell. Pictures: Studio Lordan "Colour, fun and relaxed vibes" were the event's theme, says Alison. 'I am totally horizontal and really wanted a chilled atmosphere for everyone. We went with bright pink, orange and yellow as our palette. We also leaned into Alan's family name, Bell, and named our tables with 'bell' connotations like Bell's Field, 'belle of the ball', and Bellinis. I did a lot of DIY to bring my vision to life.' Alison Driscoll and Alan Bell. Pictures: Studio Lordan The New Brass Kings (@thenewbrasskings on Instagram) filled the dance floor. 'Our first dance song was 'Pencil Full of Lead' by Paulo Nutini,' says Alison. The bride looked super-elegant in a Fara Sposa gown, which she sourced in Amore in Youghal. 'The outermost layer of the skirt and the sleeves are polka dots, which I was weak for,' she says. Alan's tux was from Tom Murphy's, Patrick Street. Alison Driscoll and Alan Bell. Pictures: Studio Lordan Makeup artist Siobhan Murphy (@ on Instagram) and hairstylist AnneMarie Fitzgerald of @TietheKnotBridalHair 'kept everything ticking along nicely', adds Alison. Alison also hired a content creator, Lucy (and_somethingblu). 'I obviously knew what it entailed, but — oh, my God — the content she has captured is insane.' Maura Sheehy of Maura's Cottage Flowers created the floral arrangements for bride Alison Driscoll. Pictures: Studio Lordan Maura Sheehy (@maurascottageflowers) created the floral décor. The cake was from Ruairi's Kitchen. The newlyweds, who live in Ballinlough, honeymooned in Portugal. If you would like your wedding featured in Weekend email