‘I got the happy-ever-after I’d dreamt of since I was a little girl’

Cork couple Grace O’Brien and Cian Hurley first met at a mutual friend’s 21st birthday party in 2017.

Friendship turned to love, and six years after, they became an item. Grace, from Farranree, and Cian, from Togher, were married in the Church of the Resurrection, Farranree.

Grace says their big day “felt like something out of a movie”.

“We had a tough year emotionally, and we looked forward to celebrating and dancing the night away,” says Grace.

Three weeks before the wedding, Grace received unexpected news: “I was diagnosed with cancer — it was a shock moment that made time seem to stand still. I am so grateful to my sister Aderana, who attended the appointment with me and held my hand as emotions ran high. Our journey will be different from what we expected, but I’m thankful I have my husband by my side.”

Entering the church was “an emotional” experience, says the bride.

Grace O’Brien and Cian Hurley. Pictures: Ray Terry Photography

“I was very nervous but so excited because I knew today was the start of a new chapter in our lives,” she says.

Grace’s brother, Keith O’Brien, walked her up the aisle.

“I chose Elvis’ Can’t Help Falling In Love as the entrance song,” she says. “The moment Cian turned around, I had lots of butterflies in my stomach, and I was full of emotion because finally I got the happy-ever-after I’d dreamt of since I was a little girl.

“The recessional song we chose was Jim McCann’s song Grace, a song so special to me as my mother Kathleen O’Brien named me after that song.

“The amazing Caroline Bailey sang alongside the fabulous Violini Cork.

Grace O’Brien and Cian Hurley. Pictures: Ray Terry Photography

“Our son James sang Baby Shark during the ceremony, and everybody started to join in with laughter.”

The newlyweds, who live in Blackpool, travelled in a 1930s Beaufort ‘Grace’ convertible by Fitzgibbon Event Motors and held their reception at Springfort Hall Hotel, Mallow.

Making the day extra special were mother of the bride Kathleen, Cian’s mother Lisa Hurley and his stepdad Trevor Wade, Cian’s father Andrew Stachini and his stepmother Nikki Stachini, and the bride’s uncle Connie O’Sullivan — who travelled from Chicago for the event.

Grace O’Brien and Cian Hurley with their wedding party. Pictures: Ray Terry Photography

Grace’s brother Darren O’Brien was the best man, and her maid of honour was her sister Aderana Dunne — with her cousin Ciara O’Brien and niece Abbey O’Brien, together with her friend Niamh O’Sullivan and her sister-in-law Vicki O’Donovan, as her bridesmaids.

Grace O’Brien and with her bridal party. Pictures: Ray Terry Photography

Cian’s childhood friends Gavin Smith, Troy O’Donovan, Dylan Sheehan, and Shane Kearney were his groomsmen.

“My stepson Noah Fitzgerald and our son James Hurley were the pageboys. The flower girls were my two nieces, Olivia O’Donovan and Rebecca Dunne,” says the bride.

Grace O’Brien and Cian Hurley with Noah Fitzgerald and James Hurley. Pictures: Ray Terry Photography

Grace purchased her dream wedding dress at Diamond Bridal Cork, and Cian was decked out by Suits.ie, Blackpool. Niamh O’Leary was the bridal makeup artist, and Amy Michelle was the hairstylist.

Husband-and-wife team Ray and Irene Terry of Ray Terry Photography (rayterryphotography.com) captured the day on camera, with Don Noonan as videographer. Wonderous Weddings created the floral décor, and Gemma and the Jets was the wedding band.

Grace O’Brien and Cian Hurley. Pictures: Ray Terry Photography

The newlyweds, who honeymooned in Rome, took to the floor to The Wonder of You by Elvis Presley for their first dance.

A high point of the day for the bride was the groom’s speech: “Cian spoke from his heart, and he makes me a very proud wife. He is my light in the dark days and my comfort when I’m low. I could not imagine my life without him. Watching him as a father is my biggest blessing in life.”

• If you would like your wedding to be featured, email eve.kelliher@examiner.ie