{"id":217982,"date":"2025-12-06T04:47:10","date_gmt":"2025-12-06T04:47:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/217982\/"},"modified":"2025-12-06T04:47:10","modified_gmt":"2025-12-06T04:47:10","slug":"outdoor-humanist-ceremony-was-dream-come-true-for-cork-couple","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/217982\/","title":{"rendered":"Outdoor humanist ceremony was \u2018dream come true\u2019 for Cork couple"},"content":{"rendered":"

This Cork couple\u2019s wedding day was \u201ca dream come true\u201d, according to bride Gemma Hayes.<\/p>\n

Gemma, from Carrignavar, and Paul O’Regan, from Kerry Pike, exchanged vows in an outdoor humanist ceremony at Fernhill House Hotel, Clonakilty, Co Cork, in July, led by celebrant was Norma McElligott. \u201cIt was so special,\u201d says the bride.<\/p>\n

Gemma chose her lifelong best friend, Conor Cronin, as her man of honour while her college pals Nicola Walsh and Alice O\u2019Shaugghnessy were her bridesmaids along with her cousin Ella Barty.<\/p>\n

Paul\u2019s brother Kevin O\u2019Regan was by his side as his best man and his brother Graham O\u2019Regan, cousin Jack O\u2019Shea and nephew Se\u00e1n O\u2019Connell were the groomsmen.<\/p>\n

\"GemmaGemma Hayes and Paul O\u2019Regan with their wedding party. Pictures: Ted Murphy <\/p>\n

The groom\u2019s cousin Addison Landon was the flower girl and nephew Noah O\u2019Connell was the pageboy.<\/p>\n

Toasting to the newlyweds\u2019 future happiness at the reception, which was at the same venue, were both sets of parents, Sally and John Hayes and Deborah and Pat O\u2019Regan and Gemma\u2019s grandfather Edwin Barty and Paul\u2019s grandmother is Celia O\u2019Shea.<\/p>\n

Gemma and Paul, who have known one another since they were 18, started dating in 2019, when they were 25 \u201cwith the help of Tinder\u201d, they say. \u201cPaul had been travelling in New Zealand and had moved back to Cork,\u201d says Gemma.<\/p>\n

\n Paul popped the question not once but twice \u2014 Gemma having missed the first proposal.\n <\/p>\n

\u201cHe had put a bib on our dog Beamish with the words, \u2018Will you marry my dad?\u2019 written on it,\u201d says Gemma.<\/p>\n

Despite being a sizeable Bernese German shepherd cross, Beamish\u2019s performance as he walked about displaying the message went unnoticed by Gemma. \u201cI didn\u2019t see it, so I ended up carrying on with my evening and going to bed,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n

\"GemmaGemma Hayes with Conor Cronin, Nicola Walsh, Alice O\u2019Shaughnessy, and Ella Barty. Pictures: Ted Murphy <\/p>\n

Luckily, Paul succeeded in asking her to marry him that November 2023. He went down on one knee on Titchfield Haven beach during a holiday in England. \u201cWe were staying with my uncle, Pete Barty, so it was really special as family were able to celebrate with us,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n

Beamish and the couple\u2019s cat Luna didn\u2019t join them on their big day \u2014 \u201cIt would have been too chaotic!\u201d says Gemma \u2014 so the couple ensured a photograph of the four-legged family members featured on their wedding booklet.<\/p>\n

Gemma looked super-chic in a dress from Sharon Hoey in Dublin. \u201cPaul got his suit in Red Church in Cork. My hair was done by Christine O\u2019Sullivan and the makeup artist was Jessica O\u2019Sullivan,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n

\"GemmaGemma Hayes and Paul O\u2019Regan. Pictures: Ted Murphy <\/p>\n

Harpist Carys Ann Evans performed the ceremony music and wedding band The Aristocrats was followed by DJ Patrick Ahern at the reception. \u201cOur best man, Kevin, used to be the lead singer with the band so he got up and sang \u2014 he sang ‘Mr Brightside’ by The Killers,\u201d says Gemma.<\/p>\n

Both Gemma and Paul \u201cabsolutely loved\u201d planning the event. West Cork Flowers looked after the floral d\u00e9cor. \u201cThe cake was made by Paul\u2019s aunt Therese Landon,\u201d says the bride.<\/p>\n

\"GemmaGemma Hayes walks up the aisle on the arm of her dad John Hayes to meet her bridegroom and Paul O\u2019Regan. Pictures: Ted Murphy <\/p>\n

Behind the lens were photographer Ted Murphy ( Tedmurphy.ie<\/a>) and videographer Ian Armstrong from Story Begins Wedding Films. \u201cWe also had a content creator, Bethan + Mark weddings,\u201d adds Gemma.<\/p>\n

Gemma is a medical scientist in the blood transfusion laboratory in the Mercy University Hospital in Cork and Paul is a data analyst for Cystic Fibrosis Registry of Ireland, live Killard, Blarney. \u201cOur honeymoon was amazing, we went to Mauritius to chill out and then South Africa to do a safari,\u201d says the bride.<\/p>\n

\"GemmaGemma Hayes and Paul O\u2019Regan. Pictures: Ted Murphy <\/p>\n