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Mary Dilger (36) and Brian Nevin (42) met in 2005 in their home town of Ennis and spent three years together before Mary took off to New Zealand for six months. This was followed by a year studying in Edinburgh. In the meantime, Brian had moved back to Dublin.
“As the universe would have it, we both ended up in Ennis again and it wasn’t long before we were back together,” says the happy bride.
Their first date was a picnic by the sea at Clahane, Co Clare. That's where Brian sprang a proposal during a New Year's Eve walk in 2012.
On October 24th, 2014, Brian and Mary were married by celebrant Tina Storey in a Humanist ceremony attended by 35 at the Old Ground Hotel in Ennis.
With a candlelit aisle decorated by Mary and her bridesmaid Rachel Young, "there wasn't a dry eye in the house as my father walked me towards a teary Brian.
“The Humanist ceremony allowed us to have a really personal ceremony, in a location of our choice, which made it all the more meaningful and memorable.”
Mary's nephew Luca (5) was the ring- bearer and her sister Hazel said a poem, Brian's nephew Gavin distributed the wedding scrolls and his niece Lauren and cousin Caitríona played the violin and concertina. The bride's mother and groom's sister lit family candles for the newlyweds and their friend Shane Kelly wrote a poem.
Mary found her ivory dress from photos which her sister, who lives in the US, sent from bridal boutiques in Boston and her headpiece and lace gloves were from etsy.com
Brian, in a three-piece suit with a polka dot bow-tie, “looked very dapper indeed”, according to his new wife. “The day was really everything we hoped for and much, much more.”
Brian and Mary are living happily ever after in Ennis with their dog Skye.
We'd love to hear your wedding story. If you'd like to share it with our readers email weddings@irishtimes.com with a photograph and a little information about your big day
Photographs: Allan Kiely, allenkielyphotography.com
