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Samantha Shanahan, a childcare supervisor, and Paddy Duggan, a business analyst, both from Roselawn in Dublin 15, met at school in 1999.
Samantha is a huge Disney fan, so the pair took a trip to Disneyland Paris in July 2013. In front of the castle, Paddy presented his girlfriend with an envelope containing a drawing he had done of Mickey Mouse proposing to Minnie and the words: “Samantha, Will You Marry Me?”
On the morning of April 9th, 2015, the bride got ready at home with her mother Mary and stepfather Charlie who had been engaged since she was two and finally got married last year.
Samantha arrived early to Kilbride church (with a few minutes to spare for a lipstick touch-up) and she and Paddy were married by his uncle, Fr Oliver Duggan.
Bridesmaids – “a huge help, travelling up and down to Drogheda for dress fittings” – were friends Deirdre Barry, Kim Shaw, Aoife Flanagan and sister-in-law Ixchel Castro Duggan (who came from Paris).
Paddy’s best man was his friend Ray Prior and the groomsmen were Victor Duggan, Andrew Cooper and Robert Kelliher.
Afterwards, everyone re-gathered at the Village at Lyons and danced into the night to The Best Men. The couple's first dance was U2's All I Want is You.
The newlyweds credit their families – especially their mothers – and friends with making the day as special as it was. The groom’s favourite moment was “standing at the top of the altar and seeing Samantha for the first time.” And Samantha had two: “Walking down the aisle to meet Paddy and saying our vows in front of friends and family.”
The couple honeymooned in Dubai and the Maldives.
Photographs: Couple Photography, couple.ie
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