As wedding bands go, this was out of the ordinary. US singers Billy Joel and Lionel Richie entertained guests at the lavish wedding of Sue Ann McManus and Cian Foley at the weekend.
Billionaire businessman JP McManus spared no expense for his only daughter's wedding and all 1,500 guests were given gifts of gold Cartier pens, valued at €500 each. With the floral bill alone topping €850,000, the total bill for the spectacular event is likely to run into millions.
A giant marquee, larger than the billionaire's 40,000sq ft Martinstown mansion, was erected on the grounds of Martinstown Stud in Co Limerick, and was the venue for the special occasion.
On arrival into the marquee, guests were greeted by a water feature consisting of a reflective pool, around which they had champagne and sushi.
After guests tucked into a specially designed "his" and "hers" menu, some 300 bottles of Dom Perignon champagne were popped for the bridal toast.
Male and female guests enjoyed separate dishes for three of the four courses, although all were offered a fillet of beef for the main course - unless they were vegetarian or chose the fish option. A pianist played throughout the meal after which he asked the bride what her favourite song was - to which she replied Three Times a Lady by Lionel Richie.
Moments later, the stage revolved and Lionel Richie appeared to perform the song.Afterwards, guests moved to another area where, on a bigger stage, Billy Joel sang a range of his hits including Uptown Girl, We didn't start the Fire and Piano Man, to the delight of wedding guests.
"It was unbelievable . . . It was just like being at a concert and there were lots of jokes about Oxegen except obviously it was a much nicer tent," joked one of the guests.
"I have to say the whole thing was incredible, the venue, the music, the food, the style, it was all just spectacular. You would never have thought you were inside a marquee, there was even a balcony," she added.
Among the celebrities spotted at the event were Corrs singer Andrea Corr, actor Clive Owen, Aston Villa football manager Martin O'Neill, Sunderland chairman Niall Quinn and racing trainer Charlie Swan.
Businessman John Magnier and his family were also there, along with former taoiseach Albert Reynolds and his family.