Intimate Garden
Wedding at
Luttrellstown Castle
REAL WEDDING FEATURE
For Billy and Steph, choosing the perfect wedding venue was all about blending their shared histories and dreams. “When we were thinking about where to get married, we were deciding between somewhere in Mexico or somewhere in Europe,” Steph explains. “I had always wanted to get married in Europe, and the fact that both our parents had been married there—mine in Switzerland, Billy’s in Ireland—felt poetic.”
“We researched lots of venues, but Luttrellstown Castle stood out right away,” says Billy. “We loved how it looked, the date was available, and everything just fell into place so easily.” They were so certain it was the one that they booked it without ever seeing it in person! “Looking back, it was a huge risk,” Steph laughs, “but when we visited for our menu tasting a few months later, it was even better than we’d hoped.”
The castle wasn’t just a beautiful backdrop—it was meaningful too. “Both of our grandmothers are actually from the same town in Ireland, Kilkenny,” Billy shares. “So bringing our families and friends from Mexico and Australia to celebrate in Ireland felt incredibly special.”
Alise Taggart brought Steph and Billy’s vision to life, expertly planning and styling a wedding that perfectly balanced intimacy, elegance, and unforgettable charm. See the full story below…
Above ~ Welcome dinner in the Van Stry Ballroom at Luttrellstown Castle
How They Met…
Steph and Billy’s love story began at work, where Billy arrived in Sydney on a year-long assignment from Mexico. “I remember meeting him on his first day,” Steph recalls. “He was late to a team workshop and later kept coming to my desk with questions that I didn’t think were very interesting!” Despite a rocky start, they quickly clicked. “From our first date, everything was just easy and natural,” Steph shares.
Their romance deepened quickly, but a promotion sent Billy back to Mexico after only a few months. “In that same conversation, he asked if I’d move to Mexico,” Steph says. “I pretended to think about it, but I already knew the answer.” After a year of long distance, she packed her life into two suitcases and took the leap to join him in Mexico City.
“We both knew we had something special,” Billy adds. “Even during long distance, it felt easy—like we were meant to be.” Five years, one international move, and plenty of adventures later, Billy proposed, proving that love truly has no borders.
The proposal
The snowy slopes of Vail were the perfect setting for their next big adventure. “We had planned a ski trip with friends,” Steph recalls, “but Billy insisted on organizing everything—a bit out of character for him.” A surprise dinner and an early flight tipped her off that something special was in store.
On their second day, Billy led Steph down a trail fittingly called “Lost Boy,” insisting they stop for photos. “That’s where he proposed, with the Rockies as our backdrop,” Steph shares. “It was so surreal, and he had everything perfectly planned—even a photographer to capture the moment.”
“Skiing is something we both love, so I knew the proposal had to be in the snow,” Billy adds. “It was such a beautiful, sunny day, and being able to celebrate with friends and family afterward made it even more special.”
Below ~ Welcome dinner in the Van Stry Ballroom and Garden Portraits
Planning
Steph and Billy’s wedding was about more than just celebrating their love—it was a rare opportunity to bring their families and friends together from all corners of the globe. “Our family and friends live all over the world,” Steph explains. “Some of them had never even met before the wedding, so having everyone we love in one place felt so special. I couldn’t wait to see Billy, too, because I knew he’d be in his element—there’s a great photo of us entering the room, and he’s just grinning. That photo really embodies the joy of the day.”
For Billy, the planning process was filled with meaningful milestones. “Crafting our vision for the day and landing the perfect venue were huge moments,” he says. “But one of my favorite memories was bringing my Mum and Grandparents to our private menu tasting at the castle. Sadly, my Grandad couldn’t make it to the wedding itself, but I’m so grateful he got to experience the venue and the food—it made that time even more special.”
Favourite details & Moments
Steph: “It’s hard to choose just one! So many small, meaningful details came together perfectly. Having close family friends officiate both our civil and religious ceremonies made them incredibly personal—they even included memories of loved ones who weren’t with us anymore. Billy’s Grandad’s model boat and walking stick sat on the table where we signed our documents.
Flowers played a deeply meaningful role in Steph and Billy’s wedding. “The moment I saw Tina’s (Wild Bunch Flowers) work, I knew everything she created would be perfect,” Steph says. “We guided her with a colour palette and requested floral arches for the ceremony, but she had creative freedom beyond that.”
The flowers also carried heartfelt tributes to their late loved ones. “We wanted subtle ways to honour my Mum and Billy’s Grandad,” Steph shares. “For the petal toss, Tina included petals from their favourite flowers—sunflowers for my Mum and white roses for Billy’s Grandad. Walking out and seeing those petals rain down was such a special moment.”
Billy also surprised me with personalised sneakers for the reception—my favourite pair, painted with our wedding date and the castle outline in gold. I still have no idea how he managed to pack them without me noticing!”
Billy adds, “It meant so much to see these things woven into the day. Steph’s bouquet was even tied with a strip of her Mum’s wedding dress—it was a beautiful, personal touch that made the flowers even more meaningful.”
Billy: “I loved adding unique touches throughout the day. From personalised invitations to special drinks stations featuring whiskey, Mexican agave, and Australian gin, every detail reflected us. The music was also a highlight—each act, from Irish trad to a Mexican guitarist, brought its own magic.
But the ceremony was the most special. On a sunny day on the castle lawn, surrounded by everyone we love, we had a beautiful service led by two close family friends—a Protestant pastor from Steph’s side and a Catholic priest from mine. We even handed out green thread bracelets with Irish charms as a nod to the invisible thread that connects us all. It was a day filled with unforgettable details.”
“We couldn’t have asked for better people to look after us and our guests.”
Steph and Billy agree that one of the best decisions they made was prioritizing time together on their wedding day. “So many couples told us how little time they spent with their spouse during the wedding, so we made sure to sneak away a few times to take it all in,” Steph shares. “At one point, we sat at the top of the staircase, just admiring everything we had created—it was such a special moment.”
Billy adds, “We also loved stepping away for photos and videos with Michael and Stephen from Odicci. It gave us a chance to enjoy the day together while capturing those memories.”
Both are also thrilled with their choice to have a destination wedding and feel incredibly lucky to have worked with such amazing vendors. “They truly knocked it out of the park,” Steph says. “We couldn’t have asked for better people to look after us and our guests.”
“I never really believed people when they said their wedding was the best day of their lives—I thought it was just something people said…”
Reflecting on the day, Steph shares, “I never really believed people when they said their wedding was the best day of their lives—I thought it was just something people said. But it truly was the best day of my life. I think I’ve used the word ‘lucky’ a lot answering this questionnaire, but I just feel so incredibly lucky. I got to marry my best friend in the most beautiful location on the most perfect day, and I had so much fun doing it.”
kind words…
Steph and Billy both agree that one of the best decisions they made for their wedding was choosing Michael (Story of Eve) as their photographer. “As someone who actively avoids being in photos and hates having a camera in my face, I was extremely nervous about how I’d feel on the day,” Steph shares. “But working with Michael was a dream—he made it so easy and natural. Billy and I have said multiple times how lucky we were to have not only an amazing photographer but also an all-around great person with us. It felt like hanging out with a friend who just happened to be taking photos.”
Billy echoes her sentiments: “The photos are absolutely amazing and something we’ll treasure for the rest of our lives. Spending time with Michael over both days was such a highlight—he made us feel so comfortable and at ease while capturing every moment.”
For Steph, the final photos exceeded every expectation. “They’re breathtaking, and we’re obsessed. Thank you for enabling us to relive a little piece of the magic every time we look at them. We’re forever grateful.”
CREATIVE TEAM
WEDDING PLANNER ALISE TAGGART
VENUE LUTTRELLSTOWN CASTLE
PHOTOGRAPHER STORY OF EVE
VIDEOGRAPHER ODICCI (Watch Billy + Steph’s Trailer)
HAIR MICHELLE GRIMES
MAKEUP MICHELLE KINSELLA
FLORIST WILD BUNCH
STATIONERY LENKA CALLIGRAPHY
PIANO MAN ENDA GALLERY
TRADITIONAL IRISH BAND THE RAPPAREES
DINNER ENTERTAINMENT RENATO MARES
DJS LUPE + CAFOLLA & ENGEL
DRINKS EXPERIENCES AWESOME CREATIONS
WELCOME DRINKS ROE & CO
FIREWORKS EMERALD FIREWORKS
LIGHTING LIVE PRODUCTIONS
LIVE DRAWINGS POLLOCK ON PAPER
ANSWERING MACHINE GRÁFÓN
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