Wedding of the Week: A proposal in Bruges

IT was a match made in heaven when Fiona O’Sullivan and Pierce Long met at a tag rugby night out.

Fiona, from Bishopstown, and Pierce, from Sarsfield Road, live in Blarney, while their home is being built in Midleton. Fiona is the Assistant Manager in Cork City Gaol and Pierce is a Software Engineer for Agfa Healthcare. They were introduced by a mutual friend, Mark, on a tag rugby night out in July, 2015.

Fiona explained: “I was supposed to go to an Ed Sheeran concert in Dublin that night but couldn’t because I couldn’t get time off work but that seems to have worked out pretty well for us.”

They got engaged in the Minnewaterpark in Bruges, Belgium, on September 26, 2018. Fiona recalled: “He proposed with a Pandora ring that he had been secretly carrying around in his pocket for three days and we made a stop in Antwerp on the way back to the airport to pick my permanent engagement ring.”

The couple had a Civil Ceremony in Fota House with Rena from the Registrars Office on Friday February 21, 2020.

“We couldn’t have chosen a better place to get married, it was absolutely perfect,” the bride said.

She wore a dress from Bernardos Bridal Rooms, Dun Laoghaire, altered by Urata Designs in Ballincollig. Her hair piece was from Bijou Brigitte in Torremolinos and the veil was borrowed from her friend Lynn. Shoes were ‘Irregular Choice’. Hair was by Niamh from Diamond Divas and make-up was Sarah McGarry Make-up.

The bride and her sister crocheted her bouquet and added artificial flowers. The wedding rings were from Aidan in Fred Archer & Co Jewellery, Bandon Road.

Pierce’s whole outfit came from Simply Suits at Kinsale Road Roundabout.

Fiona’s sister Niamh was bridesmaid and Fiona’s niece Sophie was flower girl, Pierce’s friend Kevin was best man and his nephew Jack was ring bearer.

The ceremony was very simple and relaxed, with readings by family members and friends. Ceremony music was by Arundo, who also performed at the drinks reception afterwards, at the Radisson Blu, Little Island.

Cake was by Maebh Toomey, the car was Bonnie from All Events Limos. The band was J90 and DJ was Patrick Ahern Entertainment. The couple’s first song was Grow Old With You from The Wedding Singer.

Recalling the special day, Fiona said: “We all just had a fantastic day from start to finish. Every person we dealt with on the day was amazing… we wouldn’t change a thing.”