TEN years after meeting just before the start of their Leaving Certificates, Ruth Power and Sean O’Shea were wed.

Ruth, who works in VMWare Ballincollig, and Sean, who works in Dell, Ovens, are both from West Cork, but now live in Ovens with their cocker spaniel, Freddie.

The couple didn’t want a drawn out or stressful engagement and decided to only tell the guests — 60 family and close friends — just three months before the wedding when everything was already booked!

“It worked!” says Ruth. “We had such a relaxed run up to the wedding and everything was perfect.”

The special ceremony was held in Hayfield Manor on January 3. Rena Noonan was the registrar.

Ruth said: “Hayfield Manor at Christmas time is so special and festive and the decorations were beautiful.

“The classic style of the lobby and the grand staircase always reminded me a little bit of Hogwarts in Harry Potter, so we decided to name the seven tables at the reception after the seven Harry Potter novels, and put together Harry Potter-themed gift bags for all of the children.

“Every little detail, from the night of our tasting to the day itself, was so perfectly managed by all of the staff and it made it all even more special.

“It was so relaxed and exactly what we wanted.”

Sean’s colleague, Barry John Maher, played guitar — a selection of their favourite songs, including Everlong by Foo Fighters — when they walked down the aisle after the ceremony.

Conor (The Loungeman) also played for the reception and was “brilliant”.

The bride and groom’s first dance was to A Rainy Night in Soho by The Pogues.

The bride looked stunning in her dress from ‘Say I Do’, from Midleton, with jewellery from Azure. Hair was styled in Kal’s Salon, Ballincollig, while make-up was by Megan Coade.

The bouquets and buttonholes were by Peter Tora (Scent of Tora) in Castletownbere.

The suits for Sean and the groomsmen were from Suit Distributors.

The celebrations continued the next evening at Castletownbere with extended family and friends.