Wedding of the Week: 'We were planning our wedding for two years, we surprised everyone'

AFTER more than 30 years together, Mary Coffey and Terry O’Leary surprised their family and friends by tying the knot.

The couple, who live in Farranree, have known each other most of their lives, as Terry was Mary’s brother’s best friend.

Mary grew up in Gurranabraher, while Terry lived close by in Churchfield. They started going out when they were teenagers and now have five children together.

Mary explained how they decided to get wed: “We surprised everyone! We had been planning it for two years. We brought the family out for a Chinese and told them — they were all laughing and crying, it was lovely.”

The couple were wed on July 20 at the North Cathedral Church, where Mary’s father used to be an altar boy and sang.

The bride was beautiful in her dress bought from Vows, in Blarney, while her shoes were from Debenhams on Patrick Street. Her accessories were from Swarovski, hair was by Be Fabulous, Blackpool and make-up was by Image in Farranree.

Their three daughters, Jessica, Claudia and Ciara, were bridesmaids, while their two sons, Sean and Cian, were groomsmen. Terry’s niece Lucy and Mary’s grand niece Nikita were flower girls, while the bride’s brother John walked her up the aisle.

The couple hosted their wedding reception at the Kingsley Hotel with the help of wedding coordinator Sonia Cribbon.

The wedding cake was by Healy’s Bakery, Blackpool, while the cars were from Blarney Wedding Car Hire.

Providing entertainment on the night were Miles Gaffney and Dj Rack. The couple’s first song was to Shania Twain You’re Still The One.

As to the most memorable thing about the day? “Everything from church to hotel,” said Mary.