Wedding of the Week: Cork couple who met while holidaying in Youghal wed

THERE was only one place that Tony Coleman was going to pop the question to long-time love Nicola Buckley - on Youghal beach.

That’s where they first met, when they both spent summers in their parents’ holiday homes many years ago, during their school holidays.

The couple are together 16 years, engaged for the past 13. They were married on August 12, at Poulaphouca House in Wicklow.

They were joined by two very special guests - their daughters Maci and Pippa - along with family and friends. They especially remembered their dads on the day, who have passed away.

Tony recalled meeting Nicola for the first time: “We met in the seaside town of Youghal on our holidays from school where we spent every summer in our parents’ holiday homes.

“As we came into our late teenage years we stopped going to Youghal and lost contact for some time until we came to the age of going out on the town with our friends. And one night out in the town, who did I bump into but Nicola and her friends? Of course we starting chatting, texting, the usual, before you do the next step. It stopped for a while until one night I came home after being out with the lads, with a bit of Dutch courage, I decided to ring - but got a funny tone, Nicola had decided to travel to Oz.”

When Nicola returned from Australia, they began texting again, going on dates, and on April 24, 16 years ago, they became a couple. Three years later they were engaged.

There was only one place to pop the question, on the beach in Youghal.

So said Tony, who hails from Farranree, Nicola is from Douglas, but the couple now live in Carrigtwohill.

They had a wonderful wedding day at Poulaphouca House and Falls in Wicklow.

Tony said: “It was a fantastic day, we had a civil ceremony that Nicola organised 95% herself and did a fantastic job as well as some great help from staff, planners and suppliers at the venue, and Clare and Daniel Lewis also.”

Suppliers included Trace of Cakes, Ian Hendrick’s Band, Suits distribution, Leinster coaches, and Tangled Bramble Flowers.

Tony added: “The most memorable thing of the whole day was seeing my now wife and two beautiful daughters at the top of the aisle, as the day began for us. The weather was not in our favour but as Nicola stood at the top of the aisle the rain stopped and the sun came out at that moment.

It was like our two fathers, who are sadly not with us, were looking down on us and gave us the day we wanted.

The couple issued a big thank you to Ray and Irene of Ray Terry Photography.