Wedding of the Week: 'A few weeks after our wedding, we found out we are going to be parents'

Leanne Power, from Ballyphehane, and Kevin O’Neill, from Cobh, first met through a mutual friend at a disco at the Commodore Hotel in Cobh on St Patrick’s Day in 2017.

However, it was six weeks later before Leanne accepted Kevin’s friend request.

“He added me on Facebook the very next day, but I did keep him waiting until I accepted, about six weeks if I’m honest. But, obviously, I was worth the wait,” recalled Leanne.

The couple moved in together two years later and bought a house in Cobh in 2022.

“We got the keys of our forever home on April 20, 2022, at 4.30pm, and Kevin proposed in the living room just a few minutes later.

“To say he caught me off guard would be an understatement. He said he wanted to propose in a meaningful place and what’s more meaningful than in our own home?” Leanne said.

The couple were wed at the Church of the Assumption, Ballyphehane, on September 7, 2024. “It was a beautiful ceremony by Fr Greg Howard, full of laughter and joy,” the couple said.

Leanne and Kevin said family plays an important role in their lives and they were lucky to be supported on the day by great people around them, including Leanne’s parents Frances and John and Kevin’s mother, Mary.

“Unfortunately, Kevin’s father, Frank (known by many in Cork as Frank ‘Sniffer ‘ O’Neill) passed away in April, 2024. He was greatly missed on the day, but was very much remembered in the speeches and prayers and also in photos and a memorial candle,” said Leanne.

Kevin’s brother Robert took on the role of father of the groom on the day and “did his father proud”.

Kevin’s sister Julie and Leanne’s brother John Paul were part of the couple’s bridal party. Julie travelled from Melbourne with her partner Ronan to celebrate the day.

Jessica Collins was maid of honour while Adam Devlin was best man. Tracy O’Flynn and Keith O’Flynn were also part of the bridal party.

“My grand-aunt Margaret, who is in her 90s, as well as my grandmother Rose, were also in attendance on the day,” said Leanne.

The bride’s gown was from Cinderella’s Closet.

“I fell in love with my dress on my first day of dress shopping with my mam. Michelle, who helped us, was absolutely fantastic.”

The bride wore Steve Madden wedding shoes, gifted to her by Kevin’s mother. Leanne’s parents gifted Leanne earrings and Kevin gave the bride a Thomas Sabo tennis bracelet on their wedding day. “I felt like the luckiest girl in the world,” Leanne said.

Make-up was by Sarah Cummins while hair was by Nicola Corcoran. Flowers were by Teresa from Island Flowers.

Music was by Veronica and Douglas - “the wedding duo” .

After the ceremony, the couple held a reception for their guests at the Garryvoe Hotel.

They said Aidan Cotter and his team “went above and beyond to make our day perfect”.

The couple’s wedding cake was from Tays Cake Studio in Youghal.

Their band was Sparkle. “They were fantastic and kept everyone on the floor all night, people are still talking about them,” they said. Their couple’s first dance was to Michael Buble’s Everything.

Photos were by Ray Terry Photography with videography by Colin Hickey – both “capturing our day so we could have the most beautiful moments to look back on”.

After their wedding, the couple travelled around Ireland. They had planned on travelling to Australia next month, but these plans changed.

“A few weeks after our wedding, we found out we are going to be parents this coming year. We are expecting a baby in May, we are both so excited, we can’t wait for this next chapter.”