Wedding of the Week: Couple who met on Tinder during pandemic tie the knot 

Mary McDonnell, from Cobh, and Kay Corrigan, from Wexford, first connected online on Tinder at the height of the pandemic.

Mary had returned to Ireland from the U.S in August, 2019, and after her father’s passing in September, was due to head back to America in March, 2020, to continue coaching football there, but her plans changed when covid hit.

This proved serendipitous as it was that June when Mary and Kay first connected.

“What started as messages during lockdown quickly grew into something special. We texted for seven months before finally meeting in person when restrictions lifted, and the bond was instant,” Mary recalled.

In August, 2021, Kay and her son Ethan moved to Cobh. Two years later, Mary proposed to Kay on a trip to Amsterdam — but not before getting Ethan’s blessing first.

“His excitement when we rang him after the proposal is something we’ll never forget. Then, on Christmas Eve, Kay proposed back - this time with Ethan’s help, making it even more special and symbolic of the family we’ve built together,” said Mary.

The couple bought their first home in March, 2024, and were wed on March 21 this year at the Commodore Hotel in Cork.

“It was a small, intimate celebration, full of warmth and emotion,” the couple said.

They were joined by 80 of their closest friends and family, including Mary’s uncle.

“It was important to us that he could be there for the day, as he meant a lot to us. Sadly, he passed away in May, 2025, just a couple of months after our wedding - memory,” Mary said.

The couple shared their own personal vows on the day, with Ethan serving as Best Man.

Ruth O’Brien provided the music at the ceremony.

“Everyone commented on how personal and meaningful the day felt - something we’ll always be proud of,” the couple said.

The brides’ dresses were from Vows in Blarney.

Make-up was by Shirley Cronin with hair by Mairead Hastings from Yummy Hair.

The wedding flowers were by Velvet and Fern.

“There were lots of fun and heartfelt details throughout the day - a huge, sweet table, crisp walls, classic Tayto sambos for the evening, rainbow shot favours, and a personalised newsletter created by Mary.

“All the little details were lovingly planned and created by ourselves, making the day even more personal,” the couple said.

“We also honoured loved ones who were no longer with us in a deeply personal way: Mary remembered her brother, father, grandfather, and a close family friend, while Kay honoured her grandparents. We created miniature personalised chairs and tables with their names, so they had a symbolic seat at our celebration - a quiet but powerful reminder that they were still very much part of our day,” they added.

That evening, guests enjoyed entertainment from Paul O’Halloran, followed by DJ Aaron Stanton.

Pictures on the day were by Ray Terry Photography.

The couple said they were blown away by the support from the Commodore staff, especially Sabrina, the operations manager.

“Nothing was too much trouble, and the team made everything seamless.

“We couldn’t recommend the venue more highly for couples planning a smaller wedding,” they said.

Reflecting on the day, Mary and Kay said: “Our wedding was everything we’d dreamed of - a joyful, emotional, and deeply personal celebration.”