Cork bride: 'Getting on a bus in a wedding dress was just so cool'

When Rachael Hickey asked her now husband, Conor McDowall, if they could get the bus to their wedding, he laughed.

“We go to the jazz every year, and I pitched this idea of getting the Cobh Connect to our wedding to my now husband years ago,” recalled Rachael.

When the Cobh couple went to see the Metropole Hotel as a potential venue for their nuptials, he had a change of heart. “We were blown away, and it was actually the best decision ever,” the bride said.

Rachael and Conor’s love story started from the sideline. “Conor played rugby with my younger brother and I’d go to all the games. That’s where I first saw him,” recalled Rachael. While it took some time for the stars to align, and for both Rachael and Conor to be single at the same time, eventually they did align and the couple hit it off.

Conor proposed to Rachael at their home during Christmas 2021. “We were just about to start IVF and wanted something positive to think about when things didn’t go right…Never in our wildest dreams did we think we would have our beautiful CJ with us on the day. We are so blessed.”

The couple were wed last month at a civil ceremony at the Sirius Arts Centre in Cobh by “the amazing” Darren Grace.

“Darren was a dream to work with. He was there any day, any time we needed him, coming up with some amazing ideas to make the day more personal. We had our mams come up to give us a kiss before we did our first kiss, because they were the first ones to kiss us as we came into the world. It was so touching,” Rachael recalled.

The couple were joined on the day by just under 100 guests. “Everyone there was someone that we had been in touch with in the last six months, which made the day extra special.

“We also got the guests involved. Our flowers were done by the lovely Louise, and all our extras, table numbers, welcome sign, bathroom baskets, and even flip flops were done by Conor’s niece, Rach. And I have to say she did a super job. I would highly recommend roping people in.”

Rachael was supported on the day by her sister Ella, who was Maid of Honour, while Conor’s sister Michelle and her cousin Sarah Hogan were bridesmaids.

Conor’s best man was Alan Alcock, while his groomsmen were Stephen Hickey and Owen McSweeney.

The bride sourced her gown from the Modern. “It was the first dress I tried on after having CJ…I fell in love the second it zipped up my back.” Alterations were by Marie from House of Marie in Cobh.

Hair was by Debbie from DKH, while make-up was by Gemma Whelan from Les Femme Beauty and Brow. 

The groom’s suit was from Simply Suits.

Music at the ceremony was by Andrea Fraher.

After the ceremony, the guests took the bus from Cobh to Cork city for the couple’s wedding reception at the Metropole Hotel.

“Getting on a bus in a wedding dress was just so cool,” said Rachael.

The couple had high praise for their reception venue and their wedding coordinator, Janice Casey. “The woman moved quietly in the background and made sure the day ran so smoothly,” they said.

Rachael and Conor opted for cookies and brownies from Lab82 instead of a wedding cake.

That evening, Up to 90 provided music at the reception, with the couple taking their first dance to George Ezra’s Hold My Girl.

The couple sought to engage as many local suppliers and businesses as possible for their wedding, including their photographer, with pictures on the day by Bartski Photography.