Wedding of the Week: ‘Memorable day’ for Fermoy couple who got engaged at Disney World

A surprise engagement at Walt Disney World in Florida led to the wedding of Cork couple Cleo Cashman Corcoran and Cian Heffernan.

They are both from Fermoy and first met at a birthday party when they were 14. “I told Cian to move from a seat as I had been sitting there and he thought I was a bit sassy!” recalled Cleo.

When they were 16 they started texting on Snapchat and have been inseparable for the last nine years. “We conquered Leaving Certs, debs, and college, and have done a fair bit of travelling around Europe and New York,” said Cleo.

They got engaged at Walt Disney World when Cian got down on bended knee. “I was looking at the spectacular fireworks display, only to turn around and find him proposing! It was absolutely amazing, I had instant tears streaming down my face,” said Cleo.

They married on June 25 in Ballygarry Estate Hotel & Spa, Tralee, Co.Kerry. “The venue was just beautiful with our amazing wedding co-ordinator TJ Mulcahy ensuring everything went smoothly. We had everything on site and had our ceremony in the beautiful lodge,” said Cleo.

“We had a Humanist celebrant, Ealish Whillock, and a string trio called Cascade Strings played a beautiful rendition of Snow On The Beach by Taylor Swift & Lana del Rey as my entrance song as I walked down the aisle.”

The wedding theme was black and white, the bridesmaids wore black cowl-neck floor-length dresses and the groomsmen wore black tuxedos.

“My wedding dress was from Memories Bridal in Cork, my veil was a pearl scattered cathedral veil from Diamond Bridal in Cork, and my shoes were from Jimmy Choo,” said Cleo.

Her jewellery was a mix of pieces from Lace and Favour and Tiffany & Co. Make-up and hair was by the fabulous Maeve Carey in Tralee. “My hair colour and extensions were by Anna- Maria Hynes of Lush Hair in Fermoy and styled on the day by Laura Lou hair in Tralee.”

Cian’s and the groomsmen’s suits were from Morley’s in Cork. Best man was Jason Coleman, Cian’s friend since primary school, with Damian Ahern and Deon O’Callaghan as groomsmen.

Cleo’s mum Andrea Cashman and dad Kevin Corcoran, and Cian’s parents Patricia and Austin Heffernan were in attendance, as were close family and friends, some of whom travelled from the USA and UK.

Cleo’s bridal party consisted of her long time best friend Phoebe Roche as Maid of Honour, with bridesmaids Emma Hazelwood and Cleo’s little sister Mia Cashman. The bride arrived for the wedding with her parents in Cian’s 1999 Toyota Altezza. “We gave it a few revs outside just to let Cian know I was on the way in!”

The couple are car enthusiasts and there was a fabulous display of Japanese cars on the day.

They had a ring warming on the big day where everyone passed around the wedding bands and made a well wish on them.

Groomsman Deon did a reading called The One and bridesmaid Emma did a reading of The Voyage by Christy Moore.

“We had a memory table also in the lodge on the day with a candle lighting in front of photos of our loved ones who couldn’t be there on the day, but were lovingly remembered.”

Their first dance was to Waiting For A Star To Fall, and they danced all night to a live saxophonist and DJ.

As for the most memorable part of the day?

“Myself and Cian had nominated a person at every table to wear a captain’s hat and get the party going, and they didn’t disappoint!

“When we entered the ballroom as Mr and Mrs Heffernan, everyone was on their chairs screaming and shouting, waving their napkins, as cold sparks shot up. We were even told they had started a conga line around the ballroom just before we had come in! The energy in the room was absolutely amazing,” said Cleo.

“A special mention to our videographer and photographer Daga & Rafal for being the most amazing team on the day.”

The couple plan to build a home on his parents’ land in Fermoy in the near future.