Wedding of the Week: Cork couple bring plenty of personality to big day 

John Morrissey and Alison Walsh didn’t go far to meet one another.

Both hail from Farranree and met through friends when they were just teens. The couple bought a house in the area in recent years and have a three-year-old boy, Alexander. They got engaged in 2022 at their home.

“John set up the house with lights and flower petals to form a walkway from the front door leading into the kitchen, ending in a heart made of the flower petals,” recalled Alison.

Photos documenting the years the couple spent together, from when they met at 13 and 14, led Alison through the hallway to where John was waiting in the kitchen with their dog Sherlock, both in suits. It was then that John popped the question, holding the ring in a specially made TARDIS ring box, a nod to Alison’s favourite TV show, Dr Who.

The couple were wed in August at the Talbot Hotel in Ballincollig.

“Our celebrant, Caroline Murphy, put together an amazing personal ceremony. The staff were amazing from day one and made our day so memorable,” the couple said.

John and Alison say they were very lucky to be joined on the day by their immediate family members, including their son, both sets of parents, siblings, nieces and nephews along with John’s grandmother on his mother’s side and grandfather on his father’s side.

Alison was supported on the day by her sister Melissa, who was her Maid of Honour, and her sister Cynthia, cousin Jessica and best friend Caitlin, who served as bridesmaids. John’s groomsmen included his brothers Lee, Shane, and Matthew while his best friend Robbie was best man.

After the ceremony, the couple held a reception for their guests at the hotel. They made sure to bring their interests and own style to the wedding with the addition of some pop culture themes. “There were props and little elements throughout. There were comic book statues along the hallway in the entrance to the ceremony for pictures, for each table we made our own centrepieces relating to a character.”

Their cake was by Trace of Cakes and photos were by Mark Coombes.

That evening, the Ian Hendricks Band made sure the dance floor was never empty. “We could not recommend them enough.”

John and Alison’s first dance was to Runnin’ Home To You by Grant Gustin, a song from one of their favourite shows, The Flash.

Asked what was the most memorable thing about the day, the couple said: “Being there with our son and all our family finally getting married after years of planning and being together.”