When a German couple with deep Irish ties sets their heart on a destination wedding, expectations are high: a romantic castle backdrop, an atmosphere of timeless elegance, and every detail perfectly aligned. For Katie and Alex, the path to their Ballyseede Castle wedding was anything but smooth at first. Planning abroad brought challenges they never anticipated, from incorrect inquiries and miscommunication to logistical chaos, until they discovered the importance of choosing a planner who combines German precision with Irish heart. What unfolded was not only a fairy-tale celebration but also a story of resilience, trust, and the true meaning of luxury weddings in Ireland.
A Dream Rooted in Ireland
For Katie, Ireland wasn’t just a place on the map, it was part of her story. With her mother from Cork and a family holiday home in Killarney, celebrating in Ireland was a way of bringing her Irish family into one of the most important moments of her life. Katie’s German family, as well as Alex’s family, and their friends would be traveling from Germany, and together they dreamed of giving their loved ones the chance to discover the beauty of this country that felt like home.
They wanted more than just a wedding. They wanted to bring their worlds together in a setting that reflected both their heritage and their vision of timeless romance.
If you, too, dream of a romantic castle wedding in Ireland, contact us now and discover how we create unforgettable celebrations that bring worlds together.
When the Dream Began to Slip Away
Like many couples planning a wedding abroad, Katie and Alex began their journey full of excitement. They first reached out to us in January 2024, and after a warm initial call, it was clear we connected well. But in the end, the couple ultimately chose a lower-fee planner, hoping they could save money while still receiving the same level of service. Unfortunately, they quickly learned that cutting corners doesn’t always save money, it can cost you peace of mind.
The first red flag came when they discovered that a massive motorbike festival was scheduled for their chosen wedding weekend in Killarney, something their planner had never mentioned. To make matters worse, she inquired the wrong dates with venues and failed to check essentials, such as whether their beloved dog Queenie would even be welcome. Venue site inspections had been arranged well in advance, and Katie and Alex traveled all the way from Germany to Ireland for them. Yet just one day before the meetings, their planner informed them that she would not attend. Even more confusing, she had already reached out to vendors despite the fact that no venue or date had been secured, setting up meetings without passing on any pricing information and then failing to attend those either. This left Katie and Alex wasting precious time and, in the end, having to change vendors they initially thought they would book because of price conflicts and date issues.
By April 2024, when Katie and Alex visited Ireland for venue visits, their dream felt like it was falling apart. They reached out to us again. This time, not with excitement, but with desperation.
Meeting in Ireland – A Turning Point
When Lena met them in Ireland that spring, she saw a couple desperate to trust again. Together, they began to turn things around. Katie and Alex shared their frustrations, their fears, and their disappointment in how the planning had unfolded so far. It was in that moment that a new chapter of their wedding journey began.
Our first task was clarity. We untangled miscommunications, corrected false information, and set out a new path forward. The couple quickly realized that planning a wedding abroad stress-free requires not just vision, but accuracy, structure, and expertise. Values at the heart of how we work.
Finding the Perfect Venue
The biggest challenge was the location. Killarney was still their dream, but the motorbike festival made it impossible to host the elegant celebration they envisioned. Instead, we guided them to a nearby alternative: Ballyseede Castle in Tralee.
Not only was it close to Killarney, but it was also one of the rare venues in Kerry that would welcome Queenie, their beloved dog, into the ceremony and getting ready moments. It was the perfect compromise: a romantic castle wedding in Ireland, steeped in history, but also warm, welcoming, and deeply personal.
Designing a Romantic Story
With the venue and date secured, we turned to design: the heart of any celebration. Katie and Alex imagined an enchanted, garden-like setting with ivy and lights overhead, and rich tones of burgundy and rose. Inspired by the Belfry’s unusual copper-rose walls, and together with Sarah Evans from Flowers from the Secret Garden, we transformed the space into a floral dreamscape.
- Flower meadows indoors brought nature inside.
- Lush floral installations at the Belfry entrance framed their ceremony and later reappeared in the ballroom as part of the seating plan and dancefloor.
- Fairy lights and ivy from the beams created the feeling of an enchanted forest.
- Vintage brass candleholders with tapered candles in rose and burgundy cast a warm, romantic glow.
- Copper-rose napkins tied the Belfry’s colors into the dining experience.
And of course, Queenie was never far from the design. From the sketch of her on the cake topper with the words “Treat yourself like a Queenie”, to the seating plan where “Queenie saved you a seat”, to the table names inspired by her many nicknames, and even a signature cocktail in her honor – she was present in every detail.
Looking for romantic wedding design inspiration for your own destination wedding in Europe? Get in touch with us today and let us craft a celebration that tells your story through every detail.
A Wedding Day with Real Moments
Even the most carefully planned weddings have surprises. Katie and Alex had rented premium linens, since they didn’t like the venue’s options, and we had dropped them off the day before so the staff could set the tables and steam them, something we clarified in advance. On the wedding morning, however, we discovered the rented linens hadn’t been steamed. Thankfully, we had arrived early and managed to steam them ourselves, ensuring the tablescapes looked polished and elegant. Later, when the makeup artist, a trusted vendor we had always experienced positively, unexpectedly decided to take on extra clients against our advice, the already full styling schedule became very tight. Because we had planned generous buffers into the timeline, however, the ceremony only started with a slight delay, allowing Katie and Alex to remain calm and enjoy their day.
These moments could have overshadowed the wedding, but they didn’t. With calm precision and support, each challenge was met and solved, allowing Katie and Alex to remain focused on what truly mattered: their love, their families, and the joy of celebrating together.
What followed was a rollercoaster of emotions: from tender family first looks to heartfelt vows, to speeches that left no eye dry, and finally, a dancefloor that no one wanted to leave.
A Celebration Beyond the Wedding Day
The celebration unfolded over three beautiful days. On the evening before the wedding, Katie and Alex welcomed their guests with a relaxed gathering in Ballyseede Castle’s Orangery. An informal get-together with drinks and bar food that set the perfect tone. The next day was the wedding itself, filled with emotion, beauty, and joy. On the morning after, the guests who stayed at Ballyseede Castle started the day with a relaxed breakfast, followed later by a dinner organized by Katie’s parents and a joyful pub evening in Killarney to round off the festivities.
Special Thanks
No wedding comes to life without a team of passionate professionals working behind the scenes. Katie and Alex’s celebration at Ballyseede Castle was made possible by the incredible dedication and artistry of the following vendors:
- Venue: Ballyseede Castle
- Photography: Jasmin Marek Fotografie
- Videography: Novadays Media
- Content Creator: Evergreen by Kellie
- Floral Design: Flowers from the Secret Garden
- Cake: Gabi Bakes Cakes
- Cake Toppers: Bumblebee Cocktail Toppers
- Hair Stylist: Hair by Emer
- Celebrant: Susan Heffernan
- Ceremony & Reception Music: Sarah McTernan
- Band & DJ: The Strobes
- Tablecloth: Caterhire Limerick
- Napkins: Von Rock Events
- Frames: To Have & To Hold
- Shuttle Service: Kerry Coaches
A heartfelt thank you to each of these talented partners. Your creativity, professionalism, and commitment turned Katie and Alex’s vision into a once-in-a-lifetime celebration.
From Chaos to Joy
Katie and Alex’s journey is a reminder that even when a dream begins with challenges, it can transform into something far greater. What started in stress and mistrust became a celebration of resilience, trust, and beauty.
A few days after the wedding, the couple shared a photo that captured this transformation perfectly: Lena, fully concentrated on preparing the cake cutting, while in the background Katie and Alex stood kissing and simply enjoying themselves. They wrote: “This is how life looks when you hire a wedding planner who truly does everything for you and gives their all. Not only our wedding planner, but a true friend. There are no words to describe how grateful we are, Lena.”
For us, their words said it all: what began as planning chaos became a romantic, joy-filled Ballyseede Castle wedding that truly reflected their story.
If you are planning a luxury destination wedding in Europe, whether a castle wedding in Ireland, a chic celebration in Germany, or a romantic villa in Italy, we’d love to help you plan it stress-free, with precision, creativity, and heart. Get in touch with us today to begin your journey.