Our Wedding Story: A picturesque proposal by a palace

Edel Corcoran and Mark Canning

Dietitian Edel and Mark, a physiotherapist, met in 2004 on a Christmas night out in their native Cork city, and during a trip to Vienna, Mark proposed to Edel by the Schonbrunn Palace.

On July 7th, 2016 – surrounded by more than 100 loved ones, including their parents Margo and Donagh Corcoran and Imelda and Frank Canning – the couple married in Gougane Barra Oratory in west Cork.

Edel spent happy summers in the area as a child so their choice of venue was, she says, "a way of feeling close to my grandparents, the late Paddy Griffin and my beloved Granny Griffin – who was at the ceremony by phone."

Music by Here Comes the Trio included pieces played by the bride when she was a violinist and The Coolin, a favourite of her late grandmother's.

Travelled home

Mark's sisters, Jackie and Catherine, travelled home with their families from Perth, Australia, and the wedding party was made up of best man John Paul Canning, bridesmaid Elaine Kelly, pageboy Luke Canning-Monaghan and Sophie Cotter, the flower girl.

Lorraine Cotter, the bride's sister and Orlagh Harrington were, says the bride, "faithful wedding strategists by WhatsApp".

At the reception in Fernhill House Hotel and Gardens, Clonakilty, the newlyweds had their first dance to You To Me Are Everything.

Edel and Mark, who live in London, mini-mooned in the south of France and have a honeymoon planned for Thailand and Australia later in the year, "to spend time with the groom's sister and continue the celebrations".

“It feels lovely being married after all this time – even more so like a unit. We call ourselves legal boyfriend and girlfriend now!”