Our Wedding Story: A quiet New York City celebration

After 17 years in New York, Orla returned home in January 2008. That June, she met retailer Paul, from Dublin, in Renards nightclub.

They were engaged – "but didn't tell anyone" – in August 2015 cycling along the Greenway just outside Orla's hometown of Westport, Co Mayo.

On October 23rd 2015 the couple married in New York City Hall.

“It was pretty spontaneous as we wanted to do something quietly”, says Orla, an event planner.

She wore a black dress from Whistles and her sister Bronwyn was one of three witnesses along with “unofficial bridesmaids”, Ita and Gillian.

After the ceremony, the newlyweds got champagne – served in cans with straws – from a nearby bar and walked halfway across Brooklyn Bridge in the sunshine.

The bride's sister joined them for lunch in the afternoon at Gotham Restaurant and that night the couple invited friends to a party in Manhattan club, Beauty and Essex.

Their friend Gillian Conroy who is from Thurles, but living in New York City, made both rings.

Orla's parents are Hugh and Loretto O'Malley and Paul is the son of Marina and the late Dennis Flanagan.

They live in Leopardstown, Co Dublin and are planning a summer party to celebrate their marriage with Irish friends and family.