VOWS:ALANA DOOGAN, from Dublin, and Jerome Loison, from Bordeaux, were married on May 23rd in the Church of St Mochta on Luttrellstown Road, in Porterstown, Dublin 15, by Fr Michael Coady. A French flag welcomed guests to Carton House in Maynooth, where they held their reception afterwards.
Alana is the youngest child of three and the only daughter of Pamela and Manus Doogan. She has two brothers, Rory and Iain. She attended Mount Sackville beside the Phoenix Park from the age of five to 18, “a gorgeous school where I got to pursue my love of music and drama”. She then studied journalism at DIT in Aungier Street and worked in publishing before starting to work as a researcher in RTÉ Radio 1.
Jerome is the eldest of three and the only son of Sylvie Loison. His father Fabrice Loison died 2½ years ago. He has two sisters, Laura and Sandrine, and almost 50 guests travelled from France to attend their bilingual celebration.
Jerome’s father was from Dijon. His mother was born to French parents in Algeria, and she grew up in various parts of Africa before moving to France to study at third level. Jerome is a financial engineer, and attended l’École Centrale, the most prestigious engineering school in France. He now works as a risk analyst for Nexgen Financial Solutions.
The couple were introduced in 2006 by one of the bride’s closest friends and her bridesmaid, Severine Ducos, who came to study English in Dublin almost 10 years ago. Through her, Jerome came to stay with Alana’s family while trying to find a place in Dublin to live. Et voilà. They travelled a great deal during their courtship and Jerome asked her to marry him in November 2007. “We travelled a long way to find each other,” says Alana, and many of the readings, speeches and mementoes were inspired by the idea of life, and marriage, as a journey.
Jerome’s best man, Xavier Pilas, acted as translator throughout the day. Sarah Reddin, Alana’s friend from her school days, sang Handel’s Cantique Nuptiale in the church and Jerome’s father was remembered in tributes and prayers throughout the day. During the reception there was a surprise performance of traditional Irish music by the local Comhaltas in Leixlip, much to the delight of the French visitors, and of course wine was shipped directly from Champagne and Burgundy and in honour of the groom.
For their honeymoon, the couple were looking forward to two weeks of sunshine in Miami, a Caribbean cruise and a stay in New York City. They live in Porterstown, Dublin 15.
Photographs: JIM HAVERIN