VOWS: SIOBHÁN McGARRY AND Stephen Smith were married recently in St Brigid's Church in Blanchardstown, Dublin, by Fr John Jones. The music at the ceremony, provided by the Carolyn String Quartet, was a highlight for the bride. "Forget wanting a horse and carriage or to marry Tom Cruise, all I ever wanted was to walk up the isle to a string quartet," she said. Her bridesmaid was her goddaughter, Fiona O'Callaghan.
Siobhán is the only daughter of James and Sheila McGarry, and she has one younger brother, Brendan. She grew up in Blanchardstown, where she attended St Brigid’s Primary School and then St Dominic’s College in Cabra. She received a degree in geology from Trinity College before doing a PhD in geochemistry in the UK.
Steve grew up in Wigan, the son of Raymond and Valerie Smith, and he has one brother, Damon, who was his best man. He attended English Martyrs primary school and St Edmond Arrowsmith secondary school before going on to do a degree in geology in the University of Royal Holloway, London. He then went on to do a PhD in geochemistry in Milton Keynes, which is where his path crossed with Siobhan’s in 2000.
Initially, their work sent them 6,000 miles apart, when Steve went to work for the Geological Survey of Canada and Siobhán went to do research at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. After two years they both moved back to the UK, but to opposite sides of the country. Eventually they both changed career and became hydrogeologists to allow them to live and work in the same place; they settled in Bristol in 2006.
Steve proposed on the tiny Channel Island of Herme in May 2008 as they were watching a sunset, surprising himself, perhaps more than Siobhán, according to the bride.
The wedding reception, held in Finnstown House, Lucan, Co Dublin, was attended by 55 friends and family members. Classical guitarist Leslie Cassidy played before dinner and the Dublin City Folk Band provided a ceilí later.
The day went absolutely perfectly. "My favourite part," said Siobhán, "was when we were about to walk down the isle together after the ceremony and the string quartet launched into When Im 64and everyone started laughing."
Their honeymoon was spent in a remote coastal village in Sicily.
We'd love to hear about your recent or soon-to-happen wedding celebrations. Please email us at vows@irishtimes.com
