THERE was much crossing of fingers in Rathcormac in Cork yesterday that the weather would hold for this afternoon's wedding of PR woman Elaine Doody to bloodstock agent Hugo Merry. The reception for 250 of their closest friends will take place in a marquee on the front lawn of Merry's home, Kilshannig, a 10 bedroomed mansion which once belonged to the Princess Wales's family.
The invite demanded morning suits, which made life clearly defined for the male guests and threw most of the females into a fashion spin, with most opting for cocktail wear instead of ballgowns, or smart suits. Theo Waddington, the London art dealer, flew in this week to take up his duties as best man. Elaine's matron of honour is her extremely unmatronly sister Alison Doody, who will be there with husband Gavin O'Reilly.
John Redmond, design supremo at Brown Thomas, was commissioned to devise the overall look of the day and Elaine will be dressed in a splendid Tatters gown. The couple have kept their honeymoon plans secret but the betting money is on Italy, though no one (except the happy couple, of course) is quite sure where.
Two of the guests at the wedding, Harry and Rita Crosbie, have another wedding to look forward to later in the summer when Harry's daughter Claire marries property man Paddy Dunning.