New York-based couple Karla and Stephen tied the knot in Luttrellstown Castle in Castleknock …
The Couple: Stephen from Ireland and Karla from Mexico were both living in New York where they met shortly before the pandemic. “It feels even more meaningful in hindsight,” says Karla. “While the world felt uncertain, we found ourselves able to spend real, uninterrupted time together, something that feels like a luxury in a city as fast-paced as New York. It felt calm, grounding and full of ease.”
As the city slowly started to open up again, Karla and Stephen were able to start building a relationship grounded in travel and a shared love for discovering New York. Stephen has lived there for over thirteen years and Karla for nearly seven, so the city has shaped who they are both individually and as a couple. In February 2025, Stephen proposed during a dog-sledding trip in Canada. The proposal was “a quiet, snow-covered moment that felt exactly right for us.”
The Style: Karla is an interior designer, so she was always going to have a clear vision of what the wedding day would look like and Stephen was happy to follow it. “Pinterest was our best ally and the moodboard came together almost like a full interior design proposal, grounded in palette and overall feeling.” The two approached the wedding the same way you would design a space: everything needed to feel cohesive and intentional. “One of the things that excited us the most was how our guests would look and feel because let’s be honest, the better you look, the better you feel … and the longer you stay on the dance floor.” They created a Pinterest dress code board to guide everyone with a palette drawn from the tones within the venue itself – soft blues, muted greens, warm browns and touches of burgundy – so that everything felt in harmony with the surroundings. “And it worked, everyone truly delivered.”
The couple based their look around that vision. “I’ve always been drawn to looking at things from a different perspective and focusing on the details, so while the dress itself was as ‘simple’ as a gown can get, the veil for the ceremony brought in a layer of romance with its cathedral length train and floral embroidery. For the evening, a quick change into an ostrich feather cape was all it took to shift the mood into something more playful and celebratory.”
Stephen mirrored that style with a classic, tailored suit. “He added a brooch, something we carefully selected after a few rounds of purchases and returns, and it ended up being the perfect detail to subtly distinguish him as the groom.”
The Venue: It took the couple a while to decide on a venue, so they started with the location. “We knew from the start that guests would have to travel whether it was Mexico, New York or Ireland. Mexico initially led the way, especially for our Irish guests who loved the idea of an ‘exotic’ escape, while Ireland felt just as exciting for our Mexican guests – a perfect excuse to turn the trip into a European tour.” Naturally, New York fell off the list.
From there, the search began. Karla saved images of venues she loved without even knowing where they were located. “At the same time, we built a database of 144 venues and went through them one by one. One of them was Luttrellstown Castle. So when we eventually came across it again, it felt like a full-circle moment as it had quietly caught our eye from the very beginning.” The couple booked without seeing it in person, purely on the basis of what they had seen online. “When the time finally came to visit for our menu tasting, we knew that we had made the right decision.”
The Ceremony: The couple’s friend from New York led the ceremony, fluent in both Spanish and English. “Her presence, warmth and energy felt perfectly aligned, creating a ceremony that was intimate and incredibly meaningful.”
The couple incorporated some Mexican traditions into the ceremony including the lazo, a symbolic ritual representing two souls coming together and walking through life as one. This was followed by a rice toss to bring prosperity and abundance to the newly married couple.
The Reception: The ceremony and reception in the same venue created a natural transition into the evening. The reception began with drinks including his and hers cocktails – the “Karlarita” and “Póg-Malone” – that allowed guests to mingle before dinner.
The Décor: The décor was restrained with white on white elements, layered with neutrals and silver accents. “The venue itself is such a spectacular place filled with unexpected details that we didn’t want to take too much away from it. Instead, we focused on introducing just enough florals and accents to allow the architecture to truly glow,” says Karla.
Arrangements were understated, designed to complement rather than compete with the setting. The focus was on texture, light and layering rather than bold statements. “We wanted the space to feel calm and atmospheric, allowing the people in it to ultimately bring the energy and colour into the evening.” Candlelight was a key element throughout the space. Paired with long tables, the overall effect felt warm and inviting.
The Atmosphere: “We were very intentional about seating, making sure that even if guests didn’t know the person next to them, there was always a shared link or connection to spark conversation. That sense of ease carried throughout the room, and you could feel the energy slowly building.” Then came the party …
“With two cultures that both know how to celebrate, we knew that the energy would be high. It turned into a buzzy, non-stop evening full of music, movement and laughter, carrying on well past 4am. Exactly the kind of celebration we imagined from the very beginning.”
Day 2: The next day, guests gathered for drinks in Dublin city centre at O’Donoghue’s. “The decision was simple: Stephen already loved the pub, and Karla had seen that Dua Lipa had been there once, so it was an easy approval. It was a moment to unwind, enjoy a few pints, and truly reminisce about what had been a dreamy day.”
Photography: Colin Ross
Dress: Nicole and Felicia, Pnina Tornai through Kleinfeld New York
Hair: Michelle Grimes
Wedding cake: Fern Cakery
Flowers: Roisin Godfrey Florals
Stationery: Design and calligraphy by Karla
Entertainment: Hazel Alexander, Jennifer Leahy and DJ Tommy Elliot
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