Kilkea Castle Wedding: Deanna and Jack’s Autumn Castle Wedding in Kildare

Kilkea Castle wedding film – Deanna & Jack, Castledermot, Co. Kildare

A Kilkea Castle wedding in Co. Kildare

Deanna and Jack celebrated their wedding at Kilkea Castle in Castledermot, Co. Kildare – a 12th-century castle hotel and one of the oldest inhabited castles in Ireland, set on a country estate about an hour from Dublin. With the whole day taking place on site, from getting ready in the morning to fireworks over the castle at night, it was an autumn castle wedding with real romance and a touch of drama.

As their wedding videographer, I filmed the day from the first details in the morning to the first dance. Here is a look at their Kilkea Castle wedding – and a few ideas if you are planning your own.

About Kilkea Castle

Kilkea Castle was built in 1180 by Hugh de Lacy for the Norman knight Walter de Riddlesford, and through marriage it passed to the FitzGeralds, later Earls of Kildare, who held it for around seven centuries. Today it is a castle hotel and golf estate with a rose garden, woodland walks and the River Griese flowing past the foot of the castle gardens – and for weddings, the castle, the Baronial Hall and the estate lodges all sit within a few minutes' walk of each other.

Getting ready in Willow Lodge

The morning started early, with the bridal party getting ready in Willow Lodge on the estate. Deanna's details were laid out on an old Persian rug – her shoes, cream and toffee roses and two handwritten letters, "to my husband" and "to my wife" – along with the original sketch of her gown. Then came one of the most emotional moments of the day: her dad seeing her in her dress for the first time.

The ceremony in the De Lacy Suite

At 2pm Deanna and Jack were married in the De Lacy Suite inside the castle, surrounded by tall arrangements of autumn flowers and soft lamplight. The bridesmaids, in black puff-sleeved dresses with single-stem roses, sat close by, and during the ceremony two of their loved ones lit candles beside the couple – a quiet, beautiful moment in the film.

A castle drinks reception and portraits on the grounds

After a meet and greet at the entrance to the castle, guests moved inside for the drinks reception, while we took an hour for photos and film around the estate. The autumn colours did the rest: golden trees on the lawns, a weeping willow by the water, the formal box-hedge gardens and, of course, the castle walls themselves. Deanna's high-neck lace gown and her cascading bouquet of toffee, ivory and deep burgundy roses looked made for the setting.

Dinner in the Baronial Hall, fireworks and the first dance

At 5pm the dinner bell rang and guests made their way to the Baronial Hall, where the speeches began as soon as the couple arrived – leaving the rest of the evening free for celebrating. At 9pm everyone headed outside for a fireworks display over the castle, cut the cake on the way back in and then gathered round for Deanna and Jack's first dance, with Deanna in a sparkling sequinned evening outfit.

Planning a Kilkea Castle wedding? A few tips

Do the speeches before dinner. Deanna and Jack started the speeches as soon as they entered the Baronial Hall. Everyone relaxes over dinner and the evening flows straight into the party.

Plan the fireworks around the timeline. A short display at around 9pm, followed by the cake cutting on the way back inside and the first dance, kept the energy high – and fireworks over a 12th-century castle look incredible on film.

Use the estate for portraits. An hour between the drinks reception and dinner is enough to cover the castle, the gardens and the willow trees by the water without missing the party.

Think about an evening outfit. A second look for the evening is easy to move and dance in, and it gives the night its own feel in photos and film.

Looking for more castle weddings? See Eimear and Pauraic at Barberstown Castle, also in Co. Kildare, Peris and Trevor at Darver Castle, Marisa and Paul at Luttrellstown Castle, Ruth and John at Bellingham Castle and Reiltin and Caomhan at Kilronan Castle. You can also watch more of my wedding films or see my wedding packages.

Wedding suppliers

Venue: Kilkea Castle, Castledermot, Co. Kildare

Videography: Michael Black Wedding

Photography: Michelle Prunty

Planning a Kilkea Castle wedding of your own? I would love to hear about your plans – get in touch and let's chat over Zoom.