If ever there were a wedding that felt planned by a magical fairy Godmother, it’s Katie and Alex’s celebration at Ballyseede Castle in County Kerry, Ireland. Think dreamy woodland vibes, Celtic traditions, and just enough fairytale charm to make even the castle’s resident ghosts swoon.

But before we dive into the magic, let’s rewind…back to a craft beer bar in Berlin. That’s where Katie and Alex first met, after matching on OKCupid. “We went to a craft beer bar, laughed a lot, listened to great music, and couldn’t stop talking,” they recall. “It was a really special first date. Relaxed, deep, and meaningful.” It’s no surprise that same easy chemistry carried all the way to their wedding day.

Fast-forward to the planning stage. With Katie hailing from near Frankfurt and Alex from South Brandenburg, the couple quickly realized choosing a local venue in Germany didn’t feel right. “We love living in Berlin,” Alex explains, “but it didn’t feel like the right place to celebrate our wedding.” Then came the lightbulb moment: Ireland. With Katie’s mother being Irish and her family’s deep roots in Killarney, the destination felt instantly perfect. “We were excited to share this beautiful country and Katie’s heritage with our German guests,” they say. “Looking back, we have absolutely no regrets. It was the perfect choice.”

Of course, the path to their dream day wasn’t all smooth sailing. Early in the process, the couple ran into some serious planner woes. “Just before our trip to Ireland to visit potential venues, our planner told us she wouldn’t even be attending the site visits with us,” they share. “We felt completely left on our own.” Ouch. But in true love-story fashion, things turned around quickly. “Luckily, we could win Lena Freitag for us,” Katie says. “That was truly the best decision we made.” Lena became their rock throughout the entire process, handling logistics, timelines, and every last castle-sized detail.

And speaking of castles, the story of how they found Ballyseede is pure serendipity. During a meeting with a florist, the couple shared their vision, romantic, nature-filled, a little bit magical, and she asked, “Have you checked out Ballyseede Castle?” They hadn’t. Two days later, they arrived for a tour and instantly fell in love. “It was everything we had dreamed of,” they say. “We both knew instantly: this was it.”

When the big day finally arrived, Ballyseede transformed into an enchanted woodland wonderland. “Our vision was to create a dreamy, woodland-inspired atmosphere filled with soft lights and natural textures, something that felt like stepping into an enchanted forest,” Katie says. Every detail was intentional, from the florals by Flowers From the Secret Garden to the personalized cupcake toppers featuring their dog, Queenie (yes, she made her royal appearance too!).

In fact, Queenie wasn’t just a guest of honor; she was part of the ceremony itself. “She’s not ‘just a dog,’ she’s truly our first child,” Alex laughs. “During the ceremony, she even brought us the rings, a moment we’ll never forget.”

Their officiant, Susan Heffernan, crafted a ceremony that perfectly reflected the couple’s personalities and heritage. “We wanted something non-religious and bilingual so everyone could feel included,” they explain. “Susan honored this perfectly and delivered a ceremony in both English and German.” It was heartfelt, inclusive, and deeply symbolic, complete with a Celtic handfasting ritual and a sand ceremony that blended sand from two special beaches: one from Germany’s Baltic Sea and one from Ireland’s Inch Beach. “Mixing those sands symbolized the merging of our lives, memories, and homes,” Katie says.

Looking back, the couple says the key to surviving destination wedding planning is trust and patience. “There were moments we felt stuck, especially during the summer before the wedding,” Alex admits. “What we didn’t realize was that summer is peak wedding season, and most vendors are fully booked. Once the season ended, everything picked up quickly.” Their advice to other couples? “Don’t panic if it feels quiet at times. The planning process has natural waves.” And for anyone stressing over the number of questions you’re getting from guests, Katie says, “Set boundaries early, and trust that everything will fall into place.”

Vendors: Planning & Design: Lena Freitag Weddings; Venue: Ballyseede Castle; Photography: Jasmin Marek Fotografie; Videography: Novadays Media; Content Creator: Evergreen by Kellie; Floral Design: Flowers from the Secret Garden; Cake: Gabi Bakes Cakes; Cake Toppers: Bumblebee Cocktail Toppers; Hair Stylist: Hair by Emer; Celebrant: Susan Heffernan; Ceremony & Reception Music: Sarah McTernan; Band & DJ: The Strobes; Tablecloth: Caterhire Limerick; Napkins: Von Rock Events; Frames: To Have & To Hold; Shuttle Service: Kerry Coaches