A Peruvian American Celebration in Sligo
Lorena and Tom travelled from Los Angeles to Ireland for a celebration that brought together their Peruvian, American, Irish and Scottish influences. After two planning trips and visits to twelve Irish castles, they chose
Markree Castle
as the place where 120 family members and friends from Peru, Europe and America would come together.
From Lorena arriving on horseback for their outdoor ceremony to bagpipes, live music and an unforgettable Peruvian dance celebration after midnight, their wedding used the castle in a completely personal way.
Featured on One Fab Day
Lorena and Tom’s celebration was featured by One Fab Day as a real Irish castle wedding, telling the story of their journey from California to Sligo and the different cultures, music and traditions they brought together at Markree.
Four Days at the Castle
With so many guests travelling across continents, Lorena and Tom wanted much more than a single wedding day. Their wider celebration ran from Dublin to Sligo, while Markree became their home for four days.
Their story is a wonderful example of how a
wedding at Markree Castle
can become a shared experience for family and friends travelling to Ireland, with accommodation, celebrations and time together centred around the estate.
WEDDING TEAM +
Venue | Flowers | Cake Cake Rise |
Wedding Dress Simply Bridal | Suits Atlanta Kilts | Bride’s Shoes Badgley Mischka |
Ceremony Music Niamh Fitzpatrick | Ceremony Music Shaza O’Hara | Band & DJ The Curly Bobs |
Videography The Video Guys | Photography Wojciech Koza Photography | Reception Music The Miles Graham Duo |
From California to a Castle in Sligo
Lorena and Tom were living in Los Angeles when they began planning their wedding in Ireland. Lorena is originally from Lima, Peru, while Tom brought his own Irish and Scottish family connections into the celebration.
They made two planning trips to Ireland and visited twelve castle venues before choosing Markree. With family and friends travelling from Peru, Europe and America, they wanted the wedding to feel like much more than a single day.
The result was a celebration built around music, family, travel and traditions from several cultures, with Markree Castle at the centre of the experience.
An Entrance No One Forgot
Lorena and Tom chose an outdoor ceremony at Markree Castle on an unusually hot Irish summer day. Their processional was created around a specially arranged version of Ravel’s Boléro, with musicians, members of the wedding party entering from the forest and river, and the Peruvian flag leading the final part of the entrance.
Lorena arrived on horseback with an entourage before joining Tom for their ceremony overlooking the castle grounds. After their vows, they descended the steps to the sound of bagpipes.
When the Wedding Turned Peruvian
One of the most memorable parts of the night came after midnight. Lorena and Tom changed into traditional Peruvian clothing and surprised their guests with a traditional dance.
The celebration then spread across the dance floor. Guests were given colourful Peruvian hats, scarves, necklaces, bracelets and other traditional pieces, transforming the atmosphere of the reception for the final part of the night.
It was one of those moments where photography becomes less about creating a picture and more about following the energy of the room. The expressions, movement and colour made this part of the wedding completely different from everything that had come before it.
Lorena & Tom on One Fab Day
One Fab Day featured their full celebration, including their journey from California, their outdoor ceremony, Lorena’s horseback entrance and the Peruvian traditions that became such an important part of the evening.
More Than a Wedding Day
Lorena and Tom’s celebration is a strong example of how Markree can work when guests are travelling long distances and the wedding becomes part of a much wider trip to Ireland.
For more real weddings, photographs and practical information about the venue, explore my complete
Markree Castle wedding guide
.
Creating a Wedding Experience for Travelling Guests
Lorena and Tom did not simply ask their guests to travel to Ireland for a wedding. They planned several days of experiences around the celebration, including time in Dublin, traditional music, sightseeing and a journey along the west coast after Markree.
If you are coordinating your own Irish wedding from abroad, you may also find my
Peach Perfect Weddings planning resource
useful. Peach Perfect was not involved in Lorena and Tom’s wedding.
More Real Weddings and Markree Castle Resources
Continue exploring different celebrations at the castle or use the planning guides below to compare ideas, costs and possibilities for your own wedding.
Discover Cabra Castle
If you are comparing Irish castle venues, Cabra Castle offers a very different atmosphere while remaining part of the same Romantic Castles of Ireland collection.
Other Castle Weddings in Ireland
Real weddings at different Irish castles can help you compare not only the architecture, but also the atmosphere, ceremony options and overall experience each venue can create.
Make the Celebration Your Own
Whether your wedding brings together different countries, traditions or simply the people who matter most to you, tell me what you are planning at Markree.
