NEWLYWEDS Laura Doherty and Niall Quinn tied the knot on July 4, surrounded by nearly 200 family and friends.
The Killygordon native and her South Derry groom were married at St. Patrick’s Church at the Crossroads in Laura’s hometown. Her mother walked her down the aisle to Caledonia, in a moving tribute to her late father.
For their big day the Quinns wanted to make sure it was relaxed and enjoyable for both themselves and their guests, and every detail from the venue to the finishing touches was chosen with that in mind.
The venue was an easy decision for Laura because she wanted to be close to home and avoid spending precious hours of their day in a car, while also ensuring their guests from Derry had somewhere comfortable to stay and with a guest list that required at least 50 rooms, the Villa Rose Hotel in Ballybofey proved to be the ideal fit.
But what truly sealed the deal was seeing the hotel set up for another wedding.
The recent renovations to the hotel had already impressed the couple, but once fully styled with all the bells and whistles, it left a lasting impression.
The Villa Rose offered exactly what the couple was looking for. It had the warmth and personal touch of a family-run hotel paired with the polish and professionalism of a four-star venue.
For Laura, who has a background in hotels and hospitality, smooth logistics and exceptional service were also non-negotiable, and the staff delivered on every front.
Emma, their main point of contact at the hotel, played a key role in making the day stress-free.
Whether it was assisting with table plans – which had caused a full day of frustration for the bride – or managing the logistics of room bookings for guests, the staff stepped in and handled every detail with care.
“What had taken me a full day, Emma had done in half an hour,” Laura laughed.
The bride Laura pictured with her mother who walked her up the aisle. Photos by Ben McGlinchey.
The food was another high priority. With guests arriving from early in the morning, the couple wanted to ensure everyone was well looked after.
Following their red carpet arrival from the church, guests were welcomed with a spread of hot finger food and traybakes. This was another thoughtful touch suggested by Emma that went down a treat and ensured there were no hangry guests.
“Nothing was too much trouble, and the staff went above and beyond to make sure everything ran smoothly on the day,” Laura said.
Just weeks before the wedding, the couple was informed by the hotel that they had hired new chefs. Initially, this caused some concern as they had loved the food at their original tasting.
However, the hotel quickly put them at ease by offering an additional tasting to reassure the couple.
Although Laura was hesitant and worried about being a “Bridezilla”, the team made it clear that it was no trouble at all and in the end, the food exceeded their expectations.
The food on the day itself was even better again, which was something neither Laura nor Niall thought possible and guests are still raving about it.
From the stunning décor and flawless service to thoughtful touches and a seamless flow, Laura and Niall’s wedding was everything they had hoped for.
The only flaw was the weather, which even The Child of Prague couldn’t have prevented.
“It rained from morning to night,” Laura laughed.
“Every single thing was perfect, despite the weather.”
But they didn’t let it dampen their spirits and the hotel kindly offered the couple the option to take their wedding photos at their thatched cottage and gardens just a short drive from the venue.
The bridal party were greeted with an open turf fire and drinks as they sheltered from the downpour.
This ended up being one of the most memorable moments for the Quinns.
