THE GROUNDS OF a manor house in the Cotswolds was the setting for the wedding on July 25th of Cara Brady, from Templeogue and Bob Lari from Tehran.
Purston Manor, near Banbury in Sussex, is a functioning alpaca farm, but for one sunny day it was the setting for a weaving together of Irish, Iranian and English culture.
Cara works as a creative in Warner Brothers UK, where she commissions videos for top bands. Bob is a developer of care and health facilities. The couple met five years ago on a blind date engineered by friends. Cara has a reputation for being a bit of a cupid, and several couples at the wedding could readily attest to her matchmaking skills. Bob and Cara were officially wed in a civil ceremony the previous day; the church blessing was held in a marquee overlooking a lush walled garden. Hermione Ross, daughter of the late Kerry singer-songwriter Christie Hennessy, sang a moving rendition of She Moved Through the Fair, accompanied by her sister Amber on violin. The celebrant was Fr Jerry Campbell, whose stirring homily almost stole the show.
Cara is the eldest daughter of John and Cepta Brady. Her younger sister Emer was the bridesmaid, and her brother Cormac read from John O’Donohue’s Benedictus. Bob is the youngest of six brothers and sisters: Nina, Kevan, Shireen, Sousan and Akky. The couple live in a house on the vast grounds of the manor, and have an 18-month-old daughter, Aev, who made a joyful appearance at the champagne reception.
Dinner was held in a large marquee, and speeches were dispensed with before the first course. The groom’s speech included a decent stab at speaking as Gaeilge to his bride. The main dish was lamb from the farm, accompanied by roast sweet potatoes and salads.
Cara could count on her music biz colleagues to shoot broadcast-quality video footage of the big day, and she could be certain the band for the evening had the X-factor. The band was no ordinary wedding band, but a gathering of session musicians who usually work with the likes of Dizzee Rascal, Craig David and Amy Winehouse. An array of accomplished singers belted out the funk and soul hits, and pop diva Kele Le Roc turned up the temperature.
Just when things threatened to get too hot on the dance floor, a Mr Whippy ice cream van pulled up outside the marquee and dispensed 99s. While the guests enjoyed their ice cream cones, a spectacular fireworks display lit up the night sky.
Bob and Cara’s busy schedule meant they could only take a quick honeymoon – three days in Devon – but they are planning a longer trip as soon as they get the chance. The couple have bought a house in nearby Adderbury in Oxfordshire, which they are currently renovating, and they hope to be living there by Christmas.