Finding the one

“My hometown is the beautiful village of Adare, which is known as the ‘Wedding capital of Ireland’,” says Ann Killarney, Owner of Áibhéil of Adare. “I grew up watching a lot of weddings and one day, my sister asked why there was no bridal store in Adare, if it was the bridal capital? That’s when I had my ‘AHA!’ moment – Áibhéil of Adare was born.”

Áibhéil (pronounced ‘awh-veil’) was founded 20 years ago, with the name being the Irish word for ‘amazement’ or ‘wonderment’. “My friend came up with the name and I loved it, because it also sounds like a wedding veil.”

Wonderment is what brides experience as soon as they step inside Áibhéil, which is located beside the iconic Adare Manor in a beautiful stone building that was once a blacksmith forge. “The horses from the carriage house at Adare Manor would be brought down to the forge to be fitted with horseshoes, long before it became my bridal boutique. It’s a lovely setting.”

Ann puts a lot of careful consideration into selecting her dress collections, including travelling overseas to buying conventions. “It can be hard work, but I put in a huge effort to choose what I think the brides might like, make sure collections are on-trend and are high quality, but I also want to be able to provide them with a large choice.”

The biggest thing for Ann is having the brides put their trust in her to get the dress ready. Ann says a dress takes six months to be delivered finished in-store from the moment the bride chooses ‘the one’, so they always have the dress ready well in advance of the big day. “We wouldn’t take in any dress that couldn’t be delivered at least two months before the wedding. We do everything right the first time, and we have suppliers that have been loyal from the beginning.

“We also only take one bride at a time – they have the shop to themselves for their appointment, so it’s a private experience.”

Ann says they also always keep their website up-to-date. “Many women have complimented us on this, as they know what they’re looking for when they arrive and we have an idea of their preferred style.”

For Ann, one of her favourite aspects of working in Áibhéil is when brides leave with a smile on their faces. “We take it very seriously that brides have trusted us with possibly the most important garment they'll ever buy. I get pride out of doing things properly and well. So long as we can keep doing that, and brides are happy, I'm very happy.”

To browse Áibhéil of Adare’s wedding dresses or book an appointment online, visit adarebridal.ie or call (061) 396 026.