Wedding Day

Ceremony

Reception

Our Wedding

We met in Paris as au pairs. We formed a friendship group and travelled to different areas in Paris and around France.

September 2020: Au Pairs in Paris 

We planned a road trip around Ireland with our friends, Jamie and Laura.Laura had been playing matchmaker for some time trying to get us to see each other as more than friends.Over the course of the road trip, feelings grew stronger and we officially decided to give a relationship a go on Inishbofin.

August 2021: The Irish road trip

After the roadtrip, Karen was planning on staying in the UK. As our relationship grew over video calls and texts, Karen knew she should take the chance and move back to Paris. Karen moved back and found a job teaching English.

September 2021: Karen moves back to Paris

Karen proposed on Inishbofin, where we first got together. Clara said yes, and we celebrated by warming up over some pints!

May 2023: Clara says yes!

Clara proposed on a trip to see her family in the US. She proposed on a hike up Mount Rainier.

July 2023: Karen says yes!

We moved to London for Karen to start her career and Clara to do her Masters degree. We don’t know what the future holds for us after this chapter but we look forward to taking it on together.

September 2023: moved to London

Our Story

We picked this venue because we want to be able to see everyone for as long as possible and to do as many things as possible with you!We have created a general itinerary for the weekend that could change based on the weather and interest in the activities.

Friday, June 13

- Guests arrive on different ferry times- meet at dock- Just relax at the hotel and maybe a walk around- Dinner on your own. Since some people might be quite tired from their travels and want to settle in, dinner is on your own time the first night.- Games and drinks at hotel/marquee in the evening

Saturday, June 14

It's the Big Day!!- Breakfast all together at the hotel- Relaxed morning, you are welcome to wander the island, have a swim, rent a bike.- 12pm: as most people will be out doing things, we will do a packed lunch that day so everyone can have a good wander. Those who want to go to a restaurant for lunch, refer to the 'things to do' page for recommendations.- 3pm: wedding ceremony at the beach- 4pm: cocktail hours- 7pm: dinner- 9pm onwards: music, drinks, fire pits

Sunday, June 15

- Breakfast at hotel- Time TBD: Hike around the island for those who want to do that.- Packed lunch during hike- Swim and sauna/hot tub on East beach- Everyone head back to hotel- relax and get ready for dinner- Dinner at the saltbox- Fire pits and s’mores at marquee This day won't have as many specific hours so we can just wander around and have a good time!

Monday, June 16

- Breakfast at hotel- People leave for ferry at different&nbsp;times- Boat tour for those that want to stay later. Karen and I really want to take a boat tour of different islands in the area. Let us know if you would be interested and we can get prices. It is not on the expensive side.- Schedule could change on this day depending on what time most people are leaving.

Itinerary

We know this venue is not the easiest to get to in the world, but we have a connection to the area and really feel like you will fall in love with it too once you arrive. Karen and I are more than happy to help answer any questions you have about how to get there. Most people will be flying into Dublin Airport or Belfast International Airport. From there, renting a car will be the easiest. Some people may be able to carpool depending on flight times and we can help play matchmaker if anyone is interested. We highly, highly recommend turning this trip into an Ireland road trip if you have the time. Refer to the 'places nearby' page to get some inspiration. Karen and I are also happy to help answer questions about road trip plans, too! Inishbofin is an island off the West coast of Ireland. In order to get to the island, you have to take a ferry. The ferry costs €25 pp roundtrip. There are several parking lots that are very safe just across the street from the pier. They are on an honesty system and are around €4 a day so have some cash on hand to pay for parking. The ferry takes about half an hour to get to the island. It is usually quite calm, but be prepared for slightly choppy conditions depending on the weather. Last time we made the crossing, I saw a dolphin so keeps your eyes peeled for any wildlife. There are seals, dolphins, and minke whales in the area.The link to the ferry website to buy your tickets in advance is <a href="https://inishbofinferry.ie/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://inishbofinferry.ie/</a> They tend to not be too, too strict on hours in case you are late and have to catch the next one. We advise showing up about 40 minutes before the ferry leaves as they load the boat much earlier than that. There is a ticket office in the town that you can go to if you have any questions. Once you arrive on the island, the owner of the hotel will be there to pick you up and bring you straight to the hotel. Just let us know closer to the date which ferry you are arriving on so we can inform the owner beforehand. Everyone will be staying in the Dolphin Hotel. We will be renting out the whole hotel, as well as the house connected to the hotel.The cost will be €260 pp. NOTE: Please do not book until the end of September as that is when we will have a final count of people and can make sure we have all the rooms necessary. You just have to call the hotel and ask for the group rate for the Bajeux wedding. If this cost is too high for you, please let us know and we can try to arrange something else for you. The contact information for the hotel is<a href="https://www.dolphinhotel.ie/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.dolphinhotel.ie/</a>+3539545991info@dolphinhotel.ie

Travel & Hotel

The island has a lot to offer!You will have some time to wander the island alone or do other activities you want to do.If you are interested in any activities from this list, just contact us and we can help out.- Fishing- Equestrian- Hiking- Kayaking- Bike riding- Wild Swimming- Sauna and hot tub on beach The island also has a number of restaurants- The Saltbox- It specialises in seafood that they catch themselves. - The Galley- Located near the East beach, it is a small seafood place. - Murray's Doonmore Hotel- It has a good restaurant and wood- panelled pub. - Inishwallah- Family run Indian restaurant in an old double-decker bus. - Beach Days Bar- Pub vibes with outdoor seating on the water. Good for quick food or a pint. - Inishbofin House Hotel- Simple menu that usually has a lot of seafood. Also has a bar near the pier.

Things to Do

Community Centre has a small shop inside to buy essentials

The wedding ceremony will be on this beach- wear shoes accordingly!

Practical photos

Photos of Inishbofin

Q + A

Registry 

In lieu of physical gifts, we would really appreciate a contribution to our honeymoon fund. We love to travel and want to make our honeymoon a special trip. Our dream destinations are South-East Asia or South America. Our honeymoon account details are: Name: Karen &amp; ClaraAccount number: 78091984Sort code: 608371IBAN: GB98SRLG60837178091984BIC: SRLGGB2L This is just a transfer from your bank to ours so you just have to go to your bank page and schedule a transfer to our account. Please let us know if you need any help figuring it out.

Gifts 

Inishbofin is off the West Coast of Ireland and is actually on the Wild Atlantic Way, a 2,500 km road along the West Coast.There is a great website to look at for more info about it.<a href="https://www.thewildatlanticway.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.thewildatlanticway.com/</a> We will put below some of our favourite places in the area below. Again, just get in touch with us and we are happy to help you plan anything.

Connemara National Park

<a href="https://www.nationalparks.ie/connemara/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.nationalparks.ie/connemara/</a> The national park is gorgeous and has hikes for different levels of difficulty. You can hike to the top of the largest mountain in the area in a couple hours. Entry is free and it is open from 9:00- 5:30.

Letterfrack

This is a cute town that has a great pub and good seafood restaurants. It also has a grocery store to pick up essentials. There are also hostel and hotel options in the town. The entrance to Connemara National Park is there.Fun fact: It was founded by Quakers!

Kylemore Abbey

<a href="https://www.kylemoreabbey.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.kylemoreabbey.com/</a> This is a working abbey that is set within gorgeous scenery and a beautiful old mansion. It has an interesting history and is an integral part of the area. It is about a 25-minute drive from Cleggan pier. You have to pay to get in, but it is worth it! There are also walled gardens and a nature path that are included in the price.

Killary Fjord

This is the only fjord in all of Ireland! You can just drive around it and stop off for photos or you can go on a boat tour of the area. Keep your eyes open for seals.

Cliffs of Moher

About a three-hour drive away, this is a gorgeous spot. It is on the Wild Atlantic Way so the whole drive is along the coast. You usually have to pay to go there, but we know a secret place to park that is free. Let us know if you want to go there and we can send you the location.Fun fact: This is where Karen and I had our first kiss.

Galway City

Galway city is the largest in the area. It has well-preserved medieval ruins to wander around and very colourful homes. There are many good restaurants and local beers. There is also the Galway City Museum that is free entry and gives a background of the area.

Clara and Karen

Clara and Karen

Photos of Inishbofin