Welcome Night

Holy Cross Church

Ceremony

The Malone Hotel

Coctail+Reception

The Dark Horse

The Cure

While we love your little ones, we kindly ask that the reception be an adults-only celebration. Children are welcome to join us for the ceremony. Please email: kevandkaymcveagh@gmail.com for any inquiries/questions or concerns. Thank you!

Our Wedding

We got engaged in the summer of June 2024. Kev pulled off the surprise of a lifetime and purposed at one of our most favorite places we have visited: Soggy Dollar Bar, located in Tortola in the BVI's. It's a bit of a shock to say I was genuinely surprised by Kev's proposal, because after nearly 7 years of dating at this point in time, an engagement felt long-overdue *wink*. But gosh, was it worth the wait! I would have never said this before but can say it now, I would have waited another 7 if I had to. The day of our engagement proceeded to be one of the happiest days of our lives. We continued to celebrate with our beloved Planchet family for the remainder of the week on our cruise. In 2017, we met and had our first date at an Oberweis Ice Cream shop in Lakeview, Chicago. As a lactose intolerant girlie and it being early winter in Chicago, this choice of our first date is humorous to reflect on. Though to be fair, these ice cream plans were originally made in the summer of 2016 but life got in the way and we all know what they say about timing... Since that first date in 2017, our relationship grew in all of the best ways. We both gained new life-long friends that each of us came with, opened arms to more family to love, traveled near and far, Kev became a pro at marathon tracking and Kay became an avid Gaelic Football supporter/WAG (Up the Pearses!). Our worlds fit together with ease. We moved in together in Chicago in 2021 and quickly realized that our outside adventures and home life were equally fun. Due to professional job opportunities, we now reside in Philadelphia, PA. Since moving to Philadelphia in April of 2023, Kev continues to thrive in his work and I have the privilege of working on the pediatric cardiac unit at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP). We both love our jobs and have appreciated all of the blessings and challenges that come with living in a new city. We have found our favorite date night spots, our local, and new friends who have welcomed us to Philly with open arms. Kev joined a Philly based Gaelic Football team (Up the YI's!) to play on and through this, we gained a whole team who treats us like their own. Finally, our favorite thing about moving to Philly, has been adopting a new family member into our house, who is our rottie, Murph! Though we miss Chicago greatly, Philly has been nothing short of good to us, and we look forward to what our future holds. Between the love and support we incessantly feel from both our O'Brien and McVeagh families, the friendships we have, and the unconditional love we have between one another, it's hard to imagine our wedding day being anything other than our most favorite day we will have ever lived - we hope you can join us!

If you have any questions or messages for us, please email us at kevandkaymcveagh@gmail.com

Our Story

Alyssa “Lyss” Silvestri 

April Steele

Maggie Palmquist

Emily Smith

Mark McVeagh (MDV)

Matt Perry

Ryan Cochrane

Charlie McVeagh

Odhrán Fay

Emily McVeagh

Wedding Party

In order to enter Ireland your passport will need to be active - please ensure yours isn't close to expiring! When booking flights, please be mindful of the time change. Pending where you are flying from, Ireland will be 5/6+ hours ahead. All guests should plan to arrive via Dublin (DUB) Airport. There are a few options to get to Belfast that we recommend or have used in the past. Feel free to reach out to others who are arriving around the same time and share transport etc! See recommendations/options below: Car rentals - rentals can be booked and picked up directly from Dublin Airport. Please be advised this car journey is approximately 1.5-2 hours with the unique experience of driving on the left side of the road so we highly recommend taking your time and enjoying the ride! Coach Bus - There are 2 coach services that will take you from directly from Dublin Airport, Terminal 2, to Belfast (City Center) Upper Queen Street. The coach takes approx 1.5 hours. We recommend booking this in advanced, as seats can fill up fast:https://www.aircoach.ie/ or www.dublinexpress.ie Train - Only if you are travelling from Dublin City Center you can get the train from O' Connell Street to Belfast Grand Central Station via link:www.translink.co.uk

Flights/Travel

Accommodations 

While the wedding will take place at the Malone Lodge Hotel and we'd love to have everyone close by, feel free to stay anywhere in Belfast that you please. We've gathered some options here that are very near and easy to travel to and from the venue.

Cocktail hour and reception will be held at the Malone Lodge Hotel. There will be a discount on room rates for guests who choose to book their stay at Malone Hotel. To book a room, please email events@themalonehotel.com and let them know you are booking for McVeagh-OBrien wedding to get discounted rates and to secure your room. The rooms will be £135 for 1 night in a double room for 2 people or £165 for a family room for 1 night with 4 guests. If you do not want to stay at the Malone Hotel, see below other accommodation options.

Malone Lodge Hotel 

10 minute uber/taxi to Malone Lodge Hotel

Holiday Inn Belfast City Centre, an IHG Hotel

Balmoral Hotel

10 min uber/taxi to Malone Lodge Hotel

Hilton Belfast

Grand Central Hotel Belfast

There are some great AirBNB's available all throughout the city of Belfast as another fun option! Link: Airbnb.com

AirBNB

IMPORTANT: To charge your phones and/or use other electronic devices when in Ireland, you will need to use a plug converter. Here is a link to an appropriate converter for Ireland: https://a.co/d/hcgkcWA The voltage in Ireland is different from the voltage in the United States. The standard voltage in Ireland is 230 volts AC at 50 Hz. Please do your research and check what voltage your hair dyers/curlers/straighteners etc are to prevent any chance of damaging your personal items! There are converters online that you can purchase as well if needed.

Travel/Accomodations

A great way to get into the holiday spirit in the center of Belfast City! With over 100 international and local traders, the festive village offers a delightful array of quality Christmas fayre, handcrafted goods, and bespoke artisan products. FYI - The Christmas market closes before Christmas so try and get in this in early on in your trip!

Belfast Christmas Market

Cathedral Quarter is an alley of cobblestone paths lined with beautiful lights and lined with may bars and restaurants. This location is frequented for photo ops and a fun day/night out

Duke of York

Located beside the&nbsp;Titanic&nbsp;Slipways, the Harland &amp; Wolff Drawing Offices and Hamilton Graving Dock – the very place where&nbsp;Titanic&nbsp;was designed, built and launched, Titanic Belfast tells the story of&nbsp;Titanic&nbsp;from her conception, through her construction and launch, to her maiden voyage and subsequent place in history.

Titanic Belfast

You’ll explore a side of Belfast that is as spine-tingling as it is emotional, and you’ll have the opportunity to take photographs at each location.

Black Taxi Tour Belfast

Legend has it that an Irish giant named Finn McCool created a causeway to get across the Irish Sea to face his rival, the Scottish giant Benandonner. Following their fearsome meeting, Benandonner ripped up the causeway as he fled back to Scotland, leaving what you see here today

Giant's Causeway

Stunning views and coastline make driving up to the northern coast of Ireland worth the trip. If you have a car and have the time, this adventure will be one for the books!

Antrim Coast and Glens Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty

During 150 years the Gaol has housed murderers, suffragettes and loyalist and republican prisoners. It has witnessed births, deaths and marriages and has been the home to executions, escapes, hunger-strikes and riots.

Crumlin Road Gaol Visitor Attraction and Conference Centre

Belfast Castle is a symbol of the city and can be seen from across town.&nbsp;A visit to the castle is a must for history enthusiasts and those wanting to appreciate the best views of the city. There is a wee coffee shop inside as well!

Belfast Castle

Things to Do

Madden's Bar

Maddens Bar is Kay's favorite Bar in Belfast. It's tiny, cozy, and when the fire is on and live music is playing, it's a hard place to leave! Some will say Madden's serves the best pint of Guinness in Belfast, but we'll leave that up for you to compare.Address: 74 Berry St, Belfast BT1 1FJ, United Kingdom

Bittles Bar

Bittles is the coolest bar sitting right on a split-corner in the city. Bittles is a tiny historic pub offering beer &amp; cocktails amid colourful paintings of Irish personalities. Another spot Kay and Kev make sure to stop at when in town. If you plan to pop in and ask for anything other then a Guinness, you might want to consider going elsewhere - the bartenders run a proud and tight ship. They do not believe in half-pints either (speaking from experience).Address: 70 Upper Church Ln, Belfast BT1 4QL, United Kingdom

Kelly's Cellars

Kelly's Cellars is another old pub with unique and historic character.Address: 30-32 Bank St, Belfast BT1 1HL, United Kingdom

Classic pub down a cobbled alley (Cathedral Quarters) with mirrored whiskey bar, old advertising signs and live music.Address: 7-11 Commercial Ct, Belfast BT1 2NB, United Kingdom

Kay & Kev's Favorite Watering Holes

Tipping Isn’t Really a Thing

In Ireland, tipping isn’t expected like in the U.S. At most, round up your bill or leave 10% at a nice dinner. No pressure — truly!

No Tabs at the Pub

Don’t expect to open a tab — you pay for each drink as you order. It’s fast, simple, and very efficient when it’s your round!

Tap to Pay = Your Best Friend

Ireland is super contactless-friendly — tap cards and phone pay (Apple Pay/Google Pay) work nearly everywhere: taxis, pubs, restaurants, shops.No need to carry much cash, but having a small amount of pounds (NI currency) never hurts.

U.S. Customs Happens in Dublin — Plan Ahead!

When flying home to the U.S. from Dublin, you’ll go through U.S. Customs and Border Protection before your gate. That means:1) Irish airport security2) U.S. Customs screening3) Second round of U.S. flight-specific security Give yourself at least 3 hours before departure, especially during peak travel days.

Bonus Tip: Liquid Rules Are No Joke

Irish airport security is strict about liquids — stricter than U.S. TSA.All liquids must be in a clear quart-sized plastic bag (not just shoved in a toiletry pouch).To save time and avoid having your bag unpacked piece by piece, we highly recommend putting your liquids in your checked luggage if possible.

Driving? Proceed With Caution

Cars drive on the left side, and roundabouts are everywhere. Though the drive from Dublin Airport to Belfast is not too different from our American highways (other than only being 2 lanes wide) in the countryside/backroads and cities, roads are narrow and locals drive confidently — if you’re unsure, consider taxis, trains, or buses and enjoy the ride.

Belfast Weather in December

December in Belfast is cold, damp, and dark — but charming!Average temps: 37–45°F (3–7°C), rarely below freezing but often chilly and damp.Expect frequent light rain, cloudy skies, and short days (sunrise around 8:30am, sunset by 4pm).Snow is rare, but drizzle is almost guaranteed — pack for constant moisture, not a blizzard.

Irish Sayings You Might Hear:

"What's the craic?" = “What’s going on?” / “Any fun or gossip?”"Grand" = Fine / good / okay (“It’s grand” = “It’s all good”)"Your man" / "Your one" = That guy / that woman"Cheers" = Thank you, goodbye, and yes — also for toasting!"Lads" / "Girls" / "Ye" = Group terms used freely regardless of gender"The jacks" or "The toilet" = The bathroom

 Irish Tips for Our American Guests

8 years of adventures and a lifetime to go. 

Photos

Q + A

Registry

Your presence at our wedding is the greatest gift we could ask for. Should you wish to honor us with a gift, a contribution towards our future together would be sincerely appreciated. Please email us with any questions: kevandkaymcveagh@gmail.com

Kaylee & Kevin

Kaylee & Kevin

Wedding Party