Modern Queer Hockey Romance-Inspired Wedding in Dublin City

Some love stories are quiet and uncomplicated. Others come with a little more tension and yearning, and a lot more depth.

Set across some of Dublin’s most beautiful venues – from NYX Hotel Dublin Christchurch to The Leinster and finishing with an unforgettable reception dinner at Gloria Osteria – we designed a wedding perfect for queer couples who want to do things a little differently (and look good doing it, obviously).

Getting Ready

The morning began at NYX Hotel Dublin Christchurch, where our grooms got ready together with hair and makeup goddesses Sarah Nugent and Shannon Healy. There really isn’t anything cooler than putting on your wedding tuxedo in the former Hard Rock Hotel’s penthouse suite, surrounded by iconic artwork of Irish rock and roll royalty. Getting ready moments like this are a huge part of modern gay weddings – you get a chance to settle each others’ nerves and relax before you say “I do”.

Matching your wedding stationery to your on-the-day colour palette is key in creating a look that feels put together! We don’t do mismatched fonts and colours around here!

Ceremony + Drinks Reception

Moving to The Leinster for the ceremony and drinks reception, the colour palette of bright reds and striking blues added a striking contrast to the (let’s be honest!) already gorgeous space in The Collins Club. This bold palette was designed to feel like two opposing forces coming together to create a heated rivalry between the dramatic and the magnetic. You’d think these colours were never meant to match, but we think they work perfectly together.

We also added a number of fun details, perfect for fans of queer hockey romance. From custom welcome signage to a motel key ring escort sign (for tables 12, 21, 14, 10…) to bespoke ‘lovers’ matchbooks, every element was intentional. IYKYK.

Personalising your drinks reception isn’t just about a playlist, it’s about creating so many cool experiences that your guests will say “whoa, you think there’s enough?”.

We all know signature cocktails are classy way to show off your taste and personality (we suggest a White Russian and a Moscow Mule with ginger ale instead of ginger beer for a more subtle ginger taste), but what about signature shots?

Ours included Cowboy (Butterscotch schnapps and Baileys), Reward (good vodka), and Boring Canadian (Bourbon and maple syrup). Better.

And yes, we know smoking is bad for you (oh, is it?) but we couldn’t resist a cigarette and matchbook moment on the bar. For display purposes only of course.

The oyster bar (complete with vintage glass fish, served on silver platters) felt like the kind of detail you don’t expect at a wedding… which is exactly why it worked. Mark our words: this is going to be a big wedding trend for 2026 and 2027.

Reception

At Gloria Osteria, we went all out for this iconic tablescape:

24ct gold-rimmed deep blue goblets paired with vintage red glass wine goblets
Mixed royal blue and 24ct gold vintage charger plates
Bone-handled cutlery (venue’s own)
Red glass pomegranates
Lamps with red lampshades
Blue bubble vases
Tall mixed glass fluted vases
Blue and red Kunstindustrien taper candles in mixed glass vintage candlesticks
Ribbed red tealight candle holders
Red satin striped napkins
Royal blue majestic dupioni linen with end ruching and draping
Custom die-cut menus and place cards using sustainable materials, handmade in Dublin

Florals always play a big role in wedding tablescapes, and this was no exception. We worked with The Studio Florist to add pops of rich red amaranthus, anthurium and double tulips, with bright blue hydrangeas and delphinium in different vessels for a more unexpected look.

This type of wedding vibe is perfect if you’re an LGBTQIA+ couple who:

want to show off your personalities and do something unexpected
love the idea of contrast and tension
definitely don’t want a boring wedding

Celebrating queer love stories like this is something we’re incredibly passionate about. If you’re planning a modern queer wedding in Dublin (or across Ireland) and want something that feels personal and a little bit different, this is exactly the kind of day we love to create!