Hosted by award-winning wedding expert and author Sara Kennedy, Real Weddings With Sara brings you honest conversations, expert insight, and real-life planning stories from couples and creatives across Ireland. Discover more from Sara at theaislebysarakennedy.ie.

This week Sara is broadcasting from the stunning Grand Hotel Malahide , recently renovated with breathtaking views that must be seen to be believed. .

Sara sits down with Irish influencers Kate O’Neill and Michael O’Malley ,the creative duo behind the viral wedding planning spreadsheet that’s taking social media by storm. To tackle one of the toughest parts of planning — the guest list! Michael devised a clever Google Sheets scoring system to help decide who makes the cut. Each potential guest is graded based on relationship, likelihood of attending, and how much the couple want them there, turning the daunting task into something both strategic and really fun. (we know..the impossible is now possible).

Whether you’re knee-deep in planning or just dreaming of your big day, this episode brings practical tools and also an insight into planning a wedding abroad ( Kate and Michael have picked Portugal for their wedding , there is some very helpful advice on how to do that in this episode, here comes the sun! (we will take any glimmer of it at this stage).

In this week’s episode, Sara sits down with the effortlessly stylish Louise Cooney to relive every magical detail of her stunning winter wedding at the breathtaking Cashel Palace Hotel. From the fashion moments to the finishing touches, Louise shares the inspiration behind her choices and the personal touches that made the day uniquely hers. If you love a behind-the-scenes peek at a truly gorgeous celebration, this is one you won’t want to miss.

Sara also takes us inside the newly refurbished Grand Hotel Malahide — and trust us, the coastal views alone are worth tuning in for. Think timeless elegance, dreamy interiors, and a Bridal Suite that has to be seen to be believed (head over to Sara’s Instagram for the full tour!).

This week Sara is coming to you from The Grand Hotel Malahide. This is part two of the Money talks, you asked for it and here it is! Sara tackles the wedding money questions she gets flooded with in her DMs — the ones everyone wonders about but rarely asks out loud.

From how much to put in the card, to what’s appropriate when you’re attending a wedding abroad, and even what it means when a guest gives nothing at all, Sara breaks it all down with clarity, honesty, and zero judgement!

If you’ve ever second-guessed a gift, felt awkward about expectations, or just wanted straight answers without the stress , this episode is for you. Practical, reassuring, and long overdue, Sara solves the wedding money mystery once and for all.

🎧 Listen now and go into every wedding feeling confident, informed, and drama-free.