Hannah Leen and Darren Collins
Hannah Leen and Darren Collins
The Listowel Arms Hotel, Listowel, Co. Kerry
The Listowel Arms Hotel, Listowel, Co. Kerry
Photos courtesy of Landy Photography
Darren and Hannah met on Halloween night in 2015. They dated for five years before Darren popped the big question in May of 2020. This happened during lockdown while the couple was housebound.
Darren very spontaneously asked an unsuspecting Hannah – who was casually chilling barefaced at home in a tracksuit – for her hand in marriage! In a sentimental gesture he offered his future wife the ring his beloved grandmother had worn once upon a time, an offer she very happily accepted.
Darren and Hannah’s special day took place on New Year’s Eve 2022. Despite some guests being ill – there were record-breaking COVID numbers at the time – the couple report having had a truly fantastic day. They walked up the aisle to the song ‘Maestro’ by Hans Zimmer and had their first dance to a much-loved Waterboys classic – ‘Whole of the Moon’.
Guests were greeted at their table place by a little personalised Christmas candy cane, and for the main course were offered the hard to beat wedding traditional - beef, chicken, or fish. “The craic and fun” of dancing all night is among Darren and Hannah’s most treasured memories.
Another big highlight for the couple was the ceremony, officiated by Elizabeth Drew, which they say they made ‘really personal’, managing to involve children from both families, as well as close friends. For Darren and Hannah, it felt even more unique and special since no couples had been married at St. John’s Theatre in years.
The couple’s favourite picture was taken at John B. Keane’s pub after the ceremony. Their advice for anyone planning a wedding is to ‘finish all the last-minute things the month before!’. Darren and Hannah encourage other couples to think outside the box for their big day, sharing a few great words of inspiration: ‘if you can dream it, you can do it’.
How was your experience with the Listowel Arms Hotel?
“The Listowel Arms were the most accommodating, inviting, f lexible, warm and knowledgeable planners anyone could ask for. No ask was too big or too small. They are truly one in a million. A family run business that treats your day with such care and consideration, like your part of the family! Above and beyond doesn’t cover it, we couldn’t be happier with our choice.” listowelarms.com
