Bridal Bliss: Inside Fig And Jacquay’s Fairytale Castle Wedding In Dublin

One of the best pieces of dating advice out there is to lean into fun and authenticity. In the moments when you’re dancing like no one is watching, you could attract your person. One especially colorful summer, former Miss Universe Ireland and engineer Fionnghuala “Fig” O’Reilly was at a runway show afterparty when she met [...]

Jun 14, 2026 0

Bridal Bliss: Inside Fig And Jacquay’s Fairytale Castle Wedding In Dublin

One of the best pieces of dating advice out there is to lean into fun and authenticity. In the moments when you’re dancing like no one is watching, you could attract your person. One especially colorful summer, former Miss Universe Ireland and engineer Fionnghuala “Fig” O’Reilly was at a runway show afterparty when she met Jacquay Henderson. Fig knew she had met her husband within their first year spent together.

“There was no singular moment, but a series of many truly lovely ones that showed that he would be my husband one day,” she tells ESSENCE. “I was never certain I would marry anyone until I met him.”

Fig and Jacquay’s love story couldn’t be more Mills and Boon. They got engaged on Valentine’s Day while on a trip to France, the major moment coming after their seventh year of dating, which is symbolic considering seven is said to be the number of completion and perfection.

“They say, ‘When you know, you know,’ and we have really found that to be true,” O’Reilly says. Some cornerstones of their relationship include mutual respect, trust, and a deep affinity for one another. “We’ve had so much fun together over the years, enjoying small, quiet moments, big life events, and everything in between,” she says.

The couple got married on June 14, 2025, in an idyllic castle in Dublin. As they approach their one-year anniversary, we spoke with them about the day they said “I do” and what they’re most looking forward to in year two.

ESSENCE: Why did you choose to get married in a castle? The venue looks straight out of a fairytale!

Fig: We got married at Luttrellstown Castle in Dublin, Ireland, which was so dreamy and very special because we wanted to include nods to our families, communities, and cultures in our wedding planning. I am Irish on my father’s side, and in 2019, I was the first woman of color to win Miss Universe Ireland. We felt that a castle wedding in the Irish countryside would be a beautiful and memorable backdrop for hosting family and friends from Ireland, as well as Florida, where my husband is from, and Washington, D.C., where we lived before recently relocating to New York City.

How did you decide on a theme that felt authentic and aligned with your vibe as a couple?

We really leaned into who we are as individuals and as a couple: romance, elegance, and a little flair for all things fabulous helped guide our direction. We paired soft yet vibrant colors with neutral tones to complement the venue’s natural beauty. Personal touches tell stories, so I designed our invitations myself and included several elements to represent meaningful parts of our love story: cherry blossoms for Washington, D.C., irises for Paris, where we got engaged, and more.

What was the highlight of your ceremony and why? You had a few symbolic moments during the ceremony. What did the rope and candle lighting represent, and did it pan out how you expected?

Fig: A highlight of our ceremony was the handfasting, an Irish tradition where the phrase “tying the knot” originally comes from. The binding of hands with a special wedding cord symbolizes unity and commitment. Once tied, we pulled our hands free, leaving an infinity knot. We also did a unity candle lighting to include our families. My grandmother and Jacquay’s mother lit the taper candles we used to light our unity candle. We worked with our celebrant to personalize our ceremony so that it was meaningful to us and reflected our intentions and values. It was lovely hearing from friends and family afterward about how much it resonated with them.

Your dress was so elegant. How many did you try on before you found this one, and how did you know this was it?

Fig: I went to four bridal shops before I found the one! Give me any excuse to wear a fabulous dress, and I’ll certainly take advantage. More is more in my book, and I knew I wanted a gown that was timeless and romantic. We booked the venue first, so I leaned into finding an ethereal gown that could take up space while complementing me. I knew it was the right one after trying on other dresses. Nothing compared to how I felt when I envisioned myself walking down the aisle.

What are some memorable firsts you’ve experienced as a married couple over the past year?

Jacquay: Our first trip to Thailand as a married couple, which was also our honeymoon. We had an amazing experience, and it was a memorable start to our life together.

Fig: Just before we got married, we relocated from Washington, D.C. to New York City. So the past year has been exciting as a newly married couple, now living in and exploring the city together.

What moment from your ceremony replays in your head the most?

Jacquay: The cheers and roars of our guests after we were pronounced husband and wife. It felt like we won at life.

Fig: We exchanged our written vows during our ceremony in letters to open on our one-year anniversary. I’m excited that we will be sharing what we wrote a year ago.

What are you looking forward to in year two?

Jacquay: I’m looking forward to making more memories and planning for the future.

Fig: More growth as individuals and as a family. I really think the best is yet to come.

Check out all the beauty from their big day abroad in this week’s Bridal Bliss.