Our Wedding Story: Brought together by the MoBap Spartans

Amy Kelly and Karl Russell

Soccer players Amy and Karl were students at the School of Sport in Coláiste Íde, Finglas, but didn’t meet until 2006 at Missouri Baptist University, in St Louis, after being awarded scholarships to study exercise science and play for the MoBap Spartans.

On November 13th, 2015, the couple married in a humanist wedding celebration at the Celbridge Manor Hotel in the bride’s home town in Co Kildare.

The bride's cousins delivered readings and her uncle Eoin and cousin Seán played guitar throughout the ceremony, including a rendition of Pink Floyd's Is There Anybody Out There?

The newlyweds' first dance was to The One, by Kodaline.

Amy’s mother, Ann Pierce, had died just two weeks earlier after a short illness. She was remembered during the ceremony in photographs, and her husband, the bride’s father, Pat Kelly, spoke of Ann’s pride in Amy’s sporting achievements as she progressed through school.

Among the 75 guests were Amy’s grandmother Rosie Kelly, grandfather Johnny Pierce and the groom’s parents, Colette and Paul.

Amy, a Manchester United fan, wore red shoes with her dress from Memories Bridal on Parliament Street, Dublin. Her bridesmaid was her sister Sarah, who, according to their aunt Mary, “undertook the organising of the wedding and carried it out brilliantly”.

Liverpool supporter Karl’s best man was his friend Gavin Cullen.

The cake, which featured the MoBap Spartans logo, was made by the bride’s friend Lynne.

Amy plays for Leixlip United, Karl for Bluebell United, and the couple live in Co Wicklow.

Photograph: David McAuley, davidmcauleyphotography.ie

Sarah Geraghty