“He was the cutest bear there’s ever been, and I was dressed as a mermaid – blue wig and all,” smiles Reagan Toal of the first time she met her future husband, Jake Ballenger, at a Halloween party hosted by their mutual friend. “We hit it off immediately!”

Years later, Jake proposed on Reagan’s parents’ dock at sunset overlooking the lake, followed by “the most marvelous evening filled with delicious food, French 75s (a personal favorite), and lots of love,” remembers Reagan.

The couple spent the next nine months planning their dream destination wedding with the help of Gina Myers of La Cosa Bella Events, who is based where the couple resides in North Carolina. As the bride’s family background is Irish and Scottish on both sides, they chose to wed on the Emerald Isle.

“Truthfully, I’d always just loved what I’d seen of Ireland. The warmth, welcome, and celebration of its people, the greenery and gorgeous nature, and so much more,” shares the bride. “Gina, our fabulous planner, is exceptionally detail-oriented and driven to make things both as beautiful and as seamless as possible. [We] truly couldn’t have pulled it off without her.”

A 17th-century castle situated on a secluded 500-acre estate in Northern Ireland that offers picturesque views and spectacular décor checked all of their boxes – even allowing their 65 loved ones to stay onsite and influencing the design of the wedding day.

“We knew we’d be in a very historic castle and chapel for the ceremony and post-ceremony celebrations, so we aimed to work with and enhance the décor and vibes throughout,” explains the bride, who donned a sparkling headpiece gifted to her on the morning of the wedding by her parents in honor of the tiaras worn on the annual father-daughter dates she and her dad have had since she was five.

“I’d always just loved what I’d seen of Ireland. The warmth, welcome, and celebration of its people, the greenery and gorgeous nature, and so much more.”

Choosing a color palette of emerald, navy, sage, and cream for the nuptials, the day began with a very traditional and intimate ceremony in the castle’s chapel adorned with stunning stained-glass windows. Classic wedding music featuring an Irish twist filled the sanctuary, and all guests rose as the bride walked down the aisle to Pachelbel’s “Canon in D” with an Irish penny-whistle accompaniment. One of Reagan’s brothers officiated the ceremony, close friends and family recited readings, and the couple took part in a handfasting ceremony – an ancient Celtic ritual.

Following the “I dos,” guests discovered escort cards tied to miniature bells with emerald-green ribbon. An ode to Reagan’s beloved grandmother, who collected bells from around the world and gave one made of Killarney crystal to Reagan, the couple intended for guests to ring the bells during dinner to have the newlyweds kiss. “What started as a cute idea quickly turned into chaos,” the groom laughs. “From my four-year-old nephew finding joy in endlessly ringing the bell, to my father-in-law mischievously ringing his bell whenever we had food in our mouths, the ringing and kissing never stopped.”

The elegant reception space was filled with tables covered in sage linens and topped with timeless place settings featuring navy napkins, warm candlelight emitted from taper candles and votives, and lush centerpieces comprised of anemones, ranunculuses, roses, and greenery. The three fireplaces in the dining hall were decorated with gorgeous florals and foliage for a regal look, and blooms also adorned the pair’s three-tiered wedding cake featuring their monogram.

“Jake’s one big request was having a band, so we had a few!” says Reagan. While the rehearsal dinner featured traditional music and the ceremony showcased various musicians, the couple hired a fun and interactive band for the reception, followed by a DJ who kept the party going until nearly 2AM.

While she mentally prepared for something to go wrong, “the day went off without a hitch,” Reagan confirms, urging couples to try not to sweat the small stuff. “At the end of the night, our fondest memories were moments we had with each other and our loved ones.”

This real wedding was originally published in the Summer 2025 issue of Inside Weddings magazine. 

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