Who is Jamie’s VIP guest?
Rugby royalty line out for sharp dressed groom (he wore blue velvet) and his stunning bride
IT TAKES true star quality to upstage an international rugby hero and his beautiful bride on their wedding day. But Jamie Heaslip’s pet bulldog JayZ was the guest of honour at his wedding yesterday.
Wearing a blue velvet dicky bow, to match the sheen of Jamie’s midnight blue velvet tuxedo, man and dog – who have been best friends for more than 10 years – eagerly waited at the altar for the arrival of bride Sheena O’Buachalla.
The bride didn’t make her boys wait long as she arrived just five minutes late to walk down the aisle of the University Church on St Stephen’s Green in Dublin.
After the wedding, the low-key couple celebrated at a reception in the hallowed halls of the King’s Inns.
The Ireland and Leinster star arrived, with his best man Ryan Cunningham, looking thoroughly dapper for the big occasion. His pet pooch and ring bearer JayZ arrived shortly after in his own chauffeured car.
Before the ceremony, Sheena had told Jamie that she ‘wouldn’t keep him waiting long’ and would be at the altar by 2.05. True to her word
Lace-topped white gown was from Sharon Hoey
shortly after 2pm Sheena, accompanied by her businessman father Oisín, arrived in a classic Mercedes.
The bride’s journey to the church was short as she came from the five-star Merrion Hotel where she had prepared for the ceremony in the bridal suite. The newlyweds also spent last night in the Merrion suite.
Marketing executive Sheena stunned in a classic white lace-topped gown bought in Dublin bridal store Sharon Hoey.
The dress was reminiscent of Kate Middleton’s Alexander McQueen gown.
In another similarity to the royal wedding, Sheena opted for only one bridesmaid – her sister Ciara – who wore a fitted green silk dress with cap sleeves and a cowl neck.
The ceremony featured an eclectic mix of music performed by the Carolan String Quartet. One of the first songs played was She Moved Through The Fair.
And the groom’s paid homage to his beautiful bride when Lucky Man by Oasis was played after the couple exchanged rings.
The ceremony ended to the strains of Paul Young’s Love Is In The Air followed by Mumford & Son’s I Will Wait.
Sheena’s proud father and her mother Sharon greeted guests outside the small church as a convoy of blue Range Rovers idled nearby to take the wedding party to the King’s Inns for the celebration.
Jamie’s father Richard, a brigadier general in the Irish Army, wore his army uniform and looked proud as punch after the ceremony.
His mother Christine wore a long silver two-piece.
Guests included Jamie’s business partners in his two pubs, The Bridge and their new venture Lemon & Duke. Rob Kearney arrived with his model girlfriend Jessica Redden, both sporting summer tans.
His brother Dave was flying solo and arrived with business partner Noel Anderson and his wife.
Their Leinster and Ireland colleague Seán O’Brien was also going solo as he was without girlfriend Georgia McGurk.
However, Cian Healy looked happily with his girlfriend Laura Smith on his arm. She looked stunning in a short skater-style dress.
Fresh from their own wedding and honeymoon, teammate Devin Toner and wife Mary mingled with the guests on St Stephen’s Green.
Johnny Sexton and his wife Laura also flew in for the occasion. Billionaire businessman Paul Coulson arrived in a chauffeured Mercedes with his glamorous wife Moya.
Sources told the MoS that the couple would be taking a short honeymoon in Europe as Jamie is back training this month.
The couple have enjoyed a few pre-wedding breaks and have been to New York, Portugal and Spain which could account for their deep wedding tans.
After the ceremony and the signing of the register, the newlyweds posed for a single picture in front of the church. But JayZ happily posed for a number of pictures as he basked in his newfound fame.