For Charlestonians Kelly Regan and Patrick Duffy, Hibernian Society Hall was the obvious place to celebrate their wedding, as it was where their mothers conspired to introduce them on St. Patrick’s Day in 2003. When Patrick proposed exactly two years later, they already had the perfect venue for the wedding, but Kelly had attended tons of events in the revered hall and desired above all to make it look like it never had before. “I wanted our wedding to be traditional but still fun and funky with bright colors, because the space is usually so dark,” she says. The couple turned to Kristin Newman of Kristin Newman Designs, explaining that, while they planned to invite 700 guests, they wanted to make the event as personal as possible. With this in mind, Kristin and long-time collaborator Heather Barrie-Ahern of Gathering Floral and Event Design transformed the Hibernian into a sleek lounge—complete with specialty cocktails and contemporary seating areas—to accommodate the large reception while retaining an intimate atmosphere. On the first floor, lounge band Mirage played low-key music, while upstairs The Mighty Kicks kept guests dancing. The couple was also able to tie in traditional Irish elements, from Celtic crosses on the programs to hemstitched handkerchiefs as party favors. “Kelly was so open to suggestions, and she really put her trust in Heather and me,” says Kristin. “She allowed us to run with her ideas and create an event that exceeded all of our expectations.”
