Serena Wardell marries at ancestral Irish castle with silk flowers

When Serena Wardell and Casper Ettelson began imagining their wedding, they did not want a celebration that felt overly formal or detached from who they were. They wanted something personal, playful and full of details that reflected their shared history, favourite foods, music and sense of humour.The result was a romantic summer wedding at Crom Castle in Ireland, Wardell’s ancestral family home. The Australian model and artist carried a handmade silk flower bouquet created from dress offcuts, while the rest of the weekend unfolded with custom stationery, nostalgic music, family recipes, creative cocktails and plenty of Guinness, according to Vogue.For Wardell, the setting was more than a beautiful wedding venue. Crom Castle was tied to childhood memories, family gatherings and the feeling of returning to a place that had always represented love and belonging.A meeting in SydneyWardell and Ettelson first met at a party in Sydney in March 2020. Ettelson approached her directly and asked her on a date, but she initially gave him a cautious “maybe”, as per the report.The two spent more time together with friends at the beach, over coffee and during dinners before Wardell agreed to see him properly. Soon after, the Covid-19 pandemic brought lockdowns and travel restrictions, forcing the couple into a period of long-distance dating as Wardell returned to live with her parents.Ettelson’s determination eventually convinced her that the relationship was serious. He repeatedly tried to arrange flights for her to return to Sydney, even during the uncertainty of the pandemic.“When Casper repeatedly tried to book me flights back to Sydney mid-pandemic, I knew that this was serious,” Wardell said as per Vogue.Ettelson is the co-founder of Fishbowl Australia, a fast-casual salad chain that also operates in New York under the name Thisbowl. Wardell is known for her modelling work as well as her art and creative projects.A sunset proposal in MallorcaAbout four years after they met, Ettelson proposed during a holiday in Mallorca in June 2024.Wardell believed they were simply going out for dinner and had no idea that the evening had been carefully planned. Ettelson had arranged an outdoor table with a view of the sunset in Deià, but strong winds forced the restaurant to move them indoors.The change of plan turned out to make the proposal even more intimate. The couple were eventually taken to a private courtyard, where they were sheltered from the wind but still able to enjoy what Wardell described as the most spectacular sunset she had ever seen.Ettelson then took out the ring and asked her to marry him.Wardell said she spent the rest of the evening crying, laughing and drinking Champagne instead of eating dinner. The couple continued joking about the restaurant staff, who had gone out of their way to create the perfect moment despite the unexpected weather.Returning to Crom CastleIreland was always a meaningful choice for Wardell. Her father is Irish, and she grew up visiting the country to spend time with his family at Crom Castle. She associates the estate with family, food, happiness and a deep sense of belonging.She first took Ettelson to Ireland in 2022. During that trip, they visited Crom Castle and had lunch with Lord and Lady Erne. Ettelson quickly fell in love with the landscape, the food and the warmth of the people.The couple joked during that visit that they would return to Crom if they ever married. Four years later, they kept the promise and celebrated their wedding there in June 2026.A wedding built around personalityRather than choosing a narrow theme, the couple wanted the wedding weekend to feel like an expression of their private life together.“The theme was simply to express who we are to each other,” Ettelson said, describing the celebration as a collection of their favourite foods, wines, music and visual references, according to the report.They wanted the weekend to feel playful and slightly outside the ordinary. That spirit appeared in the small details, many of which Wardell designed herself. She created the wedding stationery and keepsakes, including name cards, drink menus, matchboxes, postcards and playing cards.The planning process was not completely flawless. The couple had planned to bring 150 matchboxes from Australia, but airline restrictions meant they could only transport the empty boxes. Then, on the wedding morning, they forgot to fill them.For Wardell, the mishap became part of the story rather than a disaster. Planning a wedding from another country had taught the couple that not everything could be controlled.Food, cocktails and musicThe couple planned much of the celebration themselves, working with Epic Events for support. Wardell’s cousin Natasha Wright handled the catering and sourced local ingredients, bringing a personal family touch to the menu.Ettelson designed the cocktail list, which included very dirty martinis, margaritas, elderflower drinks made with syrup from Wright’s garden, Aperol spritzes and Pimm’s Cups. Guinness on tap was available throughout the weekend, providing a distinctly Irish source of energy for guests and the wedding party.Music was central to the atmosphere. The couple created four playlists featuring artists such as Nick Cave, The Velvet Underground and The Beatles. For the ceremony, they chose a cover of “Scarborough Fair” by Séamus and Caiomhe Uí Fhlatharta.The music helped create the relaxed, expressive mood they had hoped for—less like a formal performance and more like a gathering of friends and family who knew how to enjoy themselves.A custom wedding lookFor the ceremony, Wardell wore a custom gown by Prea James Bridal. She had always imagined a structured corset bodice, even before the couple decided to marry in a castle.The most personal element of her bridal styling was the bouquet. Wardell created handmade silk flowers using fabric and dress offcuts, transforming the material into delicate rosettes. The bouquet was inspired partly by childhood arts-and-crafts projects she had made with her mother.The rosette motif also appeared across the wedding dress, bodice and veil. Ettelson wore a custom suit by Belance Tailors in Paddington, complete with a matching rosette on his lapel.Wardell completed the look with jewellery from Australian brand Kate and Kole, a vintage Irish Claddagh ring and her Alinka Jewellery engagement ring. For her hair and makeup, she drew inspiration from her great-grandmother and grandmother, choosing a vintage look with flushed tones.A calm ceremony and a full dance floorDespite the anticipation and complexity of planning a destination wedding, both Wardell and Ettelson were surprised by how calm they felt during the ceremony.Ettelson said that when he saw Wardell walking down the stairs, they immediately locked eyes, and the moment felt unlike anything else.Later in the evening, Wardell looked across the dance floor and saw every guest dancing. For her, that was one of the happiest moments of the entire celebration.She watched relatives mingle with friends, old connections meet new ones and guests enjoy the music together. It was exactly the kind of wedding she and Ettelson had wanted: intimate, imaginative, imperfect in the best way and deeply rooted in family.At Crom Castle, Wardell did not simply marry in a beautiful Irish setting. She brought together her past, her creative life and her future with Ettelson, right down to the handmade silk flowers she carried down the aisle.