KATHLEEN TROY WAS married at St. Mary’s Church on Oct. 5, 2002, in a traditional Catholic service with familiar classical wedding music.
Kathleen purchased her gown at Ellie’s Bridal Boutique, 225 N. Washington St. “I really wanted something traditional but comfortable,” she said. She wore her mother’s head piece and her veil was made by nuns in Ireland.
More than 65 relatives and friends flew in from Ireland for Kathleen’s big day. “Weddings are a time for family,” said Pat Troy, Kathleen’s father. “We wanted to have as many of our relatives and friends as possible here to share it with us.”
After the service, the Alexandria Pipes and Drums led the wedding party and all of the guests from St. Mary’s to Tavern Square, where the reception was held outside Pat Troy’s Restaurant and Pub. While most of the guests walked the short distance, Kathleen and her new husband, Alan Molloy, rode in a white carriage, pulled by a white horse. “The weather was perfect,” Kathleen said.”I still can’t believe how warm it was.”
The menu for the reception was a blend of old and new. “We had baskets of soda bread on every table,” Pat Troy said. “I flew to Ireland and brought the bread back. My aunt made it for Kathleen.”
The wedding cake, too was a blend of Ireland and America. “We had a traditional Irish fruit cake and another wedding cake,” Pat said.
Guests danced to Irish bands and a disc jockey who played everything from Frank Sinatra to disco. “There were people of all ages and we wanted everyone to have a good time,” Kathleen said.
The couple honeymooned in the Bahamas and live in Alexandria.