The couple said “I do” in a lavish ceremony filled with special traditions at the Cashel Palace Hotel in Tipperary on Saturday, Aug. 17

Erin McGregor and Terry Kavanagh. Photo:

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MMA star Conor McGregor’s sister is married!

Erin McGregor tied the knot with Irish singer-songwriter Terry Kavanagh on Saturday, Aug. 17, at the luxury Cashel Palace Hotel in Tipperary, Ireland, surrounded by 135 guests.

Erin, 43, tells PEOPLE she and Terry, 47, chose to host their wedding in Ireland because “home is where the heart is,” adding, “Everyone asks why we didn’t get married abroad, and the truth is wanting our son Harry to be a part of our day was more important.”

Erin McGregor and Terry Kavanagh pose at their wedding in Ireland on Aug. 17, 2024.

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Harry, 8, has autism, so Erin says the wedding was carefully planned around his needs and well-being, with help from event planner Andrea Winckworth of Andrea Winckworth Events.

“Our absolute must-have for the wedding was ensuring that Harry was as comfortable as possible and able to enjoy the wedding festivities. To achieve this, we put several thoughtful measures in place to maximize his comfort and joy,” Erin explains.

Erin McGregor and Terry Kavanagh kiss at their wedding.

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Those measures included holding the ceremony outdoors “to give Harry the freedom to roam as he pleased without feeling confined to an indoor space,” having several therapy animals on hand including two ponies and Harry’s own support dog, and setting up a sensory-friendly retreat for Harry at the venue.

For the couple, their wedding was also a special opportunity to bring together all of their family and friends — “the people who have seen us at our best and worst moments” — to “celebrate our happily ever after,” Erin says.

Erin McGregor poses on her wedding day.

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She adds, “It was important to us to celebrate with those who have been a constant support in our lives. We wanted an event that reflected our journey, filled with love, laughter and cherished memories, ensuring everyone felt included in our special day.”

Erin and Terry’s three-day event commenced with a welcome dinner on Friday at the hotel, where the couple was joined by their respective wedding parties and families. For the occasion, Erin wore a handmade outfit featuring a fitted blazer and tulle skirt by Folkster, a female-owned Irish brand. She wore a second look from Folkster — a handmade Rara Avis dress — to the reception afterparty.

Erin McGregor with her bridesmaids who included her daughter Taylor.

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On the morning of the wedding, in a special gesture, Erin gifted her bridesmaids — who included her 24-year-old daughter, Taylor, and Conor’s fiancée, Dee Devlin — customized blue pajamas (in a nod to her “something blue”) and dressing gowns from her own brand, Imperfection by Erin.

The bride and groom opted for an “unplugged” wedding ceremony, asking their guests “to be fully present in the moment without distractions,” Erin explains. They performed traditional vows and enjoyed live music by singer Rebecca Creighton and accompanist Ewan Ferguson on a white baby grand piano. Several family members gave heartfelt readings, and Erin and Terry exchanged rings from The Cut Price Jewellers.

An aerial view of Erin McGregor and Terry Kavanagh’s wedding ceremony.

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Accompanied by her father, Tony McGregor, Erin walked down the aisle to a mash-up of two songs with special meaning to her and Terry: “Simply the Best” by Tina Turner and “This” by Megan McKenna. She wore a white Zuhair Murad gown, purchased from The Wedding Club in London, and Jimmy Choo shoes.

Erin says she was immediately drawn to the dress’ “intricate lace detailing and luxurious fabric,” noting: “The gown perfectly complemented the regal and glamorous theme of the wedding, making me feel both sophisticated and radiant.”

Erin McGregor wears a stunning lace wedding gown by Zuhair Murad.

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Irish makeup artist Michelle Regazolli oversaw her bridal glam, using B Perfect Cosmetics — including her own custom Erin McGregor eye palette and lip collection — and Nadine Quinn from The Craft Dundrum styled her hair using Voduz products.

Erin’s bridesmaids wore ivory crepe floor-length gowns with diamanté details by Folkster. All of the women were pampered by a glam squad consisting of Janice McLoughlin, James McGuigan, Nadine Walsh and Aja Sinclair.

Two wedding dressers — Attention to Detail and The Wedding Dresser — assisted with steaming, dressing and other details.

Conor McGregor poses with sister Erin McGregor at her wedding.

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Terry wore a custom Dee Graham Tailor Made tuxedo, while Erin’s brother Conor sported a custom black tuxedo from his own label, August McGregor.

The wedding ceremony featured several special elements including a sand ceremony, during which Terry and Erin combined pink- and blue-colored sand — from the site of their first date, Sandymount Beach in Ireland — to represent Taylor and Harry.

“This symbolized the unity of our family as one,” Erin explains.

They also performed a traditional hand-fasting ritual. “During this moment, we recited words that expressed our commitment to each other,” Erin recalls. “For this, we chose a multicolored ribbon to honor the colors of autism, which is a significant part of our daily lives.”

Erin McGregor and Terry Kavanagh’s son Harry explores the wedding venue.

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Understanding that Harry might not feel comfortable joining the other page boys and flower girls as they processed down the aisle, Terry and Erin found a unique way to include their son in the experience.

“To still capture this special moment, we recorded a video during the rehearsal of Harry walking up the aisle with us, which we played on two TV screens during the ceremony,” Erin tells PEOPLE. “This allowed us to share that cherished moment with all our guests, no matter the circumstances on the day.”

Erin McGregor and Terry Kavanagh pose with wedding planner Andrea Winckworth.

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The couple — who first met in Las Vegas while Erin was in town for one of her brother’s fights — also made other thoughtful accommodations for their son. With help from Total Sensory Solutions, they set up a sensory-friendly environment in his room at the venue, equipped with soft play and games from The Sensory Pod and TFH. “This gave him a place to retreat to whenever he needed a break, ensuring he could relax and recharge,” Erin explains.

They also partnered with the Dublin-based disability services and support organization Stewarts Care to bring two therapy ponies to the wedding venue for Harry to ride. Harry’s own therapy dog, an Irish Doodle named Kennedy, also accompanied him to provide companionship and comfort.

For all the children attending the nuptials, Terry and Erin offered an array of fun activities including a bounce castle and a bubble balloon house (provided by Plush Party Events), arts and crafts and ann outdoor movie screening. The kids were also given little gift boxes by Personalised Parties by M.

Erin McGregor and Terry Kavanagh’s wedding stationery.

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When it came to their wedding decor, the couple chose a color palette of ivory and gold with touches of light blue. “We aimed for a regal and glamorous vibe that reflected our sophisticated style. It was important to us that our wedding had a timeless quality, ensuring it remains beautiful and relevant for years to come,” Erin notes.

Florist Frog Prince Weddings filled the venue with lush hydrangeas, roses and delicate baby’s breath. Jane from RubyRoo Design created the wedding invitations and other stationery items, photographer Story of Eve captured every moment on camera, and ODICCI handled the videography. Lighting and staging was overseen by Empire Group and sound by Live Productions.

At the couple’s reception, guests sipped on cocktails featuring Proper Twelve Irish Whiskey and Forged Irish Stout, both owned by Conor. They also enjoyed canapés such as lobster rolls, prawn tempura and eggplant tempura.

A look at the table settings at Erin McGregor and Terry Kavanagh’s wedding reception.

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The four-course dinner commenced with a starter of West Cork crab tian with tomato and basil gazpacho and a fennel and herb salad, followed by either roasted butternut squash and parsnip soup or a cucumber and gin sorbet. Guests could choose between two entrées — roast sirloin of beef with Bourguignon garnish and red wine jus or corn-fed chicken breast with sweet potato fondant, green beans, smoked bacon and chicken jus.

Dessert was strawberries and vanilla, white chocolate and matcha tea.

The dinner place settings at Erin McGregor and Terry Kavanagh’s wedding.

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Terry and Erin’s custom five-tier ivory wedding cake, designed by Irina Rogachevskaya from Cakes in Dublin, featured red velvet, honey chocolate caramel, Raffaello (coconut-almond), raspberry and Oreo flavors. The towering confection, which was elegantly decorated with edible flowers and a large cascading bow, was set up outside on a perspex plinth decorated with flowers.

For the couple, entertaining their guests with music was a key priority throughout the celebration. During the cocktail hour, they were treated to a high-energy performance by the New Brass Kings, a six-piece acoustic band.

As the reception got underway, the Ambassador Band, a 10-piece group who flew in from the U.K., welcomed guests into the ballroom, performed during dinner and played Terry and Erin’s first dance to “Unconditional” by Sinéad Harnett. The band later did another lively set after the fireworks display by Rocket Pyro went off in the sky.

A close-up of the white floral arrangements at Erin McGregor and Terry Kavanagh’s wedding.

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As the party continued into the late hours, Casa Disco — a four-piece group featuring a DJ, singer, drummer and saxophonist — took over and kept the music going until 3 a.m.

The day after the wedding, while the newlyweds hosted a barbecue at The Secret Garden and Donoghue’s Bar — located at Cashel Palace House — Terry surprised everyone by taking to the mic, with his best friend Jake Suleman on guitar, and performing a memorable singalong session. Erin wore a Berta Bridal minidress and leggings from The Wedding Club for the occasion.

Erin McGregor and Terry Kavanah watch a fireworks display lit up the sky at their wedding.

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Looking back on their wedding weekend, Erin says it was an unforgettable “celebration of love and support with our nearest and dearest.”

“[The wedding] symbolizes our acceptance that life may not look exactly as we imagined, but we will cherish every second of it,” she explains. “We wove the most beautiful and significant parts of our lives into this day, each in its own unique way.”

Erin McGregor, Terry Kavanagh and their guests hit the dance floor.

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She says she and Terry are now excited to embark on a new chapter in their relationship as husband and wife.

“After we got engaged, it felt like falling in love all over again — a blissful honeymoon phase filled with excitement and that new relationship feeling. I’m looking forward to creating countless memories, facing life’s challenges hand in hand, and growing even closer as we build our dreams together,” Erin tells PEOPLE.

“To us, getting married means completing our family, the final link in our unbreakable chain,” she adds. “It’s the realization of a lifelong dream, where the thoughts of being a husband and wife fill us with pride and gratitude.”

Erin McGregor and Terry Kavanagh celebrate after saying “I do”.

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Reflecting on the qualities she loves most about Terry, she says she appreciates “how seamlessly we operate as a team” and that he’s such “an incredible father” to Harry and Taylor.

“[He’s] always putting his family first and pulling us all together with his dedication,” she says, also praising him for being a good listener. “His 𝑠e𝑥y shoulders aside, it’s his ability to genuinely listen and take everything I say to heart that stands out.”

For Terry’s part, he loves Erin’s kind heart and caring nature.

“Physically, I’m deeply attracted to her, but it’s her great heart that truly captivates me,” he tells PEOPLE. “Erin constantly puts her heart out there and always puts our family first, making her not only a wonderful partner but also an amazing mother. Her dedication and love are the foundation of our life together, and I cherish every moment with her.”