Erin McGregor and Terry Kavanagh Share How They Planned an Inclusive Wedding to Honor Their Son with Autism (Exclusive)

"Our absolute must-have for the wedding was ensuring that Harry was as comfortable as possible and able to enjoy the festivities," Erin tells PEOPLE of the couple's 8-year-old son

When Erin McGregor and Terry Kavanagh were planning their long-awaited dream wedding, their son Harry was at the heart of every detail.

Erin, 43 — who is the sister of Irish MMA fighter Conor McGregor — and singer-songwriter Kavanagh, 47, tied the knot on Saturday, Aug. 17, at the Cashel Palace Hotel in Tipperary, Ireland. From choosing their venue to arranging their ceremony, the couple made many thoughtful decisions with the needs and well-being of 8-year-old Harry, who has autism, in mind.

The PEOPLE Puzzler crossword is here! How quickly can you solve it? Play now!

While they visited and viewed more than 20 different venues in Ireland, Italy and Portugal with their planner, Andrea Winckworth of Andrea Winckworth Events, they eventually settled on the Cashel Palace Hotel. Ultimately, Erin says, they decided that "home is where the heart is" and that marrying locally in Ireland would be ideal for Harry.

"Everyone asks why we didn’t get married abroad, and the truth is wanting our son to be a part of our day was more important," Erin tells PEOPLE.

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

Those measures included creating a special, sensory-friendly environment in his room at the venue, with help from SENCO Sensory Solutions. "This gave him a place to retreat to whenever he needed a break, ensuring he could relax and recharge," Erin explains.

The couple also held their wedding ceremony outside "to give Harry the freedom to roam as he pleased without feeling confined to an indoor space." And knowing that Harry might not feel comfortable joining the other page boys and flower girls during the processional, Terry and Erin found a different, but equally special way to include their son in the experience.

Related: Conor McGregor’s 2 Sisters: All About Erin and Aoife

"To still capture this 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 explains. "This allowed us to share that cherished moment with all our guests, no matter the circumstances on the day."

Throughout the wedding weekend, Harry had his "loyal companion" by his side for comfort and security — his therapy dog, an Irish Doodle named Kennedy. In addition, Stewarts Care, a Dublin-based disability services and support organization, brought two therapy ponies to the venue for Harry to ride.

"The therapeutic effects of horse riding have a lasting impact, helping to calm his nervous system and bring him joy," Erin says.

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. 

Along with Harry, the newlyweds also share 24-year-old Taylor, Erin's daughter from a previous relationship. To honor both children, the wedding ceremony featured a poignant moment when Terry and Erin combined pink- and blue-colored sand from the site of their first date, Sandymount Beach in Ireland.

"This symbolized the unity of our family as one," Erin notes.

The couple also performed a traditional hand-fasting ceremony, using a multicolored ribbon in a nod to the colors of autism. "During this moment, we recited words that expressed our commitment to each other," the bride recalls.

For Erin and Terry — who first met in Las Vegas while Erin was in town for one of her brother Conor's fights — finally saying "I do" to each other meant "completing our family, the final link in our unbreakable chain."

"It's the realization of a lifelong dream, where the thoughts of being a husband and wife fill us with pride and gratitude," Erin adds. "This to us represents the ultimate commitment, a promise to love and support each other through every moment life brings our way and combining our beautiful family, who make us proud every day, into one solid unit."

Related: All the Gorgeous Photos from Erin McGregor and Terry Kavanagh's Dream Wedding in Ireland (Exclusive)

For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter!

Read the original article on People.