WeddingDates.ie

Today is a day of celebration - the American day of Thanksgiving!  I’d like to wish all our American readers out there a very Happy Thanksgiving but also to ask everyone to pause and reflect what THEY are thankful for this year?  If you are reading this blog, chances are newly engaged in 2009 so there’s one big reason to be thankful!!  For your partner who you are planning this big day with and who you are going to spend the rest of your life with.

There are plenty of others who will be involved in your wedding, from the mothers and fathers, siblings, friends, relatives.  Take some time today to give a heartfelt Thank You to the person or people who are your rock during this time.  We all have those people we lean on through the trials and disappointments and who are also the ones we get the urge to call to share happy news!  Here’s to being thankful to the people in our lives who make everything that little bit better.

And if you are getting married around this time of year, I adore these colour boards for inspiration.  Burnt oranges and Chocolate Browns, Hearty food on the menu and a roaring log fire at the venue.  Heaven :)

Images Courtesy of www.withthisfavour.com

With half the country knee-deep in water, and many of us fleeing for higher ground last weekend, I couldn’t help but think of any unfortunate couples who were getting married during what will forever be remembered as some of the worst floods to happen in Ireland for the last century.

With roads blocked, bridges washed away and many businesses damaged or closed - what would you do if disaster struck on your big day?!  There are some things that even the most organised bride can’t plan for, so all the more reason to invest in solid Wedding Insurance to protect yourself in case the worst happens.

The 5 Star cover from WeddingInsurance.ie covers you up to €30,000 for rearrangement of your big day,€15,000 for the bridal attire, and €7,000 for the photographer.  Cover costs as little as €149, a no brainer when you consider the alternatives if disaster does strike!

November is a special month, a month when Men grow moustaches to raise money (and awareness) for Prostate Cancer.  Most of the men in my life have embraced the Mo-trend and are now sporting some of the ropiest tasches in the land!  Movember is a great idea, and great fun right?!  But what if you are getting married in November - how would you feel about your hubby and/or groomsmen going around looking like Ron Burgundy on your wedding day, and more importantly in your wedding pics??  For the comedic couple, not a problem but I can see some brides out there having huge issues with this….thoughts people?  Leave a note in the comments below to let us know here in WD.ie headquarters what you think of a “Man with a Mo!”

Image from http://beardporn.com

Gift-giving is always tricky with weddings.  Guests nowadays give money as standard, but what about the gifts to each to other or to the wedding party?  What do you get for the groom who has everything?  Recently I heard about a unique concept - personalized cufflinks.  Littlepinkies.co.uk handmakes cufflinks in solid silver using a loved one’s fingerprint.  Ideal for the groom/best man/father of the bride etc.

These must be one of the most memorable gifts you could ever give!  The bride could get her finger prints made into unique cufflinks as a present for her groom or her own father for the day.  If the couple has children already, how about the fingerprints of the child/baby to mark the family commitment?  Very few types of jewellery are as different and as memorable as this.  Want to give it as a surprise gift on the day and can’t get do the fingerprint casting?  Get the couples initials or wedding date engraved instead and give as a unique and memorable wedding gift.

LittlePinkies.co.uk ship to Ireland, and they have kindly offered us a custom pair of cufflinks as this months prize!  So, to be in with a chance of winning just sign up to (or stay subscribed) our newsletter in the pink box on the right and forward it on to any other engaged friends out there that would like a monthly wedding jolt along with top prizes!

As you all know by now, I like to keep you guys up to date with the various wedding fairs going on around the country.  And I do love to see a hotel moving away from the standard displays/fashion show routine.  Well, the Fota Island Resort in Cork has done just that and is bringing together seven of Ireland’s most sought after experts come together for one exclusive evening to answer all your questions.

Taking place on Thursday 26th November, the Fota Island Resort Wedding Forum will host beauty experts, boutique owners, bridal fashion, executive chef, makeup artists, and a travel expert.  They will all speak on their various topics, but then the audience will be given the opportunity to ask questions (via secret Question Sheets) which the panel will then answer.

• Phyl Clarke, stylish beauty editor of the Irish Times, will be passing on her extensive knowledge to brides-to-be to ensure their skin looks flawless and photo-perfect on the big day. Meanwhile, the dashing Leonard Daly of Queen Beauty Emporium will be demonstrating and discussing his much sought after makeup tips. Queen Beauty Emporium is a hair and beauty wonderland in Dublin City Centre, whose hair stylists and makeup artists are the country’s most in-demand for celebrities and fashion shoots.
• Sharon Hoey Bridal Boutique will have the new Sharon Hoey and Jenny Packham collection for 2010 on show on the night and will be on hand to take any questions or queries on how to choose the perfect wedding dress. Described by Vogue as ‘the First Lady of party wear’ and ‘one of London’s most successful exports’, each season Jenny Packham provides brides throughout the world with unique and inspirational designs. Most recently Jenny designed Liz Hurley’s amazing gown for her wedding in India.
• Pól Ó Conghaile will be giving honeymoon advice on the evening. Current Irish Travel Journalist of the Year, Pól writes for The Irish Independent, Condé Nast, Cara Magazine and The Irish Examiner, is a regular contributor to RTÉ Radio One’s Marian Finucane Programme, and is a guest presenter in the forthcoming series of No Frontiers – so expect expert advice on the loveliest locations to unwind after your big day!
• Executive Head Chef at Fota Island Resort, Neil Foster, will impart his extensive culinary knowledge on the evening, assisting you in designing the perfect wedding menu.
• The Mulberry Tree Wedding Accessory Showroom will also be advising on those all-important finishing touches – from stationery and quills to adorable honeymoon flip flops which tell the world your good news in your footprints!
• Wedding photographer Brian Terry, whose first photographic ‘assignment’ was a neighbour’s wedding he covered as a schoolboy over fifteen years ago, will also advise on how best to capture the day.
• Lorraine Keane will host the evening, which will also include a presence from Confetti Magazine, fantastic prizes and great goodie bags with treats from Lancôme and much more! (we love goodie bags!)

It all takes place next Thursday 26th November at Fota Island Resort from 6.30pm to 8.30pm.  Entry is free, but they want you to register via the website or call directly on (021) 488 3700 to book your complimentary places.  If you’re going, keep an eye out for me as I’ll be there too!

Today’s post was featured over on my guest blog spot on Confetti last week, Music to Your Ears people!!  - some advice on choosing appropriate music for the church/ceremony.

When you think about your big day, you probably imagine it as a glam mixture of flowers, smiles and music. The entire mood of a wedding is definitely projected by the selected music for the event, and choosing the best music might seem like a very difficult task, but you need to be aware of the importance of it for the big wedding day

You’ll have to head on over to Confetti for the rest of the post, including song ideas….

Consider this gorgeous tune for when the newlywed couple walks back down the aisle as Husband and Wife.

I love a hotel that bucks the trend - so moving away from the traditional Sunday Wedding Fair is the Oriel House Hotel, on the outskirts of Cork City.  Join the Fabulous 4 Star Hotel in Ballincollig for an Evening of Food, Fashion & Romance on Thursday 19th November 2009 commencing with a drinks reception at 6:30pm, followed by a food and wine tasting from 7pm - 8pm.  Visitors to the hotel will also be treated to a Fashion Show by the Illusive Model Agency till 8:30pm.

Naturally, staff of the Oriel House will be on hand to give you a full showaround and answer all of your questions.  Why not check availability for your wedding in Cork here first?

Weddings are a momentous occasion to be cherished for a lifetime. Putting unique touches small or large can help make the most of those memories. One way to personalize your wedding is by creating bespoke place cards that guests can appreciate and take home.  It’s also a great fun task that you can DIY and not have to spend a fortune on. You don’t have to go all out, or use place cards that are ill-fitted to your wedding.  The whole purpose of personalizing your name cards is to make them unique and represent your style, and it’s great to be able to put a bit of your own personality into every aspect of your wedding.

For the full post with practical ideas, you can read it on the Confetti blog

Markree Castle is the ultimate romantic, exclusive venue for the celebration of a lifetime.  The beauty of the castle’s authentic Victorian atmosphere, the grounds and surrounding countryside make an unparalleled backdrop of the most romantic of celebrations.  Your guests will be amazed by its splendour and privacy.

Markree Castle are hosting their first ever wedding open day which will take place on November 21st 2009.  They are opening the castle up between 12 and 5 pm and the whole place will be set up and ready to go as it would be on your wedding day.  They are hoping to get as many couples, past, future and potential, as well as their families and friends, together on the day, so if you know anyone who was married their previously - let them know!  The staff will be on hand to answer any questions you might have, and they are also offering discounts to any couples who book dates and pay their deposits on the day…so bring along the cheque book!

These Top 10 Tips come from UK based online florists - http://flowersguide.co.uk

Flowers take centre stage and play an integral part of your wedding day. They make up your bouquet and that of the bridesmaids, they are scattered by the flower girls, worn as button holes by the grooms men and guests, form centrepiece decorations at the church and venue, can be thrown as confetti and used to create a sense of continuity and style between outfits, event and theme.  Getting your flowers right and getting them within budget will provide you with a great sense of relief.  The task may seem momentous and indeed it is!  However, you may find that these top ten tips on selecting wedding flowers help!

Photo Courtesy of www.bunches.co.uk

• Tip One – Plan in advance. It is never too soon to start looking for a wedding florist, so once you have set the date for the big day, get those Yellow Pages out!  A wedding florist will have to do much of the work on the morning of your wedding, so may only be able to fit in one or two weddings per weekend – book early to avoid disappointment.

• Tip Two - Shop around. To ensure you get the best deal, both financially and in terms of the best florist you can possible have – shop around. Get quotes from various florists and do not be afraid to ask to see pictures. A professional wedding florist should be more than happy for you to pop in when they are doing someone else`s wedding so you can view their work. As you no doubt will tell everyone and anyone you are getting married, take heed of word of mouth recommendations! A great wedding florist is certainly something to cherish, so if your friends can recommend one – all the better!

• Tip Three – Stay within budget! Selecting wedding flowers may come down to cost at the end of the day, but this does not mean you will have to compromise on what you want.  Get a great florist who can work with you and find the perfect arrangements for you.  Be open at the beginning about your budget – remember wedding flowers can cost anything from three hundred to five hundred pounds (and a great deal more or less!).  Remember – if budget is an issue avoid holidays, especially ones which revolve around flowers, such as Valentines day and Mothers Day! Florists will be busier and charge more during these periods!

• Tip Four – Consider the season when choosing the colour. Not all flowers will be in season at the time of your wedding, so consider this when choosing the colour of flower for your wedding theme.  Knowing your colour before you go to the florist will be a great help!

• Tip Five – Remember time is money! Choosing an intricate bouquet will push the cost of your bouquet up.  Also, bouquets can be heavy!  Choose flowers that are in season to cut costs. Lastly, consider a single flower for a dramatic look!

• Tip Six and Tip Seven – Consider combinations and multiple uses! Flowers from the venue (i.e. the church) can be used as flowers for the table settings!  Multiple use can cut costs and provide continuity.

• Tip Eight – Co-ordination is everything! When it comes to the bridesmaids and grooms men`s button holes, flowers are the ideal way to co-ordinate your wedding day.  Remember, wedding photos will be taken of the whole group, so make sure everyone looks good together.

• Tip Nine – When it comes to Confetti, natural is best! Freeze dried petals have recently become the hottest property when it comes to choosing confetti.  Better for the environment, natural flower petal confetti is an ideal way to add glamour and sophistication to your wedding whilst being in touch with nature.  Available in an array of different flower petals (and therefore in a vast array of colours) petal confetti adds a modern twist to an old tradition.

• Tip Ten – Consider buying your wedding flowers online for convenience and budget. You may find that by purchasing your wedding flowers online you save money and find the whole process less stressful.  Remember, if your flowers are delivered in water to ensure you dry the stems before holding up in front of your dress!