WeddingDates.ie

Update from Liz, her wedding planning is on hold as the family welcomes a new baby this week!

Congrats to all the Killeen clan!! xx

Missed anything? Take a look back on the previous vBlogs

What will the Americans come up with next?!  For the adrenaline junkie couples out there not content with a traditional walk down the aisle, now you can get married on a rollercoaster!! The home of the Little White Chapel and Elvis weddings, Las Vegas is now offering couples to take the plunge at 67 mph…. plunging down a high speed rollercoaster!!  The New York New York Hotel on the infamous Las Vegas strip is probably the most exhilarating venue any couple could imagine!

A Morning ceremony will cost you a mere $600, with the Evening ceremony setting you back $700, both prices including minister.  But be warned, this is going to be a high speed ceremony in every sense of the word… weddings take place in 15-minute intervals!

In these economic times, everyone is looking to save as much as they can on their wedding expenses.  And anyone in the midst of the planning process knows that these build up really quickly!  For any Sligo brides out there, consider heading to the Clarion Hotel’s Wedding Fair on March 7th.  They are giving 10 bridal couples €2,000 worth of wedding giveaways!

They will also be unveiling their new bridal penthouse and the MC for the day is Darren Kennedy, TV presenter and stylist.  Touring around a fab hotel and be in with a chance to win €2,000 of wedding goodies?  I can’t think of many better ways to spend a Sunday afternoon for an engaged couple!  The event will be on from 2pm - 6pm.

After the dismal response to last month’s competition (only 1 entry!) we have upped the ante here in WeddingDates HQ and are offering our lucky blog readers the chance to win a 5 star pampering break in Wicklow for 2.  The renowned Marriott Druids Glen Resort has generously offered us 1 Nights, Dinner, Bed & Breakfast and a spa treatment for 2 people.  All you have to do to win, is tell us what the average price per head is for a wedding in the Marriott Druids Glen.  Email your answers to competitions@weddingdates.ie

Nowadays, lots of people are considering marquee weddings, but many of us barely know what goes into such an event, between the marquee styles themselves, down to furniture rental, decor and all the added extras that you need to think about.  While the “concept” of a marquee wedding is fantastic, you have to consider all of the elements and the costs involved with buying everything separately where as a Hotel will include most (if not all) of these things..tables, chairs, cutlery, centerpieces etc.

Thankfully, there are some companies out there that do the lot and Hireall is one of them.  They are now hosting Ireland’s first ever Marquee Open Day so couples can go along and see and feel what are the different marquee options out there.

On Sunday 28th February, Hireall will be showcasing its fabulous wedding marquees as well as its marquee wedding décor and themes. Visitors will get the chance to view some speciality linens and table settings along with a huge range of wedding accessories, all under one… tented roof! They will also be launching a wide range of new products at their newly opened showrooms on the day.

The Open Day will run between 12 noon and 5.30 p.m. and is open to both trade and the public. Admission is free and no bookings are required.

Couples and their families and friends (the more the merrier) can enjoy a relaxed and enjoyable day collecting lots of new ideas to help create their perfect wedding day.

Hireall is one of the leading Marquee and Party Hire Company in Ireland, they are located at 37 Spruce Ave, Stillorgan Industrial Park, Sandyford, Co. Dublin.  Here’s hoping for a dry day on Sunday for their big Open Day!

With the dreaded “recession” jetting off for Hen & Stag parties abroad is becoming rarer and rarer, so more people are looking around for fun and different activities in Irish towns and cities around the country. There are Greyhound Stadiums around the country and they are now actively promoting themselves as a Hen & Stag venue of choice.

They have full catering facilities and varied menus from €25 to €45 per head.

Many of the stadiums have links with local hotels to do package deals, which make things even easier to plan!  Here’s where you can head to:

• Shelbourne Park, Dublin
• Curraheen Park in Cork
• The Kingdom, Tralee, Co. Kerry
• Kilcohan Park, Waterford
• Mullingar Greyhound Stadium, Westmeath
• Dundalk Greyhound Stadium, Louth

More Infomation is available or book directly online on www.igb.ie, or alternatively call the national sales centre on 1890 269 969.

Not just for the rich and famous, now you too can arrive at your wedding in an uber-luxurious Bentley Car.  Munster Bentleys have the only car of its kind in Ireland (Continental Flying Spur) and the good news is, they rent them for weddings!! We were lucky enough to have this car at our launch party last February and it has a real wow-factor with all the guests, many of whom got a spin in it!

Couples can rent the car for their wedding day transportation anywhere in Munster, and Hotels can sign up for a package deal for their wedding couples.  An altogether fabulous way to arrive at your big day!  This new exclusive chauffeur service in a new Bentley Continental Flying Spur, is one of the only of its kind in the country so you can pretty much be guaranteed that it will be “different” to the traditional Wedding Car.

Check out their website: http://www.munsterbentleyhire.com or contact Loretto Kiernan on  086-1738238 for a quote.

We have talked about Wedding Gifts here on the blog before and I personally like the unusual and original gifts for people that show you have put a bit of thought into it and that it will be something that people will remember you gave to them as oppossed to money.

I have recently come across two very unusual gift ideas - original handmade art.  These could be used as Engagement Gifts for the couples home, they could be a nice gift to give to the bridesmaids in your wedding, or as a Wedding Gift for the couple.  As with anything creative like this, the only limit is your imagination!

Audrey Shallow is based in Cork and she makes “Create Wish Angels” beautifully handcrafted angels which look stunning framed and carry a message along with the 3-dimensional handmade angel.  ”Angel” is from the Greek angelos meaning ‘messenger’. May this angel be the messenger of your heartfelt wish…

Angel of My Heart

You can get individual framed Angels like the Angel of My Heart above, or a double like the Angel of Love and Angel of Promise for the happy couple:

Audrey also can create “custom” angels, so give her a shout if there is any specifics you want, like the wedding date inscribed or the couples names etc.  These also make ADORABLE baby gifts by the way!!  The individual framed angels start at €45 and you can get one customized for only €55.

Another Cork artist is Martha Cashman who does Ceramic and Porcelain Sculpture.

Martha’s work is in glazed paper porcelain.  She creates very fine kitchen utensils (non functional), some pieces interspersed with woven wire, carved birch and ash wood to accentuate and enhance the delicate white porcelain.  The pieces are box framed using limed ash and make really unusual and stunning pieces when displayed in the home.

I think these are really unique Engagement Gifts and would be lovely to give to a couple who had moved into a new home together.  The framed pieces cost €110.

Kerry Collins is painter based in Crosshaven in Cork and you can buy her prints directly from her website.  She has really colourful work which you can get printed on paper and frame yourself or get it on canvas.  I like the largest canvas (50 X 37cm) for €110.00.

She has some really funky stuff including clowns and cows, but I like the landscapes and modern stuff for wedding gifts.

Great to support local Irish artists and crafts and really great as an unusual and highly personal wedding or engagement gift!

Last week I wrote about the Fake Wedding I attended in Hotel Meyrick where we were entertained by “Fr Feely” the priest who also does Bertie impressions!  He really added a lift during the speeches of the night and he was keen to let me know that he is now available for wedding entertainment.  As with all wedding entertainment, things go in and out of fashion, maybe now its time to think of a wedding comedian, bringing to life all the political characters, wigs ‘n’all and of course he can also be your priest…. father feely!! :)

AS SEEN ON TV:

RTE’s Celebrity Boxing show, Lords of the Ring, Celebrity Eurostar, The Panel, Bull Island, The Late Late Show, No Frontiers, The Afternoon Show, Fr. Ted, Ni Gaelgoer Me [Tg4]…. And that’s just his day job!!

Alan Shortt has worked as a comedian, writer, actor, broadcaster, for the last 15 years, entertaining both private and corporate clients all over Ireland and abroad with his hilarious political impressions.

His characters include: Brian Cowen, Bertie Ahern, Barrack Obama, Bill Clinton, Michael D Higgins, George Lee, Christy Hennessey ….. And many more.

Alan’s one man show is suited to all corporate events, golf outings, conferences, seminars, staff motivation clinics, and even intimate private social gatherings like weddings.  Alan always insists in meeting the client during the weeks leading up to the event so he gather as information to add to his material for the event. This offers a very personal touch and works really well with the audience.

to get in touch with Alan to discuss your wedding entertainment and get pricing info, you can ring him direct on 086 8394660 but just make sure to let him know you read about him on the weddingdates.ie blog! :)

Leinster brides take note, Tattersalls House situated at the world renowned Tattersalls bloodstock auction house is hosting their wedding fair this Sunday, 21st February.  They are inviting all couples who want a wedding venue with a difference to come down and take a look.  The beauty of this venue is that it has a distinctly country feel and yet is only 30 minutes from the capital!

You can have your civil ceremony on site and private dining for up to 250 guests in the charming house.  Complimentary bus transfers to nearby hotels for accomodation.  You can have a traditional-feel country wedding and still stay in a modern hotel - the best of both worlds!

Naturally, you can also check availability for your wedding in Meath at Tattersalls House here on weddingdates.ie!