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! :)

There’s a new website to make your wedding planning another bit easier and its FindABand.ie.  Does pretty much what it says on the tin, it’s a website directory of bands from around the country.

To celebrate their launch they are running a competition to pay €2,500 for a wedding band for 1 lucky couple!  To enter the competition, you have to submit a short video of yourself and your other half explaining how you met and how you came to be at this happy point of your lives!  The competition runs till July 31st 2010 and you have to be getting married after that in order to qualify.  Short-listed Videos will be available to watch via their website and the judging will last for 3 weeks after which winners will be announced.  There are some T&C’s but nothing too tricky…read about them here.

Sounds like a fun competition - so spread the word to any Autumn/Winter 2010 couples or Weddings in 2011!

We love a good bit of cheesiness here in WeddingDates.ie HQ, and especially at Christmas, sher all the better!!  Our favourite wedding band, The Marvels sent us this fabulously cheesy Christmas video the other day and we just HAD to share it with you guys….lovin’ it! :)

If you want a wedding band that pulls out all the stops with a super charismatic front man then look now further than The Marvels! Click here for more info on The Marvels >>

Last Sunday I was invited down to Adare Manor to their wedding fair to check out the property and see what the renowed 5 star property has to offer potential brides.

Let me tell you…ALOT!  It was incredible to see a black carriage being pulled by 2 large black horses with the white feather plumes coming out of the top of their heads!  The Manor itself is really spectacular, and the banqueting hall in particular would be amazing for a wedding ceremony.  For parties up to 90 people they can set the room up with a long extended banquet table - spectacular!

They had invited Wedding Planner to the Stars Tatiana Byron to speak to the brides and grooms to be, about Wedding Trends for 2010.  Diligent as I am, I scribbled notes for you guys so here we go!

A key piece of advice from Tatiana - Approach any decision for your wedding day with one thought in your mind: “How is this going to affect my wedding guests?”  If you always consider your guests then you can’t go too far wrong with your decisions.

Top 10 Trends for 2010

#1 Personalization is key

Suggestions:

• Custom designed monograms for the couple.  This can be used throughout throughout the wedding day from lights on the dance floor, the aisle runner, invitations, cake toppers, menus….the list goes on!
• Custom Wedding Songs.  You tell the story and a musician creates a song, you can use for your first dance, for your wedding “music video” etc.
• Get a characaturist to do a picture of you the couple which can be used on invitations, to display at the wedding etc.  Black Eye Peas singer Fergie did this for her wedding!

#2 Wedding Colours

Suggestions:

• Trend at the moment is anything but traditional, Vibrant colours such as oranges, yellows, hot pinks, greens etc.
• Use colours as a common thread in your wedding - flowers, linens, invitations, table cloths etc.

#3 Themed Weddings

Suggestions:

• French Opulence is popular for 2010.  Think Chateau Versailles.
• Word of caution.  If you are going for a themed wedding, you have to embrace the theme throughout to be true to it and to create the atmosphere you are looking for.  This will inevitably drive up the overall cost of your wedding.

#4 Eco Friendly Chic

“Green Factor” Suggestions:

• Food and Flowers - grown within 100 mile radius, organic farming
• Invitations - sustainable materials eg bamboo, plantable seeds, recycled paper etc.  Katherine Heigl had an Eco Friendly Wedding.
• Favours - homemade organic cookies, organic caramel apples, potted tulips, bamboo coaster & plants…these are a symbol of good luck!

#5 Signature Cocktails

Suggestons:

• Serve your favourite cocktail & name it aafter the happy couple á la “Brangelina”
• Cocktail menus can feature your monogram
• Cocktails can be matched to your colour scheme, eg coloured liquers, sugar crystals on glass etc.

#6 Dessert

Suggestions:

• Cupcake displays very trendy in last year or so
• Dessert Spreads and Candy “Bars”
  • Gourmet chocolates
  • Colourful and towerinig desserts
  • Lollipop gardens
  • mini cupcake towers v popular
• Use your monogram on your cake
• Personalised M&Ms with your initials (only costs about €150)

#7 Entertainment

Suggestions:

• Non Traditional Performances
  • Electric Concert Violinists
  • Cirque style performers
  • Stilt walkers escorting guests
• Trend at the moment for “music videos” in weddings which is basically a 1.5 minute video/photo montage of the couple which can be put to music and shown at the wedding

#8 Bridal Fashion

Trends:

• Bridal Fashion follows runways of Paris and Milan
• Brides showing more skin
• Mini dresses
• Multiple gowns for the evening
• Convertable dresses
• Old Hollywood Glamour, think Grace Kelly
• Romantic/Princess like gowns
• Sheer fabrics & lace
• Mismatched Bridal gowns
• one gown, multiple looks
• Alyssa Milano’s bridesmaids all looked different
• Shop: Sydney, New York OR London; 2Birds Bridesmaid make 1bridesmaids dress for weddings which can be worn in 15 different styles!  Something to suit all shapes and sizes and is sure to please your bridesmaids.

#9 Beauty & Accessories

Trends:

• Hair down with simple headpiece á la Fergie
• Birdcage Veils v popular
• Statement Jewellry - beaded necklaces
• Natural Make up
• Loose cascading curls
• Antique brooches used in hair

#10 New Things!

• Wedding Websites so couples can share their planning process and journey with their family and friends eg. mywedding.com, projectwedding.com
  • Can share updates on hotels, recreation activities, restaurants etc.
  • Involve your guests in your wedding planning process
  • If you are having a “destination wedding” then a wedding website is almost obligatory to keep people informed of the plan for the few days you are expecting them to travel for.
• Blogging about your experience is also a growing trend amongst brides-to-be.
  • Build a Bridal Community
• Honour your heritage.
  • If you have traditions in your family, your wedding is a lovely time to integrate them into your new family!
  • Think about food inspired by your heritage, music etc etc.
• Celebrities are a great source of inspiration.
• Ultimately your wedding is about YOU!
• Follow trends but always add the personal touch.

This was originally posted over on the CuriousWines blog as part of their brilliant wedding series.  Here I talk about why is OK to put a little (or a lot!) of your personality into your wedding….

Weddings are traditional affairs.  The walking down the aisle, giving away the bride and exchanging of vows has been around for decades/centuries/time immemorial.  (Delete whichever ones you think are incorrect – I write this blog in my spare time dudes!)

Anyway, being such a traditional event doesn’t mean weddings have to be boring, or staid, or downright dull.  Now I admit that I haven’t been to THAT MANY weddings, but it has been said on the street that some weddings can have a bit of a déjà vu effect.  Especially if it’s a siblings wedding or someone from the same group of friends.  Especially if it is held in the same venue or has the same band.  My tupence worth is that you should put your own stamp on your own wedding. It should have a flavour of the couple and include their interests and passions.  Why not after all?  Nobody but you is going to think that your wedding day is the most special day of their lives, so why make them sit through something beige?  Give them something to talk about, something to laugh about and something to remember!

Put some personality into your wedding decor.  Particularly with wedding favours or centrepieces, there is great opportunity to be creative!  What is exciting about tables numbered 1 to 10?  Nothing, that’s what.  How about photos of you and the groom in various holiday locations, or with various friends or family members who are sitting at that table.  How about themed centre pieces?  How about Fortune Cookie favours or little plant pots with seeds?  The choices are as limitless as your imagination.

Entertain your guests. Between the ceremony and the meal and between the meal and the band there will be a lull in proceedings.  People have taken time off work, bought a new frock and possibly travelled to be with you on your big day.  You’d better make damn sure you feed, water and entertain them!! There is nothing worse than people being so hungry before the meal they get cranky, or worse yet – hit the bar too hard!  Provide your guests with some finger food or canapés if there is a long gap before they are eating again.  A cheese buffet is a nice idea here aswell, especially if you can serve it with some nice wine.  [Hint: Curious Wines offer fantastic quality at a great price!]  There should also be something more for the guests to do than just drink – I had a magician at my launch party and he worked really well, mingling between the guests, not intrusive at all but the perfect way to liven up peoples afternoon.  Other ideas I have heard bandied about are Big Games (ie, inflatable twister, giant boxing ring, Sumo suits etc) sounds a bit mental, but you can be damn sure that people would let their hair down and have a good ol laugh – and isn’t that what you want for people at your wedding?

Please yourself. While you have to consider the needs and wants of your guests (as above) you also can’t please everybody.  And if Granny is coming and can’t stand loud music but you have your heard set on a kickin’ band, then I’d be finding Granny a quiet spot where she could hang out.  As soon as you start to try to satisfy everyone, you will most certainly end up not satisfying anyone, most particularly yourself.  So make the tough choices and make it a day to remember for you guys and filled with fun and personality.  Even if you are into Death Metal.

Loving Katy Pery’s song at the moment Waking Up in Vegas, there’s a great video to boot!  Anyway, if you can’t afford to jet off to Vegas to get married in the presence of Elvis himself, then the next best thing is surely to have some Casino Tables as part of your wedding entertainment!

Fun Casino Ireland are now offering their casino night package specifically designed for weddings!  They will advise on how many tables you should have based on the number of guests, but it will set you back between €800 and €1500 for about an hours entertainment for your guests.  This would be ideal between the meal and as the band is setting up.  They have also partnered with another favourite supplier of ours Ireland’s DJ Network to provide you with a complete offering where you can have a full casino night and DJ (about 5 hours of entertainment) for €1695!  This is less than most bands are charging and a real viable alternative if you aren’t really into live music or are looking at managing your costs.

I personally think a night like this would be great for a couple who maybe got married abroad and just want to have a big party when they return home.  What a great way to liven up your wedding party!  Or, if you are doing the second-day-BBQ, add an extra bit of fun with a few casino tables, lively dealers and give your guests something to really talk about after the wedding is all over.

Why not check out the packages available for weddings or call Paul directly to chat about what he can offer.  Fun Casinos Ireland service the whole country.

And to get you in the mood….Watch Katy do her thing! Waking Up in Vegas

Probably one of the most memorable aspects of anyones big day is the music and the band plays an all important part (pardon the pun!) in making everyones day a success.  I have written before about wedding bands and how important choosing the right one is.

News broke yesterday that you can hire the Rolling Stones for your wedding for the hefty price tag of €5.7 million, coming in more expensive than the likes of Elton John, Paul McCartney or Kylie Minogue.  But as we all know, there is a recession on, so for those of you out there that are looking to save a bit on the wedding entertainment why not consider 80’s crooner, Rick Astley?!  Compared to The Stones, he is a snip at only £25,000 and at least you know he’s going to be reliable on the night…..

What the heck - take a break from your day to have an ol bop to this….

Recently came across a new irish website selling gifts and gadgets and their Flying Chinese Lanterns caught my eye, perfect for an outdoor/marquee wedding and what a great way to get your guests involved and send up a wish for your future wedded happiness!

The Chinese Lanterns will fly for up to 20 minutes and can rise over a mile in the sky – where they will still be visible all around.  Traditionally used in Chinese and Thai celebrations, these are a beautiful and fascinating way to light up the sky - and (my favourite part) It was believed that wishes written on lanterns would rise up to the heavens and come true. :)

A quieter, gentler alternative to fireworks, flying lanterns are the safe, simple and perfect way to create an amazing visual display in the sky, a really memorable addition to any wedding.  See below for a video of them being launched at a wedding.

If you want Flying Chinese Lanterns for your own wedding, check out GStore.ie - they will ship them anywhere in Ireland and go from €25.00 for a pack of 10 to €300.00 for 130 lanterns.

In my opinion, after the venue the wedding band is THE most important decision you have for your wedding day.  After all, you are relying on them to entertain all of your guests and of course the happy couple yourselves for at least 2 hours after the meal.  Think of the best party you have ever been to and I guarantee you, the music/band/dancing is what will stick out in your head!  You want the same thing for your wedding, so make sure you choose your wedding band with care.

5 Things to Ask your Wedding Band:

1. Do they provide a DJ for afterwards or do you have to source one seperately?
2. Do they need much time for set up of their equipment?
3. Do you have to pay their expenses on top of the quoted amount for the band?
4. Will they take requests on the night?
5. Do they have a back-up band/contingency plan in case one of them gets sick/is unavailable on the day?

Don’t assume anything, particularly if you are dealing directly with the musicians themselves.  Make sure they have played a wedding before and know the dynamic of the event.  Think about your age-group - if you have alot of elderly people coming to your wedding, you may not want a very loud band for example.  Make sure you go to see them live before you book them - you have to be able to judge their live performance and not just the audio from their website.  Talk about their set list, and ask up front for any special songs that you want to be played.  So, if they don’t know a particular song that you REALLY want, they have time to go away and learn it for you.

Some (of my favourite) first dance songs:

• Your Song - Elton John
• Someone Like You - Van Morrison
• You Are So Beautiful - Joe Cocker
• You Are The Best Thing - Ray LaMontagne

Our Favourite wedding  band here at weddingdates.ie are the fabulous Marvels who played our launch party in February.  In their own words:-

There is a strong dedication to Groove, Funk and Hip Hop with the band which is brought a fresh new face to the entertainment scene. It’s not every day you see your granny jumping up and down to House of Pain’s Jump Around. The Marvels don’t do empty dance floors!

How about you guys out there - any suggestions for great wedding bands around the country??  Share your knowledge and expertise with our readers by adding a comment below!

As its Friday of a bank holiday weekend, I feel like a frivolous post.  Came across this vid on YouTube that I just HAD to share, a couples ‘different’ take on a first dance.

Has your Baby Got Back?!

Hilarious stuff, fair play to them both - obviously well rehearsed!  Don’t know if I would have the guts to pull something like that off on my big day though. :)

How about you guys - suggestions for first dance songs or any disaster first dance stories??