The Bride is Always Late: Irish Wedding Blog from WeddingDates.ie » Eco-Friendly Weddings

Get advice on Alternative Weddings

Ciara Crossan — Tue, 09 Nov 2010 19:01:49 +0000

If you’re a regular reader, you’ll know that I’m all in favour of the Alternative Wedding. I love the idea of doing something really different and putting your own stamp on your big day. This weekend, there’s an Alternative Wedding Event for those who want something different but don’t know where to start.

One of a Kind Weddings are holding an “Alternative Wedding Event” at a new country house venue in Navan – the Boyne Hill House. It all happens on Saturday 13th November between 2pm and 6pm.

Some people want to get married in a castle, have their union blessed by a celebrant or create a Halloween themed banquet! This event will give you all the inspiration and contacts you need to make any quirky dream come true. There’ll be an afternoon of informative seminars on wedding budgeting, effective wedding planning, creating an eco-chic event and setting the scene with photography. As well as this there will be hand picked exhibitors demonstrating the latest ideas in alternative and eco weddings – from eco-chic bridal wear to creative cakes to fire-eaters. Tickets are €5 on the door.

There will be 4 seminars on the day:

For you to learn about the types of weddings possible in Ireland
Creating an eco-chic wedding
How to get the most from suppliers
How to get the most from your photographer

Civil weddings are rapidly gaining in popularity in Ireland and it is likely that they may overtake religious ceremonies by 2012. Recent changes to legislation allowing people to marry in venues other than churches and registry offices have influenced this shift. Added to this the Civil Partnerships bill means that from January 2011 same sex couples will also be allowed marry in Ireland.

Despite these changes, most wedding events and packages still expect that couples will be happy to jump aboard the wedding conveyor belt to carry on down the traditional route of church and hotel. “When people fall in love and decide to get married they start off with a picture in their head of what they want their day to be like. However with the amount of information out there sometimes they lose their way and get caught up planning the wedding that everyone expects them to have” says Linda McAllorum, one of the founders of One of a Kind Weddings. Linda is a wedding planner with more than five years experience. Her partner, Andrea Carroll, is a highly experienced environmental consultant, writer and media correspondent on green issues. Together they formed One of a Kind Weddings to help people rediscover the potential in their big day and create the wedding of their dreams.

For more information get in touch with the girls of One of a Kind Weddings over on Facebook!

Photo Credit: White Tea Photographers

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Classic Combi Wedding Alternative!

Ciara Crossan — Fri, 11 Jun 2010 08:30:40 +0000

In our preparation for traveling to Finland for the World Wife Carrying Championships, I have been trying to source a decent campervan to bring us all the way there. Through my searching, I have pretty much talked to every campervan rental company in Ireland! One really interesting one I stumbled on was LazyDays.ie – they only rent classic Volkswagen Combi vans.

The really interesting thing, is that they have “wedding rental” packages available! Imagine an alternative to the traditional wedding car, by arriving in a combi!

Lazy Days offers two options for wedding hire:

Wedding Package

This offers you the stress free option of a chauffeur driven camper for your wedding day, including champagne and ribbons. Your chosen camper can be decorated according to your needs.

Standard Rental

With this option you personally collect, drive and return your chosen camper to Lazy Days in Wicklow, or you could elect a member of your wedding party to look after collection and return for you.

Lazy Days have five campers available for hire: Splitty, Charlie, Barry, Indy, and Sonny.

Splitty can seat up to 6 including the driver but is not a camping vehicle. Barry and Sonny can seat 5. Indy and Charlie can seat 4.

For the more unusual wedding couples amongst you out there, I think this is a gorgeous idea, and if you are interested, give Sue in LazyDays.ie a call!

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The luck of the Irish

Ciara Crossan — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 10:05:57 +0000

If you are considering a Spring Wedding, in March around Paddys Day, then what better colour to choose than green?! It is the colour of life and growth and in the spirit of the week that’s in it I wanted to share this green inspiration boards with you all.

How about using our national emblem, the shamrock as your ring pillow?!

Just remember, when setting your wedding date to consider holidays, festivals or events that might be going on around that time. Read back on some of our advice on Disaster Dates to Avoid…

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Bag a Bridal Bargain!

Ciara Crossan — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 08:30:32 +0000

OxfamBridal is calling all brides-to-be and fashionistas to a fun filled bridal fashion show in Dublin’s Fallon & Byrne on the 25th February to showcase the fantastic range of wedding dresses on sale in OxfamBridal-Oxfam’s dedicated bridal boutique.

The dress designers on show include Vera Wang, Rosetta Nicolini and Amanda Wyatt. Almost all the dresses on show have never been worn before. RTE’s Off the Rails stylist Brendan Courtney is the host on the night and there will be a performance by the Dublin Gospel Choir. Other fashion highlights include a showcase of vintage clothes also on sale in Oxfam’s Georges Street shop. Tickets cost €10 and are available by calling 01 4780777, or dropping into Oxfam George’s Street shop, Dublin 2.

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Candles in the Sky

Ciara Crossan — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 08:30:45 +0000

A fan of anything that will add a bit of spark to your wedding, I have written about Chinese Flying Lanterns before here on the wedding blog and now there is another supplier offering these in Ireland. Skycandle Ireland just launched last week and are offering all customers 10% off, simply type in ‘launch’ in the promotion box at the checkout.

Skycandles are also known as Chinese lanterns, and they are set alight and they float off into the sky creating a really beautiful display that would be ideal for a wedding. Skycandles are 100% biodegradable, so no need to worry that you are harming the environment!

Many couples often look for some entertainment during the wedding day to add splash of drama and wow factor to the proceedings. A popular choice is a ‘release’ of some description whether it is butterflies, balloons, doves, or fireworks and these are all popular crowd pleasers. Skycandles are an alternative choice and offer something that bit different, they also represent luck and good fortune. They are made from biodegradable paper so tick all the right boxes for an eco friendly display. Different to the other “release” options, skycandles are a great way to get the guests involved.

The flame lit underneath provides the uplift using the same principle as a hot air balloon to float the lanterns into the sky on a calm dark evening for a dramatic display. The Lanterns can be used both day and night You can ask your guests to write their own good luck messages on the lanterns which can be read by the bride and groom wishing them luck in their future life together.

There are many packages available, ranging from a 5 pack for €20 to a pack of 200 for €340. Check out www.skycandle.ie for more info.

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Straight from NYC! Wedding Trends for 2010

Ciara Crossan — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 11:17:12 +0000

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.

Tatiana also hosts New Yorks finest Luxury Bridal Show called the Wedding Salon so if you are living in NYC or planning to visit, I’m sure it would be WELL worth a look!

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Top 10 Tips on Selecting your Wedding Flowers

Ciara Crossan — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 18:49:15 +0000

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!

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Top 10 Must-Read Wedding Blogs

Ciara Crossan — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 09:30:53 +0000

We love writing the wedding blog here on WeddingDates.ie but we also love READING some other great blogs, from Ireland and farther afield. You can get some really great ideas and inspiration from wedding blogs and often times a good giggle in the process!

Here’s our guide to the top 10 wedding blogs that you really should add to your Google Reader….

iDIY – Design Goodies for “I Do”-It-Yourself Weddings
The UnBride – Unconventional & Unforgetable
Didn’t Get the Wedding Gene – personal account of an Irish gals wedding planning
Temple of Groom – One for the Boys! An LA Groom who is very much part of his wedding planning
Etsy Wedding – Offbeat finds for the Ecclectic Bride (From Etsy, online shop for all things handmade)
Wedding Nouveau – A Style Guide for Intercultural Brides
Brenda’s Wedding Blog - Daily Inspriration for the One-Of-A-Kind Bride and Groom
BrideChic – an online resource for Bridal Fashion – DRESSES, DRESSES, DRESSES!
StyleMePretty – “Obsessions for Brides” – the photography in this blog is FABULOUS!
Beaut.ie – Irelands #1 Beauty Blog – Now while not 100% weddingy, I think all brides-to-be need to be in the know re: beauty products and regimes!

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Message In A Bottle

Ciara Crossan — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 13:04:44 +0000

One of my very dear friends recently travelled to Portugal for the wedding of her manager. It was an unusual wedding in that, the newlywed couple are both American, but the bride has lived and worked in Ireland for the past number of years but is now planning to relocate back to America after the wedding. Everybody had to travel to the wedding, from Ireland and the US and there was 37 of them together for a full week.

One of the most touching parts of the whole ceremony was that the bride made personalised wedding favours for all of the guests. Not any normal wedding favour, each guest had a Corona bottle waiting for them when they sat down for dinner, inside of which was a scroll with a personalised letter written to each and every one of them. I read my friends letter, and it brought a tear to my eye – not only was this a gorgeous gesture for all of the guests, for the Irish in the crowd, it was a goodbye note too.

I am always hammering on about making your day special and that its the unusual little touches that will stand out in peoples memory. I am sure that anyone who attended that wedding will cherish that letter forever.

Maybe not practical for a large Irish extravaganza but for a smaller, more intimate wedding I think it would be a beautiful thing to do. The bride typed up each letter on sandy coloured paper (for a homemade alternative, you could dye white paper with a wet teabag) and burned around the edges so it had an old-map effect. She then rolled up each scroll and placed inside the Corona bottle which had a sand & shells in the bottom of the bottle to weight it.

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Fly Me To The Moon! Spectacular Chinese Lanterns

Ciara Crossan — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 08:30:34 +0000

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.

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