The Bride is Always Late: Irish Wedding Blog from WeddingDates.ie » Castle Wedding

Lough Eske Castle – Wedding Open Day

Shane — Mon, 19 Sep 2011 14:50:42 +0000

Lough Eske Castle, voted the World’s Best Luxury Country Hotel and Irish wedding venue of the Year for the last two consecutive years will provide brides-to-be with the opportunity to hear the latest trends and see the newest dress styles at their Annual Wedding Open Day which takes place from 12 noon to 6pm on October 23rd, 2011.

The Castle’s experience wedding team is available on the day to assist you plan every aspect of your special day and for those who book their wedding at the Open Day there’s €1,000 in vouchers to be redeem against various wedding suppliers in attendance. Lough Eske Castle, a Solis Hotel & Spa is located just outside Donegal Town and nestled within 43-acres of forest woodland hugging the shores of Lough Eske with the Bluestack Mountains providing a stunning panoramic backdrop. This is the ideal venue for a fairytale wedding!

Click here for more information or to Check Availablity for this beautiful Wedding Venue in Donegal!

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Fitzpatrick Castle Hotel Wedding Fair

Shane — Fri, 12 Aug 2011 09:42:35 +0000

The Fitzpatrick Castle Hotel has the pleasure of inviting all of you brides to be to join them at their annual Wedding Fair on September 18th from 1pm – 5pm. Enjoy a Glass of Champagne while their wedding team show you how your special wedding could be at their fairytale hotel.

They will have their two main banqueting suites set up on the day, both the Albert & Behan Suite and the Prince Regent Suite with different set up options to choose from, the Chef and his team will be there with menu samples for each course to talk you through the delicious choices on offer and tastings are available. There will be select wedding suppliers there on the day to help you with decisions for the extra’s for your day. The Wedding Team will show you the exquisite bridal Suites, both the Castle Bridal Suite and Seaview Bridal Suites will be available to view. The Wedding Team can also show you a civil ceremony set up and discuss the options for a Civil Ceremony at the hotel, also catering for Civil Partnerships.

Click here for more information or to Check Availablity for this beautiful Wedding Venue in Dublin!

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Sligo Wedding Fair & Competition: Markree Castle

Outi — Fri, 17 Jun 2011 08:30:43 +0000

Markree Castle is hosting a wedding showcase event on July 2nd 2011 from 12 – 4pm. See this castle wedding venue as it would be on your wedding day, enjoy Irish castle hospitality and chat to one of Markree’s wedding co-ordinators.

A special 10% discount on all packages will be offered to all couples who book and confirm on the day.

Wedding Competition- From Roses to Orchids:

In tandem with this event Markree is happy to announce a unique competition prospect with an amazing prize to be won by one of their 2012 couples. The lucky winners are to be win an upgrade from the Rose package to the Orchid package – this includes prosecco and strawberry reception, lavish five course menu with wine and prosecco toast, evening buffet & complimentary chair covers. Entries will close on July 30th and the contest is open all couples with a confirmed 2012 wedding booking at Markree.

How to enter:

Couples are asked to email a photo and 50 words about themselves to competitions@markreecastle.ie.

An online vote will go live on August 10th, so couples will need to rally support of their friends, family and co-workers and ask them to get voting!

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Waterford Wedding Fair: Waterford Castle

Ciara Crossan — Fri, 10 Dec 2010 13:10:29 +0000

Imagine you are getting married in a 16th Century castle wedding on its own Private Island….Imagine no more people, if you want an opulent wedding venue with plenty of history and character thrown in, then you better check out one of Ireland’s top wedding castles, Waterford Castle.

Make a note in your diary to visit Waterford Castle Hotel & Golf Resort on Sunday February 6th 2011 from 2 to 5pm when the award winning hotel will be transformed into a wedding wonderland for its annual wedding afternoon.

In their own words, “Age old hospitality with a reputation for fine food and exceptional service, coupled with a truly unique location & utmost attention to detail will make for the wedding day of your dreams.”

On the day you will be able to sample a selection of delectable cuisine from their renowned award winning Head Chef Michael Quinn, who will be available on the day with advice & creative ideas to help you design a wedding menu to reflect your individual style & taste.

Distinguished portraits of past Irish Presidents adorn the walls of the castle and guests can take in stunning views of the surrounding countryside and the River Suir.

To celebrate setting the date for your wedding at Waterford Castle during our stylish wedding afternoon, we would like to offer you…our wedding couples to be, one of the following gifts:

Rresident pianist to play for the duration of your wedding banquet
A harpist to welcome your guests to your drinks reception
Complimentary Prosecco reception for your guests on arrival
Complimentary champagne toast for your guests.

Channel your inner posh and becks and imagine your special day as ‘King and Queen’ of the Castle where your every need will be met! Considering a castle wedding in Waterford? Then check availability in the Waterford Castle Hotel here >>

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Win Tickets to Exclusive Wedding Fair

Ciara Crossan — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 16:22:11 +0000

We try to keep our fingers on the pulse of all things wedding related here at WeddingDates.ie HQ, and we did tell you about Ireland’s newest wedding venue, Johnstown Castle in Wexford a couple of weeks ago. Well, now Johnstown Castle are hosting their first ever wedding fair to invite couples to take the tour and experience the grounds at this unique and magnificent property.

Tickets are €10 for a pair, but we have managed to get some comps for our readers!! The first 50 people to email info@weddingplanner.ie mentioning WeddingDates.ie will get a free pair of tickets, just make sure to state which day you want to go to the fair on. It is on the 18th and 19th of September by the way!

More info from their website:
Couples attending this two-day event will be able to view the castle’s stunning rooms, now available for wedding ceremonies, as well as meeting wedding suppliers and enjoying special deals and giveaways, live music by Gavin McCaffrey and Stephen Tallon, enter competitions and be entertained by Close up magician of the stars Liam Sheehan. Liam was a guest of Michael Jackson during a stay in Ireland in 2007 and entertained him and his kids for 3 weeks.

Prizes and giveaways:

Photographer Ronan Skelly of Rosc Photography is offering a free on the day engagement photo for the first 100 couples to the fair each day.

To be won:

Designer wedding rings by Martins Jewellers
A meal for two at The Sitting Bull steakhouse
A Nessa Blaise mother-of-the-bride customised hat
A bespoke bride’s bouquet by Slaney Flowers
Club Rio will be doing first dance demonstrations and they are also going to have a prize for first dance classes!
A Sex and the City hen night by Whites Hotel
Free suit hire for the Groom and Best Man by Corcoran’s Menswear
A €100 voucher from Odyssey Car Hire
John Daly Photography parent albums voucher
€200 voucher for a storybook wedding album when booking with Maurice Cloake Photography.

The finalist cakes of the 2010 wedding cake decorating competition and ice sculptures by David Walsh will be also on display. Ultimate Job winners Mark and Denise Duffield-Thomas, aka The Honeymoon Testers, will be meeting couples and sharing their experiences globetrotting in luxury with Runaway Bride and Groom.

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Brand new Castle Wedding Venue in Wexford

Ciara Crossan — Tue, 03 Aug 2010 16:35:03 +0000

Wexford’s Johnstown Castle opens its doors for weddings after 100 years!!

The Castle has long been a popular location for wedding photography in the Wexford area, and the good news is, it has recently been approved as a wedding ceremony venue and will hold its first wedding in 100 years in a few weeks!! The last wedding held at Johnstown Castle was Lady Kathleen Larkin’s (nee Fitzgerald) in 1904.

If you are looking for an unsual wedding venue for that perfect civil cermony, then Johnstown Castle has to be on your list. If you want to check the place out, Johnstown Castle is hosting its first ever wedding fair on Saturday 18th and Sunday 19th September. Couples attending this ticket-only two-day event will be able to view the castle’s stunning rooms, now available for wedding ceremonies, as well as getting to know wedding suppliers associated with the castle and enjoy special deals and competitions.

“We are delighted to announce the first wedding fair to be held in the exclusive venue of Johnstown Castle. Steeped in history and echoing romance, the castle provides the ideal backdrop for weddings in the South East. Couples can have a full legally binding civil or religious ceremony in the Castle, which looks so romantic when lit by candles and its beautiful crystal chandeliers,” says organiser Rosemarie Meleady, from The wedding planner.ie. “It is such a stunning venue, it will quickly become one of Ireland’s most sought after wedding ceremony locations.”

There are a range of wedding packages to choose from for those wishing to use the castle for their ceremony. Part of the fee for the use of the castle will go towards its maintenance and restoration. “It is lovely to think that this beautiful castle will be restored by love and romance!” adds Meleady. “There are a limited number of tickets available for each day of the opening of the castle so we would advise people to book early. Tickets can be booked by phone or purchased during August from Whites Hotel, Wexford.”

Check out this video walk-through that the Honeymoon Testers did when they visited the castle and see more photos at http://johnstowncastleweddings.com/

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Wedding Venue Video: Clontarf Castle

Ciara Crossan — Fri, 09 Apr 2010 11:41:42 +0000

One of my favourite Dublin Hotels is Clontarf Castle with the seamless mix between the old 12th century castle and the modern facilities of the hotel. Watch our 2 minute video of this top Dublin Wedding Venue:

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Markree Castle Named Ireland’s Wedding Venue of the Year 2009

Ciara Crossan — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 10:30:48 +0000

I was thrilled to hear the news yesterday that one of our premier venues here on WeddingDates.ie, Markree Castle just topped a poll for Ireland’s wedding venue of the Year! Well done to Patricia and all of the team in Markree who put a huge amount into each and every wedding they host there.

Thousands of brides, grooms and wedding guests voted in the competition sponsored by one of Ireland’s leading wedding websites, www.realweddings.ie . Of six venues from all over the country nominated for the award, Markree Castle, Sligo was the run-away winner with 1/3 of the total vote.

And from the gang in Markree themselves….

The team at Markree Castle were honoured to be nominated in the first instance and, as one of the smallest venues in the running, are absolutely delighted to have done so well. We would all like to thank everyone who voted for us- this is the best Christmas present possible for all of the crew at Markree who have worked so hard over the years to earn and sustain Markree’s position as one of Ireland’s leading wedding venues. Markree Castle is a truly unique location for your special day and our dedicated and professional staff, team of top class chefs and one-of-a-kind atmosphere are paid tribute to with this incredible result!

To celebrate our win, we are offering complimentary wine for all wedding guests to couples booking their wedding on selected dates in 2010. Included is a half bottle of wine per guestfor your wedding meal- for a wedding of 100 people, this is 50 free bottles of wine! For more information and conditions, and to check availability, please contact us on 071-9167800, check out our website www.markreecastle.ie or e-mail info@markreecastle.ie.

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Castle Wedding in Killarney

Ciara Crossan — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 08:30:21 +0000

If you are looking for a wedding venue in kerry, I couldn’t recommend the 5 star Dunloe Castle Hotel more. With every wedding couple getting personal attention from the General Manager Jason Clifford himself, you are guaranteed a level of service and quality that you just don’t get everywhere. The hotel is really unique set in the outstandingly beautiful Gap of Dunloe and the views have to be seen to be believed.

Check out our video walkthrough and let us know what you think of the place in the comments!

Why not check out the availability of Dunloe Castle Hotel for your big day!

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The Real Cost of Your Wedding

Ciara Crossan — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 09:06:50 +0000

Patricia over at Markree Castle has written a great blog post on “Wedding Price Wars” looking at price cutting and haggling from a hotel’s point of view. Obviously, we are all out there looking for the best deal nowadays but you have to bear in mind that if you are squeezing the hotel massively, that they are a business and they will have to cut corners in places to keep their margin.

Here are some of Patricia’s tips for “Would-Be Hagglers“:

1. Sort out the prices before you sign the contract and/or pay a deposit- the reasons for this are obvious. Firstly, you won’t know if you’ll be able to get the deal you want/need until you ask and you may end up stuck with a venue that can’t fulfill your needs. Secondly, it’s only polite to let the hotel know if you are on a budget before things are set in stone.

2. Watch out for catches in ‘package’ prices. Lots of hotels offer, for example, 1/2 bottle of wine per person as part of their package- rarely, in fact nearly never, would your wedding guests drink even close to this amount and not many hotels are offering you the left-over wine to bring home with you! Often you’ll get a better deal on a per consumption basis.

2. Remember that hotels are businesses- exceptionally low prices mean they will be cutting corners somewhere to protect their profits, whether it be on the quality of food or staffing levels on the day.

3. Beware of hotels that will only give you the best price if you pay for the whole lot 6 weeks before the wedding- we can’t think of a single non-shifty reason for this.

4. Bear in mind that if you really want the best prices you will have to make some compromises. For instance, you will always get the best price if you choose an off-peak date for your wedding even if it means compromising your ideal of a sunny, summer Saturday.

5. Don’t get too caught up in the price. Ask yourself this- is the cost the most important thing about my wedding day? The answer is of course no- instead think about value for money.

6. Don’t always thing about value as being purely relating to something that you can physically hold on to. Think of all the other intangible elements that will make up your wedding day: atmosphere, company, backdrop….

7. The number one issue of contention seems to be corkage. Seems to be a rip off since you aren’t paying for a product. Instead think of it as a service and consider the other costs associated with serving wine, aside from the wine itself: storing, chilling, polishing glasses, laying glasses, opening, serving, washing the glasses.

You can read Patricia’s full post here and of course if you dream of a castle wedding or are looking for a Sligo Wedding Venue, you can check availability for the ever-fabulous Markree Castle on weddingdates.ie!

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