WeddingDates.ie

A favourite with bloggers after the Irish Blog Awards earlier in the year, the Cork International Airport Hotel is truely one-of-a-kind hotel and perfect for the couple who are looking for a quirky location for their wedding.  Worth mentioning is the incredibly helpful staff and the excellent attention to detail and presentation with the food.

Watch the video below for yourself and then check availability for the Cork International Airport Hotel, a quirky wedding venue in Cork for your own big day.

With many places now getting stricter on hens and stags, its great to highlight the towns and accomodation offerings that not only are hen-friendly, but openly welcome a gaggle of women away for a weekend!

One such place is The Surf Lodge in the magnificent Inchydoney Beach, near Clonakilty in West Cork.  A stunning part of the country, Inchydoney will make you feel a million miles from your hectic everyday life, yet still is only a 3 minute spin from Clon, a bustling little town well known for its ledgendary music bar DeBarra’s.

The “Hen House” sleeps 16 people, dormatory style and overlooks the blue flag beach.  There are plenty of activities to keep the hens entertained for the weekend including Whale Watching, Spa treatments in the nearby Hotel, Moonlight Kayaking and naturally enough, Surfing Lessons.  These packages can be added on from €35 - €65 per person.

For a weekend in Wild West Cork - why not check out their fabulous packages for Hens?

Today’s blog post comes from Emily Doran, a wedding photographer based in Cork.  Some great advice below regarding your photos on your big day.  Over to Emily….

Thanks a million Ciara for asking me to guest blog today. You are my blogging icon!
OK, I’m a newbie to this bloggin’ business so I’m just gonna chat about a few things that I think might be helpful for a bride to be.

Prepare to be amazed!
I think preparation is key for each wedding day. I always try to visit the ceremony & reception venues,  & especially the bridal party photo shoot location beforehand. That way I can really get the most out of a location and don’t waste any time on the day.
Always have a PLAN B for photos if its raining. Nobody wants rain on their wedding day but com’on, we live in Ireland! It rains between 150-225 days of the year!(met.ie) It’s not the end of the world if the weathers bad either. I think rain can be very romantic…a couple kissing under an umbrella in the rain, how cute is that? So, don’t forget to pick out a few nice umbrellas, just in case. Also, reception venues often have great areas for interior shots.

Practice makes perfect
Are you are a bit freaked out about having to pose for photos and feel like you’re not going to enjoy it? A lot of photographers offer a pre-wedding shoot. It’s like a practice run for the wedding day. I include this in my wedding package. When possible, I meet up with the bride and groom at the wedding shoot location for an informal photo session. It gives the bride and groom a great idea of what to expect, try out a few poses, you’ll be more relaxed on the big day.

Delegate
Family photos can be difficult to organise. I think it’s best to take these shots just after the ceremony, before Aunty Sheila disappears off to the pub and gets a bit leery. Make a list of the family shots you’d like taken. Give a copy to the photographer and also to groomsmen/bridesmaids or friends who can help round everyone up and have them ready to step into the picture while you’re busy shaking hands with the congregation as they leave the church/ceremony location.

Ready, steady…
Getting ready to go to the ceremony. If the photographer is calling to take shots of the preparations, have a quick look around. If there’s a pile of washing in the corner of the dressing room it could spoil a great photo, just shove it under the bed or in the closet! There’s no need to go crazy tiding though. Mess is good, once its wedding mess! Dresses and shoes can come in beautiful packaging, there’s no need to hide these away.

Old, new, borrowed, blue
It’s great to get shots of little details. The shoes, rings, flowers, cufflinks. If there’s something special like a card or gift from the groom, the best man’s notes for his speech, even a romantic text message! leave these out for the photographer so they can arrange and photograph them.

Don’t worry, be happy :)
Finally, but most importantly, don’t worry! Loads of brides tell me they hate having their photo taken or are worried about double chins, wobbly bits or just don’t like the way they look in photographs. What can you do to make your photos look good? The answer - don’t worry, be happy! Its the photographers job to get great shots. Just enjoy yourself, have fun, don’t take it too seriously. Hold on tightly to the one you love, kiss, giggle, dance, sing, whatever! Then, when you’re looking back at you’re wedding photos in years to come, you wont see those wobbly bits you worried about, you’ll just remember what a great time you had on one of the happiest days of your life.

Many thanks to Emily for taking the time to put together these handy tips for the blog.  For further information about Emily or her work, see below!

Website | www.emilydoran.com
Email | info@emilydoran.com
Telephone | 087 2878180

Attention Cork-Brides!  The fabulous Fota Island Resort are having their annual Wedding Showcase on Sunday 28th June and all are invited!!

In their own words:

From the moment you arrive at the Wedding Showcase you will know just how special a real princess feels as you are greeted by a red carpet at the main entrance while an impressive wedding car and limo await outside. The magical resort will play host to photographers, bakers, jewellers, make-up artists and wedding planning companies all showcasing everything you might need to create the perfect wedding day. A fashion show will provide inspiration for the most stylish wedding dress, grooms attire and the all important mother of the bride outfit.

If you go along, you will see the Resort dressed for a wedding day. The hotel’s stunning Smith Barry Suite will be set for 170 guests and the luxurious bedrooms, lodges along with a deluxe suite, will all be available to view, so g’wan and have a nosy - you know you want to!

Swit Swoo!

A luxury limo or vintage car will drive you around to see The Clubhouse, which is a conversion of old, stone farm buildings; the exterior retains the original stonework as well as the original country feel while the luxurious interior is more like a top-class hotel than a conventional golf clubhouse, providing an alternative setting for a wedding reception.  If you and your hubby to be are golf-mad then why not consider getting hitched in the Clubhouse itself?

Nom Nom

Chefs from the Sheraton Hotel and Clubhouse will provide sample canapés, starters, main courses and desserts for you to taste and they will also be available to discuss menu options for your wedding day.

Glug Glug

Wine tasting with resident sommelier will also be available to provide inspiration for the perfect wine accompaniment to your first meal together as man and wife.

Click here to find out more about the Showcase.

Date: Sunday, June 28th, 2009

Time: - 14.00-17.30

Venue – Sheraton Fota Island Hotel and Spa, Fota Island Resort

The Trident Hotel in beautiful Kinsale are having their annual wedding open day on Sunday 17th May, 2pm till 5pm.

They have over 20 exhibitors lined up including cakes, gowns, cars, invitations, music… and they will be showing off the newly refurbished banqueting suite.  Couples will be offered a glass of bubbly and some canapés as the saunter round and will also be shown the extremely impressive bridal suite with private balcony.

If you are in the area searching for venue ideas, or even if you just need local suppliers, then why not check it out?

Trident Hotel
World’s End
Kinsale
Co. Cork

Yesterday I met with Gillian O Sullivan a former Olympian and World Silver Medallist who now runs her own personal fitness company to hear about how she helps brides (and indeed grooms) to be get in shape to look their best for their big day.

Gillian is based in Cork and runs her personal fitness sessions out of the Hayfield Manor Hotel near UCC in the city.  She does personal & group training and has a special ‘wedding package’ to help the bride, groom, bridesmaids and even the mother of the bride/groom prepare for the wedding.  She recommends starting about 4-6 months out from the big day to make sure you have adequate time to get trim and look great in the dress.

She will meet you once a week (usually in the mornings, or after work) for 1 hour and does some cardio (jogging down to Fitzgearlds Park in the city) and then back to the gym in the hotel for the weight training which helps with the strengthening and toning (and lets face it, the bingo wings).  Also included is an assessment of your overall diet & exercise routine and she gives food advice as well as an exercise schedule for the week before you are back to her again.  And don’t worry, she’s not a screamer - no cheesy Mr Motivator one-liners here!

The good thing about Gillian’s program is that you don’t have to be a gym member already, the exercises she gives you can be done at home or out in a park - you may only have to invest in a small set of hand weights.  With benefits such as increased energy and stress release, to be honest I think it should nearly be mandatory for all brides-to-be!

Gillian will devise a healthy programme to get you in shape, slim down and tone up to look your best on the big day.  She will guide you in the right direction to achieve your goal….of fitting into the all important dress!

Today I met with the lovely Morgan and Mary from Daimler Wedding Hire based in Kanturk, Co. Cork.  With a real focus on you and your day, when you rent the car, you have it (and Morgan) for the whole day.  He arrives early and decorates the car (and other family cars) with ribbon and makes sure everyone is at ease.  The bride and father then get a lift to the church and Morgan waits on hand to allow the car be photographed with the wediding party either at the church, photo location or after the journey to the reception venue.

They have white, ivory and cream umbrellas - just in case you need them with this Irish Climate!  They also provide the bride and groom with a complimentary bottle of champage and chocolates to toast their newlywed bliss.  With a choice of Gold Daimler, Maroon Rolls Royce or Silver Limosine, you have the pick of the car for your big day and because they have a fleet of cars, in case anything happens on the day mechanics-wise (they are vintage cars after all!) there is a back up ready.  Based in Kanturk, North Cork and servicing Cork and Kerry they have a showroom where you can go and view the cars before you decide.  At €450.00 for the car for the day, you may want to have viewed it in the flesh beforehand!  There are some great pics on their website though, and it might be a nice surprise to have it roll up on the day without having seen it first hand.  With Morgan at the wheel, you will certainly be in good hands anyway!

If the recession is pinching your pocket but are determined to tie the knot, there are 3 venues in Cork that have come together to offer an All-Inclusive Wedding Package for a mere €39.95 per head.  McCarthy’s Bar in Bishopstown, the Briar Rose in Doughlas and Nemo Rangers sports stadium have put together a package that includes:

• Private Function Room
• Fruit Punch & canopies on Arrival
• 5 Course Meal
• Full Evening BBQ

The menu is basic enough with Soup & Melon for starter and Beef or Salmon for main course - but definitely is great value.

Now, while having your big day in a pub mightn’t be to everyones taste, it IS an affordable way to do it and with a bit of thought and effort you could decorate the venues well so that it’s special and unique to you.

For more information contact Ann in McCarthy’s to discuss availability and numbers.

Phone: 021-4346165 or Email: ann@mccarthysbarandbistro.ie

The Trident Hotel in Kinsale are now offering their stunning Master Suite to all Brides & Grooms for their 1st night as a married couple.  The Master Suite, that was recently described in an Irish Times article as “one of the best suites in Ireland” has uninterrupted sea views from the bedroom and sitting/ dining room and has it’s own private balcony overlooking Kinsale Harbour.   The bridal couple will be welcomed to the suite with a chilled bottle of champagne and a fruit plate to share, as they relax in stylish privacy.  As an added bonus, the Trident are also offering the parents of the bride & groom complimentary overnight accommodation in a Sea View Executive room, complete with luxurious Spanish marble bathroom as standard in their new wedding package.

What are you waiting for?!  Check availability for your wedding in The Trident Hotel now!

Today I had the opportunity to check out the showrooms of a brand new menswear supplier in Cork:  Lapel 1865.  It has only been opened for about 4 weeks, but has a fantastic range of stock and the showrooms are set up exactly like a bridal shop with private suites for the groom and wedding party to relax and try on a selection of morning suits and formal wear for weddings.

They are doing a fanastic deal whereby every suit they rent for the wedding comes with a brand new shirt which you get to keep along with the cufflinks!

Their showrooms are in the Frankfield Business Park, around the corner from Musgraves Cash and Carry on the Airport Road.  They are well worth a visit, very different from many of the other mainstream menswear shops, where you end up trying on your wedding suit right on the shop floor.  Pat and his team give a personal consultation to each bride & groom and help them select the suits and then allow plenty of time for fittings with the entire wedding party in a comfortable and relaxed environment.

Next door to Lapel 1865, the well known Bridal Shop Rice And Roses are having an open day this Sunday where they are offering 10% discounts to brides who buy their dress on the day.  Usually by appointment only, this is a fantastic opportunity to go in and take a look at the huge range of stock they have and avail of a fantastic discount into the bargain!

Lapel 1865 is also open on Sunday offering the same deal for the menswear, so don’t forget to bring along the husband-to-be!