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

Extreme Weddings and Photos

Outi — Thu, 21 Apr 2011 10:53:53 +0000

I’ve been writing blogs both quirky wedding venues and photos, and now here’s both! A photo gallery at BBC News caught my eye with amazing wedding photographs from very unusual venues.

Moira Urquhart and Charlie Brown got married at the Elephant Sanctuary near Kruger Park, South Africa. If you’d like to be the center of attention in your wedding portrait, posing with an elephant may not be the best idea..

Kris Wotton and Stephen Riggs saw an advert for a wedding climb on Australia’s Sydney Harbour Bridge and joked about it.. Anyway, here’s the proof what finally happened!

This gorgeous photo is from Russia. A Teddy Boy-style wedding, inspired by fashion of the 1950s and 60s. Photographer Anastasia Volkova said: “Misha and Masha’s wedding was absolutely unforgettable, colourful and funny.”

Check out the rest of the photos from BBC gallery, or look for Unusual Wedding Venue and Wedding Photographer to make your own!

Like this? You might also like:

Weddings abroad: Best places to get married

Outi — Mon, 11 Apr 2011 10:24:51 +0000

If you’ve been considering getting married somewhere on the edge of the world, Lonely Planet has listed the best and definitely unusual places to celebrate weddings.

For example India, Italy, South Africa and Antarctica made it to the list, and I have to admit that these places are far away from ordinary.

From the town of Leh in the northern Indian region of Ladakh you can depart for a two-day trip across the ‘roof of the world’, a lovely global precursor to the roof over your heads. Get married at the end of day one and test your bond on day two by crossing the perilous swing bridges between canyons.

Tuscany is one of the most romantic spots in Europe, so Lonely Planet recommends you to plan your big day under the hot Sun of Italy following way: Hire the main villa for you and your mates, and a series of connected cottages nearby for both sets of family. Get everyone to arrive the night before and meet up in the convivial atmosphere of the local pizzeria. The next day, after a lazy, sunny morning getting ready, be married in the little fresco-painted chapel on the property. Hold an evening reception on the lawns, surrounded by fireflies and caterers with gallon jars of homemade red plonk. Sounds irresistible..

If you’re looking for excitement and an ultimate adventure, you may want to try a shark cage off Gansbaai, 175km southeast of Cape Town, South Africa or join your life partner on the good ship Aurora, on your way to Antarctica. April to October is the peak shark season, and the best time for penguins is either November, when penguin colonies are engaged in courtship rituals or February to March when you’ll see the newborn chicks.

Read the whole story about the best places to get married (and to go after a break up) from here or check the unusual wedding venues closer to home!

Like this? You might also like:

Yay, I Do!! Unusual Wedding Finds

Ciara Crossan — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 11:54:53 +0000

Heard about this fabulous, gathering of all things wedding and all things unusual. Naturally, I felt right at home! Had to share it with you guys….

Photo Credit: Lauren Church

Check out Yay, I do…

Like this? You might also like:

Rollercoaster of Love

Ciara Crossan — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 10:18:34 +0000

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!

Like this? You might also like:

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!

Like this? You might also like:

Up, up and away! Wedding Showcase in Cork International Airport Hotel

Ciara Crossan — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 12:04:45 +0000

Now I know the idea of an airport hotel probably does not conjure up romantic weddingy images in your mind, but I urge you to pause for thought for the Cork International Airport Hotel. It is not your run-of-the-mill airport hotel, it is one of the funkiest hotels in Ireland and has alot to offer a couple who are a bit quirky but still want a hotel wedding.

The whole decor of the place is really unusual, with coloured lighting, unusual sculptures and a real retro-feel. They are opening up the hotel to showcase it as a wedding venue this Sunday and if you haven’t been to the hotel before, it is WELL worth a trip up. Make sure you check out the loos!

Cork International Wedding Showcase is taking place this Sunday 11th October between 1 and 5pm. The incredible staff of the hotel will be showcasing the property as a exciting venue to host your wedding.

There is a extra special wedding offer available on the day of €49.00 per guest which includes:

Arrival Reception
4 Course Dinner
Glass of Wine
Evening Reception

There will be local vendors also showcasing their services and there’ll also be spot prizes and giveaways on the day. You can now check availability for your perfect wedding date on their own website: http://www.corkinternationalairporthotel.com/weddings/ or through the WeddingDates.ie page for your Unusual Wedding Venue in Cork

You can also take a quick look at our video walk-through of the hotel – it definitely has the WOW factor in my opinion!

Like this? You might also like:

Quirky & Unusual Wedding Venue – Cork International Airport Hotel

Ciara Crossan — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 07:00:37 +0000

A favourite with bloggers after the Irish Blog Awards earlier in the year, the Cork International Airport Hotel is truly one-of-a-kind and a very unusual wedding 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 and unusual wedding venue in Cork for your own big day.

Like this? You might also like:

Trash The Dress!

Ciara Crossan — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 11:19:30 +0000

Trash the Dress is a relatively new concept that many brides-to-be that I’ve met haven’t heard of yet (and most of them seem shocked and horrified at the suggestion!) “Trash The Dress” began in America (where else?!) and basically involves the bride (and sometimes the groom) in a photoshoot totally different to the posed, perfect photos on their wedding day.

Photo Credit: Artur Lastowski (Poland)

Many trash the dress shoots take place at the beach, with the bride walking into the ocean or splashing and floating in her gorgeous white gown. But, as with anything – the only limitations to Trash the Dress photoshoots is your imagination! They can be taken in any setting, urban or rural and are usually more fun when you inject a little of your personality into it! I’ve seen photos where the bride and groom are wearing converse and sunglasses, holding shooting rifles, going bowling etc etc. Be creative and you will love the results!

Photo credit: Marcin Labedzki (Poland)

There are some photographers in Ireland who will do Trash The Dress shoots, check out www.trashthedress.ie for more info or watch this TV3 Xpose piece on the photographer and hear from a real bride who has done it! Xpose on Trash the Dress

Like this? You might also like:

Summer Sun required for a Tented Wedding!

Ciara Crossan — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 07:00:13 +0000

As an avid Electric-Picnic-goer I love the festival vibe and a definite highlight is hanging out in the marquees and wonderfully decorated tents in the rolling fields of Stradbally. I’ve been overheard manys the time saying that EP is like a playground for adults! The Bollywood Bar at the picnic is a top spot to chill out on an oversized flourescent pillow on a sunny Sunday afternoon.

Well, if you feel like ditching the stiff sit-down dinner option for your wedding, and go completely OUT THERE, then fret not, you can re-create your own Electric Picnic stylee wedding funtion! Bohemia Tent Company supplies fabulous marquees, Indian tents and Mongolian Yurts for events in Ireland.

Not only can you hire a special tent or marquee for your own garden or land, they also supply marquees for events at Hotels, stately homes and country houses that actually compliment the beautiful surroundings and add to the aesthetic of the event.

Although they are primarily located in the UK they also have a base in Slane, county Meath and storage in Carlow in Ireland, so they are able to and do cover the whole country without bringing stock from the UK.

Sounds super, right? But most of us out there wouldn’t have a clue what it would cost to host such a wedding.

The smallest Yurt will cost you a mere €850 and can seat up to 30 people
The Indian Marquee will cost you less than €1,500 and has a capacity of 70 seated and 120 standing.
The Grand Pavillion, the creme de la creme of outdoor venue options will set you back about €11,000 including flooring and lighting. This will hold 230 people fully seated and up to 450 standing.

They’ve done celebrity weddings such as Jasmine Guinness to the full backstage VIP and artist areas at Electric Picnic as well as smaller more intimate events and weddings. For the camping enthusiasts out there, they also offer bridal yurts and Tipis with a bedroom interior in remote locations!

New for this year are two canvas pole marquees recreated in minute detail. These can be lined, with a choice of elegant yet historic linings, varying from Damasque wallpaper prints, chinoiserie styles and 18th century Indian patterns as well as more traditional cream coloured linings. Swit swoo!

They can accomodate all budgets and have a range of more contemporary easy-up tension marquees that are pretty unbeatable on price; so as I was reliably informed by Charles, the company director – they try to offer an across the board service.

Bohemia are often the first port of call for clients, and they have an arrangement with many venues around the country where they can put together a package that incorporates all of the elements including the grounds.

You can download their entire brochure (do, its beautiful!) here

Like this? You might also like:

A Marriage Made in Heaven…

Ciara Crossan — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 06:27:18 +0000

I wish I had a euro for every bride I’ve heard say I want something different – and yet time and again the tried and tested beef and salmon turn up on the menu, and despite a lone chocolate fountain bubbling in the corner, things are pretty much kept very traditional.

Well, for the daredevils amongst you, here is a wedding idea that won’t be forgotten by your guests and will make a great story for the kids someday.

Back in April, Dinner in the Sky came to Dublin and twenty 2FM listeners had the chance to dine al fresco 150 feet above the city. Well, the same team from Belgium are now offering Marriage in the Sky where you can actually tie the knot mid-air:

Marriage in the Sky is hosted on a platform, where 20 guests are strapped in an aircraft seat, suspended at a height of 50 metres by a team of professionals. Marriage in the Sky may include a second crane with a platform (or more if required) at the same height as the marriage platform, for entertainment such as music or dinner.

And for the truly dramatic couple, you can finish the ceremony with a double bungee jump as you take the plunge into married life together:

Not for the faint hearted!

Like this? You might also like: