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

7 Fun Ideas for a.L.t.{e}r.N.a.T.i.{v}e Weddings

guest — Fri, 23 Mar 2012 17:15:10 +0000

Over the years of attending weddings I have spotted a few gems that I thought I would share:

1. Helicopter pick up in the morning – I was told it wasn’t as expensive as it sounds and if you are all at a hotel and having breakfast together then its a great way to depart and get to the airport
2. Karaoke – I appreciate this isn’t for everyone but we did have fun and it was a twist on the first dance!
3. Choreographed dance – I haven’t been to one that dances up the aisle although I look forward to that day. I have though seen a quirky first dance which gets everyone going
4. Favorite tune – one invite asked us to RSVP and also request a song, was a great one to ensure at least everyone danced once
5. Tractor ride – a country wedding had a tractor and trailer take the guests from the church to the reception, very apt for the surroundings
6. The money dance – surely we can make this more wide spread then just the Greek community, its just too good not to
7. Betting on the speeches – I had thought it was a standard thing to do but have mentioned it before and got very odd looks. There should always be a inappropriately young person gathering bets on the length of the speeches from first word to final clap

…. will post more as I experience them

{Bree is our awesome commercialisation specialist. She has seen her fair share of craziness at weddings and will be sharing some funky stories on our blog in the coming months. Image by Robb North.}

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Top Ten First Dance Songs!

Shane — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 08:00:43 +0000

Having trouble picking a song for your First Dance? Here are some popular choices for your big day!

Close to you – The Carpenters
Can’t Help Falling In Love – Elvis Presley
Something – The Beatles
Your Song – Elton John or Ellie Goulding
Moondance – Van Morrison
Everything I Do (I Do For You) – Bryan Adams
At Last – Etta James – At Last
Everybody Loves Somebody – Dean Martin
Fly Me To The Moon – Frank Sinatra
Endless Love – Diana Ross & Lionel Richie

[Image by missportilla]

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Add your personal touch to your wedding

guest — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 11:30:57 +0000

Here is a lovely post from our intern Cassie who joined us in the office last week!

Weddings are your own personal event between you, your partner and your close family and friends but why not make it that bit more personal? We have some tips for you!

1.Special wedding dress Details
Have that family member who you love to bits but who has passed away and you would love for them to be at your wedding? Try this. Get a piece of clothing belonging to that person, (preferably similar to the colour of your dress, maybe even a bit of their dress. Don’t use something that you can’t cut up!! Make sure the family are okay with it. You want everyone to be happy with this.) Cut a bit off it, just something small that you can stitch into your own dress. Despite the fact they’re not there to wish you luck you still have a part of them with you and on your wedding dress, something you will keep forever.

2.Story of the program.
Use your program / Mass Booklet to tell people about you and your soon to be spouse. On the first few pages tell the story of how you first met, the story full of love and romance. Carry on then with the stories of your first Valentines together, first Christmas, meeting the parents and other special moments together. If there’s a child or children involved tell stories about your relationship with them. When it comes to the wedding party then have little notes about how you know each other. If the officiant would read out a few of the different stories it would add a really personal touch to the whole ceremony. If not sure there’s always a chance at the reception. (Somewhere in between all the embarrassing ones!) This also gives the guests a deeper understanding of you as a couple and your relationship.

3.Picture Perfect Reception
Pictures can play a huge part in the reception. There’s plenty ideas to make it extra special and personal.
When the guests arrive you could have a photographer there to take pictures of them. Instead of sending out a thank you card you could send them the picture with a signed note from the couple on the back. Much more heartfelt than a thank you card I feel.
When you come in the door you could have a collage type collection of photographs of the wedding party. When they were younger, with the bride, with the groom, even with the couple. Don’t let them know your doing this and surprise them. They’ll probably be embarrassed at the start but they’ll realize then that your just showing them how much their participation in the event means to you.

By the guest book you could have a photo frame of the happy couple as children and through their relationship and if it’s possible maybe even a photo of the married couple! If you feel there’s too many photo’s why not have a photo wall? Maybe hang a bit of chicken wire up on a wall, (securely with no bits hanging out. You don’t want anybody getting hurt!) and get nice pegs and hang them up that way. Around them you could put pictures of the family members that are married on their wedding day. Have a Mr side and a Mr’s side where they meet in the middle. Very personal touch that makes every family member feel involved. If you don’t want those pictures up all night you could do a slideshow instead. Maybe even involve some videos if there are any. You could play it before the speeches.

4.Shine a Light
Want to honor someone close who you lost? Why not do it though sky lanterns? Now with their Eco-friendliness, they’re the perfect way to remember a loved one. (Make sure to tell the local fire brigade that your releasing them. Safety first! They can be on the lookout for them on the day.) They’re cheap and very touching.

These are just some of the many personal touches you can add to your wedding.

[Image by Stephen Brace. Sourced via Flickr Creative Commons Images]

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Finding The Perfect Wine: How To

ClaireB — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 10:01:36 +0000

It’s important to have just the right wine for a wedding. Nothing complements a fine meal as much as the perfect bottle of wine. Special wines make special weddings. On the other hand, the wrong wine can practically ruin the meal. That is why it’s critical to spend the time to find the wine that brings the meal together.

Don’t count on hear-say. Pursue the matter by attending a wine tasting. It makes sense to sample the options if you want to enhance the flavors of your meal. There are two basic rules to use for choosing a wine:

1. Red wines go better with heartier, heavier meats like beef, veal and pork. The complex flavors in a red wine are more evident with more savory foods.

2. White wines work better with lighter meats like chicken, fish and seafood. Their delicate flavors balance beautifully.

Buy the best wine the budget can stand. See if it’s possible to return any unopened bottles. If the liquor store won’t accept returns, use the extra bottles as presents. Hardly anybody’s going to complain about a red wine gift. A local liquor store is more likely to give a sweetheart price by the case.

Knowing The Basics:

• When taste-testing wines, try five red wines and five white wines. Include some low and high priced options, so you can compare what you’re getting for the dollar.
• If it’s desirable to have something bubbly, pick a nice sparkling wine instead of champagne. Sparkling wines are a great deal. Nobody will know the difference or ask the cost of the wine.

• Pick a wine that people are familiar with, like a chardonnay or merlot. It’s not your job to educate your guests. Give them something they already know and love.
• Don’t be afraid to look outside the US. Believe it or not, it can actually be cheaper to buy imported wines from places like Argentina or Sicily.
• Check out the wines offered by the catering hall. It could be cheaper to go with a better house wine than to pay corking fees for wine that you bring to the wedding.

A wedding happens once in a lifetime. Make sure the wine is as perfect as the rest of the celebration by taste-testing and following the advice of a professional!

{Brandon Gray works part time for a wine delivery company and has a personal affection for wines and food. What appears to be missing in wine writing is the personal attachment to wine in one’s writing – the soul, the desire to not just drink a glass of it but maybe drown the whole bottle because it tastes so good to the meal one made for himself / herself. Isn’t that, what wine should really be about? The desire of tasting something that gives you an instant feeling of being taken either to Tuscany enjoying the fabulous grapes and cherry notes while eating classical Spaghetti, or to French Riviera wearing your big shades while sitting in a restaurant at the boardwalk being all tied up with yourself and the glass of Bordeaux Chateau de Selle and Chateau de Saint-Martin in Taradeau.}

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The Traditional Cake? 3 Reasons Not To.

ClaireB — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 07:00:16 +0000

Traditional cakes can be something that you have dreamed of or maybe your mother has been dreaming about all that marzipan but there are a few very sensical reasons why going the traditional route is not always the best idea:

1. The Full Tummy Factor

Your guests will most likely have splurged on drinks and all the good food by the time the cake rolls around. This means they will either not really appreciate it or they will simply not have any at all. That means all your hard work is not appreciated fully. Consider doing something lighter that isn’t as heavy on a full stomach.

2. The Take Away Factor

Marzipan falls off. Really it does. It is hard to carry in a napkin and the second best option: the coat jacket is even harder. Make it easy for your guests to take their dessert home. Your wedding will be more memorable for it.

3. The Appeal Factor

If you honestly think about it, packaged individual cakes or cupcakes simply look better because they retain their beauty as a whole, individual item. Loose slices of cake might look delish on a plate just before the fork enters the mouth, but not so much the next morning when the brown cake sides peak up from the marzipan that is cracking off the top.

Go on… make your favourite cake and eat it too!

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White Vintage Wedding Inspiration: Think Creatively For Your Day!

ClaireB — Mon, 26 Sep 2011 07:00:08 +0000

Your day needs to reflect you. Use this gallery as an inspiration board to get you thinking out of the box.

white vintage wedding inspiration for weddingdates.ie, a gallery on Flickr.

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Wedding Styling….oh so chic

Ciara Crossan — Wed, 29 Jun 2011 08:30:56 +0000

My current obsession is the online shop NotOnTheHighStreet.com which stocks unusual and personalized gifts from sellers all over the UK, things that you cannot get in regular stores.

They have a whole wedding section, and even have a gift list registry which is a brill way to deck out your new home with funky stuff! But, what really took my fancy was the wedding styling section. Styling your wedding is becoming a big deal these days and couples try to personalize their big day as much as possible. That means that no matter where the wedding venue you can put your own stamp on the place and create real memorable moments for your guests.

Check out this fab birdcage Table Plan decoration which can be re-used as a noticeboard in your home after the wedding! Now that is recycling at its best!

Or how about this oh-so-cute Mr & Mrs sign which you can hang at the entrance to your venue – you can get these personalized for as little as £29.

Hang these willow hearts from the backs of chairs or use as part of your table centrepiece for a rustic look:

Have an elaborate venue that needs some signage? Check out these beauties….

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Wedding Wine Survey; The Results

Ciara Crossan — Sat, 02 Apr 2011 16:24:50 +0000

The results are in!!!! Last months wedding wine survey told us what Irish couples REALLY think about Hotel Corkage, and how they plan to buy their wedding wine.

Wedding wine: Corkage charges plummet as 3 in 4 couples say “I don’t” to Hotel Wine

Online wine retailers continue to lead the way as the suppliers of choice for couples getting married in Ireland, according to a joint survey by WeddingDates.ie and WeddingWines.ie.

The wedding wine survey, undertaken in March of this year, questioned engaged couples on a range of issues from hotel corkage to the impact of the economy on their overall wedding plans and budgets. The survey follows a similar initiative by CuriousWines.ie in 2009 to track the changing buying habits of wedding couples.

The most recent survey found that 3 in 4 couples still say “I don’t” to hotel wine, preferring to bring their own wine despite significant falls in the prices of hotel wine. Of those couples purchasing hotel wine, over 4 in 10 reported paying €15 or less per bottle, versus only 1 in 10 two years ago. For those bringing their own wine, whereas more than half paid more than €8 corkage two years ago, less than 3 in 10 do today, with 1 in 6 claiming free corkage from their wedding hotel.

Ciara Crossan, CEO of WeddingDates.ie, acknowledged that hotels have reacted to the tough economic environment: “It’s interesting to note that both wine prices and corkage charges in hotels have fallen significantly in the last two years. So, whilst hotels are fighting to keep the wine business themselves for weddings, they’ve also been pushed hard on corkage charges by couples keen to save money by buying their wine elsewhere.”

Over half of all couples admitted to “cutting back some of the costs” of their wedding due to the current economic climate, with 1 in 10 postponing their wedding because of it. And it’s the online retailers who still appear to be benefiting the most from frugal couples. Almost 1 in 4 engaged couples are considering buying their wedding wine from online retailers, versus 1 in 5 for traditional off-licences or wine stores and 1 in 5 considering supermarkets.

Whereas both hotels and supermarkets are up in couples’ preferences from two years ago, it appears to have come at the expense of overseas suppliers as the latest survey showed a significant fall in the number of people going outside Ireland for their wedding wine.
Michael Kane, Chief Taster for Curious Wines and WeddingWines.ie, said: “The gradual closing of the differential in duty and VAT rates between Ireland and the UK, in particular Northern Ireland, has had a profound impact on the amount of business staying in Ireland. This is great news for everyone in the Irish wine industry and an important factor in sustaining growth, particularly in the independent sector. It confirms once again, people shop around and wedding couples are amongst the most savvy.”

Now what are you waiting for!?!?!? Go buy your Wedding Wine Online >>

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Wine, glorious wine!

Ciara Crossan — Wed, 26 Jan 2011 12:09:06 +0000

An area where you can make big savings on your wedding is with the wine. If you negotiate a good corkage rate with your wedding venue (some have eradicated it altogether!) then buying in your own wine in bulk makes financial sense as well as the fact that you get to choose it yourself and not be stuck with the house wine of the venue.

My favourite wine wholesaler (is it bad that I have a wine wholesaler?!) the brothers Mike and Matt from CuriousWines.ie, have always provided a wedding concierge service, but due to overwhelming demand from couples not knowing where to start when choosing their vino, they have just launched WeddingWine.ie, an easy to use wine site specifically for wedding couples!

The site has the wine broken down into categories, White Wine, Red Wine and Champagne, all clearly priced pre discount. The prices listed at WeddingWines.ie are the same low warehouse prices you’ll find every day at CuriousWines.ie. However, when you order wedding wine or wedding champagne from us, they offer significant savings of at least 10% because you’re buying in bulk. For a typical order, this can mean hundreds of euro in savings off already discounted prices.

To receive your no obligation quote from WeddingWines.ie, it couldn’t be easier:

Add the wines you are interested in to your Quote List. Press “Get Quote” to review and edit your selections.
Complete the checkout process (no payment or credit card required) to send your list.
They’ll contact you the next day to help you decide on quantities and help you narrow down your list of selections if needed.

The lads love wine and love food, so they’ll also discuss your menu and guest list with you to help you tailor your wine selections to your reception menu. Worried that you aren’t sure of quantities? Not to worry, they operate a sale or return policy – you can return any unopened bottles for a full refund after the wedding.

Make selecting your wedding wine a piece of cake – Check out WeddingWine.ie now!

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Little guests on a BIG day….

Ciara Crossan — Wed, 22 Sep 2010 11:16:45 +0000

Todays blog post is from the childcare experts at www.kidzclub.ie all about having Children attend your Wedding…

A question of ongoing debate in the wedding world both for the guests and of course the bride and groom -Are you going to invite the children?

There is a lot to think about- take your time and consider all factors and make sure you and your partner are doing what you want for your perfect day.

Safety first!

Safety is a must at your wedding. If not just for peace of mind then for insurance reasons. Ensure the venue you have booked (or are considering to book) has a safe, lockable room for children on the big day. If you have already selected the venue with a child-proof room, then at least you have ticked one important box!

ALWAYS ask the venue runners if they allow children at their establishment. Some hotels/venues won’t allow this at all. Others may be swayed if you promise that the children will be supervised at all times. Do your research.
If inviting children, make sure that you make parents aware of any potential dangers near the venue such as busy roads, lakes or densely wooded areas.

The all important cost element…

Comprise a list of all the children you would invite. If the projected cost fits into your budget then you know what to do, if not then consider something more economical like smaller easy-meals on the day- request a child “rate card” from the hotel/venue manager in the area of food and seating or simply ask the parents to leave the children at home.

Alternatively, in order to take slightly from the stress and potential added cost however still inviting kids on the day; enquire as to whether or not your little guests’ parents are interested in babysitters, children’s entertainment or the setting up of a Kids’ Club. If they really want their children there, ask them to chip in with the costs. Hey presto, you have a dent-free budget and lots of quiet, happy children on the day!

Decision made- now what?

If you have decided that what you want is a child-free day, make sure this is clear from day one. Print it on the invitations and drop it into conversation when your guests are around so there is no confusion. On the other hand, the same applies if you are inviting children – whether it is a large group of children or even just a select few – avoid confusion from the get-go. A simple “Children will be welcome at the reception and ceremony” line of print will eliminate any false impressions, dreaded uproar and the “it wasn’t exactly clear” speech.

There are always other options…

Assign a” keeper” (a responsible young adult who LOVES children). Alternatively, appoint some older children (aged 10-13) to take care of the younger ones during the ceremony, speeches and meal. The children will be kept busy while being taught some responsibility (and staying in sight).

Materials for arts & crafts, games, musical activities (musical chairs etc) can be purchased cheaply and brought along on the day. Children will have something fun to do. Remember the children should be supervised at all times if using paints or any other materials.

Whatever your decision- Always remember…

A bored child is one that is likely to get into mischief therefore keeping children occupied is vital. Avoid activities and toys which can be dangerous and potentially extremely noisy such as balloons which can pose problems of bursting and causing rifts amongst children. All childcarers (should you use them) should be garda-vetted and have first aid AT THE VERY LEAST. Ensure that references are retrieved (at least two) from those you don’t know very well and if not they are not from an agency.

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