New Years Eve wedding?

scoby1

Hi everyone, I'm hoping for a new years eve wedding but Im struggling a little and hoping someone on here could help. I don't really know where to start looking! Iv phoned two places, one is booked until 2011 (which I was surprised by but would be willing to wait to get my date :P) And the other you have to pay for exclusive use which is a little (!) out of our price range!
I know its a shot in the dark but does anyone have any starting points? We dont mind what part of the country as it is a small wedding and everyone will stay over and also we want something quite lavish (thats why were having small numbers; so we can spoil the small amount we are having)!
Thanks in advance.
x

CathyMoran

Our wedding was on the 29th of December but we got it arranged within 3 months, we had the reception in a well known resteraunt and then went bac to a very classy hotel for the afters, it was a lovely day. Hope that this helps.

scoby1

Thanks for replying, your day sounds lovely. You forget that you can venture away from tradition of just church-venue don't you! I just had my heart set on a big fairytale sort of deal (I do know btw that I sound obnoxious !) but I just wanted a big castle or somewhere really special!

CathyMoran

I pm'd you with details of where we went but we did have the church bit, would not have missed that bit for the world! We just had it very small scale! It was a lovely day, 20 months ago this Friday and I love him more now than I ever thought possible!

JohnDigital

We were at a wedding last year in the Summerhill Hotel in Enniskerry, it was a fab way to spend New Years. From what I was told, the hotel didnt take the mick with prices either, which was surprising given the day that was in it. The couple booked it about 18 months in advance AFAIK.

Honey-ec

We were initially looking at NYE for our wedding, but ended up giving up on the idea because of the hassle we were having getting a venue. This was 2+ years in advance.

We wanted a venue where all the guests (c. 150) could stay the night onsite (if they wanted) and not have to go to B&Bs, etc. The issue we found is that most venues capable of doing that already run a New Year's Eve ball, and either wouldn't do a wedding the same evening, would do it but you'd have the ball going on at the same time in an adjacent room, or would do the wedding as a stand-alone function, but would charge through the nose for it.

As I said, we gave up on the idea. My brother, however, got married 6 years ago on NYE in Kilkea Castle, so I know for a fact that they do it, but obviously we weren't going to go for the same venue!

Good luck.

scoby1

Cathy your wedding sounds lovely. We only want about 80 for the whole thing, Im not really into the whole inviting evening guests just because it limits you to receptions closer to home.
Iv had a look at the Summerhill house hotel and it looks lovely. Its really reasonable, you'd wonder when the prices are so good!
Honey-ec, I have been close to giving up but Im not letting it get the better of me! Its my fiance's birthday NYE and we never seen to do anything because theres only the options of staying at home bored or being jammed into a pub with sweating people! Im a woman on a mission now! Kilkea castle is absolutely fantastic, its really gorgeous but my sister go tmarried there so dont know is it rude to use the same place?!

Numbercruncher

I love the idea of a New Years Eve but one thing to be aware of is your guests. It'd suit most of the young singles and the oldies alike but anyone who has kids may find it very difficult to get babysitters, especially if it would involve an overnight stay.
My sister considered it a few years back but it just wasn't feasible as there were a lot of kids in our family & she didn't want them all there.
Obviously everyones situation is different so it may not affect you at all. What area are you looking at so we can give a better idea of venues?
Most big hotels will have new years balls so perhaps look at the smaller, less known ones and you may have better luck.

scoby1

Hi! Thanks for that. I suppose I havent really given a lot of thought re kids but Iv only 5 neices/nephews and by wedding will all be 7+ so they will all def be there but I suppose a babysitter to check on them all when there in bed might be worth thinking about. Im in Offaly but anywhere I suppose within about 2hrs drive any direction. I would quite like somewhere over on the west coast but I really dont mind. It will be only immediate family so I know there will be no hassle with the travel side of it!
Any ideas would be great!

cat_d

Killarney has lovely hotels and castles, the Cahernane House Hotel in Mucross does weddings up to 80 or so people and its quite lavish in my opinion, it used to be a manor house as far as i can understand.