Wedding on Good Fri 2011 - Menu Issues

intothewest · 06-04-2010 2:32pm #1

Hi All - just a query that someone out there may be able to help with. Long story, but we have two wend options for getting married in 2011, the wend of Apr 22nd, which I believe is Easter wend next year, so the Fri is Good Fri and the wend of May 6th. At first I had no issue with having it on Good Fri, but am concerned about the meal options for people on the day. Our guests aren't all holy Joe's, but no more than myself, I think for the sake of one day, a lot of people observe the belief of not eating meat on the day. My concerns are that on the day, people will opt for veggie option and it may lead to shortages in kitchen, unless we get that sorted out with guests in advance (in which case seems like a lot of work/hardship). Plus, it makes the evening nibbles harder to cater for aswell. If anyone has any advice, held or been to a wedding on Good Friday, I'd be grateful. That wend was just working out a bit better as an option for us - the places we would prefer to have it, have that stoopid 2 night policy on a long wend if you have it on a Sat, hence why the Fri was a better option. Hurdles, hurdles everywhere!!

RentDayBlues · 06-04-2010 2:39pm

Are you having a civil ceremony?

ThePiedPiper · 06-04-2010 2:40pm

I'd say you'll have more to worry about than just the menu if you have your wedding on a Good Friday. For starters, you probably won't be able to have the cermony in a Catholic church. With regards the reception, the hotel won't be able to serve alcohol either as this will most likely still be illegal.

smelltheglove · 06-04-2010 2:41pm

intothewest wrote: »

Hi All - just a query that someone out there may be able to help with. Long story, but we have two wend options for getting married in 2011, the wend of Apr 22nd, which I believe is Easter wend next year, so the Fri is Good Fri and the wend of May 6th. At first I had no issue with having it on Good Fri, but am concerned about the meal options for people on the day. Our guests aren't all holy Joe's, but no more than myself, I think for the sake of one day, a lot of people observe the belief of not eating meat on the day. My concerns are that on the day, people will opt for veggie option and it may lead to shortages in kitchen, unless we get that sorted out with guests in advance (in which case seems like a lot of work/hardship). Plus, it makes the evening nibbles harder to cater for aswell. If anyone has any advice, held or been to a wedding on Good Friday, I'd be grateful. That wend was just working out a bit better as an option for us - the places we would prefer to have it, have that stoopid 2 night policy on a long wend if you have it on a Sat, hence why the Fri was a better option. Hurdles, hurdles everywhere!!

Well for Good Friday if you are having options I would include fish, I hate fish, I know a lot of people do but a majority of people who will not eat fish on Good Friday will eat fish.

For me, I dont always abide by the rule for no meat but when I do I eat margarhita pizza but nobody wants pizza at their wedding. Would the hotel allow you to have 3 options i.e. fish, veggie and meat? Also are you getting married in a church? Will a church do a wedding on Good Friday?

messrs · 06-04-2010 2:46pm

RunForestRun wrote: »

I'd say you'll have more to worry about than just the menu if you have your wedding on a Good Friday. For starters, you probably won't be able to have the cermony in a Catholic church. With regards the reception, the hotel won't be able to serve alcohol either as this will most likely still be illegal.

i though hotels could serve alchol on good friday? i no last year i was away for easter and was able to drink at hotel bar on good friday - but maybe this only applies to residents??

catho_monster · 06-04-2010 2:48pm

if you were able to drink in hotels on good friday, dont you think everyone would be in their local hotel every good friday?!
nope, fish is the least of your worries.

bubblebutt · 06-04-2010 2:49pm

messrs wrote: »

i though hotels could serve alchol on good friday? i no last year i was away for easter and was able to drink at hotel bar on good friday - but maybe this only applies to residents??

just residents. not everyone can afford hotels and opt for a local b and b!!

intothewest · 06-04-2010 3:23pm

To answer the queries - yes, if we went ahead with it on Good Friday, it would be a civil ceremony as you can't get wed in a church that day. And yes, hotels can serve booze on Good Friday...and plenty of people do go to hotels for that very reason...must be the thrill of breaking the rules!! I'm fast beginning to think the food on the day would be an issue and if it would be worth the headaches.

ThePiedPiper · 06-04-2010 3:50pm

intothewest wrote: »

To answer the queries - yes, if we went ahead with it on Good Friday, it would be a civil ceremony as you can't get wed in a church that day. And yes, hotels can serve booze on Good Friday...and plenty of people do go to hotels for that very reason...must be the thrill of breaking the rules!! I'm fast beginning to think the food on the day would be an issue and if it would be worth the headaches.

I'd also be of the opinion that a fair proportion of your guests, especially the older generations, would be loathe to consume alcohol on a Good Friday or break the rules as you say. I'm hardly a big believer but I generally try not to break the rules out of respect for those around me that are stronger devotees of the religious traditions.

Would the May bank holiday weekend not be a more suitable weekend in any case? Better weather (maybe), first weekend of summer, people generally in party atmosphere?

intothewest · 06-04-2010 4:08pm

Cos there is another fam wedding on the 29th, which a lot of family from states will come home for..by having it wend either side of that, they can kill two birds with one visit, both members of fam get the family at their weddings, people don't have to 'choose' which one they go to etc etc. All four of us are fine with having them a week apart..be a party week!

tatli_lokma · 06-04-2010 4:15pm

intothewest wrote: »

To answer the queries - yes, if we went ahead with it on Good Friday, it would be a civil ceremony as you can't get wed in a church that day. And yes, hotels can serve booze on Good Friday...and plenty of people do go to hotels for that very reason...must be the thrill of breaking the rules!! I'm fast beginning to think the food on the day would be an issue and if it would be worth the headaches.

if its a civil ceremony, check with your registrar, as AFAIK most civil servants get Good Friday off as a 'privilege' day.
you are right about hotels serving alcohol on Good Friday - as it is a 'private' function you can have alcohol, even to the non-residents in the hotel.

finally, if you do get the go ahead from the registrar, I wouldn't worry too much about the food. If someone is that holy, they won't be drinking alcohol either. I would opt for a choice of fish or chicken, as a lot of people don't consider eating chicken as breaking the rules, as its not red meat (not technically correct, but thats what a lot of people think).

I would also go for a white fish, rather than salmon. I say this for the older guests - many of whom won't eat chicken or red meat, but who would not normally be fish eaters. For someone who doesn't eat a lot of fish a white flesh fish is a better option - I know a lot of people who would eat whiting/place/bream/bass, but wouldn't eat salmon.

If good friday makes a big difference to your budget, a bit of preparation with the menu before hand will be worth it.

I think your biggest hurdle will be getting a registrar TBH.

intothewest · 06-04-2010 7:08pm

Cincichick - thanks a mil, I will have to look into that for sure first before we go ahead. Think I'll put out a few feelers with people about it being held on Good Fri. The only 'old timers' that will be going are our folks, and some aunts and uncles. I do think that any of them who don't want to eat meat would be happy to eat fish on the day. Do you think is it ok to ask people when they are RSVP'ing to state if they would wish to eat fish on the day? I know it's not fair to ask so far in advance, but purely for the day that is in it, and at least then they also know we are making an effort to ack the day that's in it???

Hotel didn't bat an eyelid when I mentioned it being Good Fri, to make me think that getting registrars would be an issue. but I won't take that as meaning anything. Now for what will probably be a stupid question - how do I find out about registrars? Are they typically local people, or is there a hotline that you call to get that info?? Sorry, completely green to this wedding stuff.

BC · 07-04-2010 7:45am

In relation to the food issue - a fish option would be fine.

The registrars are HSE employees. The full list is of solemnisers (religious and non religious) is on the GRO website (www.groireland.ie). Getting a registrar is likely to be a problem as they don't work bank holidays however ring your local office (numbers on same website) to check. You could go with a a wedding officiant rather than a registrar for the ceremony but it won't be legal. You would have to get legally married separately.

In relation to the alcohol - double check this with the hotel. My understanding is that the hotel can only serve alcohol to residents in the bar. So while people might be able to have wine with dinner they won't be able to buy a drink at the bar unless they are staying in the hotel.

NextSteps · 07-04-2010 8:53am

Easter is also the longest weekend of the year, and schools and so on are off - would you not worry that a lot of your potential guests might have travel plans or be going home or whatever? Don't know if that's an issue.

dresstoimpress · 07-04-2010 8:57am

I wouldn't choose good friday to get married. Would prefer the thursday or even bank holiday monday if you can't have the sat of that weekend. Its one thing you not being religious, but even most laspe cathlotics do observe good friday, so you'll be putting some of your guests in an akward position.

Owen · 07-04-2010 9:00am

In 21st century Ireland, I'd be having steak. Mmmmm. Steak. Why don't you just let your guests choose? Have a beef or salmon option, and on the Menu say that yes it is good friday, but to be kind to our non-denominational guests, we have a beef option.

intothewest · 07-04-2010 9:03am

Not really..we're looking to get something booked in the next month at most, so people will have plenty of notice. If they want to make alternative plans which means they cannot attend, then they must not really want to go..in which case, we are better off not having them there. We're not having a large wedding, so I can't see it being an issue for those we are inviting. Of course there are a handful of invitees that we expect might be a bit 'iffy', but they are a min.

intothewest · 07-04-2010 9:12am

Paint Doctor - yeah, there would defo be some that would have no issue with eating meat that day. Thing is, we figure we might be surprised with the amount that may not want to eat it, so therefore we want to be prepared...don't want the kitchen caught out that day! - BC thanks for the heads up..I will defo check in advance that non-residents can buy alcohol aswell, although I have heard of plenty of hotels who will serve non-residents that day, but I am sure it depends on the establishment. Dresstoimpress - I completely get where you're coming from...it's by no means a given we'll do it. Like I said, at first it wasn't really an issue for me, but since Good Friday just gone, I kinda got to thinking about it and whether it's appropriate or not...hence why I'm looking for some feedback. Know it's our decision at end of the day though.

Wedding on Good Fri 2011 - Menu Issues

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