Small wedding - venue ideas

stinkle

Hi there,

we're starting to plan the planning (if you get me!) and want to decide on a venue and numbers before doing anything else. Definitely having a civil ceremony, and I've recently started questioning the whole "traditional Irish wedding reception" idea since we're already not bothering with churchy stuff. Nothing against it or anything, but since it'll already be a bit different, I don't see the point of just blindly opting for the norm without considering other options! Plus I just like being different and having the chance to coordinate our own special day

The main reason behind this is venue size for the ceremony. We both just want immediate family and close friends really, then have a massive party for everyone else. I also like the idea of having a meal in a nice restaurant for the actual ceremony guests after the registry office, rather than be fretting over menu options/seating plans and the like. Plus we'll have the chance to actually mingle and chat with the guests.

Have many people gone down this road? We're in Dublin, it'd be great to get recommendations of nice restaurants that cater for wedding groups, plus an idea of a venue for an after party. The running around to different venues might be annoying however, so for that reason I'd also like to hear if any all-in-one venues exist that can do a civil ceremony (or at least is suitable, we have time to sort out any legal venue approval), has decent grub and could also cater for a larger evening crowd, possibly with a band.

Dolbert

Off the top of my head -

Beaufield Mews in Stillorgan can do the ceremony and meal and have a really varied menu. No fussy seating plans unless you request them.

Aqua restaurant in Howth also hold civil ceremonies and is another one with great food.

Hope that helps

stinkle

Dolorous wrote: »

Off the top of my head -

Beaufield Mews in Stillorgan can do the ceremony and meal and have a really varied menu. No fussy seating plans unless you request them.

Aqua restaurant in Howth also hold civil ceremonies and is another one with great food.

Hope that helps

Yes its a big help, thanks! Beaufield keeps cropping up in my searches actually, must get in contact so

Tango One

The Village at lyons looks nice for smaller weddings.

Borderfox

Registry office or city hall for the ceremony and there is a little french resturaunt in Fade Street that did a really nice meal for the guests at a wedding I shot. They all met up in Hogans on the corner for a drink

stinkle

Borderfox wrote: »

Registry office or city hall for the ceremony and there is a little french resturaunt in Fade Street that did a really nice meal for the guests at a wedding I shot. They all met up in Hogans on the corner for a drink

ooh I'd been wondering about City Hall, what's it like for a small crowd? Say 30-50? Would it kinda dwarf a small crowd or is it laid out in such a way that the place doesn't seem as big as it is?

Borderfox

Such a beautiful venue, I have posted some pictures from a wedding in 2010 just to give you an idea of the size.



The view down Parliament Street from where the Bride walks in

stinkle

thanks so much! pics are fab! I'd seriously considered city hall then went off the idea when the whole "small wedding" thing became a better plan, but wow it looks brilliant with an intimate crowd a city centre location like that was the reason we were also considering going for a meal rather than a hotel package, looks like we have a Plan A now

barbiegirl

The Orangerie Restaurant in Avoca, Kilmacanogue. Perfect for a small wedding.

Borderfox

Heres a link to the restaraunt in fade street, about 5 minutes walk from City Hall. I will dig up some pictures of the layout of the interior

http://www.lgueuleton.com/

Borderfox

and the drinks reception here in Hogans
http://maps.google.ie/maps?q=fade+street&hl=en&ll=53.342195,-6.264698&spn=0.009634,0.027595&sll=-33.988934,18.432997&sspn=0.013522,0.027595&vpsrc=0&hnear=Fade+St,+Dublin+2&t=m&z=15&layer=c&cbll=53.342195,-6.264698&panoid=TaAYphdqvmbeM0qbNzyevw&cbp=12,149.35,,0,0

Betty Draper

this is exactly what we are doing.

Getting married in the anglers rest in Clonsilla. Having 20/30 upstairs for the service, and then all down to the resturant for dinner and then back upstairs for the session

http://www.theanglersrest.ie/weddings-dublin.html

TripAdvisor

stinkle wrote: »

thanks so much! pics are fab! I'd seriously considered city hall then went off the idea when the whole "small wedding" thing became a better plan, but wow it looks brilliant with an intimate crowd a city centre location like that was the reason we were also considering going for a meal rather than a hotel package, looks like we have a Plan A now

Hi there, we eloped earlier this year and had our Celebration at the Odessa Club...couldent recommend the place highly enough.....Venue will hold up to 80 (I think), we hired the rooftop bar for a drinks reception and then the dinning room for dinner and had music upstairs on the roof later on....Dave, the Manager, was brilliant...Really nice bloke to deal with and very helpful, nothn was a big deal. Staff too were lovely and food was good....Theres just a nice "funky" vibe to the place and its "different". We just wanted to avoid the "traditional" run of the mill place like a hotel etc...Theres just a nice "feel" to the place. You can design your event whatever way you want, ye can have finger food instead of sit-down meal if that suits better...check it out.....and best of luck with your plans....

mancityb

hi every 1. im new to all this.
me and my partner have just got engaged. we have been together for 8 yrs.
we would love to get married at the registry office in skibbereen. and go for lunch afterwards. 20 people approx.
my partner suffers ill health. and can be taken into hospital at any point. so booking anything is difficult.
we live in tipperary and appricate that every1 has to travel 100miles to get there.
we dont want any gifts just for them to be there if they can. also it will be on a monday.
and im sure it will all be over by 3-4pm.
does this seem unreasonable?
does anyone know any nice places to eat that would accomodate this?

stinkle

mancityb wrote: »

hi every 1. im new to all this.
me and my partner have just got engaged. we have been together for 8 yrs.
we would love to get married at the registry office in skibbereen. and go for lunch afterwards. 20 people approx.
my partner suffers ill health. and can be taken into hospital at any point. so booking anything is difficult.
we live in tipperary and appricate that every1 has to travel 100miles to get there.
we dont want any gifts just for them to be there if they can. also it will be on a monday.
and im sure it will all be over by 3-4pm.
does this seem unreasonable?
does anyone know any nice places to eat that would accomodate this?

Hi, and congratulations! That doesn't seem unreasonable at all, it sounds lovely! I don't know the area well but I'm sure you'll get some responses, or maybe try the Cork forum as well for a bit of local knowledge

mancityb

thanks very much. ill have a look didnt know there was a cork forum.:)

TripAdvisor

Hi and congrats, listen as one friend of mine said to "there is no right or wrong way to do it"..Its not like years ago when there was strictly one way to get married...Its a personal choice nowadays so dont be worried bout offending anyone etc...I would suggest maybe a local restaurant , somewhere you and your partner frequent , perhaps? and real friends will have no problem travelling especially when its for genuine reasons...Main thing is when ye send out your invites just to let people know exactly what is happening...Best of luck and hope all goes well for ye both...

Merelyme

Taking the plunge ourselves in a few months. Some great advice here. Thanks.