Small to medium wedding venue Cork

Roesy

Hi,
Myself and my fiancé are hoping to get married in June or July this year. Our numbers are small enough, there are approx 100 people that we have to invite but we only expect about 80-90 of those to accept due to living abroad, having new babies etc. Neither of us are into big hotels and huge function rooms so we are looking for inspiration. I would also be afraid that our party would look silly in too big a room. A couple of the venues we spoke to said their rooms could accommodate 150/160 etc but that they would lay out the tables differently for a group our size.
I have spoken to Flemings and it sounds great but I'd say if we get close to 90 we'll be pushing it space wise. I have also an appointment to see The Rectory in Glandore, looks amazing from what I've seen online. Any ideas for other places we should contact. Would love to start organising properly but can't until we can get a venue and date sorted.

silly

How about ballymaloe house. It's supposed to be great for small weddings, has a really quaint country feel to it.

Balmed Out

For the food and the setting I doubt you can beat the rectory in Glandore. Food is really beyond what you would expect for a wedding. There last summer for a weekend with a thursday wedding and it was great, weather was glorious which helps!
Nearby the Celtic ross have some sort of a small function room for smaller weddings too. Theres another place much further into west cork on one of the peninsulas that is meant to be fantastic with a max of about 80 or 90 but I cant recall the name of it.
In east cork check out balymaloe and the nearby barnabrow house.

Most of the big city hotels cater for small weddings too, I was at one in the rochestown park.

TheDriver

also watch out with places like Maryborough as they will have another wedding on the day and big weddings will be the bigger priority i.e. your wife won't be allowed into common areas until they check the more important money making bride isn't out there (this is true of one very posh city hotel)

Roesy

silly wrote: »

How about ballymaloe house. It's supposed to be great for small weddings, has a really quaint country feel to it.

Thanks for the suggestion. Phoned yesterday, no availability

Balmed Out wrote: »

For the food and the setting I doubt you can beat the rectory in Glandore. Food is really beyond what you would expect for a wedding. There last summer for a weekend with a thursday wedding and it was great, weather was glorious which helps!
Nearby the Celtic ross have some sort of a small function room for smaller weddings too. Theres another place much further into west cork on one of the peninsulas that is meant to be fantastic with a max of about 80 or 90 but I cant recall the name of it.
In east cork check out balymaloe and the nearby barnabrow house.

Most of the big city hotels cater for small weddings too, I was at one in the rochestown park.

No availability in Rochestown Park for weekends either. Might look into the Celtic Ross. Roughly how many people were at the wedding you were at in Glandore? Place looks great and they say they can cater for upto 120 seated. We are looking at anything between 85-100 now and I'm wondering would it be a tight squeeze.

Roesy

TheDriver wrote: »

also watch out with places like Maryborough as they will have another wedding on the day and big weddings will be the bigger priority i.e. your wife won't be allowed into common areas until they check the more important money making bride isn't out there (this is true of one very posh city hotel)

Would hate that, I am the wife to be btw Himself has told me to present him with a shortlist of venues at the moment. Looks like it will be a very short list!

gimmick

^ we are going to Barnabrow as well for those reasons.

gowayouttadat

We're getting married in the rectory in may and I've been really impressed with them so far. They are super helpful even replying to emails at 9am on Sunday morning. They have gone out of their way to help. The setting is stunning.

TrixIrl

You should try Hayfield Manor in town - holds about 80 i think and its really beautiful....

Dostoevsky

Bayview Hotel in Ballycotton, easily the most stunning sea view in Ireland from it. Last time I was there it was 9.30 at night, there was a red sky and lights were on over the fishing harbour below, behind which was an island and a lighthouse on a huge rock lighting up the sea water. I've never seen a place as peaceful and stunning.

Stephen Belton, the manager, was also really sound. Unfortunately we couldn't go there because it only held 110 people max. The Star of the Sea Church in Ballycotton is probably the nicest church I've seen, with an entrance at the back and steps at the front going down to the road along the sea. It would take you five minutes to walk down that road to the Bayview Hotel. The sea air here is invigorating.

None of these photos do the hotel justice: Bayview


PS: Ballymaloe and Barnabrow are near the Bayview so you could visit all three on the same trip.

AshAdele

have a look at Foto golf clubhouse,
not the hotel itself as their room can cater for up to 300 people.

the club house can take a max of 120 so your size would suit perfectly,

it is beautiful and you are overlooking the golf course and lake,
they have a package for 100 guest for 6000euro at the moment.

silly

AshAdele wrote: »

they have a package for 100 guest for 6000euro at the moment.

That's very expensive!
Innishannon house has equally beautiful views, cater for small groups and wouldn't cost you anywhere near €60 per head.

TheDriver

like all costs per head, the devil is in the detail..........wine/drink/welcome etc etc

Miaireland

I would go for the Rectory.

Hayfield manor is lovely but can be expensive if your guests are staying.

I know a couple who got married in the Castle Hotel, Macroom and loved it although I have attended a function there and thought it was average.

Roesy

TheDriver wrote: »

like all costs per head, the devil is in the detail..........wine/drink/welcome etc etc

So true! Was surprised in a few places about what wasn't included.

silly

Balmed Out wrote: »

For the food and the setting I doubt you can beat the rectory in Glandore. Food is really beyond what you would expect for a wedding. There last summer for a weekend with a thursday wedding and it was great, weather was glorious which helps!
Nearby the Celtic ross have some sort of a small function room for smaller weddings too. Theres another place much further into west cork on one of the peninsulas that is meant to be fantastic with a max of about 80 or 90 but I cant recall the name of it.
In east cork check out balymaloe and the nearby barnabrow house.

Most of the big city hotels cater for small weddings too, I was at one in the rochestown park.

The Celtic Ross are having a wedding fair on the 29th of this month.

grumpymunster

Have you looked at Gougane Barra Hotel 90 may be pushing it there by 75-80 should just be ok. Great food, lovely people and just a fantastic spot.

gimmick

The main problem with The Rectory is that you cannot stay there. You will need to have arrangements to get back to Rosscarbery or Glandore for afterwards, which Id imagine is a complete pain. Thats why we shyed away from there.

.

Balmed Out

The wedding in the rectory i went to had less then a 100 but not much and it was great, most people stayed in the marine hotel or b and bs in glandore and union hall. The other one I couldnt remember the name of is in Durras on the far side of West Cork and is called Blairscove. I havent been but its got a very good reputation and I know it only caters for smaller weddings.
As for sea views I reckon the Rectory and Dunmore house better then the Bayview.

laobhaise

hi, maybe someone could advise; im thinking more of wedding party and would like to know of a place where you would rent the room and maybe bring in own catering (e.g. hog-roast/bbq), or does that end up being more expensive?
when-late june where-max one hr from cork city

gimmick

My cousin did something like that at some golf course out between carrigaline and Ringaskiddy. It was quite good. No idea of the cost, but Id imagine it was pennies in comparision to sitting everyone down for a set meal tc.

laobhaise

gimmick wrote: »

My cousin did something like that at some golf course out between carrigaline and Ringaskiddy...

Heh thanks, hadn't thought of golf clubs - was it fernhill?

gimmick

Thats the one.

laobhaise

btw, we've decided not to cater ourselves, as its easier to hire a place (4 abbq), and even cheaper. anyhows, just in case anyone's looking into something similiar, I narrowed it down to:
longueville house (€55 pp)
elm tree
innishshannon house (€23 up pp)
flemings (€60 pp) + service charge 10%
barnabrow house (€35 pp upwards)
pink elephant

the quality n quantity of food varies greatly.

Gatica

I second Hayfield manor, I'd have loved it for our wedding, but it was too small for us.
Ballymaloe is pretty, but their prices do not include anything standard you'd expect, almost everything is extra, sound system/mics, red carpet, etc... Was shocked when I read their wedding brochure.

spoofilyj

I'm going to a wedding in Fota house in a few weeks, its a great spot and they can cover the meal with cateriers too, there are loads of great spots around thanks to the new law around civil partnership.

Best of luck with it.