Dream / fairytale wedding venues

jomc

Can anyone suggest the most spectacular wedding venues in Ireland now? The fiance and i are feeling a bit overwhelmed at whats on offer. We're open to location, herself just wants something really elegant and special ( i thought that was me but apparently not)

So far we've had recommendations for waterford castle, the village at lyons, the ritz carlton and kinnity castle.

We're not really gone on the marquee out the back idea having been to two marquee weddings that weren't as hassle free as we'd like. Ideally we want somewhere with impeccable service so its a stress free day for us! We'd prefer a hotel type thing for guests to be able to stay rather than having to drive/organise taxis but we're open to options.

Any recommendations or reviews are welcome! Thanks!

Sleepy

Money no object, I'd be going for the Village at Lyons.

Was at a wedding in Killashee House recently and thought it was fantastic too, real character to the place.

Moonbeam

Dunloe castel in Kilarney is the most amazing wedding venue that I have ever been to.
There is a close 2nd but I have completely forgotten the name of it so will get back to you.

Acoshla

Dunloe Castle is fab alright, so is Ballygarry House Hotel in Tralee. The service in Ballygarry is something else, and the food is amazing.

SBWife

I've attended two weddings at Adare Manor and both have been spectacular.

John Mason

Sleepy wrote: »

Was at a wedding in Killashee House recently and thought it was fantastic too, real character to the place.

i was at a wedding in kilashee house recently and while the buildings and ground were lovely, room was horrible too big and no atmosphere.

the service was wasnt great either,

my money no object place would be powerscourt in wicklow

itsallaboutme!!

Ballymagarvey Village is amazing

Brooklodge in macreddin village is also fab:D

Sleepy

irishbird wrote: »

i was at a wedding in kilashee house recently and while the buildings and ground were lovely, room was horrible too big and no atmosphere.

there was wasnt great either,

my money no object place would be powerscourt in wicklow

Ah, I was at quite a big wedding there but could see that it wouldn't be great with small numbers...

Borderfox

I liked Castle Leslie, Castle Durrow.

John Mason

Sleepy wrote: »

Ah, I was at quite a big wedding there but could see that it wouldn't be great with small numbers...

there was 180 at the wedding i was at.

it just felt empty

Ashill5

i have to agree with Acoshla! I have been to a good few weddings but Ballygarry House in Tralee has to be one of the best ! Spectacular Gardens and Ballroom. The service and food is something to experience! At the last wedding i was at Ballygarry, they had a lovely old style sweet shop set up for the guests! i think it was voted munster wedding venue this year!

banshee_bones

I think this place is lovely and fairly unique and if I could afford it I would love to get married here...

http://www.coolbawnquay.com/coolbawn-weddings.html

AoifeCork

Sang at a wedding in Coolbawn Quay last summer... Died and went to heaven. The Marina was spectacular at night all lit up, the Marquee was beautiful and the surrounding areas are just amazing.

http://www.coolbawnquay.com/coolbawn-weddings.html

jomc

Thanks for all the replies!!!!

I think the village at lyons is out as very few guests could stay.

Castle leslie is out as we've been to two events there and both were very badly done and the food was poor. Found our hotel rooms to be a bit on the shabby side too, no shower but got a bath with a bucket for washing your hair. A BUCKET!!!!! for 300 euro a night! /rant over

Some of those places look fab, would be concerned that dunloe could be hit and miss or hard to deal with as they're only open for half the year.

Think waterford castle, coolbawn quay and a few others will be getting visits. Any idea of the pricing of some of these? We'd probably be looking at 100-140 guests.

Lyrath house was mentioned too for us, but although i know its used a lot for weddings, i don't know anyone who has ever been.

Also has anyone attended a wedding in waterford castle?

Acoshla

Dunloe Castle isn't hit and miss at all I don't think, in Killarney the winter season is much quieter than the summer season so it's not surprising that they close.

LizT

+1 for castle durrow, amazing venue.

Moonbeam

Lyrath is a nice hotel.
I have never been to a wedding there but have been to conferences.
To me it is a nice hotel but not a fairy tale wedding venue.

Ballybeg looks amazing but never been to a wedding there.

sweetie

A friend married at waterford castle about 5 years ago, very very nice but limited numbers I would think.
I think ballybeg is over-rated. Marquee was very tatty when I worked there. The house is nice but not amazing imo.
I really like tankardstown in meath, middleton park in westmeath, step house in carlow and tulfarris in wicklow.

Dolbert

Money no object, I adore Kilshane House in Tipperary. Absolutely stunning but very expensive, especially considering the additional 'exclusivity' fee.

tipper1

Going to have a look at coolbawn myself as it is close to home but most likely too expensive.
The best venue I was ever at was Pontoon Bridge in Mayo.
We were there a few years ago on the june bank hol weekend c/w 20+ degrees and brilliant sunshine and it was like being out foreign. Fantastic

jomc

Ballyfin was another that mentioned but when we rang up it turns out that they don't allow visitors, so when you book a room there all your drinks, food snacks, and most activities are included, and they don' allow people to book in for dinner or lunch. You have to be a guest to be let inside the walls, they told us that we would have to be guests to view it-at a cost of 715-950 per night!!! And if we booked our wedding there then they would refund it:eek:

Gatica

I would agree with the posters here:
Castle Durrow - absolutely stunning!
Castle Lesley - also gorgeous!
Kilshane House - fabulous but way way overpriced. I wouldn't give them the business.
Killashee House - the old part of the house is lovely, but only for weddings under about 80 ppl. The main hotel is for all other larger weddings and with the downside of the very large ballroom if your numbers are not very high.
Mount Falcon - lovely fresh grounds, and very tasteful.
Ballymagarvey - really beautiful and also quite expensive.
Village at Lyons - definitely one of the top ones for atmosphere. Fabulous food. Very french chic...

King Krib

Trim Castle Hotel is very very nice. We are getting married there next year, it's stunning. Plus it won Wedding Venue of the year for Leinster this year.

Theboinkmaster

Check out Tankardstown House in Slane.

If you go to view it I guarantee you won't want to get married anywhere else.

Rew

Theboinkmaster wrote: »

Check out Tankardstown House in Slane.

If you go to view it I guarantee you won't want to get married anywhere else.

I really liked Tankardstown but it was way too small unfortunately, going to go there for dinner one of the nights.

Theboinkmaster

Rew wrote: »

I really liked Tankardstown but it was way too small unfortunately, going to go there for dinner one of the nights.

Main house accomodates weddings up to around 100 i think, then they use marques for larger weddings. Marque there would be great for summer/spring but not really suitable for winter IMO.

Rew

Theboinkmaster wrote: »

Main house accomodates weddings up to around 100 i think, then they use marques for larger weddings. Marque there would be great for summer/spring but not really suitable for winter IMO.

As far as I remember 80 at a very very tight squeeze 70 is more comfortable.

slowmoe

Do most places charge extra for a marquee to cater for a larger group, and if so how much roughly?

Rew

slowmoe wrote: »

Do most places charge extra for a marquee to cater for a larger group, and if so how much roughly?

Yes unless they own it which generally wouldn't be the case

slowmoe

Looking at a place which does own the marquee, if we use it it will mean tripple numbers for them compared to what the venue can hold, but they want to charge us 6000 for using the marquee?

It seems unreasonable to me?

Sleepy

Tell 'em to fvck off and take your business elsewhere tbh.

slowmoe

We won't be going with it as we feel that we're giving them 3 times the business so surely they should be incentivising this and not charging us more for paying them more if you know what i mean? But was just interested in if this was the norm or not as a lot of venues we looked at online say max numbers are x but can hold y in marquee. We didn't realise that this option included an extra charge

Sleepy

Seems standard but usually around 3/4k for the marquee rather than 6.

slowmoe

Sleepy wrote: »

Seems standard but usually around 3/4k for the marquee rather than 6.

Thats great to know, thanks. Don't like the idea at all over being penalised for bringing additional business to a venue so will just look at venues that can actually hold our numbers. Thanks!

So does anyone know of beautiful venues that would hold about 300?

sweetie

Sleepy wrote: »

Seems standard but usually around 3/4k for the marquee rather than 6.

If the marquee is permanent then its part of the venue. I cant imagine that the likes of Carton house charge an extra 6k to use the big room in addition to the cost per head. We had to organise a marquee for our own wedding and it probably worked out at 6k including the dressing, furniture and cutlery etc.

Gatica

6000 for a marquee that they own does seem excessive. What's the numbers it should hold?
There would be additional charge normally for setting up a marquee, even if they own it, if it's not up all year round. It should not cost as much as that though, as charges should be for setup, takedown, cleanup, not for hire of it, since as you said, you are bringing extra business.

King Krib

6k would nearly buy one ....maybe not a proper industrial one but something decent

Borderfox

I had a look around Clonbreany yesterday and it was a super venue, I like the venue is split up in two and the accomodation square is gorgeous.

LBD

+1 on Clonabreany. My brother is getting married here this year, superb venue.

Borderfox

Nice history to it too

clairemc29

You could try the Heritage Hotel in Killenard, Co. Laois. I am getting married there in June this year and have heard nothing but excellent reviews about it. One of the main reasons we booked the hotel is because of the service, they genuinely couldnt do enough for you. I have stayed there and the rooms are amazing, even the standard rooms! The honeymoon suites are unbelievable too!!

It is not overly expensive considering it is a 5 star hotel. We both love it and anyone we know who attended a wedding there raved about it!!

Another venue worth checking out is Lough Eske in Donegal. I would have loved to get married there but being from Dublin it was just too far! It looks out of this world and the reviews about it seem to be that it is one of the nicest hotels in the world never mind Ireland! I think it is on the more expensive side - I remember getting a quote about accomodation and it was rather pricey for guests. However, if I lived nearer I think I would definately have considered it!!

Beffy

I'd recommend Kilshane House, we didn't look anywhere else after we went there.

Gatica

I think Kilshane is out of pocket for many people though... This is also probably true of Castle Leslie and some others.

Beffy

Gatica wrote: »

I think Kilshane is out of pocket for many people though... This is also probably true of Castle Leslie and some others.

Could be yes however due to the time of year we are getting married in (March) and the fact that our wedding will be a mid week wedding (leading up to a bank holiday weekend) theres no exclusivity fee.

Sleepy

The more I think about it, the more I wish I'd had the balls to just go ahead and contact the organisers of Electric Picnic and see if I could get Tom Colton to carry out a legal wedding in their inflatable chapel of love, then arrange for PieMinister and a craft beer company / Bacardi cocktail tent to take care of the catering!

"So, what band did you get for your wedding?"

"Ehm, let me see, we had The Cure, The Killers, Elbow, Sigur Rós, Orbital..."

My Fiancée, I and most of our friends would love it but I can't see most of the parents, aunties and uncles etc. enjoying it so much!

Gatica

Beffy wrote: »

Could be yes however due to the time of year we are getting married in (March) and the fact that our wedding will be a mid week wedding (leading up to a bank holiday weekend) theres no exclusivity fee.

Ah, that must be it. I remember thinking that fee being extortionate.

Beffy

Gatica wrote: »

Ah, that must be it. I remember thinking that fee being extortionate.

Yeah, to be honest I wouldn't have booked it if we had to pay that. I'm willing to compromise the timing of the wedding to get the venue we want (its still not cheap but its do-able!)

Rew

Gatica wrote: »

I think Kilshane is out of pocket for many people though... This is also probably true of Castle Leslie and some others.

There all worth talking to many can be quite accommodating to different budgets

King Krib

Sleepy wrote: »

The more I think about it, the more I wish I'd had the balls to just go ahead and contact the organisers of Electric Picnic and see if I could get Tom Colton to carry out a legal wedding in their inflatable chapel of love, then arrange for PieMinister and a craft beer company / Bacardi cocktail tent to take care of the catering!

"So, what band did you get for your wedding?"

"Ehm, let me see, we had The Cure, The Killers, Elbow, Sigur Rós, Orbital..."

My Fiancée, I and most of our friends would love it but I can't see most of the parents, aunties and uncles etc. enjoying it so much!

That sounds deadly.....

Sleepy

Right, King Krib get me on don't tell the bride and you can come!