Wedding venues in Galway - looking for the low down!

boogaloop

hi all,

About to get engaged v soon, and am starting to think about wedding venues etc.
Probably going to go for somewhere in Galway - city or country.

Ideally would love to have somewhere that would allow fireworks, and that is also near the sea. Glenlo Abbey does allow fireworks as far as I know, but wondering if the price would be too much to justify.

So, good people! I've gotten good recommendations for the Galway Bay Hotel in Salthill, and I've been to a wedding out in Renvyle House in Connemara - which was lovely but probably a bit too far to travel to realistically.

Where else should I consider? Budget would be max of 60 euro pp and I'm looking at around 100 guests, with an option of inviting around the same number again to the afters (is that still done, the afters??)

Will I get anywhere for that, where should I look? If anyone has gotten married in Galway in the last 12 months or so, I would be so so grateful if you could give me the low down on your venue & if you could give even a ballpark figure of how much the venue & food cost (I know, we're mostly Irish so dont like to talk about money!)

Thanks all

boogaloop

Just to add one more thing, ideally I would prefer something other than your standard hotel, beef & salmon reception.
Both of us like our food, so that would be one of the more important aspects of the day - once the food is excellent, then we'll be happy. We had considered outside caterers and maybe having a marquee, but I just think the weather in Ireland is too unpredictable for this to work, and I dont want to be fretting beforehand.

But somewhere unique, where we could have a good input in to the food would be lovely!

copyandpaste

Hi boogaloop, I know your post is a year old, but I'm just wondering how you have got on with your wedding planning since?
I am in the process of planning a wedding in Galway. I have found the hotel I like and I'm being offered 60euro pp. for approx. 180 people.
I want to try bargain this down abit or get a few extas thrown in, but im totally not comfortable with bargaining!! At the same time, I want to spend my hard earned cash as wisely as possible. Any help/advice would be greatly appreciated. thanks.

boogaloop

Hi there,

We didn't end up going for a Galway venue in the end, so I can't help you too much.
For that number of people, I think even if you can't get the per head price down, you should/could try for the following:

Try & get up to 5 rooms for free for the night of the wedding - for yourselves, and then 2 each for the bride & groom (could be used for parents or bridesmaids/groomsmen)

See if you can get canapes/a round of drinks from the bar/evening food thrown in.

I'm not really sure what else - what is covered under the 60 per person as it is? Are all table decorations included? Does the hotel have any transport (some places have a limo/vintage car that comes as part of the deal)? What about things like gym membership to use beforehand?

60 per person is high enough, depends on what time of year you are getting married - I'd push for as much as I could from them for that price and that many people.

Best of luck with it all!