Glenlo Abbey, Galway

boogaloop

hi all,

Has anyone had their wedding or planning on having their wedding in Glenlo Abbey?

I am interested in it mainly as I've heard it is one of the very few places in Galway which allows fireworks (this is one of the big things for me to have if at all possible).

Anyway, before I go up there & start enquiring, just wondering if anyone knows even approx what the cost per head is? I'd be looking at approx 100 people, and I'd be really grateful if someone wouldn't mind sharing how much they paid per head with me.

Thanks

ABajaninCork

I've stayed there, but not actually for a wedding. I think the hotel's beautiful!

Have a look at this: http://www.glenlo.com/weddings?PHPSESSID=9bdac6ca15bc7b20c01fd2e41c263588

Might give you an idea?

boogaloop

Thanks, I've looked & googled but the price seems to be a very well guarded secret

Hotel looks beautiful & it would be a very suitable location for us - but if the price ain't right, then it won't be happening - which is why I dont want to get my hopes up too much!

ABajaninCork

Only one thing to do - Ask!

slowmoe

I was at a wedding there, about 4 years ago in the river room. It was about 50 people. It was a beautiful wedding, the room was gorgeous. The service was very hit and miss though. The staff went around with the meal wine instead of leaving it on the table and seemed to miss us constantly. They were clearing up glasses during the night that still had drink in them. Other than those minor details it was lovely but very expensive to stay. Our two rooms cost just over 500. Very few of the guests stayed so a lot disappeared into taxis about 11-12. Breakfast was amazing!

lor1987

We enquired about prices etc for having our wedding there, and they had a set package and it was €70pp based on a 100 guests, I think or something like that, but that was 2 years ago

boogaloop

Thanks all. I got an email back from the hotel yesterday with details, rates still starting at 70 euro pp for min 100 guests.

Since I'm very new to this, would that be considered very expensive? In comparison, what would hotels such as say, the Galway Bay hotel be per head?

lor1987

I think I got quotes off nearly every hotel in galway when we were looking at venues, we've decided to go abroad now though. All the prices seem to vary, but that would definitely be on the higher end of the scale.
Galway Bay I think had packages starting at 52 euro, but they were open to negotiation. Most hotels were pretty open to negotiation but from what I remember the Glenlo weren't budging on price. Also someone I knew was at a wedding there a while back and they said music had to be turned off by 1 or 1.30am, quite early for a wedding, and it was something they were quite strict on.

ABajaninCork

boogaloop wrote: »

Thanks all. I got an email back from the hotel yesterday with details, rates still starting at 70 euro pp for min 100 guests.

Since I'm very new to this, would that be considered very expensive? In comparison, what would hotels such as say, the Galway Bay hotel be per head?

Depends on what you're getting for E70. I would ask around a few more hotels, then you can get a better comparison. Haggle like mad. Get extra rooms, bar extension, chair covers, free welcome drinks, whatever you can get your hands on.

As a side note. I stayed in the Galway Bay Hotel for my honeymoon. It was horrendous. Left after one night. The suite was cold and dirty, the lights didn't work and the heating was broken!! We left after one night and stayed in the Bunratty Castle for the remainder of our honeymoon. MUCH better!!

Gatica

70 a head is not on the lower scale for sure. The Westwood was doing offers last year for 35 a head! so you can do the math.
As someone mentioned though, it depends on what that includes. Before you even start asking for quotes, I'd sit down with your partner (you, not me :P ), and write down exactly what you want for your day and what is optional;
e.g. canapes and reception sparkling wine - optional or a must?
choice of mains only, or also starter choice?
include wine with meal or look for corkage or none?
evening finger food - plain sandwiches or fancy pakoras?
and so on....
That way it'll be easy to spot exactly how many of your "musts" the price covers. This is important, as anything that the 70 euro does not include will be an extra expense for you. Also don't forget things such as flowers on tables, floral arrangements throughout the hotel, chair covers... Some hotels provide them for free, some don't have them.

Stadler

Slightly OT, but just so you know, for the last couple of weddings I've been at in Glenlo Abbey (approx 2 yrs ago), the music had to stop by 1:30am because of an obstreperous neighbour (with nothing better to do with his time) who keeps ringing the Guards about noise levels. Worth thinking about... They're quite strict on it

clint_silver

Stadler wrote: »

Slightly OT, but just so you know, for the last couple of weddings I've been at in Glenlo Abbey (approx 2 yrs ago), the music had to stop by 1:30am because of an obstreperous neighbour (with nothing better to do with his time) who keeps ringing the Guards about noise levels. Worth thinking about... They're quite strict on it

There's a number of venues around the country, not just hotels that have functions, that have neighbours like that. I'm sure when they're waking up at 2am, the annoyance of the guests having their music turned off is the last thing on their mind (unsociable hours and all that) so the venues usually come to agreement that all music will be low and off at a certain time, usually 1:30 or 2am

Believe it or not, there's even some hotels that ask for music to be turned down or even off as other guests in the same hotel have complained about the noise levels. one in particular in dublin ALWAYS ask for music to be turned down no matter what level its at, and Im talking to conversation levels. sheesh...why even bother? :rolleyes:

They don't tell you this when booking though.

Anne oc

Hi we visited them recently when planning our wedding but didn't them very helpful or friendly. We went to a lot of hotels and ended up booking the harbour hotel as they were much nicer and friendlier and willing to negotiate on the overall package. As we are also having a civil ceremony we could do both in the hotel. Best of luck !

boogaloop wrote: »

hi all,

Has anyone had their wedding or planning on having their wedding in Glenlo Abbey?

I am interested in it mainly as I've heard it is one of the very few places in Galway which allows fireworks (this is one of the big things for me to have if at all possible).

Anyway, before I go up there & start enquiring, just wondering if anyone knows even approx what the cost per head is? I'd be looking at approx 100 people, and I'd be really grateful if someone wouldn't mind sharing how much they paid per head with me.

Thanks

tightropetom

clint_silver wrote: »

Believe it or not, there's even some hotels that ask for music to be turned down or even off as other guests in the same hotel have complained about the noise levels. one in particular in dublin ALWAYS ask for music to be turned down no matter what level its at, and Im talking to conversation levels. sheesh...why even bother? :rolleyes:

They don't tell you this when booking though.

Having played in a wedding band I can tell you this is quite a recurring theme. A lot of places also have sound detection equipment, but place the sensor in the wrong place so that even clapping your hands sets it up into the red! One hotel along the promenade has that problem, as well as plenty of managers who spend their whole night telling bands to turn down, even when our own decibel checker is well below the EU regulations.

As for Glenlo - have played there a few times, they're generally fine, but be aware that the DJ might not have a say in when he finishes. The issue is, they have an upstairs venue and the main smoking area is on the balcony, hence when the doors are open, sound travels freely across the open countryside/golf course to whichever ears choose to get annoyed.

I don't know why hotels book functions that have loud music if their venue isn't set up for it. :rolleyes:

And yeah, most hotels won't tell you that they have to have a really really really really quiet band and that the residents complain and that they have to finish by midnight.

Problem is, punters/customers never make any formal complaint to the hotels, so they get away with it. Very annoying for the bands/DJs though, I remember one gig once where we hadn't even played a note and a manager came up to our keyboard player to tell him to turn down the volume -> it was the house music that was playing. That was a bad night. I won't say where that was...

Just my 2c

Nipaco

boogaloop wrote: »

hi all,

Has anyone had their wedding or planning on having their wedding in Glenlo Abbey?

I am interested in it mainly as I've heard it is one of the very few places in Galway which allows fireworks (this is one of the big things for me to have if at all possible).

Anyway, before I go up there & start enquiring, just wondering if anyone knows even approx what the cost per head is? I'd be looking at approx 100 people, and I'd be really grateful if someone wouldn't mind sharing how much they paid per head with me.

Thanks

FYI
Glenlo just went into receivership
Now, that might mean stay away, or call back for a great deal, up to you. I can vouch for location, doesn't get much better. I don't know anything regarding service etc. But defo Galway bay is a no no

Shyboy

Recently the Harbour Hotel in Galway have started holding weddings. It would be perfect for smaller weddings, I think it caters for up to 130 guests. Don't know what they charge but worth checking out.