Any advice on wedding venues in Cork

Boots234

Hi all, just after getting engaged and we are looking for a wedding venue for summer of next year but we can't decide where. Has anyone anything good or bad to say about hotels or any recommendations of where to start looking? We would be looking at a figure of about 150 and are aiming for hotels around/in the city or to the south of the county. Thanks

ABajaninCork

We had our wedding at the Blarney Woollen Mills. But that's all changed now.

I've been to weddings at Innishannon Hotel which was lovely, and also the Imperial Hotel in the City. The Imperial is a great venue, and central, but parking will be a show stopper.

Our second choice was the Vienna Woods Hotel at Glanmire which was lovely too. Didn't like the Ambassador, nor the Silver Springs.

It really depends on your numbers, budget and the sort of place you're looking for. One thing I would say is don't have the reception too far from the church. Make sure your venue only does one wedding a day. The last thing you want is to be tripping over multiple weddings, and looking around for staff who should be running your day.

Here Comes The Trio

Around the city: Vienna Woods, Maryborough House ($$$), Ballyvolane House (Dunno if they do 150 though), Rochestown Park, Hayfield Manor ($$$), Imperial Hotel, Clarion Hotel, Silver Springs, Fota Island (maybe too far East?)

South: Carlton Kinsale, Actons in Kinsale is reopening in March (and was a very busy wedding venue before so is still recommended), going west you have Inchydoney, the Rectory (not sure of numbers), Celtic Ross...

That's off the top of my head, I'm sure I'll think of some more in a bit!

hoodwinked

we got married in the carlton in Kinsale last july, beautiful hotel, great price wise, and fabulous staff,

on our day it was raining in the city and once we got down there, it was all blue skies absolutely amazing.
i'd totally recommend you go take a look.

Cailleachdubh

I've been at a number of weddings in Cork recently. The Kinsale Carlton is good, but wouldn't recommend the Fota Island hotel & spa for a number of reasons. Let's just say if it had been my wedding, I wouldn't be a happy bunny.

Garryvoe Hotel also quite good, although they clear you out of the reception room when the bar closes and then residents have to wait in the foyer for what seems like ages, before letting residents back in for the residents' bar. Springfort Hall in Newtwopothouse is also nice, but not sure if they'd take that many people.

Lisha

Cailleachdubh wrote: »

I've been at a number of weddings in Cork recently. The Kinsale Carlton is good, but wouldn't recommend the Fota Island hotel & spa for a number of reasons. Let's just say if it had been my wedding, I wouldn't be a happy bunny.

Garryvoe Hotel also quite good, although they clear you out of the reception room when the bar closes and then residents have to wait in the foyer for what seems like ages, before letting residents back in for the residents' bar. Springfort Hall in Newtwopothouse is also nice, but not sure if they'd take that many people.

Springfort hall can take 200 easily and does more if required so 150 be no bother
Love springfort myself but its prob too far north cork going by op
Springfort is fab, good is amazing and hotel and staff are Great

Boots234

Thanks for all the recommendations so far, they are giving us a good idea of which hotels to view

Gatica

we liked Springfort Hall too. The Rectory is beautiful, though I think takes smaller numbers.

ResearchWill

Hotels Fota Island Resort. As a left of field idea, UCC, the Aula Maxima can hold 150 for sit down, food is actually very good. The Staff Common a room as pre dinner reception and bar after is very good. Had a sit down birthday bash there last year for 80 was very impressed. http://www.ucc.ie/en/conferencing/facilities/DrinksReception/

The Dagda

Springfort Hall has a lot of positives, food, location and staff, but the grounds really let it down. The drive, and carpark, are a mess; full of potholes (which means puddles in Ireland), covered with dead leaves, and mucky. It really takes away from the venue, IMO.

Supraman

Booked our wedding for the radisson little island . Competitive on price , for what we wanted we saved over 1500 against the vienna woods ( our two main candidates ) . It's not all down to price either but we felt much more at ease with the radisson wedding co-ordinator too .

You say 150 , we thought that aswell , our list is now up near 200 , it adds up very easy . ask yourselves if room will take your guests comfortably . Is it am issue if tables and chairs need to be moved off a dancefloor to give room for night entertainment . Think radisson holds about 160 without having to put tables on dancefloor .

How many comp rooms will ye get ?

Corkage if bringing own wine ?

Bar extension charge ?

Menu flexibility ?

Guarantee just one wedding per day ? (we priced rochestown park for the sake of it , they were most competitive on price and three in plenty of extras but no guarantee there wouldn't be another wedding on same day )

Food ? What reputation does the hotel have for it , speak with friends who've been in relevant hotels to get am idea of standard of wedding food . Sometimes I feel it's just slapped up on weddings . Was at wedding in the oriel house in ballincollig about 18 months ago , you'd need a chainsaw to cut through the meat that day .

Prices at the bar ? If guests are slightly older you may have a few moans if bar prices are excessive as they'd be used to be local pub prices rather than inflated city centre/hotel prices .

Enjoy the hunt no matter where ye book

TheDriver

Lisha wrote: »

Springfort hall can take 200 easily and does more if required so 150 be no bother
Love springfort myself but its prob too far north cork going by op
Springfort is fab, good is amazing and hotel and staff are Great

Could disagree more, I find it an old dump that has had zero investment, car park is indeed park and muddy if it rains and everyone will ruin their shoes, food can be nice enough but staff have been rude and on one occasion, failed to serve us a course because she was too busy giving extras to another table where she knew people.

Cailleachdubh

TheDriver wrote: »

Could disagree more, I find it an old dump that has had zero investment, car park is indeed park and muddy if it rains and everyone will ruin their shoes, food can be nice enough but staff have been rude and on one occasion, failed to serve us a course because she was too busy giving extras to another table where she knew people.

I have to agree that for all their awards, I didn't think the food tasted/looked particularly award-winning. The only other complaint I'd have is that the bedrooms didn't have black-out curtains and so the room was too bright in the morning (think it was fairly pricy too for accomodation?).

But otherwise lovely

nattyguest

The Blarney Golf resort were amazing with us in 2010. When were browsing in 2009 a lot of hotels were still stuck in the Celtic Tiger mentality and some of the treatment was quite rude. The Golf Resort on the other hand had amazing prices for dinner, were fully flexible, had 0 charge on Corkage (we brought 70 bottles of wine) and probably most important for us with family in many places, they have lots of self catering accommodation for reasonable prices. This helped add to the atmosphere both before and after the wedding with people gathering for drinks and food, etc in the surrounding days.

Ballyman

What about Castlemartyr if its not too far east? Grounds are stunning and the hotel is fabulous and the food is divine.

Would definitely recommend Hayfield Manor also but not sure if they take 150?

elhal

Cailleachdubh wrote: »

I've been at a number of weddings in Cork recently. The Kinsale Carlton is good, but wouldn't recommend the Fota Island hotel & spa for a number of reasons. Let's just say if it had been my wedding, I wouldn't be a happy bunny.

Garryvoe Hotel also quite good, although they clear you out of the reception room when the bar closes and then residents have to wait in the foyer for what seems like ages, before letting residents back in for the residents' bar. Springfort Hall in Newtwopothouse is also nice, but not sure if they'd take that many people.

Out of interest what was the problems with Fota?

Cailleachdubh

They just had another wedding on the night before, who decided to stay on, and the other crowd were all over the residents' bar on the Saturday. Also the hotel sent the bags of the couple getting married to the room of the couple from the night before.

Gatica

wow, that's terrible service.... would defo stay clear of the place in that case!

hoodwinked

Cailleachdubh wrote: »

They just had another wedding on the night before, who decided to stay on, and the other crowd were all over the residents' bar on the Saturday. Also the hotel sent the bags of the couple getting married to the room of the couple from the night before.

with all due respect it is customary for a bride and groom to vacate the room if there is a wedding the night after theirs and the hotel only has one bridal suite, so the bags were probably just brought to the bridal suite.


likewise the couple who stayed on would be more to blame, i know when we got married we knew there was a wedding the next day well in advance and we organised our plans accordingly, aka having the next day get together in the bar/restaurant balcony rather than the main reception/function room one where the reception would be.

likewise we preferred the room opposite the bridal suite so we got to stay on in our room the extra night and the bride and groom from the next day got the bridal suite, but we knew we'd have to move if the bridal suite was the one we used.


its just good manners once your day is over to not get in the way of someone elses you cant blame the hotel for that.

ResearchWill

Cailleachdubh wrote: »

They just had another wedding on the night before, who decided to stay on, and the other crowd were all over the residents' bar on the Saturday. Also the hotel sent the bags of the couple getting married to the room of the couple from the night before.

I'm surprised the other wedding would be a problem at Fota, the wedding area is complete with its own bar. It would only be an issue for residents in relation to the residents bar, but that would be the same no matter who the residents are, and only becomes an issue after 2-3 am.

In relation to the bridal room, they have 2 exactly the same, so I can't see why rooms where a problem, as I believe they don't let the room next to bride and groom.

elhal

Ok well Im having my wedding there in May and to be honest doesnt sound too much like a problem to me..... sure more the merrier in the residents bar and to be honest that could happen anywhere if there are 2 weddings on in the weekend just depends on the crowds at the weddings! I know we are getting married on the fri, and will prob be in the residents bar sat too after our second day party!

Sam Kade

TheDriver wrote: »

Could disagree more, I find it an old dump that has had zero investment, car park is indeed park and muddy if it rains and everyone will ruin their shoes, food can be nice enough but staff have been rude and on one occasion, failed to serve us a course because she was too busy giving extras to another table where she knew people.

I know exactly who she is I thought she would be sacked by now, can't be great for business :mad: Springfort hall is also very stuffy on a warm day with a big crowd, it's lacking ventilation and natural light. With the prices they charge surely they could resurface and up grade the car park.

realtabui

Ive booked my wedding in Oriel House Hotel in Ballincollig for next year

Gamb!t

Ballyman wrote: »

What about Castlemartyr if its not too far east? Grounds are stunning and the hotel is fabulous and the food is divine.

Would definitely recommend Hayfield Manor also but not sure if they take 150?

Really Nice looking hotel but they were not negotiable with regards to giving comp rooms for the parents of bride and groom.Also they want 45% of the total cost of the wedding in the hotel 6 months before the wedding..

denisl

how much should a wedding cost overall in midleton

ABajaninCork

denisl wrote: »

how much should a wedding cost overall in midleton

Bit of a 'How long is a piece of string' question. Have a read of the thread. You need to decide:

Budget. Set your budget and STICK to it.
Wedding - Church or CC?
Numbers
Band/DJ
Hotel or local pub for the reception?
Catering for the reception
Where?
Transport

Once you get all that sorted, you should then have an idea of the costs.

Gatica

It'll cost the same in Middleton as pretty much anywhere else in Ireland, just all depends on venue you go for and all the trimmings you decide on.

Average costs in Ireland:
http://www.mrs2be.ie/wedding-business/irish-wedding-survey-2013/

Saying that, it can be anything from a couple of hundred to 30 odd thousand... or should I say, the sky's the limit.