Alternative wedding venue for 270

forestfruits

Hiya,

Im beginning to think im looking for the impossible!
Any ideas on a alternative ( not a hotel) wedding venue, one that can seat 270 without a marquee. Also preferably no separate venue hire fee aaand it would be great if it was licenced for civil ceremony too. Ive searched through dozens but cannot find anywhere suitable!

Accommodation nearby is also important but accommodation in the venue is not as in If nobody could stay and we all had to bus it to a hotel I woumdnt mind so long as everyone is together.

Any suggestions greatly appreciated!

amdublin

I am wracking my brains and can't think of anything.

I think for 270 guests you are going to have to go with a hotel.
Or for an alternative venue you are going to have to go with waaaaay less than 270 guests.

HeidiHeidi

You don't say what part of the country you are in, but there was a thread on here recently about the Royal Hospital Kilmainham, which does weddings....

http://www.rhk.ie/rhk-events.html#portfolio

fits

Yeah the numbers are mad and only a few places can cater for that. How many would royal hospital kilmainham take?

HeidiHeidi

fits wrote: »

Yeah the numbers are mad and only a few places can cater for that. How many would royal hospital kilmainham take?

Says on the website from 50 to 1100!

I've been at a few shindigs in the Great Hall there, and some of the catering has been outstanding - it's an enormous room, though, 270 would be lost in it.

Don't know how many other rooms they have, but it'd be a fairly spectacular venue if you could find a space to suit your numbers.

forestfruits

HeidiHeidi wrote: »

You don't say what part of the country you are in, but there was a thread on here recently about the Royal Hospital Kilmainham, which does weddings....

http://www.rhk.ie/rhk-events.html#portfolio

Im in the west. I looked at the royal Hospital - rental fee is huge!

forestfruits

Miss Merry Berry wrote: »

It might be a bit too far north for you but The Red Door in Fahan, Co.Donegal can do marquee weddings which cater for that number and can do civil ceremonies on site. It's not a hotel, it's a restaurant with beautiful decor overlooking Lough Swilly. I have seen a wedding featured on One Fab Day called A Donegal Delight who had a marquee on their grounds. You could check it out to see what is possible.

Not keen on the marquee as it will probably be autumn/ winter time!

PhoenixParker

Smock Alley Theatre in Dublin is another that could probably do it.

I'm a bit confused though. You say you want an alternative venue but you don't want to pay a venue rental fee. Most "alternative" places don't come with designated catering. The venue rental fee is where they make the money. You're then free to hire your own caterers, otherwise it's generally not all that alternative except in the look of the place. There are exceptions, but the places with in house caterers have to be a bit more production line in order to keep their staff employed.

Outside Dublin I'd try theatres and sports facilities. They're the most likely to be able to cater to your numbers outside of the "traditional" wedding industry.

Miss Merry Berry

forestfruits wrote: »

Not keen on the marquee as it will probably be autumn/ winter time!

Sorry! My phone screen is cracked and all I saw was marquee

forestfruits

PhoenixParker wrote: »

Smock Alley Theatre in Dublin is another that could probably do it.

I'm a bit confused though. You say you want an alternative venue but you don't want to pay a venue rental fee. Most "alternative" places don't come with designated catering. The venue rental fee is where they make the money. You're then free to hire your own caterers, otherwise it's generally not all that alternative except in the look of the place. There are exceptions, but the places with in house caterers have to be a bit more production line in order to keep their staff employed.

Outside Dublin I'd try theatres and sports facilities. They're the most likely to be able to cater to your numbers outside of the "traditional" wedding industry.

Your right. I suppose i want a place that does its own food but isnt a traditional hotel type venue.

amdublin

Have you looked at the convention centre in Dublin? They have all kinds of rooms for all different sizes of groups.

Stealthfins

Knappogue Castle Co Clare may be worth a look.
A family member got married there.
As far as I know they do civil ceremony too.
It's an old medieval castle,they also provide the entertainment.
There's hotels and b&b's nearby

fits

How many would bunratty take? have a medieval banquet...

Lima Golf

http://bigredbarn.ie/?page_id=27 Scroll down there's some pics of a wedding

Whereisgerry?

What about the Mansion House? I've only been in it for a work do & enjoyed it. It's a lovely venue!

janes1234

forestfruits wrote:

Im beginning to think im looking for the impossible! Any ideas on a alternative ( not a hotel) wedding venue, one that can seat 270 without a marquee. Also preferably no separate venue hire fee aaand it would be great if it was licenced for civil ceremony too. Ive searched through dozens but cannot find anywhere suitable!

Impossible for 270 people.

cee_jay

Thomond Park?

Milly33

Oh the west love it up there.. Mmmm have you tried searching hidden ireland they might have some kind of manor house.. 270 Jes that is a lot of people...

I was at a wedding in Doolin hotel but that is a marquee out the back.. wouldnt be majorly impressed with them but could fit the numbers..

Bunratty Castle might be able to hold that many

fits

I was at one wedding that size also. The bride and groom did not enjoy it and I didnt enjoy it much either. And having gone through the wedding day myself last year I definitely would not enjoy my own wedding being so large. There is just no way you would get to talk to people.

Each to their own like, but I wouldnt recommend having a wedding that size, unless you're royalty or soemthing.

fits

I was at one wedding that size also. The bride and groom did not enjoy it and I didnt enjoy it much either. And having gone through the wedding day myself last year I definitely would not enjoy my own wedding being so large. There is just no way you would get to talk to people.

Each to their own like, but I wouldnt recommend having a wedding that size, unless you're royalty or soemthing.

Milly33

Inis Beg is another place but that is Cork
There is a place in Youghal also a hotel that has a huge hall
Are you aiming for West or would ye trave???

Milly33

Inis Beg is another place but that is Cork
There is a place in Youghal also a hotel that has a huge hall
Are you aiming for West or would ye trave???

Pistachios & cream

With your numbers its going to be difficult to finda private venue. I had less than you at 190 and i would jave loved a private venue but even for that number unless i erected a marquee there wasn't anywhere really on the west coast.

One place i didn't check out though were golf clubs. Some of them might be able to take your numbers and have catering onsite. However you would probably have to do all your own decoration etc that is normally included by a hotel.

If you are happy to do that kind of decoration and organisation then i'd start looking at places that organise conferences but might not be in the wedding market yet.

NUIG do conferences and can seat upto 500 for a gala banquet, perhaps some of the other universities and IT's have similar facilities, i know GMIT have a catering college so they might do something similar.

Pistachios & cream

With your numbers its going to be difficult to finda private venue. I had less than you at 190 and i would jave loved a private venue but even for that number unless i erected a marquee there wasn't anywhere really on the west coast.

One place i didn't check out though were golf clubs. Some of them might be able to take your numbers and have catering onsite. However you would probably have to do all your own decoration etc that is normally included by a hotel.

If you are happy to do that kind of decoration and organisation then i'd start looking at places that organise conferences but might not be in the wedding market yet.

NUIG do conferences and can seat upto 500 for a gala banquet, perhaps some of the other universities and IT's have similar facilities, i know GMIT have a catering college so they might do something similar.

forestfruits

fits wrote: »

I was at one wedding that size also. The bride and groom did not enjoy it and I didnt enjoy it much either. And having gone through the wedding day myself last year I definitely would not enjoy my own wedding being so large. There is just no way you would get to talk to people.

Each to their own like, but I wouldnt recommend having a wedding that size, unless you're royalty or soemthing.

Believe me i iniw the numbers are big. Likely not all will make it but its a case if two fairly large families so we just want to make sure the venue could fit everyone if they were to all come!

amdublin

Op describe again exactly what you are looking for! (I.e. in your wildest dreams what/where do you see your wedding?)

*within your budget

forestfruits

amdublin wrote: »

Op describe again exactly what you are looking for! (I.e. in your wildest dreams what/where do you see your wedding?)

*within your budget

Its the function room im really tying to avoid i think. So a house type venue thats big enough to fit us all would be ideal.

fits

Dromoland takes up to 300. Not sure what their setup is like though.

Milly33

did you check out bunratty or dya just not like the sound of it..Kinda getting the vibe that you dont know what you want to do gave options up above but the only replies are ones to 270 maddness.. What exactly do ye want, and where abouts...Loads of people here could help but need more information

forestfruits

fits wrote: »

Dromoland takes up to 300. Not sure what their setup is like though.

I did actually price dromoland, its lovely but their pricing was a but nutty, no wine included in package, 10% service charge on top of it plus vat. Put me off a bit

forestfruits

Milly33 wrote: »

did you check out bunratty or dya just not like the sound of it..Kinda getting the vibe that you dont know what you want to do gave options up above but the only replies are ones to 270 maddness.. What exactly do ye want, and where abouts...Loads of people here could help but need more information

I did look it up but cannot seem to find much info on it. Open to any location, large enough, not overly expensive and without the usual function room set up. I do appreciate the help I am checking in and looking up venues suggested- im just not online enough to get the chance to reply to everyone.

forestfruits

Whereisgerry? wrote: »

What about the Mansion House? I've only been in it for a work do & enjoyed it. It's a lovely venue!

Mansion house is beautiful- 89 per head is a bit steep but Ill def get their wedding brochure its worth a look thanks.

forestfruits

Stealthfins wrote: »

Knappogue Castle Co Clare may be worth a look.
A family member got married there.
As far as I know they do civil ceremony too.
It's an old medieval castle,they also provide the entertainment.
There's hotels and b&b's nearby

I did look at it but it will seat max 150 😞

forestfruits

Lima Golf wrote: »

http://bigredbarn.ie/?page_id=27 Scroll down there's some pics of a wedding

Is a great option- just have to find somewhere to put it!

Milly33

forestfruits wrote: »

I did look it up but cannot seem to find much info on it. Open to any location, large enough, not overly expensive and without the usual function room set up. I do appreciate the help I am checking in and looking up venues suggested- im just not online enough to get the chance to reply to everyone.

It was more to know like what do ye like, Caslte, Manor house what style.

Here is the link to Bunratty http://www.shannonheritage.com/CastleWeddings/

There would be plenty of places to stay around also.

Milly33

Thought of Westport Hotel too. I checked them out it says 250 but they may be able to fit more.. Have ye counted in for cancellations also

sweetie

http://www.creativeevents.ie/venue-finder/

forestfruits

Milly33 wrote: »

Thought of Westport Hotel too. I checked them out it says 250 but they may be able to fit more.. Have ye counted in for cancellations also

I though westport house was up for sale? Ill have a look though.

Milly33

Oh tis the Hotel in Westport not the house itself....

Milly33

http://onefabday.com/ie/10-unusual-irish-wedding-venues/Have you had a look through one fab day.. They had a great list of quirky venues