Venue hire without catering - Google is unhelpful!

love_love

We have very specific wants for a venue, but Google has so far been quite unhelpful! Maybe venues like this don't exist (or would be completely out of my price range).

I'll outline two different types of venues below but the things that are important to us between both are that they are self-catering, and that they either have views of a body of water, or of greenery.

Venue type one: "country house type venue", where there is some accommodation on site, and some grounds. Perhaps the "country house type venue" doesn't actually have any dining/function rooms and is literally just a house with accommodation, but has grounds that could handle a marquee. This venue doesn't actually have to be in the country btw, just using it as a descriptor!

We're looking to do most things ourselves (such as catering, music, etc.), but would still like to have accommodation on site to serve some older relatives, and also because it leaves the option open for things to go on into the wee hours. We're looking to keep things as cost effective as possible, so a venue with accommodation where the hire cost can be offset by filling the bedrooms would be ideal.

It seems impossible to find venues with accommodation that don't also come with their own catering. To be honest, in general, it seems impossible to find any venues where bringing your own catering is an option!

Venue two: Our friends who married a few years ago had their party in a yacht club, which was absolutely beautiful with massive floor to ceiling windows looking out onto the water, and laid back/unfussy in the way that we would like. We would love suggestions that aren't standard wedding venues, because there's no real difference between a wedding and a 21st/30th/60th birthday party, or family reunion (except for the price!!). I've found one boat club in Dublin which we're going to check out, and any other suggestions would be great!

maisiedaisy

What part of the country are you looking in? Inis Beg in west Cork could be suitable but no idea if that's too far away or not!

Paullimerick

Springfield castle in Broadford in limerick. Lots of accommodation on site. Fabulous quiet place. And party as long as u want.

love_love

Inish Beg is dreeeeeeamy and exactly what we're looking for! Provisionally yes it is too far away, but I don't know how immovable my OH is on that (we're thinking of older relatives, especially his nana who wouldn't be used to travel. Not sure if she's unable to, or if he just wouldn't want to ask). I'm properly in love, it's exactly what we want and absolutely stunning! At least we know now that it exists!

Springfield Castle is lush too but their small print seems to say that you have to use their recommended suppliers, so we wouldn't be able to bring in our own caterer. Thanks so much though, again it's reassuring to know these places exist!

Ideally we'd be looking for somewhere within around an hour journey from Dublin, but I don't want to set that as a definite parameter yet, because I'm not sure how set in stone it is. I want as many options as possible to add to my spreadsheet!

Feets

Roughly how many people are u hoping to have ?

maisiedaisy

love_love wrote: »

Inish Beg is dreeeeeeamy and exactly what we're looking for! Provisionally yes it is too far away, but I don't know how immovable my OH is on that (we're thinking of older relatives, especially his nana who wouldn't be used to travel. Not sure if she's unable to, or if he just wouldn't want to ask). I'm properly in love, it's exactly what we want and absolutely stunning! At least we know now that it exists!

Springfield Castle is lush too but their small print seems to say that you have to use their recommended suppliers, so we wouldn't be able to bring in our own caterer. Thanks so much though, again it's reassuring to know these places exist!

Yep, it is a good 3.5 or 4 hour drive from Dublin. I would have loved to have gotten married there but our numbers swelled so that was that!

Lisnavagh House is another option but doesn't have the water element, think it's in Wicklow/Carlow somewhere.

I think One Fab Day has a list of unusual wedding venues, there could well be a few on that too.

Crosshaven House is another one but that's also Cork so maybe not ideal!

ONY

Hi, If accommodation is a big priority you might give this place a miss. However there are 6/7 hotels close by and everything else fits your requirements. Check out Aras Chronain in Clondalkin. Can have whatever catering you want, music, decoration etc. We supplied our own drinks for drink reception. Some garden space outside. Beautiful house with plenty of flexibility. Got married there myself but that's my only link.

love_love

Feets wrote: »

Roughly how many people are u hoping to have ?

Very approximately, 100 people for food, and then probably the same again for afters. Again, don't really want to rule anywhere completely out yet since we're only in the very early research stage, but I would be pretty confident that anywhere seating less than 80 would be a no go.

Thanks so much for all the other suggestions, they're on the spreadsheet!

I'm actually from Clondalkin and while I'd hope to find somewhere that isn't quite as local, it would be no harm for us to pop down to Aras Chronain to have a goo!

the14thwarrior

love_love wrote: »

We have very specific wants for a venue, but Google has so far been quite unhelpful! Maybe venues like this don't exist (or would be completely out of my price range).

i think thats quite rude of google, to be so unhelpful

ONY

Me too We went looking all over city centre - wanted a very casual affair with a civil ceremony - but nothing suited. Going past on the bus my husband said sure why not there It hadn't even occurred to us before then. They have done a few more weddings recently too. We had the ceremony and reception on site. I heard someone was taking wedding photos in the round tower garden too.

ONY

We were seriously considering Smock Alley as well, before thinking of the Aras anyway. Again no accommodation on site but no shortage close by either. Also not very cheap!

Feets

The Pillar Room in the Rotunda is well thought of...guests could be bussed to the gresham etc.

Or maybe try dreamireland.com or some luxury house website and book a big one out for a week.

The only wedding I have been at that was self catered was this cool big yurt that fit your number but it was on the grounds of my friends parents house. If you can find a venue that would let u do that, that could work. Heaters were brought in and did a grest job at night.

love_love

Just to update, we're looking into Inish Beg. OH feels that realistically his nana wouldn't really be able to travel any distance, so we'll do the actual legal stuff in Dublin with her there (hopefully as one of our witnesses, so that she is really included) and go out for a nice meal afterwards with nearest and dearest, and then have the party side of things at the weekend.

Really hope Inish Beg works out, we can't get over how dreamy it is!

touchwood

Trudder lodge in Newtown wicklow

Pinkycharm

Try Ashley Park House in Nenagh. It has a lake and a forest onsite. Dromineer which is nearby have a yacht club with a function room that you could probably contact about using.

Dee01

Went to a wedding at Segrave Barns Dunany and I have to say I think it was truly amazing. So different. Tents/cabins for some and guest houses within 5 mins for the more reserved! They're on Facebook.

Re your comment about numbers.... there's no way I'd travel 1+ hours just to go to an afters... might be something you might need to think about for catering etc.

Good luck with the planning and I hope you get your dream venue.

Long Turn

What day of the week would you propose to have the wedding?

Red Alert

If Bellurgan (off the M1 on the way to Carlingford) isn't too far then they might be worth checking out. It's a mix of old and bohemian. I suspect you can (have to) bring your own catering but I could be wrong.