2021 Bride/Groom

I got married last Sunday, we had a brilliant day. No regrets, which I think we might have had with 25 but 50 was a great crowd. Our venue let us have music on Spotify and moved tables back to allow dancing, we had a first dance and there were a few people got up for a dance for different songs. Most people were happier having a drink and a chat given that they hadn't seen each other in so long. Tbh the travel restrictions made the biggest difference to us as all our close friends within Europe/UK made it back.

The night porter at the venue was really sound and sorted us out with a seating area and a few bottles for the residents afterwards. Bar closed around 11.15, they did a decent check around for last orders first and the last non-residents left after 12.

Thanks guys! I was a little surprised at how long it all takes, but talking to my friends too, it seems normal enough. The ceremony venue is probably only a 30-40 minute drive away realistically if there's no issues with traffic, but I'm just allowing extra time in my head atm for bad traffic etc (Dublin like, so unpredictable!).

The reason I'm asking, is because my parents were giving me a hard time about it. I'm getting ready at my own house and my parents are about a 20minute drive away (my Dad will be driving my Mam). They're not impressed that they have to get up at the crack of down to shower and have my Mam at my house for a 7.30am start. I talked them through the logistics of how long it all takes. But my Mam was saying things like she's perfectly capable of doing her own makeup and that her hair will only take 5 minutes to style because it's short. And can they not start with everyone else and she comes later.

But like ffs... can you not just suck it up for one day and show up at 7.30am!? You'd swear I was asking them to do something horrible. I know it's an early start, but it's my wedding day ffs. You'd think she'd excited to be involved in all the morning prep, not trying to get out of it and/or come later.

Thanks very much HildaOgdenx!

@woodchuck, that's a bit longer than I had but not outlandish, mine recommended 45 mins per person. We started at 8.30 for leaving the house at 1.30 and had loads of time for five of us to be done, and the hairdresser actually fitted in an extra blow-dry at that because of it being a Sunday and hairdressers were closed. Definitely no need for everyone to be there at 7.30 though, sure if your mam is going last she would be waiting around for hours. Mine did two of the bridesmaids first and they swapped between hair and makeup then so it was an hour and a half before the third person was needed for either.

We getting married mid september after moving it twice last year so we could have all our family there.

I am fully certain be more than 100 allowed in september and there will be easing of a lot more restrictions too by then. But at end of day it doesnt matter, its one day in your whole life of marriage and its gone in a flash. I have talked to numerous couples who got married in last few months and all had a brillant time. Bands, DJ, late open, magicans etc do not make the wedding.

Just relax, enjoy the build up and your day and it will be brillant, all you family will be there, dont worry about litlrle things like music, seating, closing times etc.

We have trad band for arrival, regular band and dj etc booked and dont know if they be allowed yet but it is wot it is.

Music is now allowed outdoors!

@[Deleted User] I wouldn’t worry about comparison at all! Your venue is absolutely stunning and all your guests will just be so delighted to see each other and have a day out I’m sure it will be a great day!

It's very quiet in here, I see the expected August 5th announcement didn't have very much relating to weddings. Does anyone expect restrictions around music or late bars etc to be loosened soon?

Assuming it's indoors so a limit of 6 per table, no live music and no late bars even if you're staying in the hotel.

It really depends on the venue, I've heard of at least one allowing a band, we had a Spotify playlist and tables moved back for dancing. The tables of six thing and mixing between tables seems to vary hugely as well. You still have a bar so it's a bit more like a night out in a pub but I think parties in the rooms would be grimmer tbh.

Great news on the music and dancing @woodchuck !

How are you feeling about the wedding these days? I know you mentioned before about your parents being reluctant and not being excited etc. Have they come around? You’re so close now! Are you all set and ready?

Yeah my parents really changed their tune once they got fully vaccinated! So they're actually coming for the whole day now (my mother even came to the hen party!). My sister is only coming for the morning prep, but I think that's for the best to be honest (she'd just make everything about her and her anxieties if she was there). My brother can't come, because he's in Canada and the flights have become prohibitively expensive. So that's a shame, but it was never guarenteed that he'd make it, even before the pandemic.

It's starting to get very real anyway! We're confident enough at this stage that there shouldn't be a government announcement the night before to pull the rug out from under us. So we just need to try and keep ourselves healthy in the run up. There's always that fear that we'll wake up on the morning with a cough or fever :/ We still have some in person appointments that are unavoidable, but doing our best to keep them to a minimum.

We're absolutely up to our eyes trying to sort out all the final details. And I'm worrying about things like wedding favours, that I swore we never needed :P Nice normal things to be worrying about though!!