Changing everything up!

HippyChic · by **HippyChic** » Wed May 09, 2022 6:37 pm

So we had our date picked and then we changed it for another date that we were definitely sticking to, definitely! We had a venue picked and negotiated with etc, etc. Last Thursday we sat down to do some discussing of details and it turns out we're both of the mind that whilst the venue we were on the brink of booking is truly gorgeous and the staff couldn't be nicer it's just not right for us... Oh, and the dress I bought fits me perfectly and I quite cheerfully hate it so if anyone needs a wedding dress cheap-cheap..? :o0

So we're back to square one.

Budget: Originally 10k - would like to do it for half that if we could!
Date: open to all options
Venue: somewhere quirky and interesting around Cork that'll hold around 80 guests
Everything else: totally undecided

We have agreed on: small, quirky wedding with the emphasis on food and fun. Would love a marquee or barn that we could get caterers in for ourselves. Yeah, that's about it.

Help!

Snuffy · by **Snuffy** » Wed May 09, 2022 6:45 pm

If I was as ikkle as you I might be tempted by the dress.

Anywho, not asking for much are ya! :yelrotflmaosmilie:

I have no idea about cork so really I'm no use to you. But I'm all about changing plans at the last minute! And sounds like a fun wedding. Can i go????

the bees knees · by **the bees knees** » Wed May 09, 2022 10:00 pm

Try Banrnabrow http://www.barnabrowhouse.ie/ it really is beautiful down there , a little different from the norm and food is fantastic... have no ideas of prices or anything but worth a look.....
Or the rectory in Glandore http://www.rectory.ie/ have never been there myself but have heard great things!!!!

UpStyle Junkie · by **UpStyle Junkie** » Wed May 09, 2022 10:15 pm

+1 on the suggestions from the bees knees! Both are amazing venues and offer something different, another option is innishannon house it's beautiful there so quiet and romantic.

Best of luck

FutureMrsS · by **FutureMrsS** » Wed May 09, 2022 10:48 pm

We were in EXACTLY the same boat, down to budget, guest numbers etc lol! And about a.month ago changed it all to afternoon tea wedding followed by romantic dinner for two! :-) (the afters obviously you can totally jig if you'd rather spend more tine with friends/relatives though)!

Budget-wise its amazing, check out hiddenireland.ie - they're old period houses that the owners hold events in for you and do all the catering etc. From memory there were quite a few in the cork area! But we're doing hors d'oeuvres, finger sandwiches, scones with cream and jam, cakes, cocktail sausages, tea, coffee, lemonade, champagne etc. And on vintage china tea sets it looks Fab! Hth!

HippyChic · by **HippyChic** » Wed May 16, 2022 10:03 am

Thanks for the suggestions there ladies! They're lovely venues alright but they seem to be at the higher end of our budget - grand if we don't find anywhere cheaper but sort of a last resort iykwim? The budget I mentioned above is for the whole day, not just the reception. I've looked at every well-known or typical venue in Cork/Kerry/Limerick at this stage - has anyone any ideas out of left-field?
FutuureMrsS - I read your post about your decision to change your day and I have to say it sounds AMAZING - I'd LOVE to do something like that but I'm the first in my family to get married and the only daughter so I think I'd be disowned if I toddled off for dinner on my own with H2B :o0

bondijunction · by **bondijunction** » Wed May 16, 2022 10:07 am

What dress is it...

HippyChic · by **HippyChic** » Wed May 16, 2022 10:21 am

bondijunction wrote:What dress is it...

I knew I'd find a taker on here :o0

It's a gorgeous dress, really it is. It's a sweetheart neckline and v-back shaped beaded bodice and little beaded cap sleeves and the bottom of the dress flares out in layers of (I think) chiffon with Spanish lace detailing and a scalloped hem that is edged in lace, same with the (quite long) train. It also has a hooped underskirt and a two-tier veil (one tier is finger-tip length, the other chapel length). It's so beautiful, fits me perfectly (size 12-14), and it would be amazing on the right person but it's just not the right dress for me. I bought it second-hand so it would need dry-cleaning. This is the best photo I have of it at the moment (think I have one of the bodice too, have to try and find where I've stored that!)

by **tinyaprilbride** » Wed May 16, 2022 1:43 pm

Hi Hippychic,
As a fellow Corkonian and hippy, I thought I'd give you the benefit of my own research from when I was getting married.
There is an catering company called An Excellent Choice that you should look at. They do Mallow Races and they provided some food for a family event of our's. Couldn't recommend them enough. I think they also have marquees. And maybe if you phoned them they might be able to tell you about some alternative venues they've catered, to give you an idea of where to look? I know they've done all sorts for weddings including bbq's. Although if you want the emphasis to be on food you might want something fancier than that! But they can provide lots of options I'm sure.
Have to say though that I found that with the smaller or alternative venues the price really starts to add up. Marquees, toilets, generators, licenses and catering on top of all the other things you end up paying for...
But what about somewhere like this? I found this place when researching but didn't look into it too much as we were having too many people. Maybe it would work for you through. They can have 65 at a civil wedding indoors, but with a humanist celebrant you could have one outside? You could cut your numbers? (Eek!) Or there is the option to have a marquee? It seems like a bit of a blank canvas where you can design the day yourself. And if you want the emphasis to be on food and fun you could adapt it to fit your needs. Like what about having a giant pot luck for those hanging around on the second day? Things like that. I think it looks idyllic and different. http://www.inishbeg.com/weddings/

Other alternative venues that haven't been mentioned are flemings, blackrock castle, goughane barra hotel, and the lifetime lab. Again though if you want dancing etc. it can be hard to get the full wedding experience in a restaurant/non hotel. But for those couples it suits I think it can be lovely.

In the end we went with the Imperial which I couldn't recommend highly enough. With their 2013 package you'd get your eighty fed and watered with chair covers and all the extra bits for about 5000 and they have a beautiful civil ceremony room which they decorate and everything. Understand completely if that's not your thing though.

In terms of other Cork related tips:
I was sorry I didn't do my own bouquets from here: http://www.centralfloralsupplies.com/store/go/about-us/

Can't recommend Ronan Palliser enough as photographer and if you talk to him about your needs he might be able to work out a shorter package for you? Photos are so important. That's us there on the front page.http://www.ronanpalliser.ie/

There is a great shop now in Cork that do second hand gowns. Even if you don't want to buy from there, you might be able to sell the one you have:
http://www.memoriesbridalboutique.com

Hope that helps. All the best with the planning. :thnk

FutureMrsS · by **FutureMrsS** » Wed May 16, 2022 2:07 pm

If you do like the afternoon tea idea, I've seen a few blogs where people did a hog roast that night with salads, bread etc and had full night of dancing, boozing and schmoozing!

I looked at it briefly and for the hog cooked and served I think it worked out around €500. There are a.number of companies doing it around Ireland all in around same price. Afternoon tea works out around €20/25per head so its not expensive, add inyour hog and bbq its still def cost effective! Hidden Ireland places are also beautiful and mostly not too hard on the wallet!:-)

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