Romance is in the air as we present your guide to planning a memorable and stress-free nuptial celebration
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Wedding Feature 2017
Something borrowed, something blue, something a little different for you...
LIAISE with your hotel to create a cocktail for your special day that’s served at the drinks reception and name it after somewhere significant you have been together. When it comes to the bridesmaids’ outfits, choose the same dress in different colours. Co-ordinate the colours with the best man and groomsmen’s ties. Would love centre pieces, but they’re just too expensive? Visit your local garden centre and pick up a variety of potted plants and different colour pots. Get your photographer to take a picture of you holding a sign that says “Thank You”, be it on a chalk board or card. You can then use this as the main image for your thank you card. Who says you need a wedding cake, how about a cake counter? Have a selection of your favourite cakes, and supply little cake boxes so guests can a piece home. This can double up as a favour. Speaking of favours, try something a little bit different – how about flower seeds that each guest can take away and plant? Alternatively, a lotto ticket for each guest will always create a bit of excitement!
Wedding Feature 2017
Wedding Feature 2017
Cassandra Reen from Killarney and Mike McGhee from Edinburgh who were married in St Mary’s Cathedral, Killarney, and held their reception at The Malton Hotel. PICTURE: MH PHOTOGRAPHY (WWW.MHWEDDINGS.IE)
Marion McGill and Damian McCarthy who were married in Caherciveen and celebrated with family and friends in the Killarney Oaks Hotel. PICTURE: MICHEÁL O’SULLIVAN PHOTOGRAPHY, WWW.OSULLIVANPHOTOGRAPHYIRL.COM
Michelle Carey and Tim Kennelly who were married in Ventry Church and held their reception in the Dingle Skellig Hotel. PICTURE: K PHOTOGRAPHY
Gerardine Gleeson and Pa Enright who were married in Ballyduff Church and held their reception in Ballyroe Heights Hotel in Tralee. PICTURE: K PHOTOGRAPHY
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Wedding Feature 2017
Wedding Feature 2017
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Wedding ShowCase Day Sunday January 29th 12-4pm
Discuss your dream day with General Manager Pat Gill
Nestled on 26 acres of landscaped gardens overlooking Bantry Bay, the Westlodge Hotel is the perfect Wedding Destination
Tel : 027 50360 |reservations@westlodgehotel.ie www.westlodgehotel.ie | Find us on Facebook
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Mens Formal Wear and Suit Sales • • •
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Dromhall and Randles hotels are dream wedding venues
CAN you think of a more perfect venue to hold your wedding celebrations than at a historic hotel set in beautiful surroundings? The Dromhall Hotel was originally a hunting lodge, used in times past by the aristocracy visiting the lakes and mountains; over 50 years ago, it was purchased by the Randles family and developed into the supremely elegant venue it is today. The Randles family still run Dromhall Hotel and thus you are sure of not only gracious surroundings and superb service but also that personal touch which comes from family involvement. It has always been the Randles’ family mission to give every single visitor the individual attention that the hosts of a stately home would always offer to their guests, from fine dining to luxurious bedrooms, and always with a warmly smiling welcome. The stunning banqueting suite, now completely renovated, has earned The Dromhall Hotel a place in Ireland’s top 100 wedding venues, as well as receiving more nominations than any other wedding location by brides of Real Weddings. Both The Dromhall Hotel and its sister hotel the Randles Hotel are fully registered to provide civil ceremonies. The location is ideal too, of course: easy access, plenty of parking, and offering wonderful opportunities for memorable wedding pictures, not only outdoors but within the hotel itself (just check out the splendid staircase and imagine yourself standing there with the cameras flashing!). “We’d love couples to come and view our newly-styled welcome reception venue, which is receiving great feedback, and also to see our banqueting suite with its beautiful new carpet,” stated a hotel spokesperson. Meanwhile, the four-star Dromhall Hotel won a Mrs2be Bride’s Choice Award for the third year running. Mrs2Be Bride’s Choice Awards recognise excellent quality of service, professionalism and flexibility of wedding suppliers and venues.
Just a few words on wedding speeches
WEDDING speeches can be nerve-wracking experiences, particularly if you tend to get anxious when asked to speak in front of a group of more than five people. But a little preparation can ensure that even shrinking violets will receive standing ovations on that big day. Delivery and content are crucial, whether you need to say a few words as bride, groom, best man, bridesmaid, or parents of the couple. First of all, don’t be afraid to ask for help in composing a memorable and inspiring speech, but at the same time make sure it is personal enough for you to feel comfortable in your delivery. If oral presentations at school or college were the stuff of nightmares, then when confronted with delivering an address to a huge wedding audience you will need to take stock. The key, whether you are a seasoned speechmaker or a first-timer, is preparation – and plenty of it. Know your audience – and your subject matter. Try to avoid being too corny and be original wherever possible. Practise in front of a trusted friend and make sure your speech is the perfect blend seriousness and humour and, crucially, know when to conclude matters, as you don’t want an audience that’s trying hard not to nod off. Remember to pace yourself as you speak – pauses are as important as words. Enunciate your words clearly and speak slowly and expressively.
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Wedding Feature 2017
The family owned & operated 4* Dromhall Hotel has been hosting weddings for over 50 years We’d love for you to come and view our recently refurbished venue Muckross Road, Killarney, Co Kerry
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T: 064 6639300
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E: weddings@dromhall.com
www.dromhall.com
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update
latest news | photos | keeping you up to the minute ....
Wedding Feature 2017
Capturing your big day on camera
Book your
Magical Wedding Day today on
064 6675100
Visit www.sneemhotel.com for more details
YOUR wedding photographs are among the most essential mementos of your big day. Whether you go hi-tech or plump for a more traditional-style embossed album, these pictures will capture the memories on camera for posterity. One of the first questions you need to ask yourselves is what style of wedding photography you would like. Photographers tend to use lots of different phrases to describe their photographic style – for instance, traditional, contemporary and reportage. Do plenty of research and ask a lot of questions when deciding on your photographer. They will be only too happy to show you samples of your work and, of course, numerous online browses of their websites will also pay rich dividends. It is important to remember that many wedding photographers will incorporate more than one style on the wedding day so communication is key prior to and during the event. Personality is also a crucial element so make sure to sit down with your photographer so you are both aware of exactly what you want and exactly how your photographer can put you at ease so you are happy while he or she snaps away behind the lens. Oftentimes a wedding photographer will become a vital aide on your big day as he or she will have the experience to guide you through the rituals associated with the event. Traditional-style photography usually comprises carefully constructed or posed shots. The photographer will put some time into arranging each shot and poses can be quite classical. Contemporary wedding photography is somewhere between traditional and reportage. A contemporary wedding photographer will take time to set up each shot, interacting with the couple along the way, but the poses and locations can tend to be more dynamic than those in traditional photography. Reportage or documentary-style photography usually entails the photographer observing what is happening, and producing something of a “fly-on-the-wall” documentation.
Advice on choosing your wedding venue TRULY DIVERSE A BAND FOR ALL OCCASSIONS
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You made the wedding! Kerry & Ger O’Sullivan
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YOUR wedding venue is one of the most important aspects of your big day, with some couples even planning their entire nuptials around a specific venue. The first thing to take into account when choosing a wedding location is that there are likely to be two parts of your wedding to organise – the wedding ceremony and the wedding reception. As regards the ceremony, a church wedding is still the favourite choice for many couples, and most have a particular church in mind. In this case, the reception must be planned around the ceremony location. Factors such as ease of transport from service to reception will be important when planning your church wedding. Brides and grooms keen to exchange vows in a civil wedding have the option of choosing a venue that will host both the wedding ceremony and reception. The type of wedding you have will depend partly on how big it will be, so consider the venue capacity. It may sound obvious but many venues will not be able to magic up extra space from nowhere if you add 40 extra guests at the last minute. You should have a good idea of numbers before you start looking at venues. Bands and other entertainment can take up a large amount of space, as can a dance floor, so decide when and where you want the entertainment to take place, and check with the venue that this can be done in the space available. Castles, country houses and stately homes are among the locations many dream of for their big day. If your budget can stretch to it, this offers a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to enjoy the use of a stunning building. There are so many different types of hotel that there’s likely to be something for everyone, from traditional to ultra-modern. Having accommodation on the spot is, of course, a big plus. Food and drink are among the main ingredients for a successful wedding reception, so where better to head than to a lovely restaurant or pub?
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Wedding Feature 2017
Available for Weddings, Parties, Pub Scene & Special Occasions
Mike Coffey 087 2917251 info@twomikesband.com www.twomikesband.com
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wedding update of the week update
"At news the touch of love everyone becomes a poet" - Plato latest news photos keeping you up to the minute .... latest news photos keeping you up to to the the minute .... latest ||| photos ||| keeping you up minute ....
Wedding Feature 2017
Winter sunshine for Debra and Mike
Debra Duggan and Mike O’Sullivan. PICTURES: SEAN KELLY
BY EVE KELLIHER
T
HE winter sun smiled on the recent nuptials of Debra Duggan and Mike O’Sullivan. Debra, from Lisardboula, Tralee, and Mike, from Rusheen, Castlemaine, first laid eyes on one another in February 2009 at the Firies GAA Club social in The Dromhall Hotel. “My cousin Frances Henderson introduced us and the rest is history,” said Debra. Frances took on maid of honour duties at the couple’s recent nuptials in St Mary’s Church in Dingle where they were married by Fr Brendan Walsh. Renowned Killarney photographer and videographer Sean Kelly and Richard Kelly captured the big day on camera. Debra’s parents, Nora and Denis Duggan, and Mike’s father, Jackie O’ Sullivan, helped the couple lead the celebrations at the reception, in the Dingle Skellig Hotel. “Mike’s mother, Mary, who passed away in 2009, was most definitely looking down on us on the day as we were blessed with beautiful weather,” said Debra. “We had a lovely crisp winter’s day which created a great atmosphere. Sunglasses were needed rather than umbrellas.” The bride’s friends Noreen Casey and Sophie Houlihan were bridesmaids. The groom’s brother Ger O’Sullivan was best man while Debra’s brother Alan Duggan together with Mike’s friend David Cronin were groomsmen. Family friend Sophie McNamara travelled from the UK especially to take on flower girl duties and the bride’s cousin and groom’s godson John Henderson enjoyed the key role of pageboy. At the reception, acclaimed wedding band Truly Diverse ensured the dance floor was the place to be, followed by DJ Andrew Morrissey. Mike surprised Debra during a holiday in June 2014 in Kusadasi, Turkey, by popping the question. When Debra said yes, she was whisked off to see the final diamonds being added to her engagement ring, which was being made. The newlyweds will reside in Tralee.
• If you would like your big day featured in Killarney Advertiser Wedding of the Week contact Eve Kelliher on 064-6632215 or newsdesk@killarneyadvertiser.ie
Debra Duggan and Mike O’Sullivan.
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Debra Duggan and Mike O’Sullivan.
Sealed with a kiss: Debra Duggan and Mike O’Sullivan.
Bride Debra Duggan with her father Denis Duggan and bridal party.