Weddings | Autumn/Winter | 2022

Wedding Cake Confectionery

Dresses to impress ...

Romantica

Silhouette

Kenneth Wilson – Ella Rose Collection

Fox Bridal – Dancing Queen

Romantica – Jennifer Wren Collection

Romantical

Silhouette

Fox

Romantica

Groomed to perfection

All eyes will no doubt be on the bride and bridesmaids, but it’s important that the lads cut a dash on the day too!

by Paula Burns

Tailoring

Ever since Tommy Shelby stepped out onto the streets of Birmingham, the three-piece suit is having a renaissance. Thanks to its sleek look and impeccable tailoring, the threepiece has become a favourite amongst grooms and his groomsmen. The versatile style allows for a number of com binations.

From suits made from the same piece of fabric, allowing for a cohesive colour palette, to a mix and match. It can be worn with or without a tie or for those daring to be different, a bow tie always makes a statement.

Due to the formal nature of the three-piece, it looks better in a tailored fit but not too slim. Remember the jacket should be roomy enough to allow for the waistcoat underneath.

Colour coding

As weddings move away from the traditional so has the formality of the black suit and tie for men. Grooms along with their wedding party want to add a touch of their own personality to their style for the big day.

Cobalt blue has been a strong choice over the past few seasons often matched with a pink or statement shirt. The summer season sees grooms opting for more pastel shades of dusty pink or baby blues. As we ease into the season of winter weddings, moodier, richer tones of deep red and bur gundy are on the menu.

Fabric

A little texture can go a long way in the world of suits. The stuffy connotations of the tweed suit are a thing of the past. A contemporary twist on the country classic creates a modern look. Prints aren’t off-limits either. From bold checks to a sub tle pattern, stepping away from colour blocking has never looked so good. Winter weddings call for luxurious fabrics to add depth to the look.

Thanks to Bridgerton, the sumptuous velvet suit in rich tones is having a moment. If full-on velvet is taking it a bit too far, add a splash of the opulent fabric to your accessories with a bow tie or velvet loafers.

Statement pieces

Once the fit and style of the suit are decided, it’s time to think of the extras. When it comes to the three-piece suit, the waistcoat can be the pièce de résistance. Inject a bit of fun to the look with a statement waistcoat that suits your personal ity. Make it a check-print or brighter colour then the rest of the suit. It will keep the look smart while adding some inter est to the overall look. A statement shirt in a fun floral print or colour coded with the bridesmaids is also a great way to add your own sense of style to the formalities.

Accessories

Accessories are a great way to add personality to your look on the big day. Wear a floral tie to match the hues of the wedding flowers or for winter weddings a tartan tie will be in keeping with the colour theme.

The bow tie remains on-trend. It’s no longer the go to piece for the nerdy scientist but instead adds a dapper ele ment to any suit. If traditional is your thing look to the classic black tie favoured by Bond.

For the more daring a fun print or pop of colour will in ject a touch of originality to your wedding day style. Pocket squares are also having a moment right now. Opt for hues to match that of the bridesmaids or go for a bright pop of col our sneaking out of your suit pocket.

Shoes

To complete your wedding day look the right choice of shoe is vital. A traditional wedding style requires a standard dress shoe in patent black leather or black leather. Other wise, the colour and material of the groom’s suit should be considered when choosing a shoe. The brown brogue has been a popular choice in recent years and always works well with the cobalt blue suit. However, going for a bold colour such as blue or a suede finish can be an interesting way to add personality. Thanks to the comfort factor, grooms are stepping out in the loafer with a velvet finish being a popular choice. If a velvet slipper is too much personality, a brightcoloured sock should suffice.

Wedding bliss at Eccles Hotel & Spa

Overlooking Bantry Bay, the 4-star Eccles Hotel & Spa, recent winner of the Best Picturesque Hotel (RSVP Wedding Awards) is a sea-facing venue steeped in 250 years of history, heritage style, and romance. Since 1745, Eccles Hotel has been welcoming guests to this idyllic part of West Cork.

Commanding panoramic views of Bantry Bay on West Cork’s Wild Atlantic Way, this charm ing hotel is a stunning venue for weddings with spacious, bright suites boasting wonder ful views across Bantry Bay and beyond. The recently refurbished Yeats Suite consists of a King-size bed overlooking the stunning sea views, a comfortable living area with a flatscreen TV, and a generous ensuite bathroom including a copper-clad free-standing bath, twin sinks, a rain shower, and a stunning bal cony where guests can sit back, relax and soak up the views.

While staying at Eccles Hotel & Spa, wedding guests can make the most of their time in the scenic surroundings of West Cork, including romantic walks by the sea, and enjoying a visit to the charming and quaint village of Glengar riff. After an exciting day of exploring, wander up to the spa terrace and take in the incred ible views whilst relaxing in the outdoor hot tubs together. Guests will enjoy the culinary delights created by award-winning Chef Eddie Attwell who uses local homegrown ingredients and works with local artisan producers in West Cork. Go to www.eccleshotel.com for more details and wedding packages.

Ladies and gentlemen ...

GIVING a wedding speech is a big responsibility. There are only so many hours in what is supposed to be the best day of the happy couple’s lives, and so to be asked to take up some of that time to speak should be an honour. With that in mind, it’s important to deliver a good (and appropriate!) speech. Balancing humour and sincerity can be tricky for some – so here are some of the best tips you can use to make sure your speech is perfect for the occasion.

Practice

Cliché as it is, practice makes perfect. While a wedding speech may be more casual in nature than a big presenta tion at work, it still helps to know your material inside out. A huge help here comes when you’re writing the speech itself. Try not to get bogged down in the exact wording of each story. Instead focus on knowing the points you want to make inside out and don’t attempt to write a masterpiece. Write in the same way you speak, and practice delivering the speech in front of a mirror.

It can help to jot down bullet points and go from there. If you know exactly what you’re going to say, you won’t get too worried about saying it exactly as it’s written on the big day.

Don’t ramble on

Nobody wants to listen to a speech that lasts as long as the wedding ceremony itself. Even the most beautifully crafted, hilariously worded, and emotionally delivered speech will get boring if it goes on for too long.While it might feel like you need to include every anecdote, it’s best to leave most stories on the cutting room floor. Keep it short and choose one or two great stories – it will be more memorable, and

guests will thank you for it. It’s best to aim for about five minutes, just enough time to regale the audience with your charismatic showmanship. Any longer than ten minutes and you’ll start getting dirty looks from just about everyone.

Beat the nerves

The vast majority of people hate speaking in public, and while the general advice may be to imagine everyone in the audience is naked, there are some more practical tricks you can employ to keep the nerves at bay. A simple thing you can do is to regulate your breathing beforehand to help slow your heartrate. Before you begin, ask the crowd if they’re having a nice time to break the ice. If you’re very nervous, choose one person in the room to focus on and deliver the speech to them. Make sure you choose wisely though, star ing at the groom’s mother while you joke about his single life is risky business!

Be yourself

It might sound a bit cringey but being yourself is the best thing you can do. If you’re not a stand-up comedian don’t try to be one as it will end up being awkward if your jokes don’t land.

That’s not to say leave out all attempts at humour, just don’t attempt to deliver a set worthy of the stage. Make sure you check with someone else beforehand who can confirm whether or not your jokes are good.

Speak about the couple

There’s often a temptation, especially in best man speech es, to focus on your relationship with the groom. It makes

sense as you’re his best man and you’re there for him, but there’s two people involved in a marriage, and ignoring one of them entirely makes things uncomfortable. Include the bride and groom as a couple, even something as simple as the first time you saw them together.

Be sincere

The best man’s speech is typically full of jokes about the groom’s previous misdemeanours – and are often too vague to be of any interest to most people in the room.

While a slagging is par for the course, you’re not there to roast them. In-jokes and stories about previous partners are only asking for trouble and can suck the positive energy out of the room. Instead, be sincere about your love for your friend and their partner.

They’ll be more receptive to any potential controversy thrown their way and your jokes will land better because of it.

Improvise

The only bad thing about being well prepared is that even the perfect plan can go wrong. With that in mind, be ready to improvise. Preparing well will leave you with the confidence to adapt if things go awry. If your microphone breaks use it to your advantage – stand up on a chair and shout to the back of the room.

If you leave your speech in your room, address it – start by telling everyone what’s gone wrong and go from there. Use it to add humour to the speech. The worst thing you could do is pretend there’s nothing amiss as it will only bring more attention to the matter.

Keep things brief, speak from the heart and don’t try to be a stand-up comedian if you’re giving a wedding speech, says Dylan Mangan

Happy couples!

Above: Ger O’Donovan, Ballymacowen, Clonakilty and Anna Bourke from Birmingham, UK were married recently at Darrara Church and had their reception at Dunmore House Hotel, Clonakilty.

(Photo by Dermot Sullivan www.dermotsullivan.com)

Left: Claire O`Donovan and Conor Breen who were married on September 3rd last at St Patrick’s Cathedral, Skibbereen. They enjoyed a reception with family and friends in the Celtic Ross Hotel, Rosscar bery afterwards.

(Photo by Kornel Photography www.kornelphoto.com)

Above: David Buttimer, Cork and Christina Close, Dublin, were mar ried in The Church of the Immaculate Conception, Clonakilty, with a reception afterwards in Dunmore House Hotel on July 8th last.

(Photo by Dermot Sullivan/www.dermotsullivan.com)

Left: John Bohane, Skibbereen and Molly Farrell, Drimoleague who were married on Saturday, August 20th at St Finbarr’s Oratory, Gougane Barra had their reception afterwards at The Westlodge Hotel, Bantry.

(Photo by Kathryn O’Shea/www.kathrynosheaphotography.com)

‘Best Wedding Venue in Ireland’

Three stunning ceremony locations, Three spectacular banqueting spaces, Two amazing drinks reception areas, Acres of gardens and one luxurious Country House

What to do, what to do?

Organising a hen or stag do is a big responsibility. There’s a lot to keep on top of – date, numbers, cost, location – and it can just get stressful thinking about things to do that don’t immediately involve the pub, writes Dylan Mangan

BEFORE you book anything there are two important things to know: your budget, and how many people will be joining. It’s all well and good to book out the VIP section of a night club in Croatia, but if only two or three of those invited can come, things start getting expensive.

Anyone can book a few tables in a pub or nightclub, but a night out or weekend away ahead of the big day should raise your standards just a little.

With that in mind, we’ve come up with some great ideas for things to do on your stag/hen which should act as a good starting point for when the time comes.

And of course, while these are separated into stag and hen ideas, there’s nothing stopping you from taking from either list!

Hen Ideas

Escape room

With new locations popping up across the country, escape rooms are becoming more and more popular for parties, and are a perfect way to warm everyone up at the beginning of your hen. It’s a great icebreaker for groups who may have people who haven’t met before and offers great excitement as you try to beat the clock.

Yoga retreat

For those of you seeking a more relaxed hen, it’s hard to find something more soul-cleansing than a yoga retreat. There are loads of different options for beginners and experts alike, and you’d be surprised at how refreshing a weekend away from work and life distractions can actually be.

Karaoke

The beauty of karaoke is that it doesn’t matter whether you can sing or not, and sometimes its actually more fun the worse you are. Lock yourself in a room with your closest friends and sing/scream to your heart’s content. This is a great evening activity that consists of more than just drink ing.

Scavenger hunt

This one requires a little bit of extra planning but is com pletely worth it. It works as a group activity, or you can put people into teams of two or three. All you need to do is

make a list of items that each team need to collect – it could be as simple as a shot glass or something that requires a bit more finesse like a stranger’s hat. You can be as mischievous as you like here.

Murder-mystery party

There’s an actor in all of us, and a murder mystery themed evening is the perfect way to live out your Hollywood dreams. This is a great ice-breaker activity for a hen party as you work together to figure out who the murderer is. Throw some costumes into the mix and you have a great fun-filled evening ahead of you.

Stag Ideas

Adventure activities

West Cork is chock-full of brilliant adventure centres, ob stacle courses, and general outdoors fun. You can go on a mud run, rock climbing, kayaking or zip-lining. There are plenty of water activity centres across the area as well and if the groom is a bit of an adrenaline seeker, a weekend away full of high-octane activities is the perfect fit – just make sure everyone invited is up for it too!

Rent a boat

If you’re seeking a more laidback time, you can always rent a boat and pretend you’re the captain of a ship for the weekend. You could go on a trip around the coast from a different point of view, or meander up the river Shannon and stop for food and drinks. If you get good weather it could be a perfect trip, provided nobody is prone to seasickness.

Go golfing

Some of Ireland’s most beautiful and scenic golf courses are in West Cork – and spending an afternoon trying to one-up your friends on the green sounds like a wonder ful time. It’s a great day activity which can take place either before or after a night out. This gets bonus points as it is suitable for all ages and hangover friendly! If 18 holes is too much for you, there’s always pitch and putt or crazy golf as well.

Camping and hiking

A night or two camping with friends can provide the perfect amount of freedom needed for a great stag do. Spend a night on Cape Clear or Sherkin Island. Get up the next day and go for hike across the beautiful land scape around Glengarrif or Gougane Barra or Adrigole or Lough Hyne or Carrigfadda – the list could go on. It’s a great way to blow out any cobwebs and provides plenty of time to chat.

Go-karting

the groom has a need for speed, go-karting is a great way to scratch that adrenaline itch while still including everyone along the way. Race each other to see who can set the fastest lap time and live out your Formula 1 dreams, albeit at a much slower pace. Just try not to crash.

Beautiful bridal hair and make up

by Paula Burns

The Chignon

The low bun or chignon as it is also known, is making a dent in recent bridal hair trends. A versatile style, this classic look can work for those who love it sleek and straight or a little bit undone. Keep it sleek with a middle parting bringing it into a low bun that sits at the nape of the neck. Simple yet elegant this super-flattering style will suit the no-fuss bride who wants a sophisticated look. If the tousled romantic look is more your style, tie it back in a loosened fashion, maybe a little to the side with loose strands around the face. Introduce a touch of boho chic with a dusting of floral accessories.

Glossy and Straight

There is minimalist thread running throughout bridal trends this season with hairstyles follow ing suit. Inspiration comes in part from the sleek bob donned by Kourtney Kardashian Barker. De spite the inspiration this look is surprisingly chic. The poker-straight style works well with a sleek middle parting with the hair tucked behind the ears. This works well with or without a veil. Alter natively opt for a sprinkling of embellishments to immediately elevate the style to bridal-worthy status.

Braid

It may be the Little Mermaid effect but whatever is in the water, the braid is back in vogue. Another ver satile look, the braid comes in many forms making tying your tresses in knots all the easier. There is a style to suit every bride from boho-chic to Park Avenue princess. The Ariel, fishtail braid works well for those with longer tresses and allows for a less-than-perfect look. Add some floral accesso ries for a boho style. Those who love a hairband, the crown braid up-do is the one for you.

Ponytail

Harking back to childhood memories the humble ponytail is hav ing its moment in the bridal hair spotlight. All grown-up, the mod est style may be simple but its effect is memorable. Perfect for those with longer tresses (of course extensions can be added for those who don’t), it can be worn at any height. If you’re opting out of wearing a veil go for a high-pony accessorised with a simple bow. Alternatively the tousled low pony works beautifully. Forget hair ties, instead wrapping the hair to create a seamless look.

Curly Locks

Making waves amongst the bridal hair trends, curly locks are a must-have. From the surfer wave to tousled curls there is a spiral that suits all. The beauty of loose curls is their versatility, allowing for a number of dif ferent styles to be created, suiting all brides. Tousled curls were made for the effortless boho-chic style of the half up-do. Think loose strands tied-up with a light flowy bounce falling over your shoulders.

Adding instant texture to your hair, loose curls or simple waves create an effortlessly beau tiful look.

Make-up trends

Lippy

When you hear the celebrant utter the words ‘Now you may kiss the bride’, you want to be sure those lips are kissable. Since we have ditched the Covid masks (for good hopefully!), our attention has turned to making our pout as desirable as ever. A fall-out of TikTok’s obsession with all things ‘90s is the nude lip. This time around the dark beige has been dumped for a more modern soft pink nude shade that works perfectly with the natural look. For those who love a statement lip think old Hollywood glamour. Let your lips do the talking with a daring red, making your pout the centre of attention.

Dewy Skin

The months of lockdown had us falling back in love with the natural dewy glow of our bare skin. This has trickled through to bridal trends, making the natural look a favourite. Gone is the matt, caked-on makeup look. Instead this is your chance to enhance your natural beauty. To achieve the look use natural tones on the eyes, bringing it through to radiant highlight ed cheekbones. Keep the brows soft with a simple brush up and neat individual lashes for the eyes. Again keep the look neutral with nude or pale pink lips. For a dewy look choose a luminous foundation mixed with primer.

Smokey Eye

If the smokey eye is your go-to make-up look, there’s no need to ditch it for the big day. While some say neutral is for brides, feeling and looking like you is what’s important, so stick to what you know. The dra ma of a smokey eye never goes out of style and it has many interpretations. Obviously we want to avoid the racoon look, so opting for a subtle smokey style is best. Using a combination of earthy tones blended together with a soft shimmer creates a beautiful dra matic look.

Metallics

As we’re entering the winter wedding season, the metallic trend will inevitably trickle through. The party season is known for its glitz and glam and this can be seamlessly brought through to your wedding make-up look. We’re not proposing full-on sparkles to match the disco ball but a glistening eye will have you gleaming. To create a gilded eye, blend bronze and gold tones. Use a mix of matte and shimmer to let the light reflect off it creating a dazzling effect. This shimmering eye will look stunning with the dewy natural look and have you gleaming all night long.

Nails

Next to hair and make-up having manicured nails on your big day is a must. Choosing a nail colour is tough at the best of times so some pre-planning is essential. The nude nail has been a long-time favour ite of brides and still reigns supreme. It may sound easy but under the title nude comes an array of dif ferent tones. This is where the pre-planning comes into play. Try different shades from pinks to whites to find your perfect match. One trend of yesteryear that is making a comeback is the French tip. If this classic tickles your fancy opt for an ombre (a type of layered manicure giving a seamless, blended color gradient) French tip for a more contemporary feel of the ‘90s favourite.

Round two!

Budget

Your budget will dictate what sort of day-after celebra tions you go for. When working on your wedding budget, incorporate the day two as well so that you’re not left with any surprise bills when it’s all over. You might decide to go all out and have a lavish party, or you might decide to keep it low key and hold it somewhere where guests can look after their own food and drinks. In either case, decide on this in the lead up to the wedding so that you can fully enjoy the celebrations.

Guests

Deciding who will be invited to the after party is some thing that will help you decide things like the venue and the time it kicks off at. Will everyone who was at the wedding be invited or just close family and friends? Having kids there can influence location, time and entertainment so that needs to be taken into consideration too.

Location

There are so many options when it comes to the location for your day two celebrations. If you had your wedding day in a hotel or similar venue, you can opt to stay here for the following day. This is a particularly good idea if the venue is far away for a lot of people and if you had a lot of guests travelling to it. If guests want to stay for the after party, they might decide to book in for a few nights break and won’t have to worry about driving anywhere. You might choose to have the party in the same function room, or the hotel or wedding venue might have another room or outdoor area which would change up the atmosphere while still keeping everyone in the same place.

You might prefer to change things up and go to a com pletely new venue. You could go for something classy like a wine or cocktail bar, or a restaurant or the local pub. Think of the guests that will be there and go for something that every one will enjoy.

If it’s suitable, having the celebrations at home can be a lovely idea. Pop up a marquee, hire in some caterers and entertainment and dance the night away under the stars or around the fire pit with no closing time!

Food and drink

There are so many options when it comes to the food and drink choices so think about what your guests would like. If you have the budget, a more formal sit-down meal can be nice. Or maybe you’d prefer a more casual buffet.

Guests can be tired on the day two so an earlier celebra tion like a breakfast, brunch or afternoon tea can also be lovely options.

Hiring in a food, coffee or drinks truck or caterers to come to your venue or home can add something different to your party. You can opt for a BBQ, pizzas, grazing tables, hog roast or pig on a spit, there are so many options depending on your tastes.

Entertainment

You can have a lot of fun with your day-two entertainment. Your venue and guests will again determine the direction of the atmosphere you want to create but there are so many options that you can go for. If there’ll be kids present, a face painter, magician or clown could be a fun idea. Even the adults might get involved! If you want some music, a one or two-piece band is a lovely option if you had a full band on your wedding day, or you could go for something different like a ukulele, jazz or saxophone band. Why not organise a performance like dancers or a comedian, or even set up some challenge games or a photo booth so your guests can laugh the night away. A DJ is also a great option if your group love dancing or to keep it simple, pop on your favour ite playlist.

If you have an active group of friends and family, organise something completely different like a group sea swim or a

hike for the day after. When else will you get everyone to gether to do something like this?

Added extras

If your budget allows, having a photographer or videog rapher to capture all the fun that you and your guests are having, will give you amazing memories to cherish forever. Or pop some disposable cameras around your venue so that your guests can snap away themselves.

If there was a theme you wanted to bring into your wed ding day but it didn’t fit properly, you can bring it into your after party instead.

Outfit ideas for bridal party

Brides often opt for wearing white for their day-two cel ebrations. This is a lovely idea if that was the theme of the wedding day but make sure you let your personality shine through and pick something that you are totally comfortable in. All guests should dress for the location and wrap up if the venue is outdoors.

If you’ve picked a theme and want to have some extra fun, go all out and ask your guests to arrive in fancy dress! Think of the photographs you’d have from it!

Your wedding day can go by in the blink of an eye so keep the celebrations going by organising a ‘day two’. It’s a great opportunity to spend some extra quality time with family and friends, writes Niamh Hayes

A little bit of West Cork indulgence with a contemporary twist!

Now under The Blue Haven Collection, the team at The Schull Harbour Hotel are offer ing a fresh and vibrant wedding venue to the couples of West Cork. ‘The styling of each area of the hotel is carefully planned based on our sense of place and the people we want to attract.

‘We want to create a place where both locals and visitors feel welcome, so a little bit of West Cork indulgence with a contempo rary twist would be the best way to describe what we are trying to achieve!’ says Ciaran Fitzgerald of The Blue Haven Collection.

A dedicated wedding team is led by General Manger Eugene McNamara, to make sure your wedding is the dream day, something that you will think about for the rest of your life. A fantastic ballroom, compli mented with two separate bars, means the venue is extremely adaptable to different couples’ needs.

The hotel’s two main selling points are it’s delicious food and exceptional location. Cel ebrate your special occasion in style in one of the most beautiful places on earth, with a menu that is designed using the produce on the doorstep.

Ciaran continues, ‘We offer a day of cel ebration in Schull with great food, wine and the best photo opportunities a couple could

hope for. Then the following day your guests can explore the islands, make pottery, learn to weave, take a walk on a Blue Flag beach, swim in the sea, have a drink in a cosy local pub and if feeling very energetic, walk one of the fantastic trails in the area, returning for a delicious barbecus back at the hotel. It’s a weekend they’re unlikely to forget.’

Contact Schull Harbour Hotel on 02828801 to discuss your unforgettable wed ding in Schull. See schullharbour.ie for more.

WEDDING RINGS OF ALL SHAPES AND SIZES

WEDDING RINGS OF ALL SHAPES AND SIZES

WEDDING RINGS OF ALL SHAPES AND SIZES

Get a FREE

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“Engraved wedding coin and have your engagement ring polished and rhodium plated free of charge with every pair of wedding rings purchased.”

“Engraved wedding coin and also get your Engagement Ring cleaned with every pair of wedding rings purchased”

wedding coin and also get your Engagement Ring cleaned with every pair of wedding rings purchased”

70–71, Bridge Street, Skibbereen • Tel: 028 21861 www.seymourjewellers.com

70–71, Bridge Street, Skibbereen • Tel: 028 www.seymour.ie

Celebrate with a cocktail!

• Foxglove Cocktails is a Baltimore-based cocktail business, started in June 2020, by two siblings, Tara and Rory Copplestone, and they are now expanding their services to cre ate The Ultimate Wedding Experience for your special day.

• Foxglove can offer you a range of packages and services, depending on your needs and budgets.

• Anything from a tailor-made ‘His & Hers’ cocktail reception for your guests, to an exqui site ‘Espresso Martini Bar’ after the dinner service. They can also offer a fully-stocked bar service for unique event locations, serving beer, wine, soft drinks and cocktails for the duration of your event (perfect for DIY or garden weddings).

• Foxglove has an extensive list of cocktails that you can choose from for your special day, from Pornstar Martinis, to Cucumber & Basil Gin Gimlets, Pina Coladas to Blackberry Brambles.

Weddings - The Ultimate Wedding Experience

• They aim to have a custom cocktail truck available for early Spring 2023, to offer a fully equipped bar service, serving beer, wine and spirits, perfect for those who are looking for something different for their special day.

• The different packages are primarily based on the length of time and amount of guests at the wedding, so each package is customized and tailored to your needs.

• Foxglove also encourages the couple to source the alcohol for the event, which keeps costs down and allows the couple to choose the type of the alcohol served etc.

• As well as the wedding reception, Foxglove also offers packages for a mobile bar for the Day 2 events, perfect for hosting your guests at home.

Cocktail Classes - The Perfect Hen Party Activity!

• They also offer cocktail classes for hen parties.

• Cocktail Class – their cocktail classes are the perfect ice breaker event for your hen party. They create custom classes for each group and are happy to travel to your location for the class. Every guest gets to make 2 cocktails within the 90-minute class; each guest is equipped with a full cocktail kit (jigger, shaker, muddler, bar spoon) and the best of lo cal ingredients and spirits are sourced for the class. Prices for these classes start at €40 per head.

Recipe

Party & Passion – the perfect cocktail to get your wedding celebrations going!

• 40ml Passoa or Passionfruit Puree

• 20ml Vanilla Simple Syrup*

• 150ml Prosecco

• Lime slice

Combine passionfruit & vanilla syrup in a clean, empty jar and shake well to combine. Pour into champagne flute and top with prosecco. Garnish with lime slice.

To make Vanilla Simple Syrup

• 300ml Sugar

• 300ml Water

• 1 vanilla bean, split lengthwise

Add water and sugar into a small saucepan, over a medium heat under the sugar has completely dissolved. Re move from heat and add the vanilla bean. Leave to cool and allow steep for a few hours. Strain and store in an airtight bottle in the fridge. Serve over ice. Will keep for a month, approx.

foxglovecocktails.ie

Wedding

A unique dining experience at Kinsale Hotel and Spa

The chef

Chef Guilherme De Fino, born in Brazil with Italian roots and ancestry, started his career back in Brazil, coming to Ireland in 2018 after a short period in Italy. Guilherme began his career in Ireland as a senior Chef de Partie learning the Irish food culture and traditions before his promotion to sous chef working in various restaurants and hotels. De Fino was then offered his first role as Ex ecutive Head Chef, at Kinsale Hotel and Spa. Guilherme believes his varied cultural back ground allows him to achieve a new way of visualising Irish food, mixing ingredients and traditions with different techniques and flavours from all over the world. Guilherme’s passion is in adding a twist to traditional dishes, making dining experiences truly unique. ‘Fusion cuisine is what excites me, that’s what I work on every day. Our menu will always have something unique and in novative all while keeping Irish flavours and dishes at its core.’

The menu

Our menu changes seasonally as we are dedicated to using the finest of local, fresh ingredients. Summer menus will always have fresh, sea-focused dishes – for example deli cious local oysters, beautifully prepared for our diners in various forms. A firm favourite this year was our Duo of Oysters starter; two fresh oysters served with orange, ginger

and red chilli dressing, accompanied by two deep fried oysters which had been mari nated in Gochujang (Korean fermented chilli paste). Another dish that had diners coming back for more was our delicious Catch of the Day option; boiled oysters, bacon and bread crumb formed the delicious pangratto which accompanied popular fish such as halibut, black sole, monkfish and turbot, each served with fregola pasta and Brazilian curry sauce to bring a cultural fusion to the plate.

The experience

The dining experience in our Rockpool Restaurant really is a unique one. As a team, we focus our attentions on presenting new, fresh ideas to the culinary world, using un known dishes or ingredients that will excite guests’ tastebuds, while diners contem plate the stunning scenery of Oysterhaven Bay. This calm and peaceful atmosphere enhanced by the friendly and attentive restaurant team.

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Creating Memories to Last a Lifetime

Set in 90 acres of mature wooded parkland with panoramic views over Oysterhaven Bay, this luxury hotel offers couples the perfect location for their big day Located in a peaceful and tranquil setting the expert team at Kinsale Hotel and Spa are happy to cater for weddings of any size, from 40 to 240 The Rathmore Banqueting Suite is simply magnificent with unspoilt views over the bay and countryside making it the ideal wedding venue location for your special day Kinsale Hotel and Spa is also licensed to host civil ceremonies and offers a unique, intimate occasion guaranteed to be truly exclusive for you and your guests.

Guilherme De Fino, executive head chef at Kinsale Hotel and Spa.