WEDDING GUIDEBOOK
A step-by-step guide to your wedding day at The Brehon
You can now start counting down the days, hours and minutes to your special day!
We know that this day will be one of the most memorable days in your lifetime together, and we will be here every step of the way, to make the planning process as pleasant and as exciting for you as possible.
This booklet will provide you with some helpful tips and checklists, so you know when different tasks need to be completed by, and avoid any pitfalls.
Our guidebook covers the following topics:
Engagement marks the end of a whirlwind romance and the beginning of an eternal love story.
Rajeev Ranjan
Now that your wedding venue is booked, what next you ask?
The following checklist will help you organise everything that will need to be done over the coming months
Firstthingsfirst
Celebrate!
This is a very exciting step so go ahead and celebrate the news
Send out your cards
Particularly to those family and friends who you really want to share your big day with
Start your wedding countdown
12+ months to go
Confirm the details of your ceremony and update the Wedding Team. The key details required are:
Location/Venue of the ceremony; Time of the ceremony.
Decide on the size of your bridal/wedding party and ask those individuals if they’d like to be a part of it.
If you haven’t done so already, send out those Save the Dates. Let your closest family and friends know the date so they can begin making the necessary plans to be there for you. This is very important for those family/friends who will need to travel from abroad. Book photographer, videographer and any essential entertainment such as band and/or DJ.
Research and try on ideas for your wedding at This is particularly important if bridal gown sho as most suppliers require you to make appoint
12-10 months to go
Review the Wedding Checklist, provided by the Wedding Team, and start completing as much as you can.
Order your wedding attire. Again, this is particularly important if opting for a bridal gown as there may be a lead time for delivery. Think about when you would both like to have your Menu Tasting and arrange a time, that suits you both, with the Wedding Team. This may be particularly important to do if you need to arrange travel. If required, ensure you have booked your florist, makeup artist and hair stylist.
Book your pre/post wedding party.
Make a list of the suppliers that you are working with and share these details with the Wedding Team.
Log on to Moposa (Your free online wedding planning tool) to ensure that you are able to access it and understand how it works. Please contact the Wedding Team if you are having any issues; Decide on your wedding theme/colour scheme.
8-10 months to go
Get you wedding invites organised. Whether you’re making, buying or ordering them.
Arrange meetings with suppliers to ensure all agreements are in place. Update the Wedding Team of any external suppliers that will be coming to the hotel.
Remember to book hair and makeup trials if you are using these services.
Research ceremony music and book your music if you haven’t already done so.
6-8 months to go
Ensure that all of the legal marital paperwork is in place and, if getting married in a Catholic Church, that you have booked your pre-marriage course.
Buy your wedding rings
Finalise your ceremony booklet (if you are doing these)
Ensure you have your final fitting appointments arranged for your wedding attire
4-6 months to go
Make contact with suppliers to ensure all agreements will be met; Send out your wedding invites. Be sure to ask guests to confirm if they will be attending your pre/post wedding party.
As your guests to RSVP, begin uploading your guest list to Moposa to simplify doing the seating plan later.
If you have not done so already, book your Menu Tasting evening with the Wedding Team;
Review the Wedding Checklist provided by the Wedding Team; Pay the second instalment of your deposit, if you have not done so already;
Send notification of intention to marry to the registrar.
This is a legal requirement you need to give at least three months notice.
2 months to go
Review the Wedding Checklist provided by the Wedding Team and finalise any outstanding details
Confirm timelines with photographer/videographer, wedding transport, ceremony venue, wedding celebrant and reception venue.
Confirm all final appointments; wedding attire collection, beauty appointments, floral deliveries/pick-ups etc
Arrange a call or appointment with the Wedding Team to review your wedding checklist and tease through any queries you may have. Remind guests of any outstanding RSVPs and the deadline for their return.
1 month to go
Provide the Wedding Team with the final expected number of guests.
Finalise details regarding any pre/post wedding parties and update the Wedding Team e g times, food requirements, entertainment etc
1-2 weeks to go
Arrange an appointment with the Wedding Team to deliver any items such as decor or luggage for your wedding. Write any speeches or vows.
Review the wedding checklist for the hotel and any packing checklists you’ve made to ensure you are not forgetting anything.
Attend your ceremony rehearsal if there is one.
Wedding week
Drop off any wedding items to the hotel that are required for setup or décor on the day. It is important that you arrange an appointment with the Wedding Team so that you can go through the delivery together to ensure everything is arranged as agreed.
We advise that you do as much wedding preparation as possible prior to this week, so you can just relax and enjoy meeting all of your family and friends, as they begin to gather ahead of your special day.
However, if there are any outstanding details, please do confirm with the Wedding Team and, by all means, reach out if we can be of any assistance.
Your big day has finally arrived and rest assured that we will be ready and waiting to help make it a memorable day for you all!
Church based ceremony
If you have chosen a church based ceremony, let us know where the church is and the time that the ceremony will be taking place. This will help us ensure that the drinks reception is ready for your guests when they start arriving to the hotel.
Church ceremonies typically last one hour followed by an additional 30 minutes whilst your guests congratulate you.
The following is an approximate timeline for how the wedding day unfolds for a church based wedding:
3:00pm 3:30pm 5:30pm 6:15pm 8:45pm 9:15pm 10:00pm 11:00pm 11:30pm 12:30am 2:00am
Drinks reception commences
Dinner bell is rung
The newlyweds are announced into the Banqueting Suite and dinner service commences
End of dinner service and commencement of speeches
The speeches are capped at 30 minutes in total
The Banqueting Suite is turned around for music
Band begins
Band takes a break and late night buffet is served
Band recommences
Band finishes and DJ starts
Function bar closes and DJ finishes
At this point, everyone moves to the Residents Bar which remains open until 4:00am
Please note that the above timelines are guidelines and can be impacted by many factors such as extended speech times, changing the commencement time for the speeches, change of bell time and so forth For this reason we encourage regular communication regarding the events of the evening and ask that you provide as much warning as possible of any changes.
Civil/Humanist/Spiritual ceremony
If you are choosing to go with a Civil/Humanist ceremony in The Brehon Hotel, then these ceremonies typically last 30-45 minutes followed by an additional 30 minutes where you meet and greet your guests.
We would ask that you discuss the finer details of the ceremony with the Wedding Team, paying particular attention to the following points:
The time the ceremony will be commencing
The type of ceremony Spiritual/Civil/Humanist
The number of guests that you will be expecting to the ceremony
If you require any reserved seating i.e. For close family or bridal party
Provide us with a copy of the ceremony booklet if possible
Let us know of any music that you have arranged for the ceremony
Name of the celebrant/solemnest and any special requests that they may have
Inform us of any décor that you will be bringing for the ceremony and details of where you would like it to be
Provide us with a list of the external suppliers that you are working with for the ceremony
The following is an approximate timeline for how the wedding day unfolds for Civil/Humanist ceremonies:
2:00pm
Civil/Humanist/Spiritual ceremony commences
If using the Banqueting Suite, the ceremony must be finished by 3:00pm so we can re-set the room for the evening meal
2:45pm 3:15pm 5:00pm 5:45pm 8:15pm 8:45pm 9:30pm 11:00pm 11:30pm 12:30am 2:00am
Ceremony finishes and drinks reception commences
Couple begin photographs
Dinner bell is rung
The newlyweds are announced in for dinner and dinner service begins
End of dinner service and commencement of speeches
The speeches are capped at 30 minutes in total
The Banqueting Suite is turned around for music
Band begins
Band takes a break and late night buffet is served
Band recommences
Band finishes and DJ starts
Function bar closes and DJ finishes
At this point, everyone moves to the Residents Bar which remains open until 4:00am
Please note that the above timelines are guidelines and can be impacted by many factors such as extended speech times, changing the commencement time for the speeches, change of bell time and so forth For this reason we encourage regular communication regarding the events of the evening and ask that you provide as much warning as possible of any changes.
The Wedding Tasting
Depending on your wedding package, a Menu Tasting Evening may be included or, for a fee, you can book one.
On this evening, you get the opportunity to try out some of our wedding dishes, along with our wedding wines, to help you choose a sumptuous menu for your guests to enjoy on your wedding day.
How do you book a menu tasting?
Approximately twelve months prior to the wedding, we suggest that you look at your diary for the year ahead, to see when suits you both to book in for your menu tasting. At the very latest, we would recommend that you have your menu tasting done four months before the wedding day.
During the busy season, Menu Tastings may be arranged Sunday through to Thursday in our Danú Restaurant, only between 5:30pm and 7pm.
On occasion, we accommodate tastings on Sunday afternoons in our Brehon Bar.
Our advice would be to contact the Wedding Team with dates that work for you and we will do our best to accommodate you. If you are travelling and would like to avail of accommodation, just let the Wedding Team know, and we can check availability for you.
Can you stay in The Brehon Hotel the night of your menu tasting?
Of course! Speak with the Wedding Team who can check availability and rates for you.
The Wedding Tasting
How do you choose the Wedding Menu?
In advance of your menu tasting, you will need to let the Wedding Team know which options you would like to try. We require a minimum of two weeks’ notice so our Chef can arrange his team and place the relevant orders.
Depending on your chosen wedding package, you can choose as follows:
Starter - One to two
Middle course - A soup or a sorbet
Main course - Two to three along with two vegetable choices and one potato option
Dessert - A Brehon Trio or a whole dessert
At the tasting, we serve full sized portions so you can see exactly what your guests will enjoy on your wedding day.
Our expert team of servers will guide you through our selection of wedding wines too so you can choose the red and white served at your wedding.
We would recommend that you experience the tasting as a couple. However, you are welcome to bring additional guests at an additional charge.
Pre/Post Wedding Party
Whether it be here at The Brehon Hotel & Spa or, with another venue, we suggest you book the venue as quickly as possible.
We offer a choice of locations should you decide to arrange any pre/post wedding parties. Some of our more popular options includes:
Buffet
€45/adult
Main courses Dessert from
Dinner
Includes choice of Starters Salads
€40/person
Includes choice of Starters
Main courses Dessert Tea & coffee Kids menu available from
Finger food
€20/person
Includes choice of Hot or cold options
Please speak with our Wedding & Events team regarding choices from
Or, we can tailor something to suit your guest numbers and budget.
BBQ
€40/adult
Includes all of your popular BBQ favourites
Please speak with our Wedding & Events team regarding choices from
If you would like to book your pre/post wedding party with us, simply contact the Wedding Team, who will guide you through all of the available options.
If you are arranging any entertainment, please notify the Wedding Team as there are some things to consider:
For the Basement Bar: no microphones may be used here and music cannot begin before 7pm and cannot interfere with the main bar; Our Private Dining Room can have entertainment until midnight; Lawn can have entertainment until 11pm.
If you do want to book the Lawn for your party, bear in mind that the weather is unpredictable so an alternative indoor option needs to be booked just in case The hotel will make a call on the day as to whether or not the party can go ahead outside
Some guidelines for planning your pre/post wedding party:
Book the space for your pre/post wedding celebrations as soon as you can;
We do not hold any spaces unless it has been specifically requested or has been captured in your wedding contract
Confirm the details one month prior with the Wedding Team; Times, final numbers, choice of food, entertainment etc
Consider the number of people attending so the Wedding Team can advise of the right space to cater for your party;
Consider the timings for these parties.
For example, if you are choosing to have the party at 2pm and continuing through the night, then you may want to consider a more substantial food option other than finger food
