Autumn Wedding Guide 2018

TOPIC • 6 September, 2018

FEATURE

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TOPIC NEWSPAPERS’

Your Complete

Autumn Wedding Guide

Autumn 2018

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TOPIC •6 September, 2018

FEATURE

Autumn Wedding Guide • Autumn Wedding • Autumn Wedding Guide

The ‘Topic’ Autumn Wedding Feature!

This year, Topic is paying very special attention to the weddings in Westmeath. There is nothing that we like more than covering the momentous days of our local folk with family and friends. If you’re planning on declaring your commitment to the world

by joining in matrimony, there are plenty of resources available locally to aid you or your loved ones in planning one of the most important days in everyone’s life.

But first things first: It is always good to keep in mind that a person’s wedding day is about them and

EVERYTHING YOU NEED FOR YOUR WEDDING EVENT

Gem Events is Ireland's specialist hire service for your wedding as well as all your special occasions including, civil ceremonies, parties, corporate events, christenings, communions, confirmations, graduations, balls, birthdays etc.

Based in Westmeath, Gem Events is a family run business, which offers a professional client-centred quality service, and provide the biggest range of

products for your wedding all under one roof.

Some specialised products available for hire for your wedding include selfie mirrors, ice cream carts, chocolate fountains, Ferrero Rocher stands, sparkle dance floors, four ft LED love letters, large LED ‘Just Married’ signs, fairy light backdrops, uplighting, candy carts, wishing wells, Tayto sandwich packs, cheese cart, chair covers and sashes, cherry blossom

the person that they have decided to spend the rest of their life with. If you are getting married, remember to relax and enjoy the day as well as the months of preparation necessary for the perfect wedding day.

Sometimes it will seem daunting, but be at ease and try not to stress too

much. A wedding day is essentially a party; the biggest party of your life, but still a party. And parties are supposed to be fun.

The planning of the party can be equally enjoyable if you manage to stay organised and on top of things.

Planning the perfect Hen party trees, monograms, donut walls, table centre pieces, lanterns, and ceremony decor.

For more information on Gem Events and what they can do to help make your important day even more special contact Patricia on

083 8943450, email info@gemevents.ie or visit www.gemevents.ie. You can also have a look at what they have in store on Facebook: Gem Events @gemeventsireland and Instagram: @gemeventsireland.

Along with last minute wedding details, and keeping the bride sane, one of the most important roles as maid of honour is throwing a hen party to remember (for all the right reasons). There are hundreds of options available online from the girly tea party, to the adventure junkie’s surfing weekend, but how exactly does one keep all attendees happy?

Here is how to throw the perfect Hen do:

1. Who.

OK, so you and the bridal party will obviously be there, then there are your shared best friends, but what about cousins and her friends that you don’t know? Don’t forget Aunt Mary and that girl only the bride can stand. The best thing to do is to ask the bride who she would like to see there, then she can decide who she wants to celebrate with.

2. Audience.

Now that you know who is attending, it’s important to cater your event to suit everyone there. Make the day flexible so people can choose to avoid certain parts, but still feel included i.e. afternoon tea with aunties, mums and anyone who wants to join, and then cocktail hour later with old college friends. If you’re planning something adventurous during the day such as zip-lining, make sure people who can’t take part have something to look forward to when they join the party later.

3. Save the date.

Inform guests four to six weeks in advance. This allows time for their wallets to recover in time for the wedding and also means everyone will be looking extra fresh when the wedding comes around.

4. Costs.

Be realistic with the budget and be sure to remember that not everyone will be of the same financial ability. Bear in mind that the average hen weekend can cost around €200, so give people plenty of notice and give them a breakdown of costs. Include cost of transport etc. and link anything that can be paid for in advance so the cost will be spread over a

5. Break the ice.

few weeks.

There’ll be a wide range of groups at the hen, no matter how small, and not everyone will have met before. Be sure to remember guests names and their connection with the bride and have icebreaking activities ready to begin the day.

6. Communication.

Keep in contact with hen guests and keep them up to date with the planning.

Inform them of dress code and any necessary outfit changes e.g. runners, swimsuits or cocktail dresses. It is nice to keep everyone surprised but at the same time they need to be prepared.

7. Involve the groom.

Although the night is all about the bride-to-be, it can be nice to involve the groom with quirky favours throughout the night. Some ideas would be to ask the groom questions about the bride before the night, and get her to guess his answers in a game, or ask the groom to write her a letter that she can open on the night.

8. Sten.

It’s becoming more and more popular these days to combine both the stag and hen parties together for one big party.

Perfect for couples who have most of their friends in common, and for brides who aren’t into typical hen nights. Make sure that the groom is up for sharing his night and don’t assume he’ll be willing to sacrifice his ‘lads on stag’ evening.

9. Document everything.

This is a night that not only the bride, but all guests will want to remember for a very long time. Take as many pictures as you can and keep any tickets/tokens or keepsakes along the way. Encourage guests to do the same and work on a scrapbook to give to the bride as a memento of the event.

The maid of honour can be a stressful role, but once you follow these tips, your duties are sure to be eased.

TOPIC • 6 September, 2018

• Real Wedding... Childhood sweethearts Sarah & Will tell their wedding story

Sarah & William Were Married in the Hamlet Court Hotel

“

Our story began in Secondary School! Scoil Dara in Kilcock, Co Kildare, we were aged 12 & 13! We became boyfriend/ girlfriend in the Summer of 2005. We were aged 16 &17 and quickly became best friends, Will tells everyone that I chased him but he knows who really did the chasing!! We were truly childhood sweethearts and have been together without a break since, the basis of our relationship was true friendship which began in the classroom and continued up the aisle!

“We purchased our house in Edenderry, Co Offaly in 2008, right in the middle of the recession and it was tough at the beginning but we knuckled down, worked as hard as we could and we got through it!

We also wanted to fill the house as quickly as possible with children and that’s what we did! We were blessed with two beautiful daughters, Sophie aged 8, Kayley aged 5 & our son Bobby aged 3!

We got engaged in Portugal in 2011, Sophie was just a year old. We’ve been holidaying with the family ever since I was a child in Quinto Do Lago and it’s been a second home for us so was the perfect location to get engaged. We went to our favourite restaurant, Iberico’s for a romantic meal, Will put my engagement ring to a champagne glass and of course, I said yes and could not have been happier!!

We always intended having our family before we decided to marry and in 2015 we met John O’Neill & Sharon McCabe in the Hamlet Court

Hotel and booked our wedding. We were so excited and didn’t even look at any other venue as we knew the Hamlet Court was the venue for us.

We then booked our Church, Church of the Assumption, Jordanstown, Co Meath, Will’s local church where all our children were christened. The parish priest, Fr Whitaker is a friend of both our families.

We then booked our band,

“..there were two camera crews in the house when I arrived!..”

The Men in Black, of course.

My dad runs the band but honestly we both love them and they absolutely rocked the Hamlet Court Hotel on the night of our wedding, but more about that to follow...

The night before I stayed in Mam & Dad’s house the night before! All my family were there from Aus-

tralia, Canada, US & Wales, it was amazing to have everyone home for our wedding. We were approached by RTÉ (a couple of weeks earlier) to appear on their live ‘Weather Ireland’ programme with Kathryn Thomas so there was two camera crew in the house when I arrived! We put out the Child of Prague and the crew filmed us, the plan was to appear live from the wedding the next day to see if the weather was good! It was, and the statue really works!!!

We had so much fun and really enjoyed the craic, So many people saw the show and commented to us weeks later!

Morning of the wedding 7am, our photographer, Finn Mooney, Hair stylist, Joanne Kelly & Make-up artist, Geraldine Grey arrived and got straight into action! We had such a lovely relaxed morning, they are amazing suppliers, all three of them incredible!! Jen, my sister, along with bridesmaids, cousins Shannon & Jessica and younger sister Kym all helped to get me into my dress and I honestly felt like a million dollars!

It was a really special moment for me when my mam and dad saw me in my dress, they were very emotional. Our chauffeur Karl Ruffley arrived

and all I wanted to do was get into the car and drive to the church! I promised Will I wouldn’t be late and I wasn’t!!

Dad walked me up the aisle to Christina Perri’s Thousand Years, our favourite song which meant the world to us and performed by the amazing church singer, Alan Brereton!

Big thanks to Michael Lynch Florist, the flowers...wow!!

The Hamlet Court Hotel We were met by their incredible management team of John O’Neill, Mr Mo & Sharon McCabe at the hotel’s main entrance which was decorated in candles, roses and red carpet! John handed us both a glass of champagne and we could not have been happier. All we wanted to do was meet our guests, family and friends, we were so excited!!

We felt like royalty! Our guests were greeted with amazing canopies, champagne, beer filled buckets and a donut wall on arrival!! Every-

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thing was perfect, the staff and management left no stone unturned and created the most magical day for us.

We took a quick peep into the Banquet Hall and couldn’t believe our eyes, it was stunning! Draped from wall to wall, just magical!!

“Everything was perfect, the staff and management left no stone and unturned created the most magical day for us”

Our 180 guests, each and everyone of them remarked how incredible the venue was, the meal was amazing, some of our neighbours mentioned they had never been at a better local wedding! We were so proud and so happy.

A huge highlight for both Will

and I was for my dad, Sandy, to sing our first dance song, ‘How would you feel’ by Ed Sheeran, The dance floor filled from the start and continued for two and a half hours while the Men in Black Band played before the amazing DJ Karl rocked our guests until 2.30am! I must mention our Portuguese family friend and incredible musician Leandro Russo who fly in from Portugal to perform with the Band in my dad’s spot, such a talented lovely guy!

The entire day & night passed so quickly We enjoyed every single moment, to be able to share our special day and create magical memories with our children is a true blessing.

The day after was spent with family and friends and we had my Aussie nephew’s Cavan’s christening, so special to spend another special occasion with all our families. We ended the evening with a few drinks and nibbles in our local in Edenderry, The Station House and again partied into the early hours!!

Join us for our Wedding Fair on Sunday, 7th October from 1pm-5pm

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TOPIC • 6 September, 2018

FEATURE

Autumn Wedding Guide • Autumn Wedding • Autumn Wedding Guide

MARRIAGE LEGALITIES...

In the excitement of picking the dress, finding the right flowers, and, of being newly course, engaged, it can be easy to forget about the legalities and practicalities surrounding marriage. There are three general types of wedding that take place in Ireland: Catholic, civil, and other religions including Humanist. Although they differ slightly the basis for all three is the same. Whatever style of wedding you choose, don’t forget these important steps along the way to your big day.

1. NOTIFICATION. Whether you are getting married in Ireland, or are an Irish citizen hoping to marry abroad, couples must give a minimum of three months notice to the registry office in order to get married. An appointment must be made to give said notice, so ensure that your appointment is made in plenty of time to allow for three months notification. Visit crsappoint-

ments.ie for more information.

Civil marriages that take place in registry offices only take place Monday to Friday, so bear this in mind if you are hoping for a weekend ceremony.

2. PRE-MARRIAGE CERTIFICATE. marriages Catholic require couples to partake in a marriage preparation course and the certificate from this must be given to the priest prior to the marriage ceremony.

3. PRENUPTIAL ENQUIRY FORM. This applies to Catholic weddings and must be filled in the presence of the priest in the parish that you live in. When filling in this form, the couple must bring baptismal certificates, confirmation certificate, and certificate premarriage form.

4. SOLEMNISING THE MARRIAGE. Once you have registered you will be issued with a

marriage registration form which grants you the authorisation to be married. This must be presented to whoever is solemnising the marriage, be it religious or otherwise.

Bear in mind that it is often customary in Catholic weddings to give a stipend, i.e. an offering to thank the priest solemnising your marriage.

5. RETURNING FORMS. Following the celebrations, the registration forms must be returned to the registrar within one month for marriage to be registered and recognised.

6. STATUS. Now that you are married you status changes in regard to lots of things i.e. life insurance, pension, inheritance, taxation etc. etc. the list goes on and on.

The best way to advise yourself on your status changes is to visit www.citizeninformation.ie where you will find a list of tabs relating to all your needs.

FRANKIE'S CHAUFFEUR SERVICE THERE’S simply arriving at an event, and then there is arriving in style at an event.

Launched in late 2016, Frankie's Chauffeur Service caters for all parties, with no venue ever too far away.

Founded by Frank Hughes and based in Mullingar, Frankie's Chauffeur Service provides a first class chauffeur to clients throughout Ireland.

Aside from their trademark Weddings Service, Frankie's Chauffeur Service offers a wide range of services. Among the services offered is the very popular Irish Guided tours “With an Irish Guided tour, the customer decides the itinerary around Ireland,” says Frank. “Customers are provided with a personal driver who can give you the history and geography of everywhere and more. You can see the sites that Ireland has to offer, those hidden gems that are there to be found. You can stop take photos, stay longer at a beautiful site, drift off the trail. People love the flexibility of a personal driver.”

With one of the most stressful parts of travelling abroad being that of travelling to the airport, Frankie's Chauffeur Service offer an airport service to remove the stress so passengers can sit back in comfort before their flight.

They also offer a service to those travelling on business, to those wishing to do a spot of shopping in a nearby town or city. “The service takes the pressure off the passenger,” says Frank. “There’s no need to be worrying about car parks or traffic issues.

You can sit back relax, safe in the knowledge that we’ll get you to your desired destination.”

WEDDINGS Frankie's Chauffeur Service is filling up with wedding bookings at a rate he could never have expected with one month fully booked in 2019.

Frank is very well-known

Frank Hughes. in Westmeath and surrounding counties from his twenty years in the motor trade. In the summer of 2016, Frank decided on a new career path and has no regrets. “The excitement on a wedding day when you arrive at the venue, the smiles, the photographs, the joy on people's faces makes it worthwhile,” says Frank. “It’s not like a job at all!”

Frankie's Chauffeur Service covers all of Ireland with no venue too far away.

“If the newlyweds are honeymooning abroad, Frank is happy to chauffeur the happy couple to the airport the following day or when ever they are scheduled to fly out.

"We will work with the couple in every way to make that special day special,” says Frank.

ARRIVE IN STYLE Whether it’s a lads day out, ladies day out, shopping trip, day trip, function or meeting and you want to arrive in style, luxury and a professional touch, call Frank.

Call Frankie's Chauffeur Service for bookings on 087 2903377, or email fhughes 940@gmail.com or find him on Facebook.

With growth at a rapid pace, Frank is currently setting up a website to manage the bookings and a secure payment through PayPal.

Frankie’s Chauffeur Service

If you want to arrive in style and luxury, for a professional, friendly service, call Frank.

All areas covered.

RECORD YOUR SPECIAL DAY WITH OLLIE GALLAGHER It’s said a picture can say a thousand words, therefore on your wedding day it will be essential to have one of the most important days in your life recorded.

When it comes to adding some Hollywood motion to your wedding day, look no further than Ollie Gallagher, who has a wealth of experience in capturing weddings on video.

Ollie Gallagher, Videographer in action.

“We used Ollie Gallagher for my wedding video last Christmas. Without doubt we can recommend Ollie as a professional videographer. He blended into our day making us feel relaxed from the moment he arrived in the house. We barely even noticed him going about his job. The finished DVD gives me butterflies when I watch it!”

- Niamh, Mullingar.

OLLIE GALLAGHER

Professional Digital Video Videos Coverage of:

• • • •

T: 087 2903377 E: fhughes940@gmail.com

Based in Mullingar and serving the midlands, Ollie will capture the magic of your wedding day, so you can replay the day for family and friends for years to come.

Along with weddings, he is also available to record parties, sporting events and musicals.

To book Ollie for your big day call 087 2054688.

Weddings Parties Sporting Events Musicals

Video to DVD conversions

39 Beech Grove, Mullingar, Co.Westmeath

087 2054688

TOPIC • 6 September, 2018

FEATURE

Autumn Wedding Guide • Autumn Wedding • Autumn Wedding Guide

Choosing the PerfectVenue Once a date for your wedding is fixed it will no doubt be time to start planning that all-important venue for your big day. Here in the midlands, there are an endless number of wedding venues which can cater for everyone, from the small to the large number of guests . . . .

A DEDICATED TEAM TULLAMORE COURT HOTEL FOR YOUR WEDDING AT THE ANNEBROOK

Annebrook House Hotel has become renowned for weddings in the midlands, having scooped two awards this year, Midlands Wedding Venue of the Year 2018 at the Irish Wedding Awards and Best Customer Service Award at the Hospitality Awards.

Annebrook House Hotel are delighted to host their Autumn Wedding Open Evening on Wednesday, 12 September from 5pm to 8pm.

This informal evening is a wonderful opportunity to see the multi award winning venue fully dressed for a wedding and see just how magical your day could be at this unique venue.

Their 17th Century Manor House & Hotel will be open to wander at your leisure giving you a glimpse as to how your

dream day could turn into a beautiful reality. View the beautiful Edgeworth Suite with a range of dressed tables and centrepieces, their civil ceremony setting and of course their fabulous bridal suite, bedrooms and apartments.

Their dedicated wedding team will be available to provide one to one show arounds with bridal couples, discuss the many wedding packages on offer, or design a tailored package to meet individual requirements.

They are extremely excited to be launching their new look wedding brochure on the night and look forward to seeing you there!

For further details visit www.annebrook.ie or contact Ciara on events@ annebrook.ie

The award winning Tullamore Court Hotel provides the perfect backdrop for your wedding day.

The hotel opened on the 1 November, 1997 and held its first wedding later that month. Over the years their experienced staff have obtained the skills, expertise and dedication that is sure to exceed your expectations and make your day a magical experience.

The D.E. Williams suite caters for weddings from 50 up to 350 guests and will leave a lasting impression on your guests, with its floor to ceiling windows overlooking the private gardens. In the evening time, the garden comes to life with twinkling fairylights ensuring a beautiful focal point throughout your entire day. The suite itself is decorated in gold damask and radiates a rich luxurious elegance. Elegant white or black chair covers and coloured sashes will add a touch of glamour while their crystal globe centre pieces create a stylish and sophisticated atmosphere.

The wedding team take great pride in delivering excellent service and fabulous food, in a wonderful atmosphere, to each individual wedding couple and all your family and friends.

Your guests will enjoy preferential accommodation rates along with complimentary parking and access to their award-winning Leisure Centre.

You are invited to their Wedding Band Showcase on Sunday, 30 July from 1 to 3pm.

Meet with their dedicated wedding team and have a chat about your special day.

Wedding Bands Remix and Nighthalks will be showcasing their music on the day.

Come along and be in with a chance of winning a romantic break for two nights B&B and one evening meal in Enniscorthy. Wedding packages start from €47.50 per person. Call our wedding advisors Martin, Donna or Anne to chat about your individual wedding day on 057 9346666 or email weddings@tullamorecourthotel. ie

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Award winning lakeside weddings at Bloomfield House Hotel The beautiful lake setting and picturesque gardens matched with almost four decades of wonderful weddings, superb facilities and sumptuous food make the Four Star Bloomfield House Hotel a truly romantic venue, perfect for any wedding.

At this exciting and special time, the wedding team at Bloomfield House Hotel understands that your wedding day is one of the most special days in your life and something that should be eagerly anticipated and thoroughly enjoyed. With so many decisions and choices to make, the build up to your big day can be a lot to take in - that’s where the Bloomfield Wedding Team steps in.

The team will offer invaluable advice and support to make your wedding the most memorable and enjoyable day of your life,

promising you their utmost personal and professional attention in the planning and preparation of your special celebration. The team place great emphasis on ensuring that you and your wedding guests are truly impressed and enjoy a unique experience with the spectacular backdrop of Lough Ennell.

Ideally located in the heart of the Westmeath lakelands, this stunningly situated and spacious hotel, full of history and romance, is renowned for excellent service, terrific atmosphere and strong emphasis on customer care. Perched on the lake shores, this charming hotel offers a stunning backdrop for lakeside civil marriages. Say “I Do” on the shores of Lough Ennell and host your ceremony and celebrations within one spectacular venue.

Having opened its doors 1979, next year will mark 40 years of truly wonderful weddings at Bloomfield House Hotel and to celebrate, the Team have some exciting plans in the pipeline. Oliver Gaffey, Sales & Marketing Manager explained “As a long established hotel, we are always striving to offer the best experience possible to our Wedding Couples. We have some exciting new enhancements on the way to celebrate our ruby anniversary”.

Discover how Bloomfield House Hotel can make all your wedding dreams come true. For more information on weddings at Bloomfield House Hotel, contact our Wedding Team on 044 93 40894, email weddings@ bloomfieldhouse.com or visit www.bloomfieldhouse hotel.ie.

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TOPIC • 6 September, 2018r

FEATURE

Autumn Wedding Guide • Autumn Wedding • Autumn Wedding Guide

SPECTACULAR VINTAGE AND BESPOKE WEDDING FAIR AT THE SHAMROCK LODGE HOTEL

The Shamrock Lodge Hotel in Athlone will host a spectacular vintage and bespoke wedding fair from 12 noon to 5pm on Sunday, 30 September.

An array of Ireland’s most beautiful and unique wedding vendors, products and services will be presented on what is a day that should not be missed.

There will be dozens of stalls offering everything from bridal wear, cakes and flowers to favours, cars and musicians.

Ladies can relax and plan at the vintage tea party while the gentlemen take time out at the mancreche! Tickets cost €5 and include tea/coffee and biscuits at the tea party and

goodies for the bride, while stocks last. Tickets will be available at the door on the day.

Couples are invited to attend and meet the team to talk through the 'Princess Grace Package' and to learn all about what the hotel can offer for one of the biggest days of their lives.

The team at the familyrun Shamrock Lodge Hotel pride themselves on offering a unique wedding location for one of life’s most momentous days.

The hotel are committed to a policy of hosting just one wedding per day. This allows the hotel team to focus entirely on the happy couple and to

ensure their special day is one they and their guests will remember. Their attention to detail and enthusiasm for granting the bride and groom's every last wish ensures that this is the case.

From the moment you enter the elegant reception area of The Shamrock Lodge Hotel, you will find a warmth which sets the theme for the entire hotel.

Throughout, the emphasis is on beautiful surroundings and traditional Irish hospitality.

Whether it is helping to arrange your ceremony or hosting your reception, the hotel's expert wedding team can handle every-

IRELAND'S SPECIALIST HIRE SERVICE FOR ALL YOUR SPECIAL OCCASIONS

• Selfie Mirrors • Ice cream carts • Chocolate fountains • Ferrero Rocher stands • Sparkle dance floors • 4 ft LED Love letters • Large LED Just Married signs • Fairy light backdrops • Uplighting • Candy carts

• Wishing wells • Tayto sandwich packs • Cheese cart • Chair covers and sashes • Cherry blossom trees • Monograms • Donut walls • Table centre pieces • Lanterns • Ceremony decor

Phone: 083 8943450 info@gemevents.ie • www.gemevents.ie

thing with an experienced and friendly approach.

The family team have been giving happy couples their professional assistance for more than twenty years and are only too happy to guide each couple through any aspect of the day, from menus and table plans to recommending photographers, cars, cakes, and florists.

For more information contact the hotel on (090) 649 2601 or email info@ shamrocklodgehotel.ie.

The Shamrock Lodge Hotel - “Begin your married life with your family, and with ours.”

HAMLET COURT HOTEL

The Hamlet Court Hotel situated in the village of Johnstownbridge, Enfield is the ideal location for your wedding day celebrations.

The state of the art modern hotel has a vibrant

reception area leading from the set down parking area, the grounds will guarantee a wealth of photographic opportunities. The hotel can also boast a well appointed banqueting suite with mood lighting which

will add to the lively atmosphere of your big day.

The Hamlet Court Hotel treat it as an honour for couples to entrust one of the most important day’s in their lives to them and in return they strive to enhance their special day that little bit more by offering a truly welcoming atmosphere, which you feel once you pass over the threshold of the Hamlet Court Hotel for the entirety of your stay with them.

The Hamlet Court’s reputation for friendly, efficient service is legendary while its exceptional food and a versatile menu is a tribute to the award-winning team of chefs.

At the end of your wonderful day their spacious and comfortable bedrooms will cater for all your guests’ needs with the Bridal Suite designed with every comfort in mind.

Discover the Glasson Wedding Experience

GLASSON COUNTRY HOUSE HOTEL AND GOLF CLUB

LUXURY LAKESIDE HOTEL & COUNTRY HOUSE AMAZING GLASS FRONTED BANQUETTING SUITE FOR UP TO 320 GUESTS FAMILY OWNED & MANAGED

Glasson Country House Hotel & Golf Club, Glasson, Athlone, Co. Westmeath Tel: 090 6485120 Email: info@glassoncountryhouse.ie

Web: www.glassoncountryhouse.ie

If you are looking for a wedding hotel with a difference, with stunning panoramic lake views and superb food, then you are encouraged to pay a visit to Glasson Country House Hotel and Golf Club.

Situated just outside the quaint village of Glasson, the hotel could be your ideal wedding venue starting with the magnificent views over the inner lakes of Lough Ree and the golf course as you drive down the avenue, ending up in the superb Banqueting Suite, with its floor to ceiling glass designed to make the most of the stunning panoramic lake views.

Glasson has been receiving consistently excellent feedback and the whole team at Glasson are committed to looking after each and every wedding couple (and their families and guests!), helped in part by the fact that Glasson remains a family owned and managed property.

TOPIC • 6 September, 2018

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Autumn Wedding Guide • Autumn Wedding • Autumn Wedding Guide

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HAPPY MEMORIES OF YOUR BIG DAY WITH KELLY PHOTOGRAPHY Mullingar based family business, Kelly Photography ensure consistent quality and outstanding imagery for the most important day of your life. They specialise in photography that you can your family can admire and treasure for

many years to come.

Kelly Photography photographers keep up to date with all of the latest techniques by regularly attending seminars by international professionals, and in doing so can offer clients today’s modern trends in documenting

their special day.

All image formats are available including black and white, sepia, vintage, retro, etc.

Kelly Photography also include an engagement session with all weddings booked so you can choose your style along with

album designs to suit all tastes and budgets.

Albums are all produced in Ireland and all printing is done in a local professional lab.

Kelly Photography also have a portrait studio for all of your indoor portrait needs and also have a

beautifully landscaped garden if you would like something a little more casual.

For more information or to book an appointment, call Catherine on 0877926620 or email info@kellyphotomgar.com.

Know your loan: Representative example €15,000 loan repayable over four years 48 monthly payments of €365.51 Rate of Interest: 7.9% p.a.variable; Representative 8.2% APR Total Amount Payable is €17544.48 Loans are subject to approval. Terms & Conditions apply. Mullingar Credit Union is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland.

Spectacular Vintage and Bespoke Wedding Fair, Sunday, 30th September, 12-5pm

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TOPIC • 6 September, 2018

FEATURE

Autumn Wedding Guide • Autumn Wedding • Autumn Wedding Guide

WEDDINGS OF Get the glowing look for your wedding day!

CHARACTER AT NEW FOREST ESTATE

New Forest Estate is a wonderful wedding venue offering the history and character of New Forest House, a 300year-old Irish manor house, with the privacy of being in the heart of a beautiful Irish country estate. It is impossible to convey the beauty and character of New Forest without visiting and experiencing it for yourself, so if you get the opportunity, they would be delighted to show you around the Estate and discuss options with you.

New Forest is a perfect setting for intimate wed-

dings in New Forest House itself or wonderful pavilion weddings for 250+ guests. New Forest accommodates all wedding types, sizes and formats, and if you have something in mind for your perfect day, they will be delighted to work with you to make it happen, and all food is prepared fresh by the resident chefs.

Wedding and events managers will be happy to go through all aspects of your wedding day with you and answer any questions or queries you might have.

WHETHER you are going it alone or enlisting the help of a professional, wedding make-up is very important for any bride.

A bride's base should be as sheer as possible and this can be helped by arranging a course of facials in the run up to a wedding, which will not only pay dividends in the appearance of the skin but also relaxes the face.

FLAWLESS FOUNDATION Match the foundation to the skin on the jaw line. A good foundation should melt seamlessly into the skin and show no tell tale signs. Do not apply heavy amounts of make-up, the foundation should only be used to cover over blemRemember, the ishes. bride’s face should look as as natural as possible and not overly made up. However, you will need to apply foundation on the neck, ears and chest to ensure the bride does not look like

New Forest Estate is a wonderful wedding venue offering the history and character of a 300-year-old Irish Manor house, with the privacy of being in the heart of a beautiful Irish country estate.

A perfect setting for intimate weddings in New Forest House itself or wonderful Marquee weddings on the front lawn for 250+ guests.

If you have something in mind for your perfect day, we will be delighted to work with you to make it happen.

We accommodate all wedding types, sizes and formats.

On site accomodation available in our luxurious courtyard lodges.

To arrange a viewing please call 044 9221100

a painted face.

Use pearlised powder to give the skin a glow. Brush the powder over the face with a large bristled brush.

Do not use too much oil based products that can make your skin shiny.

While shiny skin can look great, it will show up in the photos. Use blusher to give a glow and simultaneously create structure and definition for successful photographs.

ADD COLOUR TO THE EYE Use natural shades on the eyelids, such as browns, golds, smokey shades and shimmery silver. Natural and light shades will make the eyes look bigger in photographs. Use a sable brush to apply the eye shadow. Do not apply heavy eye-liner, even if you normally wear heavy liner. The eye-liner is there to give your eye definition. Remember to wear water-proof mascara on

the day. While water-proof mascara is heavier on the lashes, you just never know when tears will flow, so to avoid disaster, make sure you have it on your lashes!

SILKY LIPS As tempting as lip gloss is, it is best avoided on your wedding day, as a flick of the veil on the glossy lips, could be disastrous. Professionals recommend opting for a lipstick instead, that can be applied with a soft lip brush. Do not go for bold and dramatic colours, opt for browns, pinks and subtle shades. Choose lipliner that blends easily with your lipstick.

TRIAL RUN Whether you are doing the make-up yourself or getting a helping hand, make sure to have a trial run up to two weeks before the wedding. The trial run will give you an idea of what you will look like on the day. If you decide on a

trial run, stick to it on the day. Do not go changing the look drastically on the day just because the mood takes you!

breaks out into a horrible rash! Your back up plan has to be viable within the time frame.

PLAN B

On the day itself, it is wise to have some make-up items in your hand bag, such as concealer applicator, lipstick, mascara and make up removal pads, just in case, you need to fix up problem areas.

It is also very important to have a backup plan, just in case something goes wrong. A plan B should be made to stop mayhem if the make-up artist fails to show up or if your skin

FOR THE HANDBAG

Some things no one Wedding Band advice tells you about!

Of course, since you announced your engagement you’ve been getting bombarded with useful tips, a million questions and lots of opinions, but today we thought we’d share some of the secrets no one will tell you about planning the biggest day of your life!

1. IT WILL TAKE YOU TIME TO GET USED TO WEARING YOUR ENGAGEMENT RING. Walking around town with a ring on your finger that could have possibly cost the same as your very first car can be daunting!

Both the physical feeling of wearing it – getting used to not scraping it off every wall you pass and getting it caught in your best tights stings – and wearing a sparkly symbol of the new life you are planning, will take some getting used to!

2. YOU AND YOUR GROOM WILL DISAGREE. We know this is not really what you want to hear, but getting both your personalities into your wedding day will make it all the more personal for your guests, so a few conversations about what your vision for your wedding day is, along with the obvious what to eat and where to sit your guests, will pay off.

3. YOUR CHILDHOOD DREAM OF A BIG WHITE WEDDING MOST LIKELY WON’T HAPPEN. Dreams of a five-year old, Disney princess wedding are probably not what you want now, are they?

It’s okay to have a more grown up approach to your wedding day and anyway, your groom is probably now an actual prince – your prince!!

4.YOU WILL BECOME ORGANISED – VERY ORGANISED! Even if you consider yourself a pretty organised person, throw planning a wedding into the mix and you’ll soon be master of the to-do list, spreadsheet queen and commander in chief of your own destiny – or wedding day anyway! An organised bride is a stress free bride…

5. YOU WILL LEARN A LOT ABOUT YOURSELF AND OTHERS. You and your groom will quickly learn the art of delegation – remember to choose your bridal party according to their strengths – a very unorganised, dizzy chief bridesmaid will become a nightmare!

6.YOU MIGHT HAVE SOME DOUBTS. When the world is rushing around, your wedding is just around the corner, you will have doubts. Have you picked the right colours, will the guests like your choice of food, music, decor etc… Don’t dwell on these thoughts, nerves are completely natural and will make these nasty ideas appear in your head. As long as you end up with a husband on your wedding day, who cares if your ancient old aunt didn’t like the Baileys cheesecake dessert, her loss!

The wedding band or DJ, whichever you decide to choose, can make or break your dream day. It’s often one of the things people remember best from your big day (next to how fabulous you looked obviously) and a good band will have your wedding guests glad that they RSVP’d.

No pressure or anything, but it is very important to choose your band wisely, but lucky for you we have all the tips you need to choose the band that will help you dance the night away.

1. Where to start

Wedding plans may have only started and you’re probably already sick of hearing wedding advice from friends and family, but when it comes to band advice you better listen up girl. Word of mouth is a great way to find out about bands, especially when you’re hearing it from friends who will be attending your wedding. After that Google is your best friend.

Search for wedding band websites and troll through some band advice forums.

2. Style You might be a number one AC/DC fan, but we highly doubt that all your wedding guests share the same passion. Picking a band personal to your style is great, but make sure that they cater to a wide variety of audiences too. Bands can range from the classic four piece wedding band, to céilí to salsa, so just make sure your band caters to both you and your guests.

3. Viewing Viewing your band live is crucial before putting down any deposits. Many bands post live videos on their websites but think twice before you ‘look and book’ in relation to online videos.

If you can’t attend, send a

close friend or family member with similar taste to your own and get them to take their own videos on their phone. Do not hire a band that you saw once at a bar at an outdoor concert.

Your wedding venue will create a completely different atmosphere so be careful where you choose to see the band also.

4. Questions.

Try to have a list of questions prepared for your band, so you can be assured everything will run smoothly on the night. Bear in mind questions such as: How long will they play for?

What time will they finish at? Will they learn your first dance? Is the deposit refundable? Do they provide music between sets, and if so will there be an extra cost?

While meeting with the band, discuss the option of a playlist also, and make sure to describe a ‘do-not play’ list. Are your guests really the YMCA type?

5. Cost.

Due to the big effect entertainment has on weddings, many couples choose to allocate a good amount of the budget for their band. The cost of the band is completely personal to your wedding as small wedding parties often choose two to three piece bands, while larger weddings can sometimes splash out on large brass bands. Take into account the deposit and also potential extra fees for music in between sets and the cost of providing food and drink for band members.

These tips are also relevant when choosing a wedding DJ for the whole night or for after the main band.

Most importantly, your band should be fun, live and personal. Don’t forget to enjoy the viewing process along the way.