For a couple, weddings are usually a first-time experience. And like anything done for the first time, it may seem a little uneasy or daunting. But for wedding venues like Tullamore Court Hotel, planning wedding are second nature to them. Martin, Wedding Manager at this gorgeous Offaly venue shared a few secrets with us on planning the perfect wedding…
Budget
It all begins with your vision for the day. Discuss openly all your dreams and aspirations for your wedding, for everything; dresses, flowers, venue, band, stationary, cake and anything else that comes to mind. Then, do a total cost (to include everything), this will decide for you what part of the dream does not fall in your budget. Once this is done, you both have to decide what you can and can’t live without on the day.
Create a folder and write down everything regarding your big day (both of you). If you’re are having a themed wedding, create a story board with pictures and ideas from magazines and online (Pinterest is great). Have this all created before you approach the venue. This way, you will know if they are able to meet your requirements and dreams. More than often, venues will do their best to accommodate you; but you won’t know unless you ask!
Keep Calm and Plan Your Wedding
For the nervous Bride and Groom, fear not! Preparation is everything! Go through the whole day with your venue and they will reassure you that it will all fall into place on the day as long as everyone knows what is expected. Remember that your team at your venue are not mind readers either… So be clear about your requests!
Also, keep in mind it is your big day (the most important day in your life) and it absolutely flies, so make the most of every second!
If one of you has any worries or are anxious about anything, ask the questions. No matter how trivial you may think it is ask the questions, it is too late after the day!
Wedding Food
When it comes to wedding menus, I think the earlier these decisions are made, the better for the couple themselves, as this can affect your budget and spending later on. And it eliminates one other job that has to be done! Do a tasting about eight weeks from once you have booked your day to finalise everything. Get as much done early, as this takes pressure and stress out of the run up to the big day. It’s also important to consider the season you will be serving food. Warm, cosy roasts and stews should be left for winter weddings while fruit salads are ideal in summer. Although your Head Chef will be aware of this already it is important to note if you are considering any requests of a bespoke menu.
And Remember… Have Fun!
Some great tunes are the key to getting the party started for sure! Early on in the evening, Galway Girl is a great floor filler! Dancing Queen, Simply the Best and 500 Miles are great songs later on in the evening. EVERYONE knows them and it gets all the generations going! It’s always a good idea to give your wedding DJ an idea of the age range attending as well as some song suggestions. One fun idea is to give your guests a song request note with your invite. You can then hand these over to the DJ before the night. When your guests hear their request on the dance floor, they will be too thrilled not to dance!
