Our wedding was a 3 day event! We were looking for a small civil ceremony, with a party afterwards for everyone, but found out quickly that the registrar's only work Mon - Fri. So from there, we started to plan what we called 'wedfest'. We'd always wanted the day to be very casual, so Friday was planned as the civil ceremony, family photos and a pub gig, and Saturday would be the 'big day - casual style' with a sand ceremony (we count that as our actual ceremony), and BBQ dinner afterwards (with a choreographed first dance - theres a Youtube video further down), finishing up with a brunch (greasy spoon!) on the Sunday. Our wedding was in Dingle, in the gorgeous Ballintaggart House.
Friday - the civil ceremony and pub gig!
Well - I'll be honest here. We weren't too traditional. Myself and OH booked into the venue the night before, and stayed in the same room (shock horror!!). It actually turned out really well - we'd gone for a meal out to the Global Village (fab restaurant - if you're ever in Dingle, don't hestitate to drop in for some seafood) the night before with everyone. A handful of us were staying in the venue, so when we arrived back, John of Ballintaggart had a fire roaring in one of the front rooms, and we curled up in front of it with a nightcap. I'm just gonna take a quick minute to say this - John and Clodagh in Ballintaggart are some of the nicest people i have EVER met. From the minute we met them the first time we saw the venue, they were so friendly, so relaxed and truly amazing hosts. They really made us feel like part of the family, and honestly they were amazing at helping out - they put me in touch with local hairdressers, bands, and Clodagh has a local beauty salon, so she was a godsend the days coming up to the wedding!
We woke up on Friday to a quiet house. My family have a house in Dingle so most of them stayed there. OH's family had decided they'd stay in another hotel the night before, to catch up with some relatives that had turned up early.
The breakfast in Ballintaggart was to die for - I wasn't in the least bit nervous that morning, and wolfed it all down. A friend of ours that was doing the photos was a bit nervous about it alright.
The morning was a bit of a blur - plenty of decoration to do, but I really enjoyed it. It made for such a buildup. My aunt was doing the flowers in one of the holiday homes next door, so the lads were over and back ferrying the arrangements for her all morning. We weren't decorating everything, just the front rooms as they were all that would be used that day. With just 14 of us, we wouldn't be taking over the venue.
Clodagh (make-up) had arrived earlier in the morning, and was helping out with some of the decoration. When Kerry (hair) arrived, it was all action! We had 5 to do - 2 BMs, my mum, MIL, and myself. I was left til last - there was great craic that morning with Clodagh and Kerry, and we had some champagne to calm any nerves aswell. Would defintiely recommend both Clodagh and Kerry to everyone - they were absolutely brilliant.
I hadn't ever had 'that feeling' with my dress - I fully admit that. It was grand - I liked it, and it didn't cost a fortune, but there wasn't an 'OMG' moment. And when I'd done the hair trial, the tiara just made me feel really silly (it didn't help that the day I'd done the hair trial, I'd forgotten the tiara, and done the trial with a broken commumion tiara, much to Kerry's shock and horror!!) It really all came together that morning - it was overwhelming. My sister had been emotional all morning, but I was still really really relaxed all the way up until I saw myself fully dressed up - hair, makeup, dress, tiara... There wasn't a huge amount of time either, in the end - once everything was done, we had enough time for a few snaps before it was time to head downstairs. The registrar has already arrived, and Hakan from the CraicDaddys was already starting to play. My mum headed downstairs, the two BMs waited for me out in the hall, and all of a sudden it was just me and my dad left in the room, with him preparing to give me away. Yup - that was the exact moment it become overwhelming. We arrived down the stairs to "Bron Yr Aur" by Led Zeppelin, where my H2b was waiting patiently for me at the bottom. Dad handed me over to him there, and myself and H2B waited for everyone to walk in and seat themselves before we arrived into the room.
The ceremony was really nice - with so little of us there, we were able to arrange the room so everyone was seated in a semi circle around us. The fire was going in the room aswell, making it really cosy. We fnished the ceremony with the "Indian wedding prayer", where everyone had their own line to say - it was really sweet.
After the ceremony, we headed out to the lobby - at that stage, the heat of the fire was getting a bit much. John had champagne and canapes lined up along the reception desk. Girls the food... oh... the food. I love tiny food anyway - but these canapes were just to die for.
So.. there was one kinda hiccup that weekend that was entirely my fault. I erm.. forgot to organise any transport. Being that we were having everything in the venue, I'd never considered it, until we realised we had no idea how we were going to get around Dingle for the photos. Luckily my dad sorted us out the day before, by hiring a local minibus. The day wasn't great - at all. It was misty rain for most of the day.. and by the end of the weekend, it had become the tail end of a hurricane. All worked out though - we loaded everyone and our brollys onto the bus for our magical mystery photo tour - we had some craic on that bus, with everyone trying to fit on and off, trying not to step on the dress, trying not to get stuff muddy.. .was a scream!
The first stop was Garfinny bridge, one of the oldest surviving bridges in Ireland, right behind the venue. The bus driver thought we were insane.. maybe he was right in a way. Garfinny is a really old dry stone bridge. The stones are big, sharp - and not horizontal.. vertical and all over the place. So it made for a very interesting half hour as we navigated our way onto the bridge in high heels, when the stones were slippy from the mist (just for the extra challenge!) I honestly though I was about to end up a YouTube bride and go arseways into the river.. but it didn't happen, and the shots we got from it are unreal! Every time I think of everyone holding in fits of giggles while trying to perch on the stones!
After Garfinny, we were all feeling a bit pale after what we all claimed was our dice with death, so we headed for one of the local pubs in Dingle, Currans. Currans is a gorgeous pub/hardware store that hasn't changed its decor in decades - it was a perfect spot for some really great photos.
We hopped back on the bus again at that point, and back to Ballintaggart House to change for the gig. We had a formal meal in Ballintaggart first, which was gorgeous. The room was done up beautifully for us, and the food was just incredible. I mean, really, really incredible - my mouth still waters thinking about that meal... mmmm. Ian, Donny and John were awesome, they really made us feel so special.
We then headed off to a pub called McCarthys to meet everyone as they arrived down to Dingle (If ye're ever seen Other Voices on RTE - its the "Other Room", and its a great live music spot). We had guests arriving from all over Ireland, and a fair chunk from Europe and the US aswell. We'd booked a rock'n'roll band from Sligo called the Oddsocks Revival to play that night in the pub - their style is something similar to Rory Gallagher and they've got great energy. Here's one of theirs: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aS_bdgdqoJ0
It was brilliant to be able to meet everyone in a relaxed atmosphere that night. I wasn't sure how many would turn up, but it looked as though almost everyone showed up that first night! We rocked out 'til closing time, but headed off then - most of the guests continued on to a late night bar. Have to say I was tempted, but there was another even bigger day to go so I was good!
Saturday - sand ceremony and reception!
We'd planned our day to have a very relaxed theme, so as part of that, H2B was no longer in his formal suit, he was in a more casual suit shirt & open waistcoat. I got to wear my dress a second time! <3 We started the day with a sleep in - I think people started surfacing around 11ish or so. Was a little different that day though as everyone was staying in Ballintaggart so there was a briliant buzz around the place. Most of the decoration had been finished by a friend the day before while we were off doing the photos, so we spent the morning on the last few finishing touches.. while the lads finished writing their speeches. My sister surprised me with some awesome custom beer mats that she handmade, using pictures of myself and H2B from when we were little. The guests had a howl with them
Kerry and Clodagh arrived for the hair and makeup at 12, and I was first in this time round, as we wanted to get a few shots of myself & H2B in the more casual gear. There was still a lot to do - right up until that morning, we hadn't hashed out or practised the sand ceremony before, so we had a small dry run, and suddenly realised the sand H2B's dad brought over from Florida didn't pour as easily as the sand we'd bought for it. It kept pouring in about half the glass worth, which was no good, it was only supposed to be a thin layer! (Actually.. bringing the sand over from Florida though security is another funny story.. maybe for another time!) Disaster averted by Ballintaggart when they produced two small glasses, which let us pour in exact amounts to get the ceremony started off... whew!
Everything started coming together around 2, and the last hour was just so nervewracking. I hate speaking in public so the idea of saying the vows was genuinely scaring the living daylights out of me. H2B was no better. My Bridesmaid totally saved the day on this one - she sent myself and H2B upstairs to relax, sitting up in one of the rooms overlooking the venue entrance. She asked for some canapes and champagne to be sent up to us - and it really became one of my fvourite memories of the day, watching everyone arriving with H2B and sipping away on champers.
We even had a little bit of time to practise the first dance - lucky that we did, as I realised I was tripping over the dress, and it'd have to be pinned up for the real thing.
All the guests arrived by about 3.30, and we were called down by the photographer. He had set up a mirror on the landing halfway down the stairs, so we could see the crowd downstairs waiting - I though I would be terrified, but it was exhilirating. We walked down the stairs into the crowd to cheers, it was brilliant
We had champagne and canapes before the ceremony, which was at 4 - my sister and BIL officiated it. For anyone who has never heard of a sand ceremony, its the same idea as a unity ceremony with the candles. The bride and groom get a sand colour each, and the officient gets another colour. Our ceremony had my sister pouring white sand to welcome H2B to our family, and vice versa with my BIL to welcome me to his family. We exchanged vows and rings, and then we poured our colours in at the same time to mix the colours, and symbolise our life shared. It was really sweet, and nice and short. We had more canapes and drinks afterwards which formed the starters, and spent the afternoon mingling with our guests. Ballintaggart itself is a brilliant venue - we had the place to ourselves. One of the front rooms had this awesome roaring fire going, and people curled up on the couches next to it catching up. The other front room was really bright and made for great photos. We had a sweet bar set up in the back room behind the bar, where the photo booth was, and it went down a treat for the guests who spotted it early
We set up our guest book there aswell. Around 6ish, we gathered in the marquee for our BBQ with a roast pig on a spit! We organised it so that half our tables were stand up, and half of them the standard round tables, but with no assigned seating. It worked out really well, and lended to people getting up and popping over to chat with friends, and swapping seats as they pleased.. gave it a great relaxed flow. The BBQ itself was gorgeous. I've never eaten so much crackling! Ballintaggart outdid themselves - people were going up for seconds it was so nice, and the helpings were really generous.
The weather was awful all weekend - we were really unlucky with it. Saturday was wild, and the wind was building all day - it turned out we were hit with the tail end of a hurricane! It didn't matter a huge amount - it actually made the venue all that more cosy with the wind howling outside, though I have to saw the marquee was a bit scary in the wind. It was strong, and you couldn't feelt he breeze inside it, but we had some chinese paper lanterns (unlit) hanging down from the ceiling, and they were swinging back and forth all the way through the speeches!
I loved the speeches.. H2B, BIL, both dads, and my sister spoke - and it was a bit of a slagging match of sorts. They had everyone roaring laughing, and I was thrilled that it stayed so light hearted and informal.
We did the speeches between the BBQ and the dessert / cake cutting. We had an ice-cream wedding cake, made by a local supplier - its artisan. Anyone who's been to Dingle and tasted Murphy's ice cream will know what I'm talking about
Actually I think they've a shop up in DUb now aswell - well worth a taste! They don't usually do ice cream cakes either, so we were pretty lucky - the cake itself had to be pictured up and served very quickly being ice-cream, but it was well worth it - it was served up with profiteroles.. it was absolutely demolished! People went up for more and more helpings of it to try the other flavours. We'd gone for diffrent flavours for each tier - milk chocolate & baileys, dark choccy with mint, and a trio of strawberry, vanilla and honeycomb for the last. Delish! The cake itself was made enough for 150 people (I'd accidentally overbudgeted then forgotten to update them that we'd only have 110).. but there was nothing left of it after 20 mins. I'd say if I'd gotten a massive cake for 200 it'd still have been demolished it was so yummy! :DAfter the meal was done, we headed back into the house - at that point it was definitely time to, as the marquee roof was swaying a fair bit by then in the hurricane winds as the storm kept building up. Fair play to it though, the wind outside was incredibly strong, but you couldn't feel it inside the marquee - the only hint was the sound of the gusts and the lanterns swaying!
Honestly, with the wind howling outside, Ballintaggart was magical - the room with the fires blazing especially so. Even though it was mid-July it had a cosy wintery feel to it. We waited in the bar as all the guests wandered past us out in to the front room where the band was ready to start up. We got my dress pinned up a bit (Thank you WOL - I'd never have though of having an emergency bag with safety pins on hand!!), and were called into the front room to everyone crowded around the dance floor for our first dance. We had a bit of a surprise prepped as I'd mentioned before - we started off slow to "Thank You" by Led Zeppelin, and then broke into a choreographed dance for "Crazy little thing called love" by Queen. If you're tempted to do the same, I would definitely recommend it - the screams we heard when we started the choreographed dance are probably my favourite memory of the day. Or maybe the high I was on after we managed to finish it! The dancefloor was absolutely hopping afterward - it really got the crowd going
Anyone curious about it can see it here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LLK6wLtqZiE
We danced long into the night, and the band, the Craic Daddys, absolutely rocked our socks off. They continued to DJ after the band aswell into the early hours of the morning. They'd sorted us for music the entire day, leading to some of the lads finishing up that night after a 13 hour day!
Sunday
Anyone considering doing a brunch the next day - do it. Just do it. Its so brilliant meeting up with everyone the next day and hearing all the stories from the day before. Its much more relaxing for being able to chat to people aswell, and really spend time with your guests, as you'd be run off your feet on the day itself, getting whisked around for this photo and that event
Normally, ballintaggart would run the BBQ for the next-day event if people are doing one, but seeing as we'd already done the casuall BBQ as our main day, we asked them to cater a 'greasy spoon' / brunch for the guests instead. Best Fryup EVER! We waved everyone off, and when it was back to us and the nucealr families, we packed up our stuff and took off for our honeymoon.
I'd do the whole weekend again in a heartbeat. I'd probably even kick off from the first dress fitting, and do the entire year all over again
Suppliers:
Venue: Ballintaggart House - http://www.ballintaggarthouse.com/
Photographer: Friend
Flowers: Aunt
Band: Craic daddys - http://thecraicdaddys.com/Home.html.
Make-up: Pink Beauty Salon (Clodagh Cluskey)
Hair: Kerry Fleming (Tralee - will travel to you) 087 2307097
Photo albums: PM me for the password
http://www.photobox.ie/album/961207078 (Friday)
http://www.photobox.ie/album/961467091 (Saturday)
So.. what did I learn to pass on to other brides...
If you plan to walk on freshly cut grass to get photos taken - have a second pair of shoes for the photos. Don't get caught pickin grass out of your shoes!!!
If you're ordering Ice-cream wedding cake plan in advance what you want for pictures, because it's gotta be served within a few minutes of being brought out.
If you've got a guest book for people to sign, leave it somewhere where most guests will venture past it. Not many people signed ours on the Saturday, as not many people spotted it, but almost everyone signed on their way out on the Sunday, as they were wandering past it on the way out.
And a huge, huge +1 to having the WOL emergency kit handy. And throw a comfy pair of shoes to wear for dancing into it too!
And if you're still here and reading, and haven't gone cross-eyed - fair play to ya!!
*edited for spellings
the video was deadly - trying to convince himself to do this exact song but he's not one for dancing at all...shuffling is all he can do!!! You looked great!! Love the idea of the sand - never heard of that before!!
