Summer Wedding Bliss at Powerscourt

From a rainy day proposal to an uplifting wedding experience at Powerscourt!

Where did you meet?

Brian and I met in work 6 years ago-you could say it was love at first sight!

Tell is about the proposal!

Brian proposed on St.Stephen’s day in Powerscourt-we had a lovely lunch in the Sugarloaf lounge looking out to what was a horrible dreary wet day! After lunch, Brian insisted we go for a walk…I knew something was up because no one would want to go for a walk on a day like that! We borrowed some umbrellas from reception and walked over to the golf course which is overlooked by Powerscourt House. Brian got down on one knee and proposed in the rain in a deserted wet golf course!

Why Powerscourt?

When choosing a venue it was an obvious choice to go back to Powerscourt…I had seen the ballroom of Powerscourt House on the internet but never in the flesh. We were shown around the venue by Conrad and immediately fell in love; it was the first and only venue we viewed. With 2 large reception rooms to choose from and the ballroom, there are some many options. The décor is so beautiful; the architecture and interiors really speak for themselves so there is no real requirement to add anything! From start to finish, Conrad at Feast Catering and the hotel staff, in particular Siobhan and Carmel, were extremely helpful and accommodating for all of our questions and requests. We had a tasting with Conrad a few months prior to the wedding and it was truly divine, we knew we were in good hands.

The Best Bits!

Brian and I, and both of our families, stayed in the hotel the night prior to the wedding-my room was enormous and was an ideal setting for getting ready in the morning of! We had our ceremony in a local church and upon arrival at the house, due to the nice weather on the day, had our drinks reception in the gardens. Everything had been organized so seamlessly that there was nothing to worry about. We had our photos taken in the remarkable grounds; the pictures are incredible! My favourite part of the day was the dinner and the speeches. All of our guests remarked on the day about at the quality of the food and the beautiful venue and are still commenting about it! My advice for couples getting married is to try to not stress too much about it, plan as far in advance as possible and put your trust in the expertise of the staff!

We can’t recommend Powerscourt House as a wedding venue more, I feel honored that we were able to host our reception there!

POWERSCOURT HOUSE & GARDENS

DOWNLOAD OUR WEDDING BROCHURE

Enniskerry | County Wicklow

www.powerscourt.com

hospitality@powerscourt.net

01 204 6000

Watch Lauren and Brian's Wedding Here

Top Tips from Our Wedding Planner

Maria Dunne is a wedding planning consultant that takes a personal and bespoke approach to creating beautiful occasions and unforgettable events. As no two couples are the same, she believes in curating weddings that reflect your personality and in turning your ideas into reality. Maria would like every bride and groom to have the day of their dreams and every guest a day they'll never forget.

I recently had a chat with Maria and she kindly shared some top wedding planning tips with me!

Top Tips from Our Wedding Planner

How did you get started in the business? Did you always know you’d be an event planner?

I’ve always really enjoyed entertaining. Among my friends, I’ve always been the organiser of events and get togethers, so in a sense wedding and event planning came naturally to me. I know I’m really fortunate that I get to do what I love for a living, because for me there’s nothing better than seeing a night, event or celebration really come together.

And of course, being Irish I have the world’s most amazing, romantic and idyllic wedding location right on my doorstep too. From majestic castles and inviting country houses to epic scenery and warm hospitality, I’m really lucky to be able to offer my brides and grooms the venues that have everything.

Weddings at Powerscourt House & Gardens

Is it expensive to engage a wedding planner?

As a wedding planner that’s a tricky question. While it’s not necessarily expensive to hire a wedding planner, there is undoubtedly a cost. However I think it’s a good idea for couples to look at hiring a wedding planner from a value perspective.

Your wedding is a very special occasion and you only get one chance to get it right. So it’s extremely useful to have an experienced professional there to give you a little guidance, someone you can trust to help with every aspect of your big day from helping to choose the ideal location, negotiating with suppliers or just making sure everything runs smoothly on the day, so you and your guests can really enjoy yourselves.

A good wedding planner will also work around the couple’s budgets and where possible help stretch them a little further. If engaged early in the process not only will you be able to get their preferred suppliers, they should be able to negotiate preferential rates too.

Italian Garden at Powerscourt House

What is the best thing about being a wedding planner?

I’m lucky that there are lots of great things about the job I do. While there’s a lot of responsibility, it’s very rewarding when a couple, ask you to help them with the most important day of their lives. Specifically though the best moment is when the couple you’ve been working with, see their ideas and dreams come to reality on their wedding day. You can see it in their eyes and you know all your hard work has paid off. 

Late evening at Powerscourt House & Gardens

What is the one detail of a wedding reception you wish more couples focused on?

Sometimes couples tend to underestimate the importance of flowers. As well as representing a couples personality, where they’re from they can really help create a really special atmosphere, a treat for the eyes and the nose that can lift every occasion and venue.

Marble Hall - Powerscourt House

Have you ever had a near disaster?

Despite coming close, luckily I haven’t had anything I couldn’t fix. Most recently at a country wedding, the DJ’s car broke down on the way to the venue. Thankfully, I was able to call in another DJ at the last minute and it all worked out without my couple knowing until the next day.

Georgian Ballroom - Powerscourt House

What is the one piece of advice you give couples early in the planning stage and why?

Everyone should set a budget at the beginning and be realistic about it, then allocate it to each area, for example flowers, catering, wedding band etc. It is important to include the cost of the dress, hire of suits and the honeymoon when creating a budget as you want a budget that encompasses all costs, so that you have a solid figure to work with. No matter what your budget is always allow an additional €1,000- €2,000 for contingency costs such as tailoring, extra guests etc. Choose a budget you are happy with and can stick with, and remember this is going to be the best day of your life. 

Maria Doherty - Wedding Consultant

What is trending now for 2016/2017 weddings?

Trends come and go, so here are a few things I have noticed  that are in vogue right now.

1.   Craft bars: This summer I have a couple of weddings, one with a gin & tonic bar and the other has a whiskey lounge.  With so many Irish companies specializing in Gin and Whiskey people love to taste different mixes and it also gives the wedding an exclusive edge, as not every wedding has a personalized alcohol bar.

2.   Sparklers: are a must have for after dinner festivities. You see so many different images of sparklers and how you can spell out ‘I Love You’ in them for example. If you can’t afford fireworks for the night time reception, then sparklers will work just as good.

Maria dunne wedding consultant

www.theeventdesigncompany.ie

maria@theeventdesigncompany.ie

+353 (0) 83 0078057

POWERSCOURT HOUSE & GARDENS

Enniskerry | County Wicklow

www.powerscourt.com

hospitality@powerscourt.net

01 204 6000

Spring Wedding Inspiration

I don't know about you but I just can't wait for Spring to arrive properly. I am dreaming of sunny days and flowers blooming and of course our Spring weddings!

Everyone loves Spring especially after the dark cold days of Winter and it is becoming increasingly popular with wedding couples. The beautiful pastel palettes of Spring colour are truly refreshing. 

How do you choose your color? It’s easy really, make sure you choose a color that you love and that really reflects your personality and persona. If cool pastel shades don’t really agree with your fiery loud personality then it may seem strange to guests, so make sure it really says you. Consider how to mix your colors, don’t just stick to one, and why not try using a stronger accent color to help blend in with your chosen color. Don’t be afraid to stick to these colors, choose a darker shade or lighter tint of some of these popular colors, you’ll still be on trend but using it to your advantage.

I hope you feel inspired!

See more Spring Wedding Inspiration!

POWERSCOURT HOUSE & GARDENS

Enniskerry | County Wicklow

www.powerscourt.com

hospitality@powerscourt.net

01 204 6000

Wedding Planning Checklist

Even the most organised among us need checklists! Here is a great guide to help you get started - 12 months and counting!

• Have a discussion to see what you both would/would not like.
• Start a guest list and revisit it often.
• Do a budget.
• Decide who is paying for what – and will you accept help from family.
• It may not be a bad idea to take out wedding insurance - just in case!
• Decide what season you would like and set the date.
• Book ceremony venue.
• Visit and book your reception venue.
• Decide who you would like to be your bridesmaids and groomsmen and ask them if they are happy to do it.
• Decide what kind of entertainment you want, for the ceremony and the venue.

• Research and consider options for your venue and ceremony decor.
• Research and book photographer, videographer, band, and wedding planner if desired. Check with your Wedding Venue, they will often recommend suppliers.
• Have a look online to see what wedding gowns are popular and create a Pinterest Board for the ones you like.
• Book an appointment with a few different bridal shops.
• Why not send a 'Save the Date' card just to give friends and family advance notice.
• Are you planning on doing anything yourself, make a list of DIY projects that need doing and ask your bridal party to help.
• Start a wedding website or planning diary to make sure nothing is missed!

Happy Planning!

POWERSCOURT HOUSE & GARDENS

Enniskerry | County Wicklow

www.powerscourt.ie

hospitality@powerscourt.net

01 204 6000

Irish Wedding Traditions

May your troubles be less

And your blessings be more

And nothing but happiness

Comes through your door

- an Irish Blessing

Irish people are known to be very superstitious and this is certainly reflected in some of our Irish Wedding Traditions.

The Claddagh Ring

The Claddagh's distinctive design features two hands clasping a heart, and usually surmounted by a crown. The elements of this symbol are often said to correspond to the qualities of love (the heart), friendship (the hands), and loyalty (the crown).

The way that a Claddagh ring is worn on the hand is usually intended to convey the wearer's romantic availability, or lack thereof.

When the ring is on the left hand ring finger and facing inward toward the body, it generally means that the person wearing the ring is married.

Locking the Church Door

It is thought that Irish men started to get cold feet on the big day. So to prevent the groom from making a dash out of the church the guests would lock the front door.

Lucky Irish Horseshoe

In Irish culture horseshoes are often seen as a symbol of luck and prosperity. The lucky horseshoe should always be displayed upwards!

Braided Hair

Traditionally a symbol of feminine power and luck, braided hair on your wedding day is said to bring Irish brides luck in their marriage. Try this elegant up style!

Magic Handkerchief

The magic handkerchief is a sign of fertility and the bride should carry it with her throughout the day. Once the wedding was over, it is said that the magic handkerchief was kept safely until the first born child arrived. It was then used as part of the christening attire.

Wedding Bells

Not quite the same as the tolling church bells! The bells were used to ward off malicious spirits. After the wedding it is kept in the house to remind married couples of their vows.

St. Patrick's Day

A wedding that takes place on St. Patrick's Day is said to give couples lifelong happiness.

Something Blue

Traditionally the colour blue has been associated with purity, so Irish brides normally have something blue with them on their wedding day. Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue!

Wedding Cake

The traditional Irish wedding cake is a hearty fruitcake made with honey and soaked in an Irish Whiskey, then frosted with sweet icing.

POWERSCOURT HOUSE WEDDINGS

www.powerscourt.ie/weddings

hospitality@powerscourt.net

01 204 6000

Weddings at Powerscourt House & Gardens

Happy Ever After Starts Here.....

A warm welcome awaits you at Powerscourt House. A country estate with elegance and sophistication. Powerscourt House & Gardens evoke a sense of timelessness which is particularly fitting and comforting to couples engaged in a journey that will last a lifetime!

Powerscourt is an historic country house set in the beautiful countryside of County Wicklow. The estate sits just at the foothills of the romantic Wicklow mountains and is one of Ireland's top wedding venues. 

This stately home was originally a castle, around which the Palladian mansion was later built. From the exposed brick of the old castle to the ornate ceilings in the double height Georgian ballroom, this country wedding venue is perfect for your wedding reception. The garden rooms overlook the 47 acres of magnificent gardens, which are a delight in every season. You and your guests can enjoy an evening drinks reception in the Italian Garden.

Powerscourt Ballroom

The Italian Garden at Powerscourt

Our catering & events partners Feast Catering, lead by the culinary duo Domini & Peaches Kemp, will guide you through the seasonal menus and ensure that your day is seamlessly catered for from start to finish. Choosing from only the finest of Ireland’s finest local home producers we guarantee the finest in dining with our 5 star seasonal menus.

We offer a highly personalised service and work closely with our network of preferred suppliers. Everything from the linen, flowers, lighting, wines, menus and music are carefully considered to ensure they meet the highest expectations.

My heart is and always will be yours

Powerscourt is surrounded by scenic beauty and there are plenty of photo opportunities in the magnificent grounds and gardens.

"Thank you so so so much for everything that you did for our special day. From the moment we contacted you the service has been flawless. You knew exactly what we had envisaged and captured it beautifully. You made everything personal from creating our bespoke English themed menu to congratulating us on the day when we arrived at the House. The detailing and thought that had been put into our menu was perfect and since then we have been inundated with compliments on how fabulous and unique the food was. The service on the day was excellent and our guest wanted for nothing. When we walked into the Ballroom at Powerscourt it was even better than we had imagined. It looked absolutely stunning, everything and more that we could have dreamed of.

Thank you so much again for all of your hard work and commitment on the day, we could have not asked for more. We will definitely being using you again for any other occasion and will be sure to recommend your expert services to anyone that asks."

Becky & Will, April 2013

"A heartfelt thank you from my new husband and I for what was the most perfect day. It exceeded all of our expectations for our wedding day. Feast and Powerscourt House were amazingly helpful both on the day and in the run up. We have had so many of our friends and family comment on the beautiful setting and excellent service. The highlights included, having our drinks reception outside over looking the gardens and seeing everyone enjoying the meal in the stunning ballroom. We are delighted we chose Powerscourt House."  

Anne Kehoe, August 2012

“Now that the dust has settled I feel it is important that I write to thank you and put on the record how happy Isobel, Jamie, Kay and I were with how everything went on our big day. You and all the staff at Feast were really great, as evidenced by the many compliments we have received from guests. And of course your personal attention not just on the day but right through the run up was second to none”.

Gerry McMahon - September 2012

We were recently listed in the One Fab Day 100 Best Wedding Venues 2013!

"Enjoying the iconic view of Powerscourt gardens to the Sugarloaf, sipping champagne under the soaring ceilings of the ballroom - it's an Irish wedding dream"

They loved: The entrance hall, used for ceremonies, is a masterful renovation - its exposed brick walls contrast perfectly with the grandeur upstairs.

Contact us to make an appointment

T: 01 204 6000

E: hospitality@powerscourt.net

www.powerscourt.ie/weddings

Catering

Feast Catering

www.feast.ie

Photography

www.photographybybrideen.com

www.willoreilly.com

Flowers

www.bloomsday.ie