Tag: wedding planning

Ireland Winter Wedding Do’s and Don’ts

by Harmony Walton

Winter in Ireland is magical and wonderful in more ways than one. If you’re planning a seasonal wedding you’ve chosen just the right spot! While the basics of wedding planning remain the same, there are some Ireland winter wedding Do’s and Don’ts to keep in mind.

Do Dress in Layers

When it comes to winter weather, layers offer the most flexibility to change and adapt. By wearing layers, you can enjoy outdoor festivities while remaining cozy, and then hang up the extra pieces to dance the night away indoors. Plus, it doesn’t hurt to bring layers even if you don’t end up using all of them!

Don’t Expect Snow Everywhere

If you’re hoping for snow, you may want to research where it’s most likely to occur. Ireland does not get snow on all parts of the island. Some of the more mountainous regions will experience some snow, but the most common weather in winter is rain. If you’re really wanting that all-white winter, you can work it into your theme and design a winter wonderland without the hassle that real snow brings.

Do Provide Warmth for Your Guests

Winter in Ireland can get chilly, which means it is important to provide some form of warmth for your guests. Although your venue may provide a heated indoor space, a thoughtful way to show your guests you care is by providing ways for them to keep warm during the outdoor portions. This could be something as simple as having blankets ready, cozy shawls, or a warm drink bar would be lovely in the winter chill.

Don’t Underestimate the Rain

Irish winter weather can be unpredictable and often comes in the form of rain (rather than snow). Don’t let this dissuade you from a stunning seasonal wedding on the Emerald Isle. However, do make sure you keep an eye on weather patterns and adjust accordingly.

Do Book Accommodation in Advance

Tourism in Ireland is busy in the winter season so you’ll need to book in advance. When planning, try to give yourself and your guests enough time before the wedding to be able to secure accommodation during your wedding weekend.

Don’t Assume Everything is Open

As the season rolls in, hours of operation change across the country. Whether it’s local shops or even attractions you want to enjoy while in Ireland, make sure to do your research. Many places will shorten their hours for the winter and some may close for renovations, so it is always good to know before you go.

Do Be Mindful of Shorter Days

If you want your ceremony to take place in the daylight, or have plans for photos during the golden hour, just remember that the days become shorter as winter rolls in. With a little research, this is easy to work with and may simply require your day or reception starting a few hours earlier than you had expected.

Don’t Assume There’s Sufficient Heating

Although some of our oldest historic castles make for stunning wedding venues, it is important to check and make sure the venue has sufficient heating to keep you and your guests comfortable. While the majority of these venues have had modern heating and amenities built in, it is still good to double-check what they offer to combat the winter cold.

Don’t Let the Season Discourage You

Planning a winter wedding, like any wedding, has its own difficulties and details to look out for. This doesn’t mean it is impossible! In fact, some of my favorite Ireland weddings took place in the winter. Hopefully, these Ireland winter wedding Do’s and Don’ts can help you plan your perfect seasonal wedding in Ireland.

Slán go Fóill,

Tara

Images by Story of Eve

How to Find Your Wedding Vendors Overseas

by Harmony Walton

Finding wedding vendors overseas can be an exciting yet challenging task. Planning a wedding in a different country requires thorough research, communication, and coordination. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you find and hire wedding vendors for your overseas wedding.

Hire a Wedding Planner

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: A local wedding planner is worth their weight in gold. I won’t go into every detail here, because I already have here: Why You Need a Wedding Planner Now More Than Ever. A seasoned wedding planner will help you compile a list of trusted vendors (venue, catering, photography, florals, entertainment, etc.) with positive reviews, impressive portfolios, and experience with destination weddings.

Check Reviews and Portfolios

If you want to research some of the options yourself, make sure you review online reviews, testimonials, and portfolios of the vendors you’re interested in. This will give you an idea of their quality of work, professionalism, and how well they’ve served previous clients.

Get in Touch and Stay in Touch

You can arrange virtual meetings or video calls with the vendors you’re considering. (Email works, too!) This will give you a chance to discuss your vision, ask questions, and get a feel for their personality and communication style. Ask about their availability on your wedding date, and inquire about their services, packages, pricing, and any additional fees for working internationally.

A Checklist of Topics to Discuss

Some important details to confirm and questions to ask when interviewing your vendors:

  • During your meetings, discuss the specific details of your wedding, including your theme, colour palette, and any cultural or traditional elements you want to include. Make sure the vendors understand your expectations and can accommodate your requests.
  • Discuss the specific details of your wedding, including your theme, colour palette, and any cultural or traditional elements you want to include. Make sure the vendors understand your expectations and can accommodate your requests.
  • If possible, ask the vendors for references from past clients who have had destination weddings with them. This can give you insight into the vendor’s performance and how well they handle international events.
  • Ask for detailed quotes that outline the services, inclusions, and costs. Review contracts carefully to ensure they cover all aspects of the service, including payment terms, cancellation policies, and what’s expected from both parties.

Tips for Success

  • If you have the opportunity, visit your wedding destination in advance to meet vendors in person, tour venues, and get a feel for the local atmosphere. This can also help you finalize your decisions and make any necessary adjustments.
  • Communication is key. Maintain open communication with your vendors leading up to your wedding. Discuss logistics, timelines, and any changes that might arise.
  • Once you’ve chosen your vendors, review the contracts once again to ensure everything is in order and keep records of all transactions.
  • Prepare for the unexpected. Despite thorough planning, there may be unforeseen challenges with an overseas wedding. Have backup plans in place for potential issues like travel restrictions or weather concerns.

If you’re wondering how to find your wedding vendors overseas, look to the pros. An experienced wedding planner can take all the to-dos off your plate. They will communicate with your vendors, ask the right questions, organize the details, provide an invaluable local contact, and help avoid unnecessary bumps in the road. The celebration, reflection, and revelling in special time with friends and family – that part is up to you.

Slán go Fóill,

Tara

Images by Story of Eve,  Lisa O’Dwyer Photography, Christina Brosnan, Aspect Photography

Why Choose Tara Fay Events?

by Harmony Walton

Nice to meet you! I’m Tara Fay.

You may be wondering: Why Choose Tara Fay Events? Before I point you to my website and my Instagram where you can see many examples of my work, I thought I would start with an introduction. I am so excited you’re here and happy to share a little bit about myself!

First and foremost, I’m a Dublin girl and I truly believe Ireland is the most incredible place. No matter where in the world my career or travels with my husband and children take me, this city will always be my home.  Even when I’m traveling, the Emerald Isle is never far from my heart. I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: I think this beautiful isle is simply the most magical place on earth!

Wedding planning is what I love to do (and I have been doing it internationally for more than two decades) but I am a fan of all events, big and small. I started my career as an event planner in Los Angeles but returned home to Ireland in 1997 to begin Xena Productions, which would eventually become Tara Fay Events. In those days, wedding planners were something completely new, and I think people thought I was a bit mad! We were the very first company here in Ireland to specialise in private parties, weddings, corporate and social events.

We’ve come a long way since! (My Instagram is a testament to this fact!)

Over the years, my team and I have created and produced many of the country’s most creative and extravagant celebrations for a discerning list of celebrities and leading business figures, both at home and abroad. We’ve had our work featured in all sorts of publications, including Hello Magazine, Martha Stewart Weddings, Brides, and many more. (Most recently, I was interviewed by The Knot about the Irish Ring Warming Ceremony.) I have been a regular guest on national radio and television and I host a YouTube channel with my colleague and dear friend, Bruce Russell, called: Bruce & Tara Live.  You could say I keep quite busy!

If you’re newly engaged and ready to start looking for a wedding planner, here is my best advice:

First, ensure that you have a rapport with your wedding planner and can trust them. This will be the base of your relationship and the most important factor for a stress-free wedding experience. Second, learn about their pricing structure! This information will provide you with a better understanding of what you can expect from them. Lastly, request testimonials from the venue where you’d like to host your wedding, the vendors that you’d like to hire, and from couples they’ve worked with in your selected venue.

I’d love to help you plan the most important day of your life, so if you’d like to learn more about me or discuss working together, please don’t hesitate to get in touch!

I wish you all the best!!

Slán go Fóill,

Tara

Image by Barry McCall, Story of Eve, Aspect Photography and my Instagram

Fairytale at Adare Manor: Ryan and Emily’s Enchanted Wedding

by Harmony Walton

You may have heard the saying before: It’s all about who you know. In the case of Ryan and Emily, a string of knowing-someone-who-knows-someone is what brought the two together. At a business dinner, Emily sat next to one of Ryan’s friends. The next day, the same friend told Ryan all about Emily. Interested, Ryan started asking around. When he found a mutual friend, he wasted no time asking Emily out on a date. His persistence paid off. Fast forward: Emily was returning from a trip to the Galapagos Islands. Looking for a place to grab dinner and pass the time during a 12-hour layover in Quito, Ecuador, Emily suddenly found herself inside an empty restaurant – empty, except for a multitude of candles and flowers – and Ryan, down on one knee.

With the magic of their first meeting and Ryan’s perfect proposal, the couple felt certain Adare Manor, adorned with their theme of white, green and a myriad of candles, would be the ideal place to say their vows. The couple booked the venue “sight unseen” and accepted the fact that they wouldn’t see the place until the day of their wedding.

Little did they know their wedding planner (me!) would soon discover they were vacationing in London. With a little coaxing, the couple agreed to take a minor detour. In a whirlwind of 12-hours, Ryan and Emily were swept away by the grandeur of Adare Manor. They toured the venue and the surrounding village, explored after party locations, tasted cake options, and even worked in a hair and makeup trial! It was certainly an undertaking, but if their mind wasn’t made up on Adare Manor before, it certainly was now!

When the day finally arrived, Emily and Ryan stayed true to their color scheme. Emily wore a gorgeous white gown by Zuhair Murid and adorned heels by Manolo Blahnik. Ryan wore a dark green, custom-made suit. Once all the details were in place, it was time for the ceremony to begin. A white horse and carriage arrived to whisk Emily off to the ceremony, where guests were taking their seats amongst the meticulously groomed gardens of Adare Manor.

When Emily felt the horse and carriage pull forward, she began to cry. Her fairytale wedding was in motion. Shortly after, tears of joy were transformed into tears of laughter when she encountered all of her best guy friends in kilts and knee high socks. The invitation had specified “Black Tie or Kilt” and her friends had made sure their attire fit the regulations.

During the ceremony, more laughter ensued when Ryan attempted to follow the Jewish tradition of breaking a glass under his foot at the end of the ceremony.  Surprisingly, it was much more difficult than he had anticipated. After three tries, the glass finally shattered. It was then that Ryan realized the simple drinking glass had been replaced with a nearly indestructible whiskey bottle!

After the ceremony, Ryan and Emily spent some quiet time together, reflecting on their new roles as husband and wife. With so many emotions surrounding the wedding, it’s easy to be swept up in all the special moments. Taking time away from the crowd post-ceremony to meditate on such a monumental day is imperative. In fact, these are the moments many couples will remember the clearest when recalling their wedding day.

When Ryan and Emily returned to their guests, they were met with a wonderland of green and white floral, candles, and all of their family and friends. The atmosphere was absolutely enchanting.

 

Emily and Ryan spent the evening celebrating with all their favourite people under a chandelier of lush white and green florals. The Event Band kept the party going so everyone could let loose on the dance floor. Even Emily slipped into a light and breezy Vera Wang party dress that made it much easier to move. With so much to celebrate, dancing all night felt entirely appropriate!

If you ask Ryan and Emily for their advice, the couple’s first recommendation is to inquire with others who have gone before you. Find out what they did and how they did it. Secondly, the couple advocates strongly for an experienced wedding planner. Emily and Ryan knew they wanted a planner from the beginning, but they couldn’t have known how freeing it would be to have someone take control, help make the big decisions, and be there to navigate any unforeseen bumps in the road.

Emily and Ryan’s wedding at Adare Manor was an absolute vision. The beautiful couple spread their contagious joy wherever they went and their true love was evident to everyone in attendance.

Slán go Fóill,

Tara

Planner & Designer: Tara Fay Events | Venue: Adare Manor | Stationary: Appleberry Atelier| Calligraphy: Sarah O’Dea | Photography: Brosnan Photographic | Hair: David Cashman | Makeup: Christine Lucigano | Cake: MM Cookies | Shoes: Manolo Blahnik | Dress: Zuhair Murid | Florals: The Garden| Linens and Chairs: Total Event Rental | Ceremony Music: Deirdre Seaver | DJ: The Event Band | Entertainment: Orangeworks | Staging and Lighting: Gorilla Design | Sound and AV Production: KCLS

Same Sex Weddings in Ireland

by Harmony Walton

It’s hard to believe that almost five years have passed since same sex marriage became a reality in the Republic of Ireland. I still remember the sense of pride and elation I felt when the country voted in favour of marriage equality in the 2015 referendum! And with same sex marriage now also legally recognised in Northern Ireland (as of January 2020), LGBTQI+ and same sex weddings are finally a reality across the whole island. Here at Tara Fay weddings we are huge supporters of marriage equality, and we love helping all our couples make their dream day a reality, whoever they choose to love.

The Marriage Act 2015 applies to civil ceremonies, which can take place in a huge variety of venues across Ireland. For example, castles, hotels, manor houses and museums. You can also opt for a Humanist ceremony for same sex weddings in Ireland (which can include outdoor locations). If you would like to get married on a private estate (ceremony venues must be open to the public), you can also choose to have a small legal ceremony and follow it with a symbolic ceremony in a location of your choice. Windswept cliff tops, fields, woodlands… wherever your imagination takes you!

While same sex weddings in Ireland are identical to opposite sex weddings in the most important way (i.e. legal status), it’s up to you how traditional you want your celebration to be. In fact, LGBTQI+ couples often feel less restricted when it comes to the details of the day, allowing us to create a day for them that feels completely personal. You make the rules! Here are a few elements to consider.

same-sex-weddings-in-ireland

What to wear

Two tuxes? Two dresses? Matching or not? The answer is: whatever will make you feel incredible. There are a huge range of options, from dresses to suits to uniquely complementary ensembles. The most important thing is that each of you feels comfortable and confident. And, while you can choose to wear the same thing or matching versions, there are also lots of other ways to make your outfits coherent, from colours and fabrics to the flowers you carry or the accessories you wear.

The ceremony

Heterosexual Christian wedding ceremonies have a number of traditions, and many are defined by gender. For example, the bride’s family sit on the left, and the groom waits for the bride at the top of the aisle. With same sex weddings, you get to build the ceremony that best fits you as a couple. For example, you could walk down the aisle together, or towards each other from opposite directions. You also don’t need to include heteronormative phrases in your vows. Write your own, and personalise your ceremony with readings and music that you love.

Wedding traditions

There are lots of other wedding traditions that are defined by gender, and you can reimagine these exactly as you wish. For example, you can dispense with the bouquet and garter toss, or turn it into something new. You can have bridesmen and groomsmaids, a shared wedding party, or no entourage at all. You might also choose to have a first look, or to get ready together. It’s your wedding; your rules. And the same goes for your pre-wedding events, like hen parties and stag dos!

Whatever you decide on, remember this is your love, and your relationship that is being honoured. And, while all couples struggle with the expectations of family and friends, the most important thing is to focus on what matters to you as a couple.

I can’t wait to welcome more gorgeous couples home to Ireland for their same sex weddings in 2021 and beyond!

Slán go Fóill,

Tara

Images by Eric Kelley

Why Hire a Wedding Planner in Ireland?

by Harmony Walton

So you’ve decided on a destination wedding in Ireland? Congratulations! There’s no place more magical to exchange vows, or to treat your guests to the experience of a lifetime. But as much as I love destination weddings, they do come with their own set of challenges. Planning such a big event from afar can be complicated, stressful, and time-consuming. That’s where a local wedding planner is worth their weight in gold! A specialist destination wedding planner can be your eyes and ears, offer insider knowledge and contacts, in some cases be your translator, and help you enjoy the process. Here are some of the reasons why hiring a wedding planner in Ireland is a must.

Specialist Knowledge of the Area

A destination wedding planner knows the ins and outs of everything local. For example, you’ll get the inside track on the best venues to choose, local culture and etiquette, – even the weather! (In fact, the weather is something that you’ll definitely want to keep in mind when planning a wedding in Ireland.) There’s so much more to a destination than you’ll find by searching online. Plus, having a wedding planner in Ireland will also help you and your guests make the most of your trip. They can recommend restaurants and accommodations and help plan activities and excursions to make the weekend extra special!

A Network of Trusted Vendors

Planning a fabulous wedding isn’t just about the details you choose. It’s about having a team of creative, talented professionals to make those dreams a reality. When you’re planning a wedding from abroad, you often won’t meet your vendors in person before the big day and that means you’ll be reliant on online reviews. But bringing am experienced local planner on board means having access to a vetted network. I have Ireland’s top luxury wedding vendors in my little black book. Many I have worked with repeatedly, and I know and trust them implicitly.

A Trusted Advocate

Your wedding planner has your back. They’re your advocate, your accountant, your therapist, stylist, and dear friend. They are the person who is always on your side, always acting in your interests and on your behalf. This is very different from other role players like venue coordinators or stylists. Your wedding planner acts as the buffer between you and all the different aspects of the wedding. They guide you through the process, so your engagement can be the happy time it should be. And they’ll save you a tremendous amount of time. Most importantly, they’ll take the reins so that you can relax and enjoy your big day, completely stress-free!

The Legal Stuff

Each country has its own legal requirements, which you’ll need to navigate for a destination wedding. Ireland’s registration system can be especially challenging. But not to worry! A wedding planner in Ireland can help you through this aspect of wedding planning. For example, by ensuring you have the correct paperwork before and after you arrive in the country and making sure any special permits are in order.

The bottom line is that a wedding planner in Ireland will help you save time, money, and stress. Especially during this uncertain time, when things are always changing and developing, it’s vital to have someone on the ground who you can trust. Not to mention to add to the fun, the personal details, and experiences you and your guests will have on arrival!

Slán go Fóill,
Tara

Image by Lisa O’Dwyer Photography.