Hi, we are planning to visit Ireland with my family in october. We are also planning to get married while we are there. I have already registered with the limerick office and all our paper work is in order. The only problem is who and where can we be married? We are not getting any answers. My fiance is going to classes here inthe states for catholic services. It seems you have to be roman catholic to be married in most churches there. We wanted so much ti be married in Gougane Barra at St. Finbarr,s but that was over quickly. I,m just upset that all of these web sites Ireland has of these wonderful destination weddings tehy offer but do not tell you you can not be married there for all these reasons. Then I find out you can not be married outside. All we want is a very small venue we onlty have a small family group of seven people. The only ones that want to help us are the ones that have this big package deals for 1050 just to be married in the chapel in the castles. I don,t understand why then they can find a minister to marry you if you go along with one of the packages. Can you give us any information are know of any small churches or chapels and anyone that could marry us? We are starting to get so discouraged and thinking maybe we should just get married here. help....... us. someone paul & kathleen.
Welcome to my forum. You sound frustrated. You mention that Gougane Barra cannot accommodate you but don't say what the problem is. Are they full? Is it too expensive? What are the reasons you cannot be married at various sites you have found?
Most Irish weddings are big, fancy affairs with hundreds of people in attendance. They are held at hotels, castles, churches, etc. You can also be married in a registry office.
Hi Michele, Thanks for your quick response. I,m sorry to sound so frustrated. I had started on all of our plans back in march. I have been working with the registers office in Limerick. They have been very helpful through this whole process. They did explain we could be married there if we would like to. They aslo said that they would be able to possibly come to a venue that the register,s office approved. We are staying at the Adare Villa,s so that would be perfect. The only problem with that is there is another wedding that dayand we are not allowed to have pictures taken or any ceremony. So that is when we started inquiring on other venues. I started with the manor. They have their own wedding planners. They had sent me to an outside wedding planner since we are not staying at the manor but the villas. To have a wedding at the manor you have to book at least 25 quest. I emailed and explained what we were looking for . A small quaint ceremony with my family. She had suggested the Knappogue Castle and we could be married at the chapel . I was very excited and thought mqaybe this would work. She sent me the package. The package is 1050. That sounded great. I ask her to give me a break down and what was included in this package. Basically it is the rental for the chapel. I would get a small arrangent of flowers and the groom would get a flower. Also she would do any paper work at the register,s office and that was it. I already did the ground work and we are ready to go as for as the paper work. So that is kind of where we are right now. I think this is probably maybe a lovely plan but everyone is telling me this is too much money for what we are getting. I still want a little chapel out in the country, a minister and find a nice place to have a small dinner celebration with my family. Maybe even one of the pubs on the way back from our ceremony. I think Ireland is so beautiful and that is why we want to be married there. That is also why Gougane Barra was so special to us. Any suggestions? We onyl have three months left to get this together... Please let us know if you know anyone that could help us. Desperate in St. louis help kathleen & paul
So the problem is that you want some thing very small and inexpensive. By now a lot of places are probably booked up. How long are you staying at the villas at Adare Manor? Could you choose another day to be married? Will you be in any other locations in Ireland?
There is a Catholic Church in Adare. Have you been in touch with them? The Dunraven Arms Hotel is a popular place for receptions as is Woodlands Hotel. http://www.adarevillage.com/weddingvenue.php
The price looks reasonable for St Marks Chapel, it is part of a castle after all and weddings dont come cheap. My daughter is paying out over £500 (E600) + extras to hire a small church and have the Bands read in the UK. Try contacting the Woodlands Hotel in Adare to see if they can help, this is my Hotel of choice in the area, having a sensible budget and no interest in chasing a ball I hit with a stick the Manor does not get a consideration for the odd overnight stay.