Weddings at Powerscourt House: June 2016

Thursday 30 June 2016

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

Wednesday 22 June 2016

Andrew & Kathrine Miller Photography

We are pleased to introduce Andrew and Kathrine Miller, our preferred photographer for Weddings at Powerscourt House and Gardens.

Their primary focus is on people. Wedding and portrait photography is what they do best. They love a good wedding, always a happy event! Working as a team of two photographers to capture two perspectives of your special day with many natural photographs.

I interviewed Andrew and Kathrine with some of the keys points that every bride should ask their wedding photographer!

1. How far in advance do I need to book you?

As soon as your wedding venue date is confirmed, then is the time to book your photographer. Popular summer dates are often booked a year or more in advance.

2. How long have you been in business?

I have been working as a photographer for over 18 years, shooting weddings, portraits and commercial projects. Kathrine joined me in the business a few years later, we now work as a team of two photographers. We have Public Liability Insurance. Some venues insist on this.

3. Why do I need two photographers?

Having two photographers means we can capture two different viewpoints. For example one photographer working at the front of the church, one at the back. Also, we take more pictures in less time. So you spend more time with your guests.

4. How many weddings have you shot?

I lost count long ago. Probably somewhere approaching 1000. All I know is we have many filing cabinets of negatives and a huge Digital Archive.

5. If my wedding is outside of your area, do you charge a travel fee?

Generally, there is no additional fee for travel, except if the venue is in one of the far corners of Ireland, Donegal for example, and we have to stay overnight. We have photographed weddings in the UK, Europe and once in Hawaii! In those cases we charge for flights, accommodation and a nominal fee for our time travelling.

6. What time will you arrive and how long will you shoot?

Mostly we begin with the bridal preparations about 90 minutes before the ceremony and finish about the time of the call for dinner. But we are very flexible.

7. If my event lasts longer than expected, will you stay? Is there an additional charge?

We stay until approximately the call to dinner. No set time. No extra charge if dinner is late. Occasionally we are asked to stay or return after dinner for the first three dances or fireworks etc. There is an additional charge for this. Normally we take cake pictures before the meal and even mock dancing photographs if required.

8. How long after the wedding will I see my pictures?

Our target is for the photographs to be waiting for the bride when she returns from her holiday. Over 400 images are provided on a very cool USB card. These are fully edited. She is free to print and share the pictures with family, friends and her Facebook page.

9. What is the ordering process?

We ask the newly weds to select their favourite pictures for their Wedding Book. This list can be emailed to us, we then design their album. A copy of the design is sent to them for approval, any requested adjustments are made. And when they are completely satisfied, we then send the design to the maker in Italy to be printed and bound. Your Wedding Book will be ready in about 25 days.

10. Will you give me the digital images and is there a fee for this?

We include digital images with every wedding. These files print to about 10”x 8” and are not watermarked. If Hi-Resolution file sizes are required there is an additional charge. Permission to print and share these images is included. Copyright always remains with the photographer.

11. Can we have a shoot after the wedding day?

Yes. Sometimes called trash the dress or cherish the dress shoot etc. A fun photography session after the honeymoon, in a location around Wicklow such as the beach, Glendalough etc. Do things not possible on your wedding day. The dress deserves a second outing! For the bride, bride and groom, bride and bridesmaids; you choose.