Lough Eske Castle Weddings

Lough Eske Castle Donegal

The Castle’s experienced wedding team will help you plan every aspect of your special day down to the very last detail. We pride ourselves on our extremely high standards of service and our aim is to create the most memorable day of your life.

An enchanting, majestic, fairytale setting with plenty of opportunities to capture unique wedding photos

Licensed to hold Civil Marriage Ceremonies

Dining facilities that cater for up to 280 guests with food prepared by Donegal’s award winning and Michelin trained Executive Chef, Philipp Ferber

8 treatment rooms in our award winning spa for pre and post wedding pampering

96 luxurious 5 star guestrooms and suites including the two bedroom presidential suite, voted the world’s best Luxury Country Hotel 2009 and 2010

A choice of stunning rooms in which to hold a civil marriage ceremony, each with its own character and beauty

A dedicated wedding planner to guide you through all your requirements

Wedding packages tailored to suit your needs and budget

Please call our team today on +353 (0)7497 25100. We would be delighted to discuss your requirements in more detail and will be fully committed to making your memorable day extra special.

2011, 2010 and 2009 winner of the World’s Best Luxury Country Hotel

Ireland Wedding Venue of the Year 2010 & 2011

Castle Venue of the Year 2009

Click here to view Lough Eske Castle’s Gorgeous Wedding Brochure

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Getting Married in France

Getting married in a chateaux in France sounds very romantic and is very romantic. However it does have its complications. There is a manditory 40 day residency requirement prior to the wedding so this often makes couples look to other countries for their dream wedding.  Only civil weddings are legally recognised in France, so religious ceremonies have no legal standing. If you want to marry in a French church then you will also have to go through a civil ceremony at another venue. A lot of couples consider having a civil marriage at home and then a religious wedding in France.

However if your heart is set on France as the country you want to start your married life in well this is what you need to know:

At least one of the partners to be married must reside in the place where the wedding will take place for at least 40 days immediately prior to the wedding. One or both of you must reside in the departement (district) or the arrondissement (if in Paris) for at least 30 days prior to the marriage. Following these 30 days, French law requires the publication of the marriage banns at the Mairie (Town Hall) for 10 days. Thus 40 days is the minimum period of residence before a civil ceremony can take place.

Non French nationals must provide the following before the banns can be published:

1. A pre-marital certificate, which is obtained at the Mairie (town hall) where the wedding will take place.
2. A certified birth certificate issued less than six months prior to the date of the marriage
3. A passport (carte de séjour)
4. A certificate of residence (provided by your embassy)
5. A prenuptial certificate of health (certificat d’examen médical prénuptial) issued less than two months prior to the date of the marriage by a medical doctor after: serological tests for syphilis, irregular anti-bodies, rubella and toxoplasma. It is possible to have these tests done in France.
6. If you have married previously, a certified copy of the death certificate of the deceased spouse or a certified copy of the final divorce decree
7. A notarised “Affidavit of Law” (Certificat de Coutume), drawn up by a solicitor in the state of residence of the parties, stating that: the person is free to marry, and the marriage performed in France will be recognized as valid in the home country.
8. A personal certificate of celibacy (provided by your embassy)
9. The documents must be translated into French. The translations and the original document must be verified by the French Consulate General (vérification de traduction).
10. Foreign documents must be legalized prior to being given to the French authorities. Obtaining an Apostille can legalize documents.
11. On arrival in France, you should contact the Mairie to see if any other documents are required.

A minimum of four weeks may be needed to complete the necessary documentation and to reserve the wedding date and location. The Wedding Planners Castle Guide 2009 features a number of chateaux’s available for weddings.

A Destination Wedding

The Wedding Planner in Ireland advises: A destination wedding isn’t a destination wedding unless you’re off to somewhere exotic and remote. You might pick a tropical island like Mauritius or somewhere in the Caribbean. Perhaps a mountain top in South Africa, a castle in the heart of Scotland or the rainforests of Australia are more your thing you. This is your dream, pick exactly what you want. 

Realize that the farther that you go, the less people will want to or be able to come with you. And this might be exactly what you’re looking for – just a simple wedding with you and your soon-to-be spouse.  In either case, you will still want to send out announcements of your wedding date so that your friends and family will know. In many cases, you can get married at the destination wedding, and then have a party more than a reception when you get home. Why these are popular Destination weddings take away a lot of the traditional planning of the traditional wedding. There aren’t the crowds of people to meet and greet. There aren’t the floral and cake and decoration meetings. In most cases, these resorts will do everything for you so you get to relax and enjoy your day. 

The pictures that you will have from your wedding can be in stunning locations and very unlike anything that they could have created in their own country. A move toward ancient culture tradition is also in vogue. Many couples are being married by the native priests and ministers in the traditional ways of the tribes that live there.

In Hawaii, you can be married in the Polynesian tradition, with a hula dance, in Ireland a priest can do the old tradition of tying the couple’s hands together – where the saying ‘to tie the knot’ came from. Being able to invite only those people that you love is a great way to enter into married life together. The settings are intimate and private, so you can just enjoy each other. 

Destination weddings can be expensive weddings for your family to attend, so you may want to turn on a video camera when the actual vows are exchanged. Then go on your honeymoon, enjoy yourself, and go back home to celebrate with your family. 

The Wedding Planner can organise weddings and honeymoons in over 4,000 locations in over 40 different countries.

Weddings in Belle Isle Castle, Ireland

Hidden away on an island at the heart of Northern Ireland’s Fermanagh Lakelands, Belle Isle Castle hosts small civil wedding ceremonies and receptions for up to 40 guests. The 17th century Belle Isle Castle sits at the heart of a unique 470 acre estate spread over eight islands in County Fermanagh.

The Castle is licensed to hold civil ceremonies and couples can choose
to marry in three locations – the hall, the drawing room or the garden. Anyone wishing to hold a civil ceremony at Belle Isle Castle must use one of the local registrars to perform the ceremony.

All wedding parties at Belle Isle must book the Castle accommodation for a minimum of three nights. The Castle can accommodate up to 14 people in eight bedrooms. Additional guests can stay in the nearby coach house and courtyard apartments or one of the estate cottages.

This castle along with 100 other international castles worldwide which can be booked for weddings feature in ‘The Wedding Planner’s Guide to Castle Weddings’ which is available from mid March 2008 through www.weddingplanner.ie.

Wedding in Dublin Castle

If planning a large or small wedding in Ireland consider Clontarf Castle. Located in Dublin’s Northside suburbs, Clontarf Castle Hotel is part of a privately owned Irish collection of hotels. With turrets, tapestries and an ancient history, the thick castle walls conceal a hotel interior that recently went under a €10 million makeover. The magnificent Great Hall is situated on the ground floor and offers floods of natural daylight. The Hall has capacity for up to 450 banquet guests. The castle has an exclusive wedding package but also honeymoon packages. As part of Clontarf’s Wedding Package, Bride and Groom can enjoy a complimentary four- poster bedroom for the night of their special day.  The castle has 111 guest rooms and suites, many with four-poster beds and views of the Dublin Mountains.This castle along with 100 other international castles worldwide which can be booked for weddings feature in ‘The Wedding Planner’s Guide to Castle Weddings’ which is available from mid March 2008 through www.weddingplanner.ie.

Castle Island Wedding

Waterford Castle Hotel Golf and Country Club is situated on a private 310-acre island just outside Waterford city (Ireland) and the castle dates from 16^th century. Waterford Castle can be booked for weddings on an exclusive use basis only.

The castle has its own wedding co-ordinator and offers individually tailored menus. The castle has19 bedrooms. Each of the five suites has a private sitting room and 14 deluxe bedrooms are en-suite twins and double/kings. 

This castle along with over 100 other international castles worldwide which can be booked for weddings feature in ‘The Wedding Planner’s Guide to Castle Weddings’ which is available from mid March 2008 through www.weddingplanner.ie.  

Flying Wedding Rings!

This something very different I came across. For wedding couples, Auchen Castle in Scotland can provide a bird of prey from its own falconry centre to deliver the couple’s wedding rings in the gardens. The bird will swoop down from the top of the castle carrying a velvet bag containing the wedding rings on command in front of friends and family!

Auchen Castle Hotel is a Scottish Tourist Board Four Star castle. The castle can be hired exclusively and helicopter transfers to Glasgow or Edinburgh can be arranged for wedding guests. Both civil and religious ceremonies can be hosted at Auchen Castle – This beautiful Scottish Castle is one of the 120 featured castles in my book ‘The Wedding Planner’s Guide To Castle Weddings Around the World’ which is available from March 2008 through www.weddingplanner.ie

Amalfi Coast Wedding

Palazzo Belmonte

I recently found a real hidden gem of a location for a stunning wedding abroad. Located in the Amalfi coast (Italy), Palazzo Belmonte and Villa Belmonte is a popular destination for honeymooners looking for a private retreat.

 Located in the mediaeval village of Castellabate, the castle has been for centuries the chosen hunting destination for kings of Spain and Italy. A prince (Principe di Belmonte) currently lives in a private wing of the palace, so you can truly have a royal wedding here! The castle has a private beach, as well as swimming pool and 5 acres of parkland and gardens. The palace has an exclusive family chapel, available for wedding ceremonies. Belmonte is ideal for private events of 40 to 50 people. The restaurant is located at the end of the garden, overlooking the Mediterranean Sea.  There are 22 apartments and suites in the original palazzo, with additional accommodation available in the adjoining Edoardo’s house and Villa Belmonte.  Contact me to help arrange your wedding here through my website http://www.weddingplanner.ie.

Selecting Your Reception Venue

Selecting a reception site will depend on its availability, price, location to the wedding ceremony site and its capacity.Having your ceremony and reception in the same location can save you money and stress and is now possible in Ireland if you wish to have a civil ceremony. One of the most important factors to consider is capacity. If you can’t seat all you guest, it doesn’t matter how much you want a location. Only visit sites that can accommodate the number of guest you plan to invite. You should also be flexible when determining your wedding date.

The venue you like may already be booked for your date, but you may be able to secure it for following week. If you really like the site, it may be worth the wait? Find out how they charge for their services. Most hotels and restaurants charge per person where a flat fee is charged for each guest, including food, beverages, tables, chairs, linens, etc. Other venues such as clubhouses, parks charge you based on a period of time.

Free Dinner at Castle Venlaw!

The Wedding Planner advises: Anyone looking for a castle for an intimate wedding in Scotland should check out Castle Venlaw Hotel  in Peebles, close to Edinburgh, Scotland this month.

 The castle is situated in four acres of lawned and wooded grounds within the Royal Burgh of Peebles. The town centre is only three minutes away by car and only fifteen by foot. Edinburgh is about a 45 minute drive. The castle is easily located off the main Edinburgh to Peebles road. The castle is listed in the Good Hotel Guide 2004, recommended by Condé Nast Johansens, rated 4 stars by VisitScotland and 3 stars by the AA. The AA has also awarded the castle’s restaurant two rosettes in recognition of the quality of its cuisine. It has 12 en-suite bedrooms, most of which are particularly large with spectacular views across Peebles and the countryside beyond. The Glenturret Suite, with its super-king bed and separate sitting room, is an ideal retreat for the bride and groom, as is the Glenkinchie Suite which also boasts 2 bathrooms and the romance of a four-poster bed. The restaurant comfortably seats 35 guests in an elegant setting of period features such as a magnificent fireplace and elaborate plaster ceilings and cornices.

Throughout the month of January 2008, if you stay any night from Sunday to Thursday, the castle will offer a dinner inclusive deal when a booking is made on any of the bed and breakfast rates. This offer is subject to availability and does not apply to existing bookings.

For further information, e-mail info@weddingplanner.ie or if you are reading this AFTER March 2008 visit my website www.weddingplanner.ie  as we’ll have launched our ebook ‘The Wedding Planner’s Guide to Castle Weddings 2008’ by then which you can buy!!