I had the pleasure of listening to a great wedding band recently. It’s not often I would recommend a band as it’s hard to be a crowd pleaser which is what people want but I think these guys have the mix just right. Everything is covered - hits from the 60’s to the present with an Irish twist, Reels, drum’n'bass Kerry Polkas, Waltzes and Foxtrots. Whether you are Irish or coming from abroad, you will love it.

They can also cover ceremony music, the drinks reception and of course the DJ. You can choose your own music or use their own repertoire but either way, they really can get the crowd going. To discuss your needs, speak to Barry McGrath:

+353 85 157 3000
+353 76 670 9911
barry_s_mcgrath@hotmail.com
www.myspace.com/barrymcgrath

The biggest expense of your wedding is the most important to get right, so it’s important to choose a venue that will give your day the attention it deserves. The Kenmare Bay Hotel and Resort in Kenmare, Co Kerry has established itself as one of the top venues in the south west for weddings.

Sue Ryan is the Sales Manager. I’ve asked Sue to come up with the five things main considerations when booking a wedding venue:

1. Can it comfortably take your number of guests? Don’t necessarily believe the blurb about capacity – go and check the venue out for yourself and, if possible, see it set up for a wedding the approximate size of your wedding

2. Is the wedding team at the hotel friendly and accommodating and interested in you and your wedding? Talk to the wedding team, phone them, e mail them – see how they respond to you and your queries.

3. Does the hotel have a good reputation for wedding food? If possible, speak to brides who have had their receptions there or make your own enquiries about previous weddings

4. Can the venue accommodate all of your guests who wish to stay overnight? It’s good to keep the wedding party altogether if possible, so check out the accommodation situation for your wedding.

5. Does the venue have many weddings booked there? If so, you know you’ve picked a good one!

The hotel itself boasts a newly refurbished Banqueting Suite which can cater for up to 350 guests. The Suite can also be partitioned into 2 smaller rooms for a more intimate setting for less numbers. The room is beautifully appointed, affording fantastic views of the Kerry mountains. lt has a strong reputation for hosting weddings based on feedback from Brides and Grooms consistently makes mention of the excellent food and service, and the friendly staff who go out of their way to make your wedding special.

All wedding guests have the option of staying in the Superior bedrooms, holiday homes or luxury lodges. There’s complimentary use of the Leisure Centre, which comprises a 20m swimming pool, gym, Jacuzzi, sauna, steam room and Renew Beauty Centre. As for the town itself, Kenmare has a great feel to it and is a great weekend getaway destination with several restaurants, pubs, cafes and plenty of live music, so it is always popular with guests.

Personally I love shooting in and around the town. There is plenty of variety and interesting areas to photograph couples in. It also makes my day much easier when I know I’m dealing with really professional staff that have huge experience in weddings.

To get hold of their wedding brochure, please contact Sue on 064 41300 or sue@kenmarebayhotel.com
www.kenmarebayhotel.com

I’m always asked to recommend somone for video.  It seems to have lost popularity a bit but to be fair, there are some slick operators around these days that turn out decent work. Gone are the days of lighting up your alter like a studio set (well nearly…) and burning a hole in the back of your head with a hunting lamp.

With modern equipment and software, there is a better take on things and for those with the required skill, the editing afterwards can yield great results. Here are three I can recommend (in no particular order):

Leon Costello  www.leoncostello.com

Maurice O’ Carroll www.velvetineproductions.com

Thady Kavanagh www.filmcompanyofireland.com

Here’s Leon in action - sniper in the grass…

I’m starting a new “series” of little snippets on local and national wedding suppliers. If you are planning your wedding, you will hopefully gain some useful tips and insights from these popular and successful trade insiders.

First up is Kerry based make up artist, Kathryn O’ Neill. I’ve worked with her on a number of occasions and everybody always seems to be very pleased with the results.

Quickly establishing a great reputation, Kathryn is one of only three Irish artists chosen to be part of the prestigious Daniel Sandler make up team. Daniel Sandler is one of the UK’s leading make up artists. His work appears regularly in glossies such as Marie Claire, Vogue, Grazia and Elle. He has a long list of celebrity clients and an award winning make up range which was voted “must have” for 2008 by American Vogue.

Here is an article prepared by Kathryn which you will hopefully find useful:

Make up for your Big Day

The key to perfect bridal make up is to look like yourself , just better!
Beautiful, fresh and glowing is how every bride wants to look on her wedding day. Whether you do it yourself or enlist the services of a make up artist, preparation is the key to looking fabulous.
The first step is to prepare the skin. Start having regular facials at least six months before the big day. This will ensure that your skin is in great condition and is a wonderfully relaxing treat at a potentially stressful time.
At home, cleanse, tone and moisturise morning and evening, and exfoliate and use a mask once a week. Drink two litres of water daily, and eat a balanced diet. Follow this routine in the months coming up to the wedding, and the reward will be glowing radiant skin.

FLAWLESS BASE

Begin with clean moisturised skin. Prepare the skin using a primer such as Daniel Sandler retexturising primer to mattify the skin, ease out any fine lines and fill in any open pores. This creates a smooth surface for the foundation.Use a long lasting sheer foundation, such as Daniel Sandler Perfect Canvas to even out the skin tone. Foundation should match the skin tone exactly. Apply with a foundation brush for a flawless finish, starting in the centre of the face and working outwards. Use concealer where necessary to cover blemishes. A lighter shade is needed under the eyes to cover dark circles, and finish with a fine loose powder to set your foundation ensuring it lasts all day.

PERFECT EYES

Before the big day have your eyebrows shaped professionally. Before you apply eyeshadow dust the lids with a loose powder to prevent the shadow from creasing. Taupes, browns and shades of peach look great on most brides , giving definition without being too dramatic.. Define the lash line with brown eyeliner or matte brown shadow applied with an eyeliner brush. Brush the brows into place and use an angled brow brush to fill in any gaps with brow powder .
Eyelash curlers are an invaluable tool. I am never without mine! Curl the lashes then Apply three coats of glossy waterproof mascara, in case there are a few tears on the day.

BLUSHING BRIDE

Blusher really brings the look together.A liquid blush such as Daniel Sandler watercolour in cherub brings radiance to the face. Just smile and apply to the apples of the cheeks. To finish the look use a highlighter along the brow bone extending it down towards the temples and cheekbones. Blend well.
Prep the lips with lip balm, then line the lips filling in the entire lip to ensure long lasting colour. Finish with lipgloss or lipstick, whichever you prefer. Try Daniel Sandler Line n’Laquer an ingenious little product – lipgloss with matching lipliner in the lid.

CLASSES

I also give individual or group make up lessons in the comfort of your own home, passing on the secrets of make up artists and teaching you simple techniques for natural daytime looks or glamming it up for those special occasions!

Kathryn can be contacted on 087 7625800
email Kathryn.oneill@danielsandler.com
www.danielsandler.com