Photo by Samantha Gades on Unsplash Our bride-to-be is looking forward to her soon-ish wedding, after two-ish years of planning. Unfortunately, her sister just got engaged to a new partner and has said that she’d like to have her wedding around the same time as our bride-to-be’s wedding. Our bride thinks this is a dick move, the family thinks it’s a dick move, but they aren’t sure how to sort it out. The bride is worried that anything she says will be taken as a criticism of her sister’s new partner, or of the new relationship overall. She also wasn’t sure if she was being a “bridezilla” and ..read more

Not looking forward to your first dance? You’re not alone! Lots of couples dread dancing with an audience. If it’s stressing you out a lot, read on. There are a few different things you can do to minimise the cringe and ensure your first dance as a married couple goes smoothly. via By Qay Don’t Have a First Dance I’ve spoken with men and women who dread their own wedding because of the first dance, or the speeches, or walking up the aisle. If that’s you, I have some great news – you don’t have to do anything you don’t want to. Dancing truly isn’t your thing? Skip it! Tell your gang that you ..read more

Ireland does honeymoon destinations very well. We’re spoiled for choice when it comes to luxury hotels and spas, plus there are tonnes of alternative honeymoon destinations too. From haunted houses to private pubs, today’s post, in collaboration with with Chill Insurance, brings you some of the most unique honeymoon spots in Ireland. Secluded Island Break Though none of them could be described as bustling, Inis Meáin is the most quiet of the Aran Islands. However, that seclusion doesn’t mean you’ll have to forgo luxury. Inis Meáin Restaurant and Suites is a secluded boutique hotel that’s caug ..read more

Probably the biggest decision you’ll make for your wedding is where to have it. If you’re viewing or contacting wedding venues around around Ireland at the minute, this handy cheat sheet of questions to ask before you book will ensure you feel as prepared as possible. via Emma-Jane Photography What’s included in the package? Once you know what the venue charge, find out exactly what they’re charging for. Some venues have packages that include decor, food and entertainment. Others cover only the hire of the venue itself. Is your venue accessible? People who use wheelchairs or who have limited m ..read more

Lots of bridal designers include one or two short wedding dresses in their collections, but there are just a few that really, truly excel in the little white dress department. Here’s a steer in the right direction if you’re hoping to find a wedding dress that’s tea-length, above the knee or even shorter. via Paul Santos Photography Delphine Manivet I think one of the most-liked dresses I ever shared on the Only a Wedding Instagram page was a Delphine Manivet design. Her short wedding dresses are always super chic and striking, with clean lines and lots of volume. Shop the range at Kadee Bride ..read more

Food trucks can work well at any type of wedding. Whether you’re keeping it low key and having a pizza reception, or you just fancy some extra tea and scones, there are tonnes of options. Today’s post looks at eight cool food truck styles, from pizza to prosecco. via Emily Hannah Photography Eddie Rocket’s Wedding Food Truck Mad as I am about Oreo milkshakes and fries, I didn’t know Eddie Rocket’s did weddings until recently. It was too late to book for my own wedding at that stage, and, while I’m sure it’ll probably be legally binding without the burgers, I would have LOVED to see everyone’s ..read more

You know the drill. Our bride-to-be spending diaries detail the outgoings of gals who are planning their weddings. Email lorraine@onlyawedding.ie if you’d like to submit yours. This money diary is a sequel – Lorna reported her wedding-planning costs back in January. Will she be as frugal this time? Day One 6:30am We (me + himself) adopted a dog, so we’ve both arranged to be home as much as we can for a couple of weeks. We’re able to work from home anyway, and we haven’t been able to travel much in the last two years, so annual leave abounds. We’re up early house training the dog, who we’ll cal ..read more

*affiliate link It’s tough to know what you should budget for your wedding dress, but we’re hoping to make the process a little easier! We’ve listed what you can expect to pay for wedding dresses in Ireland, from budget options to luxury gowns. via Love and Wolves Photography High Street Wedding Dress Prices… High street bands like French Connection, ASOS* and Dorothy Perkins have bridal collections that range from about €100 to €600. Move quick when these seasonal collections come online; budget-savvy brides tend snap these launches up very quickly. Most high street brands won’t restock their ..read more

Today’s post brings us out from behind the desk and into a fitting room. Lorraine headed to Wed2B in Dublin, Ireland to check out their budget-friendly wedding dresses, and she brought you along with her. Sorta. Scroll down for the full Wed2B experience! via Dan Hough Photography Hello! The crowd that did Meghan Markle’s wedding frock hasn’t gotten in touch to dress me for my big day, which is weird, but there’s no time to sort out this mix-up. I headed along to Wed2B and, as it’s a little different to bridal boutiques, thought I’d share the experience. The Price Speaking of difference, the pr ..read more

Following on from our post on how much wedding makeup costs in Ireland, we’ve got the deets on when you need to book a bridal makeup artist and hairstylist. We’ve broken every option down into its pros and cons, with tips from brides who’ve been there and seasoned beauty industry experts too. via Emily and Steve Photography The Prime Date | 1 year + Wedding hair and makeup artists are more in demand on some dates than they are on others. There’ll be more competition for peak wedding-season dates like summer bank holidays than there will for mid-week winter bookings. So, if you’re hoping to get ..read more