Wednesday Feb 2nd. 2011 
Your budget is the most important element in your planning, setting the stage for every other decision you make. So it pays to set a firm number right away — and to stick to it, even when that entails making difficult decisions.
Who’s going to pay? How much can you comfortably afford? What are you going to shell out the big bucks for? How are you going to spend wisely?
Breaking Down the Budget
Whether you’re throwing a celebration that’s bare-bones or blowout, here’s how; I suggest dividing  up your budget. Just remember to include VAT and Service Charges in your calculations.
Reception (Venue, Food, Beverages, Rentals)
40 percent to 50 percent
Flowers
10 percent
Photography/Videography
10 percent
Bride’s and groom’s attire
5 percent to 10 percent
Music
5 percent to 10 percent
Planner or Coordinator- if you choose Horetown House of course, you will have your planner- coordinator on site included in your wedding package so this can be your contingency fund.
10 percent to 15 percent

Monday 21st. February 2011

Wedding Trends for this wedding season.

All Brides to be want to know about the latest trends, even if they don’t actaully want to use them for their own wedding.

This year is going to be a big year for vintage weddings.  Don’t worry, the cupcakes are still with us but now on vintage style cake stands with delicate lace effect cupcake cases.  The garden party is a really attractive way to spend the day after the wedding, when the happy couple can chill out, have a few drinks with family and friends and discuss the day before, no doubt hearing about things that they were totally unaware of.

Bunting, your granny’s tea sets, mismatched table arrangements, these are all the ways to introduce vintage into your wedding.  Marquee weddings are also going to be big this year and with the modern technology now available, the weather is not really a major concern anymore.  Heating is very effective and even if the weather is not great, between March and October, the climate here is never as fierce as it is between November and February, so fingers crossed for a great Summer this year and vintage tents, garden parties and BBQ;s galore.

Chat soon, - Kate - the wedding coordinator at your service in Horetown House

We specialise in bespoke weddings with a difference.  Your wedding at Horetown House is booked, planned and coordinated in full by me.  No stone is left unturned to ensure that your wedding is exactly what you hoped it for and more.

Weddings at Horetown House are a very special experience, based on, high quality personal service ,to ensure that you don’t have to worry about any of the details which will make your wedding day spectacular.  From the theming to the food, nothing is left to chance at Horetown House, I am at hand to coordinate on the day.

So, if you would like to come and view the property and chat about your wedding plans, just email me, Kate@Horetownhouse.ie

Also, take a look at various testimonials on the Tripadviser website, there is a button on our homepage which you can click on.

I would like to wish all our blog visitors a Happy and Peaceful Christmas and New Year.  All the best for now, Kate

Will be decorating the House for Christmas soon, have a wedding in the House  on New Year’s Eve, can’t wait for that, it will be fab, House is amazing for a Winter Wedding.

Update on the Marquee at Horetown House.  The marquee is being errected at the moment, but because of the snow, we have had to halt our progress, but once the snow has cleared, we will be full steam ahead to get this fabulous marquee ready for viewing for our 2011 and 2012 brides and grooms to view it.

The linings are on their way and once they have been installed we will be ready to decorate and fit out the interior of the marquee.  I will keep you all posted of developments.

I have also opened a Facebook page for Horetown House so keep checking this for pics etc. as things develop.

Also, great value wedding packages available for Winter and Mid Week from January 2011, for details phone Kate on 086 8315821 or email info@Horetownhouse.ie and I will get back to you asap with all the details.  Keep warm and safe in the snow, Kate

Great news for couples planning their weddings in 2011.  Due to increased interest, Horetown House are now the owners of their very own marquee.  What does this mean for couples?   Up to now we at Horetown House have been hiring our marquees, the cost of which we had to pass on to our couples.  No More.  Now we have bought our own and there will be NO extra cost for couples who want to have a wedding, with all their guests in one room, between the months of March and October. So get emailing to Kate@Horetownhouse.ie for details of this incredible package.

How To Include Everybody In Your Invitation List Without Breaking The Bank.

At Horetown House you can now have an intimate family and close friends wedding followed by a larger event to which you can invite your extended family and lots of friends.

Host a full 5 course dinner for bridal party, parents, witnesses and immediate family members in our luxurious dining room on the ground floor of the House (up to 30), to include Champagne & Canape Reception, Champagne Toast during Meal, half bottle of wine per guest with meal, followed by a Buffet or BBQ later in the evening or the following day.

Buffet/BBQ  100 guests.

Accommodation  in all 10 bedrooms in the House on a B&B basis on night of wedding, which gives you exclusive use of the House.

All of the above for under €10,000

For further details call Kate on 051 565633 or email Kate@Horetownhouse.ie

This price includes the complimentary items in our Wedding Package plus the following;
* Bubbly on arrival for all your guests.
* Canapés on arrival for a all your guests.
* Complimentary Tea/Coffee & biscuits on arrival for all your guests.
* Choice from any of the items on our Seasonal Menus. 2 choices per course.
* A bottle of wine between two people during the meal.
* A glass of bubbly per person to toast the bride & groom.
* Light evening food for all your reception guests - hot & cold choice, tea/coffee.
The Costs for the above package are  Friday’s & Saturday’s €105 pp, Thursday’s & Sunday’s €95 pp, Mondays, Tuesdays & Wednesdays €80 pp.

For ALL Weddings in January, February or March, April, November 2010 we are offering the Special €80  per person rate for all days.  Minimum numbers apply to this offer.

Special Accommodation rates available.

Being involved in the hospitality industry now for a number of years I have to say that having had a little time over the Christmas period to go out to dinner, my opinion on dining out since the demise of the Celtic Tiger has been once again confirmed.  Due to the efforts on the part of restaurants of all styles to reduce their prices in an effort to improve turnover, the standard of both food and service have deteriorated significantly.  I anticipate that probably by the end of 2010, there  will not be much choice left for the more discerning client who actually knows good food and good service when met by either.  This is as a result of the demands of the undiscerning masses calling the shots and forcing establishments to compromise in an effort to remain open.  The public in general are demanding both high quality food and service but are refusing to pay for either.  If the hospitality suppliers have to cut prices to stay open, they have to cut costs to do so and a large number are cutting on both the quality of the ingredients they are sourcing and the quality of staff they can provide, particularly in the numbers of staff.  I have found over the run up to Christmas, that people expect the same prices where ever they go to eat.  Therefore, at Horetown House, we find ourselves being compared, our price, to establishments who are offering a totally different product.    If anyone has any thoughts on this I would love to hear them. Kate

2010 Has Arrived

Having had another very successful wedding at Horetown House on New Year’s Eve and getting further feedback from the Bride & Groom, I think I will find it easier to put together my top 10 tips for a successful wedding at Horetown House.

1.  Choose the venue that ticks most of the boxes for Bride & Groom.

2.  Don’t scrimp on the things that are most important to you both.

3.  Be confident in your venue, staff and wedding coordinator.

4.  Don’t be afraid to have a list from which you and your venue can work.

5.  Be flexible with your day, everything will not go exactly as you planned but if you work with the people around you it will be perfect.

6.  more to come later, some feedback would be great.