How did you and your husband meet?
We had our first date in Cafe Nero, Belfast, and the rest is history.
How was the proposal?
During a stay at Redcastle Hotel, we spotted a flyer for Carlisle Bay, their sister property in Antigua. At that time we had flights booked for a Caribbean holiday to Antigua and Dominica, but did not have accommodation in Antigua organised as yet. When I saw the flyer I knew we had to go to Carlisle Bay, and Kenny knew that it was where he would propose (he told me that afterwards).So we went there and, on our first year anniversary, Kenny surprised me by booking a private meal-for-two on the jetty at Carlisle Bay. At the end of the meal he proposed.
Was wedding planning difficult? What challenges did you find and how did the Wedding team help solve them?
I found making the table plan challenging, especially as the RSVPs changed right up to the wedding week and it meant the table plan needed to change on a number of occasions. The Redcastle wedding team assisted with table planning by providing a graphic with numbered pictures – this helped us to visualise the room and who was sitting where. Also at Redcastle the table sizes vary to seat 8-12 people, so that made life easier for us.As with any wedding our guests had a range of dietary requirements, from coeliac to vegan and vegetarian – and the venue catered for them readily and effortlessly.Plus we were really pleased that room décor was included in the standard package and the venue looked amazing on the day.
Why did you choose to get married when you did?
We were engaged for nine months before we got married. I suggested an autumn wedding, Kenny suggested a summer wedding. Neither of us wanted winter – and so spring it was!
What did you find to be the most challenging part of the wedding planning process?
The jobs to be done weren’t difficult, we just had a lot of them. It was time consuming.
What was the first thing you planned?
The venue and chapel were booked first.
What were you looking for in a venue?
I guess I was looking for something different, a venue that my guests would love, and I had had heard positive things about the hotel. When Kenny and I visited The Redcastle Hotel for a consultation with Aisleen, we were so impressed by the reception drinks area and dining room, the setting and gorgeous views, the comprehensive package, the bridal suite, and how helpful Aisleen and the team were; they were so keen to accommodate us and tailored the package to suit our wishes.
Tell us about the Wedding Day; what do you remember the most?
I remember it as being such a happy day; our family, our friends, and we had such a brilliant time. The Redcastle Hotel looked elegant, and we had a fun, relaxed day. Everything went to plan and we have so many happy memories – what more could you ask for?
Where you nervous or worried on the day?
I began to feel nervous on the drive from my home to the chapel, but I had a word with myself and was fine then.I wasn’t worried about the wedding reception as I knew we were in very capable hands with the Redcastle team. They are experienced professionals and so everything went according to plan.
What was your favourite part of hosting your wedding reception at The Redcastle Hotel?
Since we got married, so many of our guests have told us that they had a brilliant time at our wedding, they have complimented the food, service, view, facilities and staff at The Redcastle Hotel. We are delighted that our guests had a fantastic time.
What advice or tips would you give to engaged couples regarding wedding planning?
Manage your time. I made a (really) long to-do list and aimed to tick of some of those jobs each week. In doing so, you are avoiding stress. It may seem odd to make up a bathroom toiletries basket three months before the wedding day – but you will be very grateful for it when your wedding approaches.
You can get married in as little a time as you choose (taking into account the 3-month legal requirement), anything is possible. We got engaged in June and didn’t start organising the wedding until August when we booked the Redcastle Hotel, so we planned our day in 6 or 7 months and I could have organised it in less time should Kenny have been mad keen to get up the aisle!
What were your absolute “must-haves” when it came to the wedding?
We both wanted an amazing venue, I was really particular about choosing the best wedding photographer (Tom from We Are Heroes – who was amazing), and of course the wedding dress was extremely important to me.Venue must-haves included accessibility; it was important that the venue that was close to a chapel, and was easy for our guests to locate and travel to. We wanted a venue that looked elegant, sophisticated and stylish – Redcastle ticked those boxes. Plus the package we opted for offered really good value for money. Without doubt, we made the right choice; from the attention to detail, to the high standard of customer service, and top quality food – we couldn’t have asked for more.