By Barry Coughlan
Planning weddings should be a fun experience but it’s not always the case, and many a marriage has been derailed through the stress and arguments created in organizing such a big occasion in the lives of loved-up couples.
The Irish Holiday World Show takes place over the coming weekend in the RDS (Simmonscourt) in leafy Ballsbridge, Dublin, and those interested in wedding planning, amongst a host of other holiday opportunities, can find inspiration from a huge number of exhibitors.
It’s almost always advantageous to put at least some of the wedding plans into the hands of the professionals, whilst obviously keeping a close control of requirements and budgets.
Almost 1,000 of those travel industry professionals from Ireland, Europe, the USA and other parts of the world will be on hand between Friday and Sunday of this week (January 27-29), and some at least will be helping people plan a dream wedding with insider advice on the best destinations and resorts.
The Irish Travel Trade is now reaping the benefits of a business rebound after having to batten down the hatches and hang in during the inactive years of the Covid pandemic, when business was devastated and overseas travel virtually impossible for everyone.
Holiday World will be flooded by Irish Tourism interests covering each and every county and featuring hotels and resorts throughout the land.
All will be vying for business of different types, but weddings is big business and we’ll start with Ireland in listing just some of the great places to have a wedding or, indeed, just romantic spaces to pop the question.
Here are some of the tips suggested by Tourism Ireland, particularly related to Valentine’s Day proposals.
At the edge of the world
The Cliffs of Moher are one of the great sights of Ireland’s Wild Atlantic Way. Visit as the sun sets when the changing light imbues the rock with pink and orange hues and the crashing waves provide a dramatic soundtrack.
In a fairy-tale setting
A splendid Palladian mansion surrounded by gorgeous, landscaped gardens that feature Ireland’s highest waterfall, Powerscourt Estate in Wicklow is indeed a fairy-tale location. It recently provided the backdrop for Disney’s new movie Disenchanted and the Powerscourt Waterfall has witnessed many marriage proposals.
In the home of the Claddagh ring
The Claddagh ring, which shows two hands holding a heart that wears a crown, is the quintessential Irish symbol of love and friendship. Thomas Dillon’s in Galway city are the original makers of the Claddagh ring and the oldest jewellers in Ireland. A shop for the engagement ring?
On an epic voyage
Bring a little drama into your proposal by recreating the famous Jack and Rose pose from the film Titanic at the world’s leading Titanic exhibition. Multi-award-winning Titanic Belfast tells the story of the building, the launch and sinking of the famous liner over nine amazing interactive galleries.
On a golden beach
Beautiful golden beaches abound around the island of Ireland. From Downhill Beach on the famous Causeway Coast in Northern Ireland to Inchydoney in County Cork in the south, there are hundreds of wave-lapped beaches that are the ideal spot for a romantic stroll after a down on one knee moment, and a special memory.
At a monument to love
Kylemore Abbey in County Galway is, arguably, Ireland’s most romantic building. The splendid neo-Gothic building was built in the late 1800s by Mitchell Henry as a token of love for his wife, making it an inspirational place for a proposal.
In a royal residence
What better way to surprise your princess or prince at Northern Ireland’s royal residence? Beautiful inside and out, Hillsborough Castle and Gardens offers plenty of opportunities whilst exploring the house and gardens to find a majestic place to pop the question.
At a sacred place
The Hill of Tara was once the seat of the High Kings of Ireland. It’s Ireland’s most sacred space and it’s believed to be a dwelling place of the gods and an entrance to the world of eternal joy. It’s a fascinating place to explore and could be another fitting place for a proposal.
Check out all these options at www.ireland.com.
Proposal, wedding or honeymoon options don’t stop in Ireland, however, and many couples adjourn to foreign destinations to enjoy all of the glitz and glamor associated with proposals or the actual weddings.
Visitors to Holiday World will be able to get information on the following and much more this weekend. Here are just a few suggestions.
Malta
The tiny Mediterranean island of Malta is a big contender as the perfect wedding destination. With a pleasant climate, idyllic scenery and English-speaking population, it’s no wonder that it has an outstanding reputation and it has over 300 days of sun!
Caribbean Islands
With powder white sands, turquoise seas, a backdrop of blue skies and swaying coconut palms, the Caribbean Islands are the perfect location for a memorable destination wedding. This diverse group of islands has something to suit every taste!
Enjoy complete privacy for a small intimate wedding by hiring out a segment of the beach, or host all of your friends and family one of the many luxurious mega-resorts. With exhibitors from Barbados, Cuba and Jamaica there are plenty of Caribbean options for couples to choose from.
Canary Islands
Sun, volcanic scenery and natural untouched beaches are a perfect backdrop for wedding and honeymoon. Whether it is Tenerife, Fuerteventura, Lanzarote or all of the Canary Islands, plan the perfect ceremony at the Holiday World Show.
Cyprus
Cyprus, the birthplace of beautiful Aphrodite, the Ancient Greek Goddess of Love is an ideal wedding and honeymoon location. The idyllic and picturesque beaches are certified as among the cleanest in Europe, with the crystal-clear waters of the coast unfolding towards the pine-clad Troodos Mountain Range.
Thailand
From the ornate palaces to the rich coral reefs and glorious wildlife, Thailand is a memorable destination to celebrate your special day. Vibrant nightlife and beach parties make it a great spot for a honeymoon.
Take a trip to the Northwest for wildlife and visit the cosmopolitan city of Bangkok, before heading south to the beautiful beaches, crystal-clear waters and luxury resorts of the island wedding destinations of Phuket and Koh Samui. There are many, many, more island options to be explored too.
Spain
Home to paella, sangria and some seriously incredible wedding venues is the fabulous Spain.
From ancient cathedrals to picture-perfect beaches, the potential a Spanish wedding has is beyond imagination. It could be a city wedding in Barcelona, a countryside celebration in the beautiful Basque Country or a laid-back ceremony on the beach.
For all of that, most Irish people do stay at home to get married and, again, there are options of all types to keep them there.
Irish weddings do tend to be a party and these days the trend is for the celebration to go on over a couple of days. Beach and warm-weather destinations are great, but home is where the heart is – in general – and hotels/resorts, pubs and clubs, even village halls or sports clubs throughout the land of 32 counties will provide the backdrop to a perfect day of ceol agus craic, laughter and love on the biggest day in anyone’s lives. Ultimately, it’s whatever the happy couples’ require!
Meanwhile, this year’s Holiday World will be a celebration of the re-birth of travel normality after the last few difficult years.
Maria Hourican, CEO of Business Exhibitions, organizer of the Holiday World Show, commented: “We are really looking forward to showcasing all of the wonderful wedding and honeymoon destinations and the wider availability to travel the world in 2023.”
Discover more by visiting holidayworldshow.com.