Wedding Speeches your way!
Just filmed 2 wonderful wedding videos in Kilkenny last week-end, both quite local to me. Nicola Gleeson from Killenaule, just a few kms from Cashel, was married to John Cleere, also from Killenaule, in Moyglass Church and the reception was held in the Kilkenny Ormonde Hote. The next day I was in Kilkenny city itself with Kelly and Brandon and their church was St Mary’s Cathedral in the heart of Kilkenny city with reception in Langtons Hotel Kilkenny. This year I am booked for a large amount of wedding videos in the Killenaule and Mullinahone areas with Kilkenny and Tipperary being my main wedding video catchment area. I will also be back to film another wedding in Moyglass / Killenaule this Friday!
At both of these weddings the speeches were held before the meal and I have noticed of late this trend is getting more common. I understand with hotels they have to keep the meal hot while the wedding speeches are being conducted, but from feedback from couples 70% now want their speeches before the meal. This way all involved in the speaking can relalx and enjoy their meal knowing it’s done and dusted! It’s a great idea for people that are not used to public speaking. Of course from the hotel’s side of things this can be a nightmare! The bride and groom tell the hotel they will only be 15 minutes but I have see this 15 mins drag on to an hour! The poor chef is doing his best to stop the veg from sticking to the pans, so i can understand why the hotels frown on this! If your speeches are going to be before the meal tell the hotel this and stay to an agreed time-frame – this way your guests won’t be eating cold food and all will be happy.
The traditional scenario of having the speeches after the meal is fine as well, but think of the groom & best man and also the dads all sitting there eating their meal thinking the speeches have to be done soon – it can and will put them off their meal.
Getting back to recent weddings: Saturday’s wedding reception was in Langtons Hotel in Kilkenny. The couple arrived at the hotel after the photo shoot in Butler House and Kilkenny Castle with their photographer John Delaney Photography. Sean, the manager at the hotel who is a fantastic guy, was happy to see the couple arrive at the hotel early as their speeches were being held before the meal, so this worked out great for all concerned.
Friday’s wedding was in Moyglass and the reception was in the Kilkenny Ormonde Hotel. Again after the church we went to Butler House and Kilkenny Castle for the family photos and their photographer was local man Eamonn McGee from Thurles in Tipperary. Once again when we arrived to the Kilkenny Ormonde Hotel every thing was done with the photographs and this is what the hotel wants when the speeches are before the meal. The couple had time to mingle with their guests, whereas often they don’t get time to meet people until later after the meal. I tend to recommend to couples when they ask to book my wedding videography services here in Kilkenny that they should give themselves about 1 hour with their guests before the meal is served as often I have seen couples arrive to the hotel from the photo session only to be rushed into the dining room as its so late and their plans to have the speeches before the meal have to be abandoned.
Newpark Hotel Castlecomer Rd, Kilkenny
So, with a fantastic looking year ahead and with 80% of my work in and around 
