Visitors to last weekend’s wedding fayre at Ireland’s Fitzgeralds Woodlands House Hotel and Spa were amongst the first to see the four-star property’s new-look ballroom and bridal suites, which marks the first stage of a wider Û1m refurbishment programme of the mid-west’s finest wedding venue.
Over the last 35 years the Fitzgerald Family has hosted more than 4,500 marriage celebrations at their Adare-based hotel and, today, weddings account for 40 per centÊof overall turnover.
Proprietor of Fitzgeralds Woodlands House Hotel and Spa, Mary Fitzgerald, said that right from the very first wedding the family hosted some 35 years ago, they quickly realised that each celebration should reflect the uniqueness of the couple and their families.
ÒWe have always tried to do things differently and distinctively,Ó she said.ÊÒFor us, weddings were a natural progression from the Ôdinners’ we served back when the property was a bed and breakfast.Ê And, right from day one, we decided to do what nobody else was doing.ÊWe offered a choice of main course and what became my famous dessert trolley, for example, both of which were unheard of 35 years ago!
“Today, we have a strict one wedding per day policy, ensure that every celebration is co-ordinated by a member of the Fitzgerald family from start to finish and have worked hard to become Limerick’s only guaranteed Irish hotel.
ÒWe are now at a stage where we are hosting couples whose parents celebrated their own marriage at the hotel and our desire to create something special and unique is just as strong as it was at the very beginning.
ÒWe are constantly looking for new ideas when it comes to hosting weddings, not least to ensure that we are able to reflect current and emerging trends. Our new-look ballroom is the result of months of international research and has been designed to ensure that it provides a unique space that can easily reflect any trend or theme a couple might want to follow on their big day which will ensure that no two weddings will ever be the same.Ó
The next phase of works are due to be carried out during the winter of 2017/18.
The new-look ballroom, along with two beautiful new bridal suites, is the first milestone in what is an 18-month refurbishment programme, inspired by some of the most prestigious wedding venues in London and New York.
The ballroom’s bespoke design features a new intricate ceiling complete with custom-made moulding and crystal chandeliers, along with elegant pillars, panelling and mirrored walls, beautifully illuminated by a highly-sophisticated mood lighting system.
As well as completely re-designing the hotel’s existing bridal suite in a style that reflects the elegance of the ballroom, the Fitzgerald family have also created a second identical bridal suite to accommodate couples who wish to extend their stay before and/or after their big day.
This is the second Û1m refurbishment project undertaken by the Fitzgerald Family in the last five years, the first of which led to the hotel gaining four-star status. And, by the time this refurbishment project is completed, a subtle extension will have been added to the current ballroom and a beautiful new outdoor space will have been created for summer ceremonies, drinks receptions and family photographs.
All of the furniture, fixtures and fittings used on this project have either been sourced on an exclusive basis from leading European design houses or have been hand-made by local craftspeople. Fitzgerald family heirlooms also feature in the form of antique china tea cups offered to couples for use at their arrival reception.Ê Couples also have a choice of opulent gold or silver look table dcor as standard.
