Weddings on a shoe string

The Afternoon Show wedding planner Tara Fay and her Top Tips
(comments by Marie Caffrey)

Tara Fay: Check how many brides are using that church that week, (not just that day) and agree an amount to spend on flowers for the week.
Marie Caffrey: This could prove to be pretty difficult, time-wise in getting in touch with other brides, money-wise on phone-calls and headache-wise trying to convince them-this sounds like a bit of a nightmare.
TF: Another great option that we have used before is to recycle old tin cans (make sure to wash out) and tie a piece of pretty ribbon around the centre and either use as a candle holder or fill with some foliage or flowers
MC: I work in a restaurant and am in constant contact with tin cans – opening them is a nightmare, washing them is dangerous and keeping them are likely to result in an accident- and I know this from experience.
TF: There are some really good high street styles that are not necessarily wedding dresses that could work.
MC:I would not recommend in any way ‘really good high street styles that are not necessarily wedding dresses’- this is the one occasion where everybody sees what everybody else is wearing- and if any guests outfits are vaguely similar its EMBARRASSING , note that Ms. Fay also mentions “ that could work”. Would you feel at ease with could ?
TF: Bridesmaids' dresses - if you are not too hung up on what the bridesmaids wear, you could ask them to buy their own dresses (they do in the US).
MC:I have never heard of a not too hung up Bride? It’s a little like saying ‘You can wear whatever you want as long as you buy it yourself’- a very risky number- god knows what could end up down the isle!
TF: Mass booklets/ceremony outlines are not compulsory - if you feel you must do something print a one pager with the readers' names, the list of music and the readings
MC: I find this particular tip difficult to follow- its like going to a show or a football match and taking a flyer instead of a programme-you lose out as you are not likely to appreciate and understand the occasion fully.
TF: Invitations - make a postcard style invite yourself and send out to your guest, less paper required, no envelope needed and no RSVP card.
MC: Bláthnaid Ní Chofaigh laughed at this – which says it all- ‘everybody will know about your event- even the postman!’- So you’ll be placed in the awkward position of politely through gritted teeth saying ‘No you’re not invited’.
TF: Carpet, aisle runner - look at the floor of the church most of them are very beautiful and you don't need one.
MC: Does anybody need one of these?
TF: Check which jeweller is doing a special - there is always some deal somewhere- especially auction houses- but beware of auction fees
MC:The best deal is with Ryanair to Antwerp.
TF:Photography - if you can't afford a professional photographer, perhaps approach a photography student or find a friend who is a photographer
MC:I have noted from experience that trying to approach students can be difficult- They don’t read newspapers, don’t visit job sites and walk by notice boards. E-mails, faxes and letters to lecturers don’t produce results either.
Finding a friend who is a photographer is like finding a needle in a haystack- you’re either lucky or you’re not.
TF: Food & Venue: Ask a friend or family member with a big house (or even one big room) if you can borrow their house for the day. Another great option is a church hall or small community hall. Decorate it like a fete and serve an afternoon tea to your guests. Another option is to ask your more culinary minded guests to each bring a course for about 10 people, if you have 10 people do this you have enough food for each guest. If you have to hire in any furniture, use whatever is the most mismatched version you can get for the cheapest amount and use paper plates and napkins and plastic glasses bla bla bla bla
I can not comment on this- or I will be here all night……………….This tip kills me- it really does
TF: Entertainment: Get your guests to become their own entertainment.????? Hire a karaoke machine (one with an option to plug in an iPod for later). You can easily get 2-3 hours of good entertainment out of this. With the IPod option, you can create different play lists for dinner, before and after the karaoke session and for going home music.
MC: It gets worse…And this was Andrea Roche’s Wedding planner ?
TF: Honeymoon: Who made it compulsory to have a honeymoon immediately after a wedding, look for the best option for deals and go when it suits both of you; this could be six months later.
MC: No respect but If I was desperate enough to act on all of these tips - I would be out of here the next day- far, far away

Awards bore Actor Rea

Stephen told me last night "That no, I'm not going this year"
And I said "Are you serious?"
"It bores the hell out of me".
"But Stephen you're an academy nominated actor"
Never a finer word spoken
This man has true presence
The IFTA's should listen to their actors
and maybe come up with a unique award event
don't these people have a PR department?
glad I didn't waste those euros
I can spend them in the Abbey

Fiddles and fun dominates at Imeall CD launch night

Kudos Bar in The Clarion was the place to be last Thursday night. Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh who founded the traditional Donegal band Altan with her husband, Frankie Kennedy released her first solo project called ‘Imeall’ which means the edge. It’s a deep and personal voyage into the linguistic and cultural way of life spent in the wilds of Donegal, on the edge of the Atlantic. The limited edition collection features stunning traditional and new songs in Gaelic and in English. Guests enjoying the craic included actors Stephen Rea and Sean Mc Ginley who will perform in the Sam Shephard play ‘Ages of the Moon’ in the Abbey Theatre next month, singers Mary Black and Paul Brady and fiddle players Paddy Glackin and Liam O’ Flynn. ‘Imeall’ can be bought on-line at www.mairead.ie

Socially aware magazine out of touch with what women want

Social and Personal Magazine celebrated their annual poll of the ‘Top 100 Sexiest Irish Men’ without doubt one of the most eagerly awaited events of the year. As the list was revealed to the 400 party goers in Lillies Bordello, eyebrows were raised. Baz Ashwamy, a relatively new presenter on RTE was the surprise winner. But the biggest surprise of all was the other names that made the list.

With the new edition of Social and Personal just published and distributed, women all over Ireland have become worried. The judges may know the names on the list but do you?

The Top Ten Sexiest Men of 2009:

1. Baz Ashmawy
(RTÉ TV presenter)
2. Jonathan Rhys Meyers
(Actor)
3. Niall Breslin
(Lead singer of Irish group, The Blizzards)
4. Jamie Dornan
(Belfast-born international model)
5. Dave Fanning
(RTÉ star, first appearance on this list)
6. Colin Farrell
(The Castleknock Casanova)
7. Michael O’Leary
(Ryanair boss, first time in Top 10)
8. Brooke Gilbert
(Ireland’s first male supermodel – as voted by Ford Models)
9. Pierce Brosnan
(The former Mr. Bond from Navan)
10. Garrett Tubridy
(Brother of Ryan, currently running for Dublin City Council)

Who are Brooke Gilbert and Garrett Tubridy? How are Michael o’ Leary and Dave Fanning sexy?.The others are stars who are mentioned every year on the list but never make it to number one unfortunately.

As the winner Baz Ashwamy is not your average Irishman as he’s half Egyptian but compared to the others on the list he comes across as the goofy but sexy boy next door- as seen by various roles on RTE throughout the summer from Celebrity Bainesteoir to Failte Towers. High viewings but savaged by the critics. Baz is certainly the best choice here and most importantly at the end of the day Publisher PJ Gibbons could be pretty certain that Baz would be around to collect the trophy and enjoy the champagne reception.
Social and Personal magazine has gained mixed column inches from members of the media and from on-line blogs and discussion forums since the February Publication went out a few days ago. I-Venus.com and Showbiz.ie have slammed the list and the much over hyped event. Beaut.ie one of the most successful on-line Irish blogs has even decided to stage its own’ 100 Sexiest men competition’ in reaction to the dismay of Irish women flabbergasted by the lack of sexual-judgement made by a especially selected panel who supposedly come from the worlds of fashion , beauty, entertainment, business and sport. The judges involved in the final decision of Social and Personals 100 sexiest men list didn’t want their identities to be revealed-which is a pity.
It’s now down to the women bloggers of Ireland to exercise their vote and to enter in their own list of sexy men. With a result by next week from Beaut.ie it will be interesting to see how their list compares to Social &Personals. Publisher PJ Gibbons is either generating any type of publicity that he can for an ailing magazine, has lost sight of what women view as sexy and needs to go to Spec-savers as this list is certainly not doing it for the ladies of Ireland.

One thing for certain-Social and Personal may be Ireland’s original society magazine but it needs some serious sexing up to keep its readers from wandering.