Ballintubbert Gardens and House Wedding: #1 Breathtaking Festival Vibe Celebration
Introduction:
A Ballintubbert Gardens and House wedding is the ultimate choice for couples seeking a picturesque, festival-inspired wedding in the heart of the Irish countryside. Located just 1.25 hours from Dublin in County Laois, Ballintubbert House is an exclusive, alternative country house wedding venue that offers an unparalleled experience for your special day. Let’s explore the magic of a Ballintubbert Gardens and House wedding and the wedding planning experience in its enchanting gardens.
A Ballintubbert Gardens and House wedding; Simply a Breathtaking Venue:
When I first set foot on the grounds of Ballintubbert Gardens and House while preparing for Babs and Alex’s wedding, I was truly awe-struck. Despite having heard glowing recommendations and perused their impressive website, nothing could have prepared me for the sheer beauty that unfolded before my eyes. If you’re in search of an exclusive, alternative country house wedding venue in Ireland, Ballintubbert House is a must-see.
Nature’s Oasis:
Nestled in the tranquil countryside of County Laois, this country house wedding venue exudes natural beauty from every corner. As you step onto the estate, you’re enveloped in a sense of calm and serenity that is truly exceptional. Few wedding venues can match this unique atmosphere, thanks to the abundance of nature that surrounds the property, including flowers, trees, forests, and water features—all contributing to the breathtaking landscape.
Exclusive Experience:
Ballintubbert Gardens and House is an exclusive wedding venue, making it a perfect choice for various celebrations, especially weddings. The dedicated team at Ballintubbert goes above and beyond to craft a unique and unforgettable experience tailored to your wedding party’s desires.
The Ballintubbert Gardens and House Wedding Ceremony:
Your wedding ceremony at Ballintubbert House can be held in the picturesque Fountain Garden, The Mirrored Canal, or overlooking the enchanting orchard in the Tabernacle. The team is flexible and will monitor the weather conditions, ensuring you have a beautiful outdoor ceremony. Each location carries its own special charm, but the Fountain Garden, with its timeless allure, is a personal favourite.
Reception:
The Orchard and Tabernacle serve as the perfect setting for your wedding reception. Here, guests are greeted with refreshments from a farm-style bar. The atmosphere is down-to-earth, exuding sophistication and class without pretension—a perfect blend of elegance and warmth.
Romantic Exploration:
During cocktail hour, guests are invited to explore the stunning grounds freely. Ballintubbert Gardens and House boasts numerous secret gardens and enchanting forests, each as captivating as the next. It’s like stepping into a real-life “Secret Garden.”
Time to Party:
With its history and current custodians in mind, Ballintubbert House knows how to throw a magnificent party. Guests can revel in a massive yurt-style tent, setting the stage for an unforgettable celebration that often takes on a wild and joyous character. The ambiance is so welcoming that you’ll instantly feel at ease and delighted.
Culinary Delights:
Food is a highlight at Ballintubbert House, with catering provided by The Gourmet Kitchen, Blackstairs Catering, and Lu Thornely. They use locally sourced produce of the highest quality to create wholesome, delicious meals that will keep your energy levels high well into the night.
Accommodation:
Ballintubbert House offers comfortable accommodation options, including four double en-suite bedrooms and one double bedroom within the house itself. These rooms each have their unique character. The Garden Room and Shackleton Room are often used for the bride and groom’s preparations and as their accommodations on the wedding night. Adjacent to the house are the Garden Suite rooms, four more stunning en-suite bedrooms.
Ballintubbert Gardens and House wedding Festival Vibes:
For those seeking a festival atmosphere, Ballintubert Gardens and House has you covered. Behind the Fountain Garden, you’ll find luxury yurts in various sizes, accommodating additional guests. Each yurt is equipped with electricity, electric blankets, and cozy stoves. In the morning, enjoy a delightful breakfast and refreshing hot showers, just a short walk away.
Warm Hospitality:
Jo-Ann and the entire team at Ballintubbert Gardens and House excel at making every guest feel like they’re in a home away from home, all while receiving the utmost care and attention. Feel free to contact them here.
Conclusion:
If you’re drawn to nature, gardens, and the festival experience, look no further than Ballintubbert Gardens and House for your dream wedding venue. Contact the team today to start planning your unforgettable wedding celebration at this enchanting location. Your Ballintubert Gardens and House wedding will be an experience like no other, filled with beauty and a festival vibe that you and your guests will cherish forever.
The story of Bairbre & Alex
I have known Bairbre since she was 17 years old. Yes, we go way back. When I was managing the Bistro upstairs at Kennedy’s Food Store, Bairbre started working as one of my waitresses. Back then I was still finding my own path as a photographer. And whilst I watched Bairbre finish school and go through college to become the wonderful woman that she is today, she also watched me grow into a photographer. She was even my muse for one of my early personal projects. I love the photos to this day!
I got to know Alex, then too. They are childhood sweethearts. When Bairbre wasn’t working, her and Alex would often join Bairbre’s mother for dinner in the Bistro. I think of those days working with Bairbre so fondly, there were many moments of wild chaos that comes with the hospitality industry but we were a family and I felt a lot like a mother figure to the younger starters such as Bairbre.
We all went our separate ways. I left Kennedys to pursue my dream career and Bairbre and Alex carried their love journey into their twenties and then Alex proposed in their 30’s. I was absolutely honoured to be ask by Bairbre to photograph their wedding. I knew this was going to be a magical one but to be honest they could have got married under a tree and it would have been just as special for me to see these two tie the knot. Check out their stunning engagement photos at Lough Tay here!
They are a true love story, a bond, destined in the stars. Such a rarity and you can tell by the way they look at each other, they know how lucky they are. Bliss.
Let’s delve into the images Bairbre and Alex’s magical Ballintubbert Gardens and House wedding day. Don’t forget to check out their Q&A on all things wedding related at the end!
Bairbre and Alex’s Q&A:
How did you meet originally and get together? (I love a good love story!)
We met in Scouts when we were very young and have known each other for almost 20 years! We’ve been together since we were teenages!
How did the proposal go, if there was one?
Despite being together for 10+ years and spending a far too much time together Alex still managed to keep this as a surprise! He had a tight timeline as he’d to fit it in between Christmas and Bairbre’s sisters birthday. It happened at home on a very quiet Sunday morning in the lead up to Christmas.
Could you sum up your Ballintubbert Gardens and House wedding in a couple of sentences – how would you describe the look and feel of the day, the vibe?
Exactly what we wanted. Magical, relaxing, everyone we wanted to be there. Genuinely a perfect weekend.
The vibe was Irish summer in colours and in weather.
What was important to you about your wedding – what were your priorities from the very beginning?
Having the people we wanted there and being at ease throughout the weekend were our two top priorities, of the hundreds of things they were our top two by far. After that we knew we could only do so much and there would always be things out of our control so we may as well go with the flow and it worked. As for planning; the venue, the food and the wine were top priorities from the start.
What made your venue “the one”? Tell me the story of your first visit to the venue and how you came to choose it.
From the minute we arrived we knew Ballintubbert Gardens and House was where we wanted to get married. The house and gardens were picturesque, even though our first visit was on a dreary March evening. Jo-Ann, the coordinator, was absolutely fantastic to deal with and their values matched ours. On the drive home we knew that was the place for us and said yes to it the following day! We had visited 5 other venues all of which were nice but didn’t capture us like Ballintubert did.
What made the day special and personal to you? (Things you included, unusual elements, things that people made or did for you, etc.)
- Rose, Bairbre’s nana, made an incredible piece of stained glass for us
- Making her own dress
- Doing family drinks before the ceremony
- Not doing all the traditional things we didn’t want to do if we didn’t like them (first dance, cake cutting etc)
You made your own dress! Tell me about this idea and process, what was your inspiration.
Making my own wedding dress was always something that I wanted to do. I’ve no idea where the idea came from though! I started by trying on dresses in a wedding dress shop to give me ideas of what I wanted and designed my dress from there. I knew that I wanted the dress to be in 2 pieces and to have pockets so making the dress myself allowed me to make it exactly how I wanted it! It wasn’t an easy task, with a few struggles along the way and more than one sleepless night, but I’m so happy that I did it!
What advice would you give to other couples planning their day?
- There will always be things you can’t control. Perfection is impossible (especially the weather if you’re getting married in Ireland!).
- Do your style and don’t compromise on it. You’ll remember it more.
- It’s your day so ask for whatever you want (but be sound)!
- Make a budget
Where did you go/are you planning on going on honeymoon? Would you recommend it?
We went away for a few weeks with only plans to be in Mykonos for a week and then on to Athens, we had no flights home booked! We ended up extending our time in Athens and then spent a few days visiting vineyards in Bordeaux before heading home. Greece is a great, cost effective place to travel to if you’re smart about it. It also has so much variety to suit every style of holiday. Mykonos was lovely but more of a party island which wasn’t as much our style.
Visiting vineyards in Bordeaux was beautiful and great fun, many of the smaller, family owned vineyards have some really cool accommodation options, like staying in a giant wine barrel or a treehouse overlooking the vineyard, it was a lovely place to end our fantastic trip!
