City Hall setting for wedding winners

LOVE was in the air in Cork City Hall yesterday at the launch of a special competition which will see the historic building host its first civil wedding ceremony.

Lord Mayor Cllr Michael O’Connell also announced that a host of sponsors have come on board to cover a range of aspects, including the reception, to ensure that it will be unforgettable day for one lucky couple and their friends.

He has now invited people to write to him stating why they should win his Win Your Wedding competition.

It has been two years since the city council approved the use of City Hall as a venue for civil wedding ceremonies.

“I have made it a policy to open up City Hall to the public as much as possible during my term of office,” Mr O’Connell said. “This is a fantastic opportunity for one lucky couple to not only make history, but to have many of the associated costs of their wedding covered by the generous sponsorship of Cork’s business community.”

The prize, which will see the couple tying the knot in the Lord Mayor’s office, also includes: a wedding day lunch for up to 50 people in the Ambassador Hotel; free limousine service for the bridal party courtesy of Abbey Limousine services; hairdressing services for the bridal party courtesy of Jessica Cogan stylist; make-up services for the bridal party courtesy Aileen Lane; a champagne breakfast for the groom’s party at Nash 19; a bridal bouquet and buttonholes for the groom’s party from Fab Flowers; dress suit hire for the groom’s party from Black Tie; and jewellery for the mothers of the bride and groom from Orla Murphy Jewellery.

But the prize, which is worth several thousand euro, also includes one year’s free house insurance from Alan O’Leary Insurance, a €500 voucher for Brown Thomas, a €200 voucher for the Moderne, a €200 voucher for Keane’s Jewellers, and a €200 travel voucher from Bernard Hayes Travel.

Couples planning to have a civil wedding ceremony before June 22 can request an application form from the Lord Mayor’s office at City Hall on Anglesea Street, fill it out and return it before 5pm on Wednesday, February 23, to be in with a chance of winning their dream big day.

The judging panel includes Caroline Counihan from Brown Thomas, Claire Nash from Nash 19, Claire Killeen from the Ambassador Hotel, and Deirdre O’Reilly from the Evening Echo.