IT WAS an event no self-respecting bride wanted to miss, with everyone from photographers to wedding cake specialists all gathered under one roof.
Carlow’s Talbot Hotel hosted its wedding fair recently and welcomed lots of future brides and grooms, all hoping to pick up some great tips and expert advice on their upcoming nuptials.
In an effort to promote local businesses, the Talbot Hotel offered each of the suppliers a place at the wedding fair completely free.
“We just wanted to have a very positive approach to the event to promote local businesses, so there was no fee for taking a stand,” said Talbot Hotel marketing manager Karen O’Sullivan.
“We share a lot of the same customers as the suppliers, so I think it was a great way to encourage business here in Carlow,” she added.
A fashion show hosted by Faith Amond drew plenty of admiring glances, with fashions for the bride, the groom, their mothers and wedding guests, all shown to great effect by local models.
Food sampling, make-up trials and a chance to meet many of Carlow’s best wedding suppliers were all part of the event.
For one lucky couple there was also a chance to get their wedding budget off to a terrific start, with a €2,500 giveaway, including vouchers from many of the suppliers and the Talbot Hotel to use on their wedding day.
“It was a nice financial boost to a wedding couple to have something towards the rings, the wedding cake, the dress and something from ourselves, too,” said Karen.
“It was very successful and, of course, it gave us the opportunity to to showcase the hotel,” she added.