FAQS
WHAT SIZE WEDDING CAN I HAVE?
We love small weddings. For 2021 we’re going super small - only up to 25 people in total. This will stay constant even if government restrictions change. For 2022, we going back to normal and accepting booking for up to 50. These numbers include you but do not include your celebrant or photographer.
WHAT’S THE CHAPEL LIKE?
The chapel is an ancient ruined chapel in the middle of a wild wood. It’s cute and tiny, with no roof, so most people get married in front of it under the cathedral-like branches of the woodland. We always adorn the front arch with flowers and foliage which we try to match with your colours. It’s very wild, simple and natural, with a simple ceremonial stand just outside made of old tree stumps, which we decorate with candles and flowers, for the couple to make their vows beside. Inside the chapel is an old mossy table decked with more candles and wild plants for signing the register. We provide rustic benches for you guests, which we arrange around the outside of the chapel in a sort of semi-circle. There is also a little “field loo” here, set back a little from the chapel - it’s compost loo created rather prettily in a vintage horse-box, ideal for quick stops.
IS THERE POWER?
No, because its in the middle of a wild wood. If amplification is needed, a battery powered amp should be brought along. But with a small crowd, this may not be necessary. Check with your celebrant or musicians.
how do we get to the chapel?
It’s about a ten minute country walk to the chapel from the car-parking. You go along the riverbank, through the wildflower meadows, on a roughly mown pathway, then across the river on a little iron bridge and through woodland. Wear sensible shoes or boots for this bit. The way is signed from the car-parking, which is in a field .
where can we do our photos?
You have the freedom of the Manor grounds : old ruins, bridges, woodland, wildflower meadows , Killyon Manor estate has so many different places, you and/or your photographer will be spoilt for choice. You’re also welcome to come up to the gardenss around the Manor House and use it freely as your backdrop.
Can we come inside the manor for photos?
Maybe, it depends, so just get in touch a week before your date to see if it’s possible. Three families inhabit different parts of the Manor and so the inside is private most of time these days, though you’ll find we’re a friendly, welcoming bunch and are very cool with you exploring the gardens around the house and taking photos of it from the outside. We’re also more than happy to take last-minute enquiries about special access inside.
Do you do flowers?
We LOVE doing the flowers here, harvesting from the wild flowers and foliage of the estate - it totally completes the look and feel. Just ask us, as they are extra. We like to keep our bridal and bridesmaid bouquets simple and natural but we do try to match your palette. We also do buttonholes, confetti, a forest floral arch and floral decor for the tent on request. If you're ordering a few things, we'll happily arrange a package price for you.
what should we do afterwards?
When you wish to leave the chapel woodland, if you’d like to hang about a bit you can wander where you like in the grounds and gardens. You may well like lead your guests through the meadows towards the Manor where we’ve sited picnic tables in the field just to the side of the house, in our front field. Here there’s also a generous tent for shelter which we can decorate for you on request. It is a stunning, photogenic site where the fields or the manor is your backdrop. We envisage you standing around chatting with champagne and canapes, cake and tea, or grazing platters, and using it as a nice relaxing stop while you mingle and take your photos, and then head off.
what about food and drink?
Because you’re in a tent in a field, we recommend you keep it simple, though if you’d like a food truck to come along there is somewhere for them to pull up nearby. Bring along your favourite tipple and a few picnic glasses. Maybe a cake and little picnic plates. Or stay right on trend and bring along individual grazing boxes of Irish speciality foods. Just ask us for our supplier recommendations.
WhaT’s the tent like?
The tent is a good size tent with standing room in the middle of a beautiful field. It is 10 metres square, with open sides and made of beige stretch canvas. It’s surrounded by nature and in easy reach of the manor ( and loos). It has some simple outdoor tables and chairs and we can adorn it with floral decor if you like. It is not a fancy, dressed wedding marquee though and is not really suitable for very elaborate afternoon parties or big sit-down wedding lunches or buffets.
What if I’m after something more normal, formal or complicated?
Book somewhere else for afterwards! Our tent is not a wedding marquee. It’s there for a bit of shelter and style, ideally for drinks and nibbles. It’s surroundings are so unusually pretty and different, that it will likely surprise and delight the most traditional of crowds, especially if they have something more "normal" to head off for afterwards! On a fine day you'd might hardly use the tent itself at all.
Is there any furniture or equipment in the tent?
There will be a large picnic tables by/in the tent for laying out snacks and drinks, some cafe tables and outside chairs for the weary. There will also be two fridges for drinks and snacks and an electric socket for phone charging etc. A yard with three proper loos is located nearby.
What size/capacity is the tent?
It's big. Ten metres by ten metres. Plenty of room for 25 standing or sitting.
Is the tent decorated?
As it stands, it is pretty but perfectly plain. As an extra, we’re happy to adorn the tables and tent poles with fab arrangements of estate wildflowers and foliage, to enhance its natural beauty.
Is there refrigeration?
Yes, and there is a power supply in the tent. If you’d like it chilled, bring your own ice-box.
Can we come early to prepare the afters?
if you’d like to lay things out in the tent beforehand, you or a few members of your inner circle can come in by request from 1:00pm. To minimise stress levels and disturbance, keep this to a small number. If COVID restrictions are still in place , there will be recommendations for how you deal with food and drink. If restrictions have loosened, we may get back to laying the food out for you - consult with us a couple of weeks before the big day.
CAN I BRING anything else?
If you’d like to bring few little personal touches, like props or a photo-gallery, just ask us. But don’t feel you have to. Love and wild-flowers is all you need!
Is there electricity in the tent?
Yes, there’s an electric point for phone-charging etc but nothing that requires a lot of power.
Is there running water in the tent?
There’s no plumbed water in the tent. Please bring your own drinking water.
Is there a place to change or get ready?
At this stage, there is just the tent, and the loo area is are not really a changing room. We are keeping it very simple for now. But we’re thinking about this and as we get closer to the time, we may make somewhere else available, so please keep in touch about this.
What about toilets?
For guest arrivals, there is a little “field loo” here, set back a little from the chapel - it’s compost loo created rather prettily in a vintage horse-box, ideal for quick stops. If something more substantial is needed, there are proper loos by the Manor House, about ten minutes from the ceremony area, which can be easily accessed after the ceremony.
IS IT all SUITABLE FOR THE DISABLED?
Please be aware this is a totally natural setting with no gravel, tarmac or guide-rails. The chapel can be accessed by your own four-wheel drive vehicle, with drop off point right by the chapel. From there, the ground - although a forest floor - is level with no steps, and stable enough for wheelchairs. The tent is in a totally natural setting but on fairly level, mown ground with no steps, and vehicle access is just a few feet away. Access to the one horse-box compost loo by the car-parking is via two small steps and a narrow-door and unfortunately is not wheelchair accessible. Ask us if you need more help with this.
Can I bring my dog?
Yes, we love doggies coming to ceremonies here.