Still searching for your dream wedding venue? Here, we catch up with the team at Harvey’s Point in Donegal to find out why for almost 30 years, the venue has established itself as one of the finest for weddings in Ireland.

Tell us about Harvey’s Point – what makes the hotel a popular choice with couples for their wedding day?

It’s the magic that makes Harvey’s Point the chosen wedding venue for many couples. There’s uniqueness to our venue, where we offer couples their dream wedding in stunning surroundings, while also making them feel at home. We will be celebrating our 30 year anniversary in 2019 and through that time we have seen lots of wonderful couples celebrate their special day with us and the fact that their sisters, brothers, children and nieces and nephews then choose Harvey’s Point for their wedding day means more to us than all of our awards.

What makes the venue different from other hotels?

We may be biased but there really isn’t anywhere like Harvey’s Point! We’re very lucky to be located in one of the most beautiful parts of Donegal and our surroundings mean that photos will be truly breath taking, regardless of season or weather. There’s the beautiful backdrop of the Blue Stack Mountains and our Ballroom Suite looks out over Lough Eske, giving guests a stunning view.

We realise that wedding planning can be daunting and therefore we keep our packages simple and straightforward with no hidden charges or surprises. We offer the famous Harvey’s Point Banquet option for certain courses which is always a real talking point with guests.

What wedding options are available at the venue?

It’s our goal to make wedding dreams a reality, therefore we host one wedding per day. Our Wedding Suite means that each couple and their guests have a private entrance to the hotel and our new Garden Suite is ideal for a drinks reception. We cater for weddings of 120-300 guests.

We also offer fabulous options to have your ceremony at Harvey’s Point. For an indoor ceremony our beautiful bright Garden Suite is the perfect option and for an outdoor ceremony there is nowhere as stunning as our pier overlooking Lough Eske.

How do you ensure couples get the wedding of their dreams?

Quite simply, we care. We have dedicated wedding and operations teams who have the sole purpose of making sure your wedding day is everything you wished for and more. Our wedding coordinators are on hand every step of the way to help you with all aspects of your planning and are there on the day to ensure that all the little details fall into place. Our team are your team.

What tips would you offer couples to ensure a stress-free wedding?

Trust your suppliers! The key is to research suppliers in advance of booking, check reviews, go on recommendations and try to meet them in person if you can. Go with suppliers who have a proven record and who you get along with. They are the experts and it will be their mission to do the best job that they can for you so trust them to do just that and concentrate on enjoying the day that you have put so much hard work and planning into. Remember it’s about marrying your soul mate and everything else is just the frills.

What is the most unique wedding day request you’ve ever honoured?

We’ve had a few like arriving by boat and filling the room with balloons but the most memorable has to be when Wayne and DJ contacted us asking could they get married at the hotel the next day! The answer of course was yes even though the hotel was closed for winter!

The couple had held their civil partnership ceremony at Harvey’s Point in September 2015 and it was a truly wonderful celebration. However, on November 15th 2015, when the Marriage Equality Act came in to force, Wayne and DJ wanted to be part of history by being the first same sex couple to get married in Ireland and of course Harvey’s Point wanted to help them achieve that! So with approximately 24 hours’ notice we rallied the troops to open the hotel and help make history!

Donal’s top photo locations for your Harvey’s Point wedding day…

Harvey’s point has a lot of great locations within the grounds of the hotel, surrounded by water makes the locations look idyllic. There’s also a few locations on the way to Harvey’s Point that prove popular stop-offs.

A popular location on the way to Harvey’s Point is Biddy O’Barne’s.

There’s an old bridge near the hotel grounds that provides an amazing backdrop.

The grounds of the hotel are just as spectacular. The drive overlooks the water and has a country feel.

The pier is picturesque and so peaceful, even for a sunset shoot.

The Ballroom Suite is the perfect place for a reception, with a spacious and elegant decor.