Wedding Reviews for Great Southern Killarney

with. They went above and beyond in all aspects and were friendly, and professional and we built a great relationship with them ahead of our big day. In the build-up to the day, we mainly dealt with Christina. She was easy to deal with. She came with loads of options/suggestions and was very open to anything we wanted for our day. We really trusted and valued her opinion and this helped us enormously in the build-up. A few weeks ahead of the day, we met with Christina for over an hour and she did a full run-through of the day from breakfast on the day of the wedding right through to the resident's bar that night. We found this run-through really helpful in showing us how the day would run so there would be no real surprises or concerns for us on the day. Christina is absolutely excellent and really made us feel comfortable ahead of the wedding.
Stephen managed our menu tasting which was a great experience. He made us feel very relaxed, talked us through each course and again went above and beyond to ensure we had a great experience. The tasting was one of our highlights and this was, in no small part, down to Stephen. The day itself was so much better than we had imagined. Everything went perfectly. We were treated so well from first thing in the morning until we checked out. We both stayed onsite the night before the wedding and there was a fuss made of us from check-in. When we arrived back from the church, Christina and the staff were waiting with umbrellas and champagne. We then got a lovely surprise when the staff of the hotel gave us a round of applause/guard of honour into the hotel. This was a lovely touch. The drinks reception was perfect. Everything looked amazing.

Review submitted on Mon, 4th of December, 2023

stress how beautiful the hotel was, all of our guests felt so comfortable and at home. The location was perfect as all our guests travelled and they could come and go over the weekend as they pleased.

Communication with the wedding team, in particular Christina and Julie was so efficient. If we had any queries or concerns they gave us reassurance and answered any questions we had immediately. After the ceremony we were handed drinks straight away which was well needed and appreciated at that stage! On the day itself, Jillian was amazing. She had everything under control and even held an umbrella for me as it rained and we went out for some photos! Everyone complimented the "girl boss Jillian", as everyone could see how well she did her job and how much she loves her job.

Our guests complimented how smooth everything ran on the day. They reported that they wanted for nothing as staff were on hand for anything they needed. We couldn't recommend the Great Southern enough for any occasion. We can't thank the staff and the wedding team enough.

It was the best weekend of our lives and they made it so that we could take it all in and not have to stress or think about anything.

Kind regards,

Shannon and Padraig

Review submitted on Mon, 14th of August, 2023

wedding day on the 1st July was simply perfect! We could not fault anything. We got such positive feedback from our guests too. There seemed to be an endless supply of food and drink at the reception, and superb service for the food and wine at the main banquet. Service ran so smoothly, which we loved!! The quality of the food and wine that we were served was like no other wedding we've ever attended and many of our guests echoed this. It all flowed so well and kept the day moving as we had wanted. The band started at 9pm which was amazing and made our dancing portion of the day that bit longer which we loved. Everyone also loved the midnight supper.

On to our day two in Fredericks, and what can we say, we were still in the hotel but it felt totally different - another brilliant experience for our guests. The privacy and that pub feel was great! The barbecue food and salads were just delicious. Our live music brought great atmosphere, and there was a television very kindly rolled in to the room for the football lovers to watch the match.

Review submitted on Fri, 11th of August, 2023

amount of people that have talked to us about how stunning the hotel was, the beautiful function room including the set-up, the delicious food ( even seconds offered - wow ), the best sleep and just amazing overall! Thank you so much for everything, wish we could do it all over again next weekend.

Louise & Bryan Purcell

Review submitted on Tue, 1st of August, 2023

looking after us so well on the day of our wedding and you ensured a very smooth running of the day. We had such a beautiful day from start to finish and wish we could do it all over again.

The hotel was stunning, the drinks reception was outstanding. We would also like to sincerely thank Jillian for her outstanding support throughout our wedding drinks reception and evening of wedding. She made us feel so relaxed and ensured everything ran smooth and seamless throughout the meal. She even came to greet our guests at breakfast the following morning and they were all very appreciative of that.

The meal was superb and we had more than enough delicious food served to us. All the staff were outstanding and we could not find fault with anything. We would also like to thank Sean at the front door who was very helpful and welcoming to everyone. All of our guests commented on how great the hotel staff were and how welcomed we all felt. Everyone had such a great day.

Review submitted on Mon, 19th of June, 2023

we would be well looked after. Then after securing the date, and organising all of our suppliers, we were so relieved and encouraged that every single one of our suppliers knew the hotel and only had amazing things to say too!

The menu tasting was a highlight in the wedding planning, Stephen was fantastic and our family still talk about him! We genuinely felt like royalty. When people were asking me how wedding planning was going, I could only say back “I have no idea why anyone thinks organising a wedding is stressful, it’s been so easy” and upon reflection, it was that easy because we had a team of incredible people who know exactly what’s what, to help plan and create this day for us.

The day itself was just amazing. So many of my guests said it was the best wedding they had ever been to, including my dad who is notoriously the hardest person in the world to please, he did not have a single criticism all day. I’ve never seen him so happy- so thank you for that!! My uncle Dave had shot many weddings at your venue and he kept telling me how looked after we would be but also couldn’t stop saying how incredible it was to be a guest at a wedding there. Everything just went flawlessly.

Julie was incredible to work with. She made sure our vision was executed to perfection. She kept me up to date on bits and pieces that needed our attention and above all of that, she was such a relaxing and encouraging presence on the day too. There was no moment at all during the day I felt I had to worry about anything. I had full trust that you would deliver, and deliver you did!!!

Special thanks to Jillian as well, she was a Rockstar, always made sure we were comfortable and “hydrated”, and kept up to date throughout the day too. I cannot recommend the Great Southern enough!

Review submitted on Mon, 19th of June, 2023

just perfect, the drinks reception was beautiful and the piano player provided by the hotel was simply stunning and created a beautiful atmosphere.

After our tasting we knew the meal was going to be incredible but it was so nice to hear all our guests raving about every aspect of the food and service!

The hotel itself is a magnificent setting and we got beautiful photos throughout the day and evening in various parts of the grounds.

I would highly recommend the Great Southern to any couple who are looking for a wedding venue, you are guaranteed a stress free day with every minor detail thought of and taken care of by the amazing wedding team.

Thank you all so much!

Review submitted on Wed, 7th of September, 2022

since we booked our original date could not have been nicer, they honestly did everything they could to help us when stress levels were high when we were faced with the unknown and were always so responsive over the phone or through emails.

Our wedding day was spectacular, every member of staff in the hotel from the door men to the receptionists to the waiters, could not do enough for you. We even had the afternoon lady help us with a small mishap with my mother’s dress on the morning of the wedding. Our reception was magical, the layout of drinks, and canopies was superb. Our guests are still raving about the incredible food and kindness and generosity of the staff before, during and after the meal. The groom had forgotten his paper that had his speech and Denise had it printed off within minutes, super-efficient like always.

Anything we ever asked for was done without any hassle, it made us feel so much at ease. I couldn’t recommend this hotel highly enough for couples planning their wedding day. I would love to do it all over again, and I wouldn’t change one thing. Thank you so much for making our dreams come through!

Samantha and Shane Regan

Review submitted on Tue, 28th of June, 2022

London.
Denise was incredibly patient, reassuring and positive throughout the uncertain times right up to a few weeks before the wedding.
We had the most incredible day and received nothing but praise from all of our guests about the hotel, the staff, the food, everything!
Thank you so much again for everything and for making our day so special. We would highly recommend to any couple looking for a wedding venue to consider the Great Southern.


Review submitted on Wed, 1st of June, 2022

also.

Secondly, the other staff of the hotel were amazing from start to finish. The wait staff in the ballroom were brilliant and the service was expertly managed. The feedback we have received about the food has been excellent. Even the staff in the restaurant for breakfast were lovely, the person who greeted me Tuesday morning even told the person seating me that I was the bride from Sunday so I continued to feel very special.

The food, the service and the atmosphere of the hotel is what makes the Great Southern so special and head and shoulders above the competition.


Review submitted on Tue, 3rd of May, 2022

on the day. From the menu tasting, to the many visits to confirm details, everything was so enjoyable in the lead up to the day. And this experience only surpassed itself on the wedding day itself! All of our guests commented on the level of service, the friendly staff, the beautiful food and surroundings. As a couple on the day we felt completely looked after which allowed us to thoroughly enjoy ourselves throughout the day and night.
We would not hesitate in recommending this venue to any Bride & Groom, the Great Southern provides a touch of class which is just hard to find anywhere else!



Review submitted on Mon, 11th of April, 2022

name a few were a big part of the weekend and no ask was too much.

Our guests are still raving about the food, the extra portions that were brought out was a lovely touch. We had the best day and didn’t take the smiles off our faces!

Kind regards,
Ciara & Dave

Review submitted on Mon, 21st of March, 2022

work with. No ask was too big and her advice was always spot on throughout. I would highly recommend the Great Southern to anyone looking for a wedding venue, you really won't be disappointed.

Thanks for giving us such an unforgettable weekend.

Best Regards,
Lisa & David

Review submitted on Wed, 9th of March, 2022

amazing!!!

Special mention to Stephen and Jillian who were fantastic and were always on hand!!

Thanks so much for everything, you all really made it so easy for us and there was never any complaints from you as a team, anything we asked you for it was never a problem!

Thanks so much again!

Ciara & Kevin


Review submitted on Tue, 8th of March, 2022

absolutely swept us off our feet. We had the most amazing few days in this wonderful hotel and we made a lifetime of memories along the way. The care and attention that we received from the wedding team and everybody here was second to none and we and all our guests were made feel so special from start to finish. This hotel oozes with class in every corner of its magnificent interior. Our special day was so magical for us and we both know that this was down to the exceptional care and expertise of each and every member of staff. Planning a wedding during Covid times was challenging but the hotel always managed to put us at ease and were extremely accommodating right throughout the process. Not alone were the decorative interior and splendid Christmas decorations a focal talking point amongst our guests but everybody that attended paid huge compliments towards the food, service and of course the gorgeous drinks reception. As a newly married couple, we will never be able to fully thank each and every one of you enough for making it the best day of both our lives.


Review submitted on Fri, 25th of February, 2022

a wedding that fit us as a couple. Denise and the wedding team were always available in a timely manner by email, phone, or zoom and constantly went above and beyond to help in any way possible. Planning a wedding abroad during new covid variants was challenging, but Denise's understanding, reassurance, and assistance made the process as smooth as possible. During our stay the entire wedding team and hotel staff were all extremely gracious to our family and friends. We were able to enjoy our time, confident that everything was taken care of. The wedding day itself went perfectly and Katie was there checking in to make sure every detail was how we pictured it. From the decorations, to the food, to the service every single aspect of our day far exceeded expectations. We are so thankful to the entire wedding team for everything that went into making our day perfect.

Review submitted on Thu, 17th of February, 2022

questions and cater to all of our needs. They were a pleasure to deal with and we really appreciate how much they made it feel like we were the only wedding in the hotel ever! We have visited the hotel many times and from the minute you walk through the door you really are made feel very special.
We would like to thank Gillian for her amazing organisation on the day. She was absolutely outstanding and we couldn't have asked for a better manager on the day. The food was incredible and the feedback from guests was surreal. Every comment about the hotel - the atmosphere, the food and the staff was second to none.
Many of our guests had never stayed before and now they mentioned if they are going to Killarney again there is nowhere else they could stay except the Great Southern.
You really are made feel so special in the hotel and that's what we love about it. We had day two in hotel also and it was absolutely perfect.
Nothing is ever too much for any of the staff and it shows as there is one nicer than the next. The room we got married in was picture perfect with the amazing architecture. The glass corridor down to the drinks reception and the function room itself are all absolutely stunning. If anyone is thinking about a wedding here we couldn't recommend enough.
We cannot wait to come back and visit and stay in this magical hotel!
Jamie and Mike x


Review submitted on Thu, 3rd of February, 2022

you shortly after that (I’m sure it was over that Christmas holidays), and we had everything booked. Gearing up for the wedding was complicated with the arrival of Covid and our complete denial that it would still affect our wedding in Dec 2020, but you were always there, only a phone call away, and I always felt better any time we spoke. Through all the chopping and changing of the wedding plans, you were there, and when we decided to postpone, you and the team could not have been more accommodating, which made it so much easier on us.
After some time off thinking about the wedding, the plans kicked off again around September 2021 and Philip, and I were determined it would go ahead this time. Again, you were there through it all, sending the reminders, highlighting things we had not thought of. You are a well-oiled machine, knowing everything that is needed for a successful day. During this time, we had a few stays in the GS, one for our menu tasting (we eat so much fantastic food), where we were back in room 202 and a trip with my sister and mom for my makeup trial. Again, a stay where we were treated like queens. The staff, food, and hotel rooms are welcoming, making it hard to leave. You have been the main one to organise those stays so thank you so much.
On the 20th of Dec 2021 we arrived for the wedding; from the moment I stepped into the hotel, Pedro was there to meet us, helping us with all our bags, dresses, suits and all the wedding material for the function room. The check-in process was a breeze, and it felt so special to be there and have everyone falling all over us. Dinner in the Picture room is something I will treasure forever. The private set-up for my close family and friends was excellent, and the staff were so friendly and chatty. Overall, the service was terrific. Even when one groomsman arrived late, they ensured he was fed, even with the kitchen closing. It’s that attention that put the GS above anyone else.
On the day of the wedding, I don’t have words. It was the most magical day of our lives. From the minute I woke in the bridal suite, anything we needed was a phone call away from extension leads, our breakfast, calls for prosecco, etc. Meeting you on my way out of the room in my dress and walking down the stairs, I remember every bit of it; it truly was my fairy tale moment. Once we returned from the church, we were greeted with prosecco and the red carpet. I could cry when I think of how special those moments were; we felt famous. During the drinks reception, I had staff (in particular Liam) come over to check if I was ok and if we wanted anything (a drink, a plate of food). Again, this, to me, is exceptional service. Once we saw the function room set up, you, the wedding team and the banquet team did everything I asked for, having the confetti where we wanted, the knitted Christmas trees and of course Catriona and her incredible flowers. During the dinner, everything was perfect; the staff were so excellent, again constantly checking if we needed anything and ensuring we had drinks when required. The food service was so efficient and the food, oh the food (everyone was talking about it). We then danced the night away, and even with the 12 finish, we got to sit around together and have our little sing-song.
Our day two did not go as planned as my sister was unwell, but we still managed to sit around, eat the incredible food, and use the open tab we had on the bar. Our friends and family were delighted to sit around and debrief on the wedding day.
One person I need to mention here is Stephen; from the moment we met him at our menu tasting right through to our wedding, he was incredible, and again on the second day. My sister was very unwell the day after the wedding (where we all got a fright, severe dehydration from partying too hard a the wedding), but Stephen quickly stepped in and took over. He was just amazing, knowing exactly what to do, making sure my sister, Philip and I and my parents had everything we needed. Thankfully my sister was ok; a short trip to the hospital that evening for some fluids had her sorted.
Once everyone had gone, Philip and I stayed another night. We sat in the reading room, sipping on G&Ts and reminisced on the whole experience. Again, I could not fault it. There is nothing I would change, nothing I would do differently. Everything was perfect for the entire stay, the staff, the service, and the function room. I only wish I could do it all over again.
On the 1st of Jan 2022, we returned for a two-night stay to start our new year in our favourite place. After mentioning to reservations that we had just got married, we arrived to stay in room 202 with a bottle of prosecco on ice waiting for us. These little touches make you feel so special, no other hotel we have stayed in does this.


Review submitted on Thu, 13th of January, 2022

changing last minute. Katie was at hand in the months, weeks & days leading up to the wedding, always at the other end of an email/phone call. The meal tasting was so enjoyable and greatly added to the excitement of the build-up to the wedding. Sean, the porter was so friendly & efficient at helping us the day before & after the wedding in dropping off and collecting any items.

On the day itself, our guests loved the drinks reception, with the hot toddies, mulled wine & mulled cider being a big hit, as well as the delicious canapes. We had our speeches out in the reception area before going in for the main meal, which worked really well and the team had no problem accommodating this request. The food was gorgeous as well, with plenty to go around. Gillian & her team managed it all so smoothly, including the bar staff juggling orders ranging from trays of shots to pint glasses to keep the bouquets fresh. We also had the ham hock as part of the late-night food and that went down really well.

I would recommend couples to stay on a second night so you can soak up the experience of staying at the Great Southern. The rooms are so comfortable & luxurious and of course that breakfast! The night porter even suggested as we were going to bed that we get breakfast delivered to the room the next morning, and to go to the breakfast room just for tea & coffee so we could mingle after being well fed. It's the little touches like that from all team members at the Great Southern that make it so special for a wedding.

Review submitted on Thu, 13th of January, 2022

location for our wedding day! Throughout the process, we worked with Denise And Katie to plan what was, in our opinion, the most perfect wedding day. They were always prompt in responding to our inquiries, gave us checklists to keep us on task, gave excellent recommendations for vendors, and did an amazing job of setting up the ceremony and reception spaces with our decorations. Their eye for detail before and on the day of the wedding surpassed our expectations.

Our family and friends still rave about the beautiful location and the delicious food every time we see them! We couldn’t have been more happier with our special day, and we owe a lot of that to the staff at The Great Southern Hotel. The professionalism and combined experience of the entire team, including Steve and Jillian, ensured that every step of our wedding journey was nothing but perfect. The day was enjoyable & stress-free as a wedding can be. You won’t find a more flexible, reliable, and genuinely honoured place to host your wedding. They treat each couple with respect and as individuals instead of just another wedding couple. We are happy to have them as a part of our memories of our perfect wedding day. Thanks to all the staff at the Great Southern for giving us the best day of our lives.

Simon & Aisling Bowes

Review submitted on Thu, 6th of January, 2022

a personal level, Eric and I were so grateful to the rest of the wedding team for making the day so seamless and relaxing for us and also for being so accommodating in the run-up to the wedding. We were never worried about anything knowing we were in great hands! A massive thank you to all the staff at the Great Southern. You all really made the day for us, and we are so grateful!
We look forward to a visit very soon!

Thanks again,
Sarah & Eric Hegarty

Review submitted on Tue, 21st of December, 2021

downs!

In the month leading up to the wedding, we had many conversations and emails to ensure everything would run smoothly. No job was too big or too small and every request was met with positivity. In every meeting with the staff, we came out with the feeling of certainty that we wouldn’t need to worry about a thing on the day of the wedding. The standards of professional service were just unbeatable!

We got fantastic tips from Denise about the week of the wedding to eliminate stress. We were able to drop off lots of our stationary/ signage etc a few days beforehand and everything was perfect on the day. We did not have one moment of stress from once we arrived at the hotel the day before the wedding until we left three days later.

The venue was stunning on the day, the suppliers were all looked after so well and the guests were treated like royalty. The warmth of the staff was mentioned to us every time we had a conversation about our wedding since our big day. Another thing that was praised by every guest was the food! Every dish was absolute perfection! People were so impressed when they were offered seconds of fillet steaks or sea bass and every guest was accommodated for their dietary requirements in a very discreet manner.
No matter what our guests asked for, they were accommodated. Even when our friends brought their 13-day old baby with them, the staff guided them to an area that was quiet so that the baby could sleep.

The structure of the day was coordinated so well by staff that we never had to think about time or worry about running late for any element of the day. The great Southern do 5 star weddings! Thank you all so much! If only we could do it all again!

Review submitted on Thu, 16th of December, 2021

special.

The menu is quite vast, and the food is beautiful. The wine and drink choices were also fantastic. The staff team is amazing. Our wedding coordinator, Denise, has incredible knowledge to make our day perfect in every detail. Jillian and her team made the day smooth and beautiful. Our guests cannot stop praising our wedding and the excellent service they had during the entire day and day after. The hotel is also so beautiful that we decided to take our engagement and wedding shots at the gardens. It was the best decision ever! The photos are amazing, and we got to spend more time with our guests too.

Thank you for making our day so special. As we believed and heard from many of our guests, it was better than any fairy tale. We highly recommend Great Southern as a perfect wedding venue.

Review submitted on Thu, 16th of December, 2021

wedding was made stress free. Obviously, with Covid, there were last-minute changes to the table plan, but the Great Southern were able to accommodate this with ease.

The day itself ran seamlessly from the welcome reception right through to the end of the night. Nothing was too much trouble. The drinks reception in the garden was fantastic, and we were blessed by the fabulous weather. The food and wine for the meal were delicious, which was echoed by our guests. Our guests have complimented the venue on several occasions. We could not have asked for much more. Thank you so much to the team at the Great Southern. It was the most perfect day!

Kind regards,
Mark & Katie

Review submitted on Thu, 16th of December, 2021

always dreamed of having my wedding in Great Southern but never did I think it would be on the level it was.

Every person who attended the wedding praised how fabulous the hotel was. The food was such a hit that people are still craving it. We left saying this will be our forever holiday hotel because the memories are just so amazing.

Thank you so so so much for making our dreams a reality. It was definitely no easy task with COVID.

We are looking forward to visiting the hotel as soon as we can.

The very best wishes,

Anthony and Valerie McGuire

Review submitted on Thu, 16th of December, 2021

would turn out. However, with Denise's attention to detail particularly in the lead up to the wedding, no stone was left unturned. She completely put our mind at ease on every aspect of the reception in the Great Southern from smaller things such as advice on the layout of the room to advice on what additional extras are most appealing to guests. We couldn't speak more highly of Denise and the support she gave to us throughout the process of organising our wedding.

This support continued on the day itself where Denise was everywhere at once! Everything went so smoothly under Denise's and Jadwiga's watchful eyes. From the beautiful breakfast in the bridal room prior to the ceremony, the drinks reception, and most importantly the meal itself, everything was done to the highest possible standard. We honestly couldn't have asked for more. We got fantastic comments from our friends and family about the food, but not only about the meal but also the canapés and scones served during the drinks reception which went down a treat! The fantastic service overall in the hotel was noted by all of our guests. We were delighted as we saw first hand the effort the staff went to meet ours and our guests' needs. The service really was to a very high standard and exceeded all expectations. Finally, we were thrilled that we decided to have a BBQ in the gardens the next day. We got so many compliments on the high quality of food served, the staff and how accommodating the staff were. Jadwiga kept up the high standard from the day before! The space was laid out beautifully and it really showed off the wonderful setting of the hotel which really is a sight to behold.

Review submitted on Thu, 16th of December, 2021

itself.

The staff of the hotel are incredible. From the minute we walked in the door until we left, they were nothing but welcoming and so helpful. They couldn’t have done enough for our guests and us. Everything on the day itself surpassed all our expectations. From the drinks reception to the amazing meal, we were blown away!
Our guests have not stopped saying how amazing the hotel, staff and food were.
We honestly had the best day ever, and it’s all down to the amazing staff of the Great Southern. We can’t wait to come back again soon, and we look forward to celebrating other weddings there as we know you’ll have a few bookings as a result of our wonderful day!

Thanks again to you all,
Úna & James x

Review submitted on Thu, 16th of December, 2021