Civil Weddings  

The Pontoon Bridge Hotel is one of the leading civil wedding venues in the west of Ireland. We are delighted to confirm that we have a number of confirmed locations suitable for romantic civil ceremonies depending on the size of your wedding which are listed below.  

We have the Grace Kelly Suite which is ideal for the smaller ceremony and can hold up to 50 guests and has its own red carpet entrance for arrival of the bride.

The Private intimate Terrace Restaurant is ideal for your wedding ceremony and has captivating views of Lough Conn and can hold up to 60 guests with spectacular views of Lough Conn & access to the Decking area.

We also have the lovely spacious Mayo Room which can hold up to 150 guests for the ceremony and has views of the garden.

We have the Terrace Restaurant, Twin Lakes Restaurant & Connaught Room for your wedding meal subject to your requirements and availability

Chair covers and Sash’s are complimentary for your wedding ceremony and we also provide fresh flower arrangements for the altar.

All ceremonies are tailored to your requirements and please contact one of our wedding co-ordinators which can help make your wedding day unique and special.

Civil Wedding Ceremonies Frequently Asked Questions 

How long in advance should we apply?

Applications should be made to the Civil Registration office at least three months before the wedding, however it is advisable to apply as far in advance as possible to guarantee requested dates.. You can check with the Pontoon bridge Hotel for available dates before meeting with the registrar. Once you have met with the registrar you will be given a declaration forms for which the hotel will have to sign for you and the hotel. Will adhere to the standards set by the Civil registration office. Unfortunately no food or beverage may be served or consumed in the ceremony room for one hour before, during or one hour after the ceremony.

The ceremony take roughly around 15-20 minutes however you can have readings poems and music to suit your taste throughout the ceremony

What is a Civil Wedding Ceremony?

A Civil Wedding Ceremony is a legally approved marriage ceremony that contains no religous aspects. 

What do we need to do to have our Civil Ceremony at the Pontoon Bridge Hotel?

The first step the wedding couple must take is to apply for approval to the Health Service Executive Civil Registration office. Our Local Civil Registration office is based in Castlebar and Carmel Gallagher is the lady in charge and you can contact her on the following number

Please note that the civil ceremonies are only held midweek Monday-Friday they do not operate on Saturdays or Sundays

We can work with your own civil celebrant or are happy to make a recommendation to suit your service requirements.

Please contact our sales team on +353 (0)94 9256120 or email : This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it to discuss your requirements.

 

Would you consider the possibility of coming west to a beautiful lakeside hotel where you can have the a to z of your wedding all in the one spot ?  

Here in Pontoon Bridge Hotel, Pontoon, Co. Mayo you can stay the night before your wedding, get the tan and nails etc done in Serene Beauty salon.  Enjoy a nice dinner in Twin Lakes Restaurant and then entertainment in the waterfront bar , with your families - all the day before the wedding.  The morning of the wedding, get ready at your leisure, have your hair and makeup done in house at the beauty salon, a bottle of bubbly and have the photographer take the pre wedding photos on the rooftop deck or in the bridal suite with your bridesmaid or family members.  The groom can be downstairs patiently waiting for you with his groomsman over a toasty sambo in the lobby or bar (dare I suggest the bar!)
The ceremony can take place in one of 3 places (1) The Grace Kelly Suite (2) The Mayo Room (3) The Terrace - numbers would dictate the location.  The registrar would travel from Castlebar (10 miles away) and the ceremony itself would take about 15-20 minutes.  You would have no transport to arrange for anyone as they would all be here in Pontoon Bridge Hotel onsite.
After the ceremony we offer you a complimentary drinks reception, you mingle and have your photographs taken. Pontoon Bridge Hotel is photographers heaven as you have access to the beach, lawns, jetty and the 2 decks.  Then we invite you to enjoy a sumptuous meal where you can look out at the panoramic views of Lough Conn.  After the cake cutting, meal and speeches you can decide to have your own entertainment or you can chill out and relax in our lovely hotel facilities.  Have a look through our website to see the deck out from the waterfront bar where you could spend hours enjoying good views, good company and good fun.
We can offer you the bridal suite plus 2 other superior rooms free of charge on a BB basis for the night of the wedding (depending on wedding size) .  We have discount rates for your guests attending the wedding.  If you are interested in a 2 BB +1 dinner packages or more we can design these to suit your needs.  All guests staying in the hotel can have complimentary use of the rooftop hot tub and sauna.

The day after the wedding a BBQ is a popular option - served out on the deck.  We have various menus available and start from €14 upwards or indeed finger food buffet options from €8.50 upwards.

Please do contact us This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it   if this interests you in any way
 we look forward to hearing from you. 
Breeta Geary   Tel +353.949256120

 

 

The Lakeside Garden for blessings

Over looking Lough Conn the Lakeside garden is idea for Summer and fine day civil weddings.

 

What is Blessing?
A Blessing is a short ceremony that takes place after the official civil ceremony.Unlike the marriage itself a blessing is not legally binding

What does a Blessing Involve?
A Blessing involves a reading, a hymn song or prayer and can be customised to your preferences
If your going for a formal religous blessing, it must be performed by a priest.
We can work with your priest or we can make a recommendation.

When can we have a Blessing?
There is no time limit on when you can have a blessing. It is customary for it to happen on the day itself or very soon after the wedding.

How do we organise a Blessing?
When organising a blessing, the first thing you need to do is to speak to the person you want to give it. They should be a recognised official of whatever church or tradition you favour and then get in contact with our wedding co-ordinator

The garden is the most popular choice for a blessing, as blessings can take place outside weather permited but as blessings are quite short and are not time restricted it is normally always possible however with our unpredictable Irish Weather we do have a few rooms which are ideal also.
Chair covers and Sash’s are complimentary for your blessing and we also provide fresh flower arrangements for the altar. All ceremonies are tailored to your requirements and please contact one of our wedding co-ordinators which can help make your wedding day unique

Humanist Weddings

What are Humanist Weddings?
Traditionally most weddings were held in churches. The alternative was a registry office. Today, many couples do not want a religious service but want more than a registry office. For these couples a Humanist wedding offers the ideal solution.

Where can they take place?
Humanist weddings can be held anywhere - indoors or out in the open. Many couples choose to hold their ceremony in a hotel, country house or castle; others simply use their own garden. Some are held overseas - every year the list of venues gets longer.

When can they take place?
Humanist weddings can be held any day of the week. This is in contrast to registry office ceremonies which can only be held Monday to Friday. Humanist weddings can be conducted at any time of the day. They are often a little later than other weddings as there is usually no travel necessary from ceremony to reception.

How to we go about organising a Humanist Wedding?

Humanist weddings are easy to arrange - simply make contact by email or phone
If you are interested in Humanist ceremonies, please contact the Ceremonies Co-ordinator  

Mobile (cell): +353 (0)863848940
email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

What are they like?

Humanist wedding ceremonies are composed individually to suit the couple’s specific requirements.  However they generally follow a generic pattern.The bride usually arrives in the traditional manner (but she doesn’t have to!) after which the celebrant says some words of welcome. After this there will be a mix of readings and music interspersed with appropriate words from the celebrant. Vows are made and rings are exchanged and then the celebrant will usually say some closing words before the happy couple leave amidst music and applause from their guests. Some couples like to light candles or have some other symbolism; others prefer a simpler, more straightforward ceremony. There are no rights and wrongs - the only real guidelines are that the ceremony should be secular and dignified.
Note: At present Humanist weddings do not carry legal status in Ireland and couples should make their own arrangements in this regard.
The garden is the most popular choice for the Humanist ceremony however we do have our own private peach which is ideal also as the Humanist ceremony vary for every couple, they are quite personlised informal ceremony

Same Sex Marriages

The bill to implement the Civil Partnership Bill within the Social Welfare system passed through the final stages of Goverment approval on friday 17th of December 2010 and same sex couples will now be able to apply from early January 2011 with a three month notice period of their intention.

It is understood the HSE registra will be able to legally register a same sex couple at approved venues and I am delighted to say that we have been approved.

There is no actual ceremony involved and its a case of a couple signing an agreement in the presence of the registrar, indicating their desire to register as being partners. Ireland is now the perfect Same Sex Destination Wedding Location for the first time.094-9023249

What is a Same Sex Civil Wedding Ceremony?
A Civil Wedding Ceremony is a legally approved marriage ceremony that contains no religous aspects. 

What do we need to do to have our Same Sex Civil Ceremony at the Pontoon Bridge Hotel?
The first step the wedding couple must take is to apply for approval to the Health Service Executive Civil Registration office. Our Local Civil Registration office is based in Castlebar Tel (094) 9023249
 Please note that the Same  Sex civil ceremonies are only held midweek Monday-Friday they do not operate on Saturdays or SundayApproval is granted to each individual marriage on a case by case basis and is determined by a member of the Health Services Executive Registration office. A member of this team will meet the wedding couple and review their application. When they are satisfied with the hotel and the wedding couple meet their requirements approval is then granted.

How long in advance should we apply?
Applications should be made to the Civil Registration office at least three months before the wedding, however it is advisable to apply as far in advance as possible to guarantee requested dates.. You can check with the Pontoon bridge Hotel for available dates before meeting with the registrar. Once you have met with the registrar you will be given a declaration forms for which the hotel will have to sign for you and the hotel. Will adhere to the standards set by the Civil registration office.

There is a notification fee of €150. Which must be paid at the first meeting with the member from the Civil Registration office.

There is also a charge of €24.45 an hour for the registrar on the day of the ceremony.

The Registrar is required to be in the building for one hour before and one hour after the ceremony.

Can my guests have a glass of champagne during the ceremony?

Unfortunately no food or beverage may be served or consumed in the ceremony room for one hour before, during or one hour after the ceremony.

How long do the Ceremonies take?

The ceremony take roughly around 15-20 minutes however you can have readings poems and music to suit your taste throughout the ceremony

We can work with your own  celebrant or are happy to make a recommendation to suit your service requirements.

Please contact our sales team

on +353 (0)94 9256120 or email : This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it to discuss your requirements.

How will approval be granted to us?    

Approval is granted to each individual marriage on a case by case basis and is determined by a member of the Health Services Executive Registration office. A member of this team will meet the wedding couple and review their application. When they are satisfied with the hotel and the wedding couple meet their requirements approval is then granted.

How will approval be granted to us?

What does the hotel have to do? 

How much does the Registration cost?

What does the hotel have to do?   

Can my guests have a glass of champagne during the ceremony?

How long do the Ceremonies take?