The Facilities for Corporate Groups at Birkhill

September 16th, 2009
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Any good management team knows that corporate retreats and trips are vital to improving employee morale and increasing productivity. In fact, research shows that giving employees time out of the office decreases stress levels and enhances creativity. This article will serve as a guide to some fantastic venues for your next corporate trip.

In Scotland, the Birkhill Castle is a beautiful and inviting retreat for corporate groups. It is just a short drive from St. Andrews, and just an hour from Edinburgh Airport, so travel is convenient to the castle. Birkhill offers several amenities designed for team building exercises, as well as relaxation, including a large dining room, conference facilities, a peaceful garden, and double bedrooms. For bonding and recreation amongst staff members, Birkhill offers a heated swimming pool, a tennis court and a private beach to hang out on, as well as easy access to over 100 golf courses.

Autumn Wedding Venues

September 16th, 2009
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There are many autumn wedding venues from which to choose. Which one will be your dream wedding? Nearly every girl dreams of her wedding day, and of a beautiful and special venue. Many girls envision a traditional church, beautiful white gown with a train, every pew filled with wedding guests, and her long walk down the aisle on the arm of her father as he gives her away. The service is performed by a minister or priest, and it all goes just as planned. As the newly married couple leaves the church, everyone showers them with rice or birdseed as they dash to their vehicle. It’s a lovely thought, and a lovely wedding. But it’s not for everyone!

One type of autumn wedding venue is anything but traditional, and may be even more beautiful still! Have you ever thought about having your dream ceremony in a castle? A dream venue is what it is! No matter what country you live in there is a castle available either in your own country or one that’s very near. There are quite a few castles in the U.S. and Canada, and lots of them in almost every European and Asian nation. Some of them welcome the extra income that hosting weddings provides, and so to guarantee good word-of-mouth advertising, the services that are provided are generally excellent. Contacting the castle’s management company six months to a year in advance is a good rule of thumb. There is no spur-of-the-moment weddings when you have them at a castle. They are in high demand! The service at the castle will usually provide most of what is required for the service, as far as informing you what official will be available to conduct the service, and letting you know what licenses are necessary. Some of them provide reception areas and also can either recommend caterers or will cater the event themselves. Just imagine the unbelievably gorgeous wedding pictures! Unfortunately, a castle wedding is not compatible with all of our budgets.

If you can’t afford to have your wedding in a castle, there is another option for a non-traditional wedding venue that will give you some of the same ambience but at a much more affordable price! Have your wedding at a Renaissance Faire! Many parts of the country have them, and autumn is one of the best times to have a wedding there! Spring weather is too unpredictable, summer is too hot, winter is too cold, but autumn is perfect for an outdoor wedding. Most of the Faires have covered facilities for wedding parties and receptions. The cost is minimal, but the effects are very memorable. You can opt for either traditional wedding clothing or get into the spirit of the Renaissance and dress in period clothing! The princess bride and her handsome white knight husband can be married, have the reception and then go watch the joust!

10 of the Oldest Haunted Castles in UK

September 11th, 2009
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The United Kingdom, consisting of England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, is home to a number of magnificent and majestic castles dating back to medieval times. The majority of these castles are richly steeped in tragic or mystical histories with beautiful, haunting tales. Listed here are 10 of the oldest haunted castles in the United Kingdom with a recount of the ghostly sightings and tragic stories associated with each, as well as a brief history:

Chillingham Castle, England

Located in Northumberland, Chillingham castle was originally a monastery in the 12th century and was upgraded by King Edward III to a fortified castle in 1344. It was used as an army barracks in World War II. In 1980, Sir Humphry Wakefield purchased the castle and began restoration of the structure.

Chillingham Castle by Venvierra.
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It is claimed that the majority of people who entered the castle in medieval times never came out. Screams have been heard at the stroke of midnight from the walls and corridors. Guests of the castle have reported hearing screams and wails, followed by a blue flash of light. The “blue boy” haunted the Pink room of the castle until renovation efforts discovered the bodies of a man and boy inside a wall located in the castle. The ghost of Lady Mary Berkeley is also said to walk the halls in search of her husband who deserted her for her sister.

Dover Castle, England

Situated at a crossing of the English Channel in Dover, the castle has been in existence since Anglo-Saxon times.

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Numerous ghost sightings have been reported at the castle, primarily in the tunnels and towers where male apparitions have been seen walking through the passageways. Banging doors, screams, and moans are commonly heard in the tower sections of the tunnels.

Leeds Castle, England

A picturesque castle located in Kent, Leeds Castle is situated on two small islands by a lake.

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It is said to be haunted by a black dog that roams the grounds. The dog is said to be an omen of death if sighted.

Tower of London, England

On the north bank of the River Thames, the tower served as a palace, a fortress, and a prison for housing royal prisoners. The Tower of London has a history in torture and executions.

Tower Bridge, London by chenebarnard.
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The tower is reported to be haunted by a number of ghosts and is considered one of the most haunted castles in England. In 1536, King Henry VIII had his wife, Anne Boleyn, beheaded in the Tower. Her ghost has been seen leading a Royal Procession near the Queen’s House to her final resting place. Other ghosts seen in the Tower include Sir Walter Raleigh, Thomas A. Beckett, the Countess of Salisbury, and Lady Jane Grey. A number of other ghosts and spirits are said to inhabit the Tower as well.

Windsor Castle, England

Windsor Castle, in Berkshire, is home to the Queen of England and dates back as far as the 11th century. Legends of Windsor Castle include stories of witchcraft, torture, suicides, and a demonic presence seen in the gardens of the castle.

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A number of kings have been sighted at the castle, including King Henry VIII, King Charles I, and King George III.

Caerphilly Castle, Wales

Located in South Wales, Caerphilly castle was constructed in the 13th century. A strong scent of perfume can be detected near the flag tower and a green lady has been seen strolling about the grounds of the castle.

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The ghosts of soldiers have been seen patrolling the area as well. Strange occurrences and a vision of a faceless figure have also been reported.

Cardiff Castle, Wales

With a rich history going back 2000 years, Cardiff Castle in Wales is said to be haunted by the second Marques of Bute, who began reconstruction on the castle in the 19th century, but died before it was completed.

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It is said that he appears in the library and passes through a wall and walks through the hallways to the room where he died.

Conwy Castle, Wales

Situated in North Wales, Conwy Castle was constructed in the late 13th century.

View From The Castle by Mortarman101.
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Legend has it that a male successor of Robert Wynn was called away to war while residing at the castle. As the time of his arrival neared, his wife and child climbed up the lookout tower to watch for his return. As evening emerged and he had not yet returned, they climbed back down the steep stairs in darkness. The woman slipped and she and the child fell to the foot of the stairway. A servant took them to the lantern room and summoned the doctor. In fear of the anger of the master, the servant locked the doctor in the room with the mother and child and fled. When the man returned from war, he found the bodies of his wife and child in the lantern room, but not the doctor. The man is said to have gone crazy and died shortly thereafter. It is said that he continues to haunt the lantern room in search of the doctor.

Edinburgh Castle, Scotland

Built on the non-active volcano, Castle Rock, Edinburgh Castle looks out upon the city and dates back to the 9th century. Attacked frequently, the castle was rebuilt a number of times.

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The ghost of The Lone Piper is said to stroll along the castle’s secret tunnels and the sounds of piping can be heard as he roams the area. A headless drummer has been reported at the castle, as well as a ghostly dog in the cemetary. The spirits of prisoners from the Seven Years War, as well as colonial prisoners from The American Revolution also haunt Edinburgh Castle.

Ballygally Castle, Ireland

Located in Northern Ireland in County Antrim, Ballygally Castle is said to be home to a number of ghosts.


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One of these ghosts, Lady Isobel Shaw, seems to find amusement in knocking on the doors of guest’s rooms and disappearing. Lady Isobel was locked in her room by her husband and jumped out the window to her death.

16 Weird, Wacky & Geeky Wedding Toppers

August 25th, 2009
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There’s nothing that stands out at a wedding reception more than the cake. When many people walk into a reception hall, the first thing they want to see is the wedding cake. Most couples have something nice and delicate and familiar on top of their cake. However, there are a few people who have decided that they need to go all out for their cakes, and thus, we present some very strange and outrageous wedding toppers.

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Have you ever had the fantasy of being a superhero? Many grooms want to feel like a superhero on their wedding day, and they also want to meet up with Wonder Woman on their wedding day. So, what about Hulk and Wonder Woman together?

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For most men, however, it’s fine just being Superman to a lovely bride in a traditional wedding dress; after all, brides can make us all feel pretty special.

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Of course, not everyone can be a superhero, but how many men do you think actually see themselves as Harvey, the giant invisible rabbit?

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I guess it’s much better than being characters from a Star Wars movie. Are these two even of the same species? Oh yeah, men are from Mars, women are from Venus, right?

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Thinking about being on other planets leads us to thinking about flying, and let’s face it, cool as it might be, birds aren’t always the most natural looking things you’ll see, especially ones with long skinny legs like these.

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At least they’re still alive, though. These zombies used to be alive, or so we believe. At this wedding, the entire wedding party dressed as zombies; too bad they didn’t break out and dance to Thriller.

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We’d like to make a statement and say that not all zombies look alike; doesn’t this guy look a lot like Woody Allen?

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These look like zombies to most of us, but in actuality, this is a traditional wedding topper in Mexico, used during the yearly Day of the Dead for couples that wish to get married at that time.

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Of course, robots have never been alive, but in science fiction, sometimes they gain sentience, so why can’t robots get married?

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Coming back to the real world, what do guys like more than almost anything else? Sports! And what’s more perfect than a wife they can enjoy their sports with, right?

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And who says sports has to be nice and calm? Maybe we can bag one with 15 points before we arrive at our honeymoon destination.

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Nothing says all sports have to be played to be enjoyed. As long as you can support your team, it’s all good.

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And just who said that all sports had to keep score at all? Especially if we can have our images custom made for our topper.

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Then again, all some men want is a woman, a motorcycle, and a beer; at least he wore the suit!

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Not all weddings go as planned, but planning for a disaster; now there’s a novel idea.

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And finally, ladies, if your man starts to have cold feet, get in there, drag him out, and have a wonderful wedding day; he’ll be happy one way or another.

A Guide to Arranging a Corporate Event

August 17th, 2009
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Arranging a corporate event does not have to be stressful or overwhelming. There are those who find joy in planning these gatherings, with many choosing to make corporate event planning their career. Companies that often host corporate events may even choose to hire their own event planner: a person who can dedicate their entire working schedule to fine-tuning the specifics of special occasions. Smaller companies or large businesses that rarely host corporate events may choose to outsource the event preparations, but most ask an employee who is already burdened with responsibilities to add one more task to his or her plate. This guide is meant to aid that individual in helping to plan the event smoothly with as little interruption in the regular workday as possible.

Start with a list of questions, such as:

  • Who will be attending? How many?
  • What type of equipment will be needed? Will there be speakers, and if so, what type of presentations will they be giving?
  • Will participants expect food or beverages? Appetizers or a full meal?
  • How long will the event last?
  • How should chairs be arranged? Are tables needed?
  • When is the event occurring? Is there a possibility that weather could obstruct some of the attendees or the event itself?

Once these questions are answered, the event planner should have an excellent idea of where and how to begin making the arrangements.

Very possibly the most important choice when planning a corporate event is the venue. The location of this event must be in keeping with your company’s image and with the event itself. Because it can be very difficult to know if certain venues will be suitable until after the event has completed, it is wise to choose a specialist corporate event venue. Make sure that the venue has the capability to host the number of attendees you expect and can handle any technological needs you may have. Most corporate venues include or will rent chairs and tables, but be sure to find if they have staff available to help with setup.

When it comes to food, consider talking to the chosen venue about catering. Many corporate event locations will either supply catering and wait staff or have close relationships with catering companies. When choosing food, be sure to take special diets into consideration. For large groups, it may be impossible to find something for everyone, but it is wise to have options available for diabetics and vegetarians and to avoid foods that contain nuts, which cause an allergic reaction in many people.

The chosen venue should be able to help with special décor as well. Talk with the venue to find how best to decorate the space and if they have supplies that can be used or if they can recommend a local provider who either sells or rents these items. Many corporate events do not require elaborate decorations, but small touches like chair covers or centerpieces can greatly add to the atmosphere.

Lastly, keep track of all the questions, answers, and decisions made. Use a spreadsheet or a three-ring binder that contains all of the information accumulated. By keeping all the event’s preparations in one easy to find location, planning the next event should be an even easier and more enjoyable experience.

The Benefits of a Scottish Wedding

July 27th, 2009
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Though a wedding is in an of itself a beautiful ceremony in any culture, a Scottish wedding is one that should be considered for its rich ancient tradition and romantic elements.

It all starts with the traditional Scottish outfit with a kilt, Argyll jacket, dirk (short dagger) and sporran (small leather bag resting in the front), bring an aire of class and resplendent distinction to the groom. The bride maintains the seemingly universal tradition of wearing white or a cream wedding gown as if to say, she needs little Scottish adornment to add to her natural loveliness.

Though she may be encouraged to observe some of the old time traditions of the ceremony, like wearing a horseshoe on her arm for good luck and fertility.

The Bridesmaids may wear anything that coordinates with the Mrs. to be with a little tartan (small wool, plaid piece of fabric) accessory of some sort to honor the wedding custom.

Centuries ago, a Scottish wedding was an event for an entire village. Everyone would get wrapped up in the festivities in preparation for the wedding. Then on the day of the celebration townsfolk would gather along the streets to cheer and applaud the couple as they walked to the ceremony location. Much like a modern day parade.

Today, bagpipes have replaced the cheering crowds. The Piper now stands at the door in full highland dress to greet the arriving guests with traditional Gaelic hymns. Instead of an organ, this Piper plays The Highland Wedding tune as she moves down the isle to meet her betrothed.

The exchanging of rings has always been an important part of the Scottish Wedding with great emphasis placed on the no end symbolism of the ring’s form. The kissing of the bride is also the standard conclusion to the ceremony but is almost always followed up by a loud universal “whoop” from the kirk (church).

After the formal ceremony, the centuries old practice was to have a piper or a group of pipers lead the entire wedding party and guests down those same streets to a relatives house or gathering place for an all night party of eating, drinking and dancing. No need to make any adjustments to this tradition!

Scotland welcomes foreigners to experience a Scottish wedding and has a very simple process of registering for that special day. There are a few forms that need to be submitted well in advance to be everything is legal. A form M10 and related witness registration will have to be submitted. Both of which can be downloaded from the internet with stated fee requirements.

Choice of union can be anywhere of your choosing. In Scotland, authorized religious ministers can preside at marriage ceremonies in any location and at any time of day or night. A bit more preparation time is needed if you prefer to use the more formal setting of either a castle or cathedral.

How Wedding Flowers Can Compliment a Wedding Venue

June 22nd, 2009
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Some brides, and most grooms, feel that wedding flowers are not an important component in a wedding and will leave a small or non existent budget for them. This is one of the biggest mistakes you can make when planning your special day. Wedding flowers are one of the best ways to decorate and enhance your wedding venue. Flowers have a magical power that can make a cold and dreary wedding venue feel warm and romantic.

A traditional church wedding can greatly benefit from the right wedding flowers. Any flower arrangement or color can work in a church wedding venue. However, a great way to make your Church wedding more special is with the addition of white flower arrangements or arrangements featuring wildflowers. Brides looking to make the church ooze romance, should incorporate red roses on the pews and around the alter.

More and more weddings are taking place in guesthouses and hotels. These wedding venues are often drab and impersonal. However, adding a few simple wedding flowers can make these places feel more intimate and personal. Make sure to have a beautiful flower centerpiece on every guest table, as well as around the guestbook, and the bar.

Outdoor garden weddings have the added benefit of the natural flowers and plants that grow, but these areas can be transformed into a breathtaking venue with a few wedding flowers. Building an arch with flowers to get married beneath is a classic and beautiful way to accent your outdoor wedding. Creative brides can make floating flower chains by tying single orchids to fishing string and hanging them from trees. An inexpensive way to decorate your outdoor garden wedding venue is to use a variety of live potted flowers around the ceremony and reception site. Small potted flowers can also be used as wedding table centerpieces. Plus, you can use the left over flowers to plant your own romantic garden with your spouse after the wedding.

Even the most decadent of wedding venues, such as castles, need to be enhanced with beautiful wedding flowers. Castles can be large and wedding flowers can combat this feeling. When getting married in a castle, consider using large over the top wedding flower arrangements. Castles call for decadent and extravagant flowers. Small arrangements that would look beautiful in a simpler wedding venue can look cheap and ineffective in a large and expansive venue, such as a castle.

Hunting Game in Scotland

May 29th, 2009
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Scotland is a country home to beautiful rivers, mountains, valleys, and forests. Because it is located near the Gulf Stream, people living here often experience comfortable temperatures. The great weather and terrain is perfect for hunting, as conditions are most always ideal and there is a variety of game to bring home.

Depending on where you hunt in Scotland, you will come across various kinds of game, which one can hunt at different times in the season. What’s special about Scotland is that hunters will bring home more than one species of game in just a short amount of time. The most popular game to hunt for are duck, geese, pheasant, grouse, hare, mountain hare, rabbit, woodcock, partridge, and deer. Hunters may also come across ptarmigan, snipe, and billy goats.

Scotland is a great location to hunt. Not only is there a variety of game, the scenery is beautiful. There aren’t many public places to hunt in Scotland since most of the game land is owned by private estates. Hunting in Scotland is essential to the environment in that it helps control and preserve the many species of animals. Many times, visiting hunters leave with a wide variety of game from just one trip since they have the opportunity to hunt numerous species at certain times of the year. Visitors won’t walk away from hunting in Scotland with just an experience and some game. Scotland is a great place to hunt and while staying, visitors will have a glimpse into Scotland’s culture and take part in traditions, meals, and stories of locals, who are more than hospitable.

There’s a variety of places to hunt game in Scotland. However, the most popular locations include Hawick, Melrose, Dunkeld, Clyde, Loch Awe, Perthshire, Loch Earn, Tyndrum, Newtonmore , Aberdeen, Perth Trophy, Kerriemuir, Lairg, and Sutherland. From acres of flat lands to forests, Scotland is home some of the best and beautiful places to hunt for game.

From mountains to plains, rivers to lakes, Scotland is an ideal hunting spot for many who enjoy the sport. Scotland’s comfortable temperatures, varied terrain, and numerous game make the experience beyond enjoyable. For hundreds of years, Scotland has been loved by hunters from all around the world who have faced challenges and lived up good experiences, all while taking home a variety of game with some good stories to tell back at home.

Why Shooting Trips are Ideal Corporate Trips

May 13th, 2009
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There is nothing that builds business relationships better than heading out into the wilderness on a shooting or hunting corporate business trip. There is something about being away from the busy office and civilization that brings instant relaxation and opens the doorways of communication between business persons. It is refreshing, invigorating and an excellent way to nurture business relationships.

Shooting or hunting trips develop a sense of team spirit. You are united in your goals and encouraging of one another. On the other hand, there is that competitive nature that most business men and women experience to a higher degree, which can be brought along on the trip. As you move together towards the prey, there is a sense of unity and oneness, as well as solidarity. When a shot is fired and the target struck, there is mutual rejoicing for one another or encouragement that the next shot will go better. You are working towards the same goal.

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Shooting trips are a great way to build business communication. If you need to get to know a colleague or potential customer better, taking him out onto the shooting range or for a hunting trip means you are going to get his undivided attention for a time. You can get to know his personality, his likes and dislikes, and his strengths and weaknesses. In this environment people tend to open up a bit more and show their true selves, giving you the opportunity to move in. This also gives him the opportunity to get to know you and you can win him over with your charm and positive personality. Relationships and friendships are built, which encourages loyalty and support of one another. Building memories is helps lay a foundation for the business relationship, making it less likely he will switch to another company. There is a bond established.

Regardless of what type of business you are involved in, taking colleagues or customers out for a relaxing, yet exciting, shooting or hunting trip to build relationships and to relax any corporate tensions is a good idea. Just make sure to ask if your guest enjoys shooting before you make the arrangements.

7 Celebrity Castle Weddings

March 12th, 2009
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Many celebrities are choosing to say “I do” at exquisite and remote castles, a trend that has been on the increase since the turn of the century. A wedding in a castle setting is appealing in several ways: most castles are in remote, hard-to-reach locations, which makes for better privacy, and the ornate historic setting of a castle can make any bride feel like a fairy-tale princess.

Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes

Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes chose Odescalchi Castle in Bracciano, Italy as the site for their November 18, 2006 nuptials. Andrea Bocelli, the noted Opera star, sang at their service.

tom cruise katie holmes wedding

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Madonna and Guy Ritchie

The Castle Skibo in Scotland was the site for Madonna and Guy Ritchie’s December 22, 2000 wedding. This 7,000-acre estate was built in the 1100s and its name means ‘fairyland,’ or ‘place of peace.’

Madonna and Guy Ritchie wedding

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Eva Longoria and Tony Parker

Eva Longoria and Tony Parker were married at City Hall in Paris and had a reception a few days later at the incredible Chateau Vaux-le-Vicomte in France. The evening was capped off by a magnificent display of fireworks.

Eva Longoria and Tony Parker wedding

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Pierce Brosnan and Keely Shaye Smith

Ashford Castle Hotel, located in Ireland, hosted Pierce Brosnan and Keely Shaye Smith’s nuptials in August, 2001. Ashford, a castle-turned-hotel, is nestled among hundreds of acres of beautiful green Irish hills.

Pierce Brosnan and Keely Shaye Smith wedding

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Elizabeth Hurley and Arun Nayar

Elizabeth Hurley and Arun Nayar selected magnificent Sudeley Castle in England as the location for their March 2, 2007 wedding event. Donatella Versace designed Hurley’s wedding dress and was also present at the celebration.

Elizabeth Hurley and Arun Nayar wedding

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Paul McCartney and Heather Mills

Although their ending was most definitely not from a fairy tale, the wedding of Paul McCartney and Heather Mills at the Castle Leslie in Ireland was. The 17th-century castle was the site for their nuptials in June of 2002.

Paul McCartney and Heather Mills wedding

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Rod Stewart and Penny Lancaster

The beautiful Villa Durazzo in Italy was the location for the June, 2007 wedding of Rod Stewart and Penny Lancaster. The rocker’s third marriage to a bride half his age took place in the 17th century castle, which is located on a hill and overlooks the gulf of Santa Margherita.

Rod Stewart and Penny Lancaster wedding

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There are a variety of resources available for the bride who wishes for a castle wedding. ‘The Castle Wedding Planner,’ by Grace Sydney and Paris Permenter, is a complete guide to selecting, budgeting for, and planning a wedding held in a castle setting.

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