Frequently Asked Questions

How does the awards process work?

There are four stages to the awards process:

Nomination stage: fill in your nomination form and pay to enter.
Voting stage: at the start of the voting stage you will be sent a link to share so your supporters can vote for you.
Finalist stage: those with the most votes in each category go forward as finalists. You then complete a submission form with examples of your work, answering questions relevant to your category. This goes before an independent panel of industry experts for judging.
Winners are announced at our Gala Awards Ceremony.

Do I need to be a member of weddingsonline to enter?

No, nominations are open to all wedding suppliers and venues. You do not have to be a client of weddingsonline to enter; they are industry-wide awards.

Can an agency enter "Band of the Year" or "DJ of the Year"?

No. If you are an agency or have multiple line-ups under a single brand you have to enter an individual band or DJ that only plays one gig per night. We will create a separate "Entertainment Agency" category if we have enough entrants for it.

What venues qualify for the Boutique Venue category?

Venues with a maximum guest capacity of 80 or fewer may enter this category.

Can a company enter an individual category?

Yes, but you have to nominate an individual from within your company.

What if I can't find a category that suits me?

At the end of the category list you can choose "I can't find my category" and suggest a new one. We will review your suggestion, and if we have another two entrants for that category we will create it for you.

How many entrants are needed for a category to go forward?

A minimum number of entrants are needed in each category before the voting stage goes live for it to go forward. If there aren't enough entrants in your category, we will contact you and offer another category option or a full refund.

Is it just past couples that can vote for me?

No, you may generate votes from friends, family, future couples, staff and so on. There is only one verified vote per email address.

If I have won previously, do I have a chance of winning again?

Absolutely. We have a team of independent judges who are looking for the best wedding businesses out there based on the criteria we have given to them. There are always some previous winners and some first-time winners, and we would imagine that to be the case again.

Will I get to see how I am performing during the voting period?

No, the shortlist will be announced as per the timeline, and vote totals are not disclosed.

Can I talk to the weddingsonline team about my entry or submission?

Yes, you may contact us at awards@weddingsonline.ie.

Can a hotel enter the Restaurant category?

Only if the restaurant is run as a separate business entity.

When will I find out if I am a finalist?

We will announce the list of finalists the week after voting closes, by email and via social media.

What happens next if I am a finalist?

We will email you a link to the online submission form. You must fill this out to the best of your ability, carefully reading and answering the questions.

When does my submission have to be in?

The submission deadline is published on the timeline each year.

Will I get a receipt to acknowledge my submission has been received?

Yes, you will receive an automated email letting you know it has been received.

If I have entered more than one category, will one submission do for all?

No, you must fill out a submission form for each category you have entered, with different examples of your work to showcase for each category.

If I'm not on Facebook, Instagram or other platforms, will I lose marks in the social media section?

No. It's not the quantity of social media platforms that is assessed, but the quality and recency of the activity.

How are my reviews assessed?

Reviews are scored based on quality, quantity, recency and relevance. Wedding-related reviews should be on a trusted third-party website such as weddingsonline, Facebook, Google, Trustpilot or Tripadvisor, and not on your own website. You will be awarded maximum points if you achieve the following:

Your reviews are on a third-party review platform
You have 65 reviews in the last 4 years
Your average score is 4.6 or more out of 5
You have 5 reviews in the last 3 months
You have 10 reviews in the last 6 months
A minimum of 5 of your reviews have images with them
You have responded to 75 reviews all-time

Points are deducted for negative reviews in the last 2 years.

How does the judging process work?

There is a very clear scoring mechanism for the independent judges that helps them choose winners in each category. We always set the judges the challenge of "Who would they book if they were getting married?" based on the submissions, website, social media and reviews. Once businesses make the shortlist (based on the public vote), the awards are scored as follows:

60% based on your online submission
20% based on your website and social media
20% based on your online reviews

When will I find out if I have won?

The winners are announced at the gala dinner.

Can I come to the awards ceremony if I am not a finalist?

Yes, all venues and suppliers are welcome to join us to celebrate the best in the wedding industry!

If I can't attend the gala event, can I still win?

Yes of course. The decision of the judges is made well in advance of the gala event. If you are unable to attend we will notify you of your achievement the morning after, and there are live updates across all our social media platforms on the night announcing winners as they happen.