As part of our Win a £35,000 Dream Wedding at The Wedding Journal Show Belfast, we have return business class flights with Ethiopian from Dublin Airport to Zanzibar to giveaway!

Award-winning Ethiopian Airlines has been operating from Dublin since May 2015.  On the Dublin route, Ethiopian operates the technically advanced Boeing Dreamliner.  On board is ambient mood lighting that changes with the time zones, cleaner cabin air, each seat with a personal touchscreen tv, plus ample space to move around.

Ethiopian operates to 121 international destinations with 64 of those across Africa.  Destinations include South Africa, Kenya, Tanzania, Seychelles, Madagascar, Namibia, Asia, and the Americas.

The idea that flying should always feel special has inspired a new class of travel aboard Ethiopian’s, ‘Cloud Nine’ service and you will get to experience this for yourself as you enjoy a relaxing start to your idyllic honeymoon in Zanzibar.

How To Enter

It’s so simple – All you gotta do is purchase a ticket to one of our Wedding Journal Shows this Spring. Click HERE for discounted tickets!

The post Win a £35,000 Wedding: Fly With Ethiopian Airlines appeared first on Wedding Journal.

Courtesy of the fantastic team at Ethiopian Airlines, our lucky winners will be flying business class from Dublin Airport to Zanzibar, Tanzania. The award-winning Ethiopian Airlines is the fastest growing airline in Africa with a SKYTRAX World Airline rating of four-stars awarded for consistent quality in passenger service and experience.   

Travel In Style

On the Dublin route, Ethiopian operates the technically advanced Boeing Dreamliner. On board is ambient mood lighting that changes with the time zones, cleaner cabin air, each seat with a personal touchscreen tv, plus ample space to move around. In Ethiopian’s business class, called ‘Cloud Nine,’ the seating is in a 2:2:2 configuration with lie-flat seats that will help you relax and sleep should you so wish. As you take your seat, our crew will present you with an a glass of champagne to welcome you on board along with a menu offering a variety of meal choices to suit all palates plus an accompanying wine list with premium wines from around the globe.

Fly With Africa’s Leading Airline

Now in its 74th year of operating, Ethiopian is recognised as one of Africa’s leading carriers operating to 121 international passenger and cargo destinations across five continents.  Ethiopian‘s network continues to expand with destinations including Zanzibar, Seychelles, Botswana, South Africa, Kenya, Madagascar, Mozambique, Zambia and Tanzania. They are so excited to partnering with us once again, for two more lucky newly-married couples!

You Could Win…

Two round trip business class tickets from Dublin to Zanzibar with award-winning Ethiopian Airlines. Taxes Included.

Terms & Conditions

Travel dates are from 13th January 2019 and valid for one year. Blackout travel dates are 01 July – 25 August, 01 December – 08 January.   

Your preferred travel dates are subject to flight seat availability but Ethiopian will do all to facilitate initial request.

Tickets are non-transferable and will only be issued to the email address provided by Wedding Journal Online. Tickets have no cash value, are non-refundable, and cannot be transferred to another airline.

Winners must have a full passport valid for at least six months at time of travel.  Any necessary visas are the winner’s responsibility to arrange if required for your destination.

Reservations must be made and tickets issued before 30 June 2020. Bookings not completed before this deadline cannot be honoured.

Once ticketed, further changes may incur a fee.

Ethiopian reserves the right to change its schedule at short notice and in such event passengers will be notified by email.

How To Enter

It’s so simple – All you gotta do is purchase a ticket to one of our Wedding Journal Shows this Spring. Click HERE for discounted tickets!

The post Win A €35,000 Wedding: Fly In Style With Ethiopian appeared first on Wedding Journal.

Award-winning Ethiopian Airlines is the fastest growing airline in Africa with a SKYTRAX World Airline rating of four-stars awarded for consistent quality in passenger service and experience.   

Luxury Travel

With aircraft an average age of five years, Ethiopian operates one of the youngest fleet in the aviation industry.  On the Dublin route, Ethiopian operates the Boeing 787 Dreamliner, credited with taking flying to another level of comfort.  On board are the larger picture windows and at the press of a button you can adjust the brightness of your window from fully transparent to completely dim.  To help your body adjust to different times zones the LED lighting changes. The advanced technology on board also means the in-cabin pressure simulates an elevation of just 6,000 feet, that’s a 20 per cent reduction over similar aircraft. The benefits are symptoms like dehydration, nausea, and lack of energy, commonly referred to as jet lag, are substantially reduced making flying the Dreamliner a healthier and more comfortable experience. 

Fly With Africa’s Leading Airline

Now in its 73rd year of operating, Ethiopian is recognized as one of Africa’s leading carriers operating to 121 international passenger and cargo destinations across five continents.  Ethiopian‘s network continues to expand with destinations including Zanzibar, Seychelles, Botswana, South Africa, Kenya, Madagascar, Mozambique, Tanzania and Zambia.   

The Prize

Two round trip business class tickets from Dublin to Zanzibar with award-winning Ethiopian Airlines. Taxes Included.

Terms & Conditions

 Travel dates are from 06 October 2019 and valid for one year. Blackout travel dates are 01 July – 25 August, 01 December – 08 January.   

Your preferred travel dates are subject to flight seat availability but Ethiopian will do all to facilitate initial request.

Tickets are non-transferable and will only be issued to the email address provided by Wedding Journal Online.  Tickets have no cash value, are non-refundable, and cannot be transferred to another airline.

Winners must have a full passport valid for at least six months at time of travel.  Any necessary visas are the winner’s responsibility to arrange if required for your destination.

Reservations must be made and tickets issued before 30 June 2020.  Bookings not completed before this deadline cannot be honoured.  

Once ticketed, further changes may incur a fee. 

Ethiopian reserves the right to change its schedule at short notice and in such event passengers will be notified by email. 

TO ENTER

The Wedding Journal Show Belfast is on at the Titanic Exhibition Centre (TEC Belfast) on Saturday 5th & Sunday 6th October. You can enter to Win a £35,000 Wedding here 

To buy tickets to The Wedding Journal Show Belfast click here

The post Win a £35,000 Wedding: Fly Business Class appeared first on Wedding Journal.

Amanda and Darren won the €35,000 wedding with The Wedding Journal Show Dublin and part of this amazing prize included a luxurious Seychelles honeymoon staying at Raffles Seychelles and flying business class with Ethiopian. Here the newlyweds tell us all about their amazing honeymoon.

‘We were very lucky to win our honeymoon with The Wedding Journal Show. Obviously, the destination was chosen for us and how blessed we were that it was none other than Praslin Island in the Seychelles, we couldn’t have dreamt for a better place to spend seven nights – when you think of a dream holiday on an exotic island – that’s exactly what this was for us.’

READ MORE: A Real-Life Honeymoon in New Zealand

‘We waited five month’s after our New Year’s Eve wedding and travelled to the Seychelles in May. A lot of websites recommended May and November as the best months in the Seychelles, the weather is not too warm, there is not too much of a breeze blowing which makes the seas calmer for swimming/snorkelling and it’s not peak season.

‘It was 28 degrees on average morning and night; during the day when the sun was shining it was a bit higher, so having air conditioning wherever you stay would be a must. We had sunshine every day of the week, there was heavy showers here and there, but they only lasted for five to 15mins or so and then they were gone – there was something comforting about the rain when we were down there…suppose being Irish we are well used to it!

‘The local currency is Seychellois Rupees – approx. 0.065 euro to 1 rupee, we were able to take cash out there from the local ATM’s, so no need to carry loads of cash with us from Dublin.’

Getting There

‘We flew Business Class with Ethiopian Airlines, so we had an easy check in at the Cloud 9 business desk in Dublin airport followed by a couple of drinks and food in the business lounge in Terminal 1. We then embarked on a Dreamliner 787 plane headed for the first leg of three stops which was Madrid.

‘On the plane we were greeted with Champagne and orange juice as we slouched into our spacious pods with their 15-inch screens – “Bohemian Rhapsody” was the movie of choice. A three-course meal along with whatever drinks we wanted followed en route to Madrid, the food was really good and it wasn’t like we were on a plane at all from the moment we took off. The shoulders well and truly dropped and a massive sense of relaxation set in.

‘The stopover in Madrid was for one hour (with no need to leave the comfort of your seat). We then took off for Addis Ababa airport, a seven hour flight. More Champagne followed with another three-course meal before we reclined the seats to the bed position and got some sleep.

‘When we arrived in Addis Ababa a dedicated Cloud 9 passenger bus picked us up, there was no need to check back in here, we simply showed our boarding cards and were directed right into the departure areas. We had a three-hour wait so found the Cloud 9 business lounge to kick back, connect to WiFi and catch up. The final leg was a three-hour flight to Mahé which is the main island in the Seychelles, this flight was on a 737-800, we were greeted with the same reception as before and another three-course menu to feast on which included a buffet trolley of local Ethiopian food – this was really good, so much flavour and spice. The cabin staff were really nice throughout our flights from Dublin to Mahé and couldn’t have done more for us. It was a thoroughly enjoyable experience.’ 

Arriving in the Seychelles

‘Once on Mahé Island we were greeted by a driver who would take us down to the port for our boat trip to Praslin courtesy of Seychelles Tourism, it actually bucketed down rain from the airport to the port which was only a 15min drive (was still approx. 30 degrees), by the time we got our bags checked in for the boat trip the rain had stopped and the sun was beaming again, much to our delight. The boat trip was an hour to Praslin (the second biggest Island in Seychelles), it’s a high speed ferry, so it was a bumpy enough crossing!

‘We arrived in Praslin after a day’s travelling with the sun still shining and a driver to take us from the jetty to Raffles Seychelles a mere 15 minutes away.’

Raffles Seychelles

‘Raffles Seychelles is amazing! When the taxi pulled up to the gated resort on our first evening we couldn’t believe it! As we drove up to the reception our jaws dropped. This was not your regular hotel reception, it was outdoors with a roof, half glass panels surrounded it, with staff sitting at some desks, with a seating area for guests arriving with the most spectacular views out into the sea – we just couldn’t believe how beautiful it was.

‘The general manager came out to greet us while the staff brought us fresh chilled towels to cool down along with a glass of iced tea. Once checked in a golf buggy brought us up a steep path to our Ocean View Villa – another jaw dropping moment when we walked in and took a look around! Once in the main door we walked onto this massive deck, to the left was a large seating area with a table for eating at, we turned to the right and we had our own infinity pool which looked out into the Indian Ocean – fantastic views that never got old. We then opened two large patio doors into our bedroom and adjoining walk-in wardrobe and bathroom, plus we also had an outdoor shower. We felt like celebrities!

‘We had thought about exploring one of the neighbouring islands, La Digue, but everything we needed was here and with two young kids waiting for us at home we took the time to completely relax within the resort itself. As well as two swimming pools, the resort has four separate restaurants, a games rooms, private beach with beds, snorkelling, kayaks, shops, turtles (one was 135 yrs old), gym, spa, yoga, hikes, runs, bikes….the list is endless, it really was five-star all the way!

‘The food was delicious. Breakfast was massive, it had everything! Prosecco to start, fruits, cereals, cheeses, hams, pastas, Indian food, pastries, traditional Irish breakfasts and an Asian stir-fry station (this was our favourite – really good, not something we would normally eat in the morning). The pool bar had a lovely menu also for during the day and for dinner there was plenty of choice between Sushi, Asian or international restaurants – one of the nights we had the special for two which was a whole red snapper with all the trimmings – it was really good and filleted to perfection. The chef had recommended it and didn’t steer us wrong!

‘In fact, all of the staff were very friendly and couldn’t have done enough for us. On our second night the resort had a meet the staff night along with some complimentary cocktails – this was a really good idea and set us up for the week knowing who to approach if we needed anything.

‘The resort is perfect for honeymooners. It is so relaxed and anything you want or need is catered for – exactly what a honeymoon should be all about. In our villa, on an evening of our choosing, we were treated to an indulgent bath. After dinner we arrived back to the lights dimmed, rose petals on the floor which led into the bathroom, where the bath was filled and a chilled bottle of Moet with two glasses sat waiting for us…this was a lifestyle we could certainly get used to!’

What To See & Do

‘On Praslin its either, walk, run, bike or taxi – the island is not that big which for us was perfect, no hustle and bustle, things went at a much slower pace here than Ireland

‘On the first day, we walked up to Cote D’or town and beach, (about a 50min walk) this allowed us get our bearings and get a feel for the locals. We had a lovely lunch up here (local curry) and were able to get some snacks to take back to the villa. Supermarkets are small, but have a good selection and a very well-priced. We got the local bus back which was really cheap.

‘We walked up to the beautiful ‘Anse Lazio’ beach on day two. This was a steep walk but the beach and the views when we got there were well worth it. It is probably the nicest beach we have ever seen, it even had hidden bar called the ‘Honesty Bar’ (historically this was unmanned, so people would go up take a beer and leave the money), so we took a stroll up and had one of the local beers (SeyBrew) – and enjoying breathtaking views. We would highly recommend it for anyone who visits Praslin.

‘Day three, we got a taxi to Vallée De Mai (about 15-20mins from the resort), a UNESCO world heritage site, which is home of the Coco De Mer palm – we joined a group tour around this reserve which was well worth it, the tour only takes about 30 to 40minutes, and our tour guide was very funny and actually made it really interesting.

‘For the last few days, we took full advantage of the resort, sunbathing on the beach, eating, drinking and sleeping! We also enjoyed a couple’s massage in an outdoor room looking out at the sea with the sounds of the sea crashing in against the shore – heaven!’

In Summary

‘We were spoilt from the moment we checked in until the moment we touched down in Dublin airport on May 22^nd – this for us was a once in a lifetime opportunity that we grabbed with both hands and enjoyed every second of it, there is nothing we would have changed about the week itself, we mixed getting some activities in with some pure relaxation whilst drinking and eating all around us – it was paradise on a plate and we lapped it up and had dessert afterwards! We made memories that will last for a lifetime and we cannot thank the Wedding Journal and the prize partners enough for this unbelievable prize.

‘When we spoke with people on our honeymoon and told them that we won it they were so happy for us and kept saying that you never actually meet people that win these types of prizes and are they real at all – well we can vouch that the Wedding Journal prize was well and truly real and delivered on everything they offered.’

Top Honeymoon Tips

‘Look upon it as something that you are only ever going to do once, we found having space between the wedding and the honeymoon gave us a chance to recharge the batteries to take full advantage when it came around. The Seychelles was well worth the day travel there and back, (Business class did help massively with the long distance), the place is amazing full of beautiful beaches, the weather was perfect, there’s no need to get any shots before you travel there, a three hour time difference, plenty to do, good food and the people were very nice. The only regret we have is that we didn’t book for an extra week!’

Honeymoon Highlights

‘Our highlights would be flying business class with Ethiopian, the beauty of Praslin itself and its beaches, the people overall and last but not least Raffles resort – it was pure luxury.’

For help booking your honeymoon click here

The post An Idyllic Honeymoon In The Seychelles appeared first on Wedding Journal.

Ethiopian was first established in 1946 with the intent of bringing Africa together and closer to the rest of the world. Today, Ethiopian serves flies from Dublin to 60 African and 26 international destinations via their hub in Addis Abada. 

Ethiopian, a Star Alliance member, is a multi award-winning airline with a SKYTRAX rating of 4-stars.  Other awards include, SkyTrax ‘Best Airline in Africa 2018,’ TripAdvisor’s ‘Best Business Class in Africa and Indian Ocean 2018,’ and the PAX International Readership Award for, ‘Outstanding Food Service by a Carrier in Africa 2018.’ 

With aircraft an average age of five years, Ethiopian also has the youngest fleet in the industry and on flights operating from Dublin, Ethiopian uses the technically advanced Boeing 787 Dreamliner, an industry leader in the aviation world.       

When you fly from Dublin direct to Addis Ababa, Ethiopian’s hub in Africa, you have a choice of destinations including the Seychelles, Mombasa, Madagascar, Cape Town, Johannesburg, Windhoek, and Victoria Falls.

And with four flights operating each week from Dublin, Ethiopian offers Irish consumers convenience, competitive fares and more choice.  

The Healthy Flying Experience

Ethiopian operates the Boeing 787 Dreamliner on all services from Dublin.  The aircraft is already globally recognized for bringing flying to another level of comfort with its high-spec mood lighting, large picture windows that dim at the push of a button, and its noticeable quietness due to the aircraft generating 60 per cent less noise than standard planes.  

Another feature of the Dreamliner is the lower cabin altitude.  Passengers benefit by absorbing more oxygen into their bloodstream resulting in feeling less dehydrated and more refreshed on arrival at the end destination.  

Combine state-of-the-art aircraft with Ethiopian’s award-winning on board service and you can be assured of a healthy and pleasant flight.   

To book your flight, go to www.ethiopianairlines.com

Fly with Ethiopian & The Wedding Journal Show

Ethiopian are providing business class flights from Dublin to Mahé, Seychelles for both of the winning couples of our ‘Win a Dream Wedding’ competition at the Dublin and Belfast Wedding Journal Shows this January/February 2019.

Be automatically entered into our Win a Dream €35,000 or £35,000 Wedding competition when you buy a ticket to the Wedding Journal Show here. Tickets are available to buy at the door of the Shows and entry can be made on arrival at the Show.

The post Fly Ethiopian…The New Spirit of Africa appeared first on Wedding Journal.

After five years together Amanda Lee and Darren Brennan got engaged on day of her 30th birthday in Bruges in 2013. ‘I thought I was actually going to Portugal, so Bruges was a total surprise for me,’ comments Laura. 

It turned out that Darren had been planning his proposal, ‘I had the bridge I was going to propose on all picked out,’ and Amanda adds, ‘It was so romantic, he took me to this bridge in the evening and told me to make a wish and when I opened my eyes there he was down on one knee with a ring asking me to marry him!’

With plans to marry in 2015, the couple had to postpone because Amanda fell pregnant with their first child, Leila who is now three years old. Then they decided to look at dates again in 2016 and booked for New Year’s Eve 2018 and in the meantime they have also welcomed their second child, another baby girl, Robyn who is six months old.

Amanda and Darren had both come along to the Wedding Journal Show in Citywest Convention Centre in Dublin on Sunday 23rd September, to pick up ideas for finishing touches and while there entered to win the €35,000 wedding. So, receiving a call to say they were successful and through to the live final that day was a total shock and welcome surprise. 

Joining the other sixteen finalists on stage, they were crowned the winning couple after completing a series of fun tasks on stage with 98FM presenters Rebecca Shekleton and Luke O’Faolain. 

As Amanda comments, ’I can’t believe we won. From being selected from hundreds of other entries, to actually having luck on our side when it came to the games – it was obviously meant to be!’

Win this fabulous amazing €35,000 wedding prize, Amanda and Darren can now plan their dream day at Killashee House with the help of venue stylist Melanie Dunny from The Wedding Festival, who alongside Josephine Higginbotham from Wedding Flowers by Josephine will create a dreamy backdrop for the couple’s big day. Between the two of these innovative and creative suppliers, they really will offer Amanda and Lee a truly individual and unforgettable day.

Fiona Todhunter and her experienced team at Fiona Todhunter Bridals have many years of experience and Amanda will be able to choose a gown from Fiona’s own collection or from five international designers in-store. Plus, there is plenty of choice for her bridesmaids as well.

As for Darren and his groomsmen, they will be able to pop along to Remus Uomo in St. Stephen’s Green, Dublin and select from the latest looks in sharply tailored suiting from this leading menswear brand.

Capturing all the memories of their New Year’s Eve wedding are husband and wife photographic team, Laura and Benny Photography. This duo bring their own unique personality to their work, and are always happy to experiment and try out any new ideas the couple might have.

Last, but not least, taking pride of place on the day as well, will be the fabulous £1,000 wedding cake from Claire Does Cake!

As well as all of these prizes to make their wedding day extra special, Amanda and Darren also won business class flights from Dublin to the Seychelles with award-winning airline Ethiopian, ferry transfers from Mahé to Praslin courtesy of Seychelles Tourism and of course a luxurious seven night stay in a Raffles Seychelles, sister hotel to the iconic Raffles Singapore, one of the most legendary hotels in the world! Laura and Ciara will stay in an ocean view pool villa, featuring contemporary interiors, as well as a spacious outdoor pavilion; complete with a day bed and a private plunge pool to soak up the sun and atmosphere! 

Images courtesy of Holst Photography

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