St Valentine: the saviour of weddings...

WEDDINGS are all about romance and this is a time of year when Valentine’s Day takes centre stage. But who was St Valentine and how did he become a wedding symbol for centuries?

Born in Terni, Italy, St Valentine was a Roman priest during the reign of Emperor Claudius. Claudius prohibited the marriage of young men as he believed this made them better soldiers. Valentine ignored this and decided to marry young couples in secret, thus upholding his standing as a true purveyor of all things romantic.

Valentine was imprisoned for conducting wedding ceremonies against the wishes of the Emperor and in 270 AD was sentenced to death.

He was later honoured with the title ‘St Valentine of Rome’ to distinguish him from the thousands of other men name Valentine. He was martyred on February 14 in the third century AD.

Since the Middle Ages St Valentine has withstood the march of time and he remains an icon for weddings (even if flowers, cards and chocolates are far removed from the original story!) His stance on marriage is not widely known, but St Valentine is very much its saviour.

SHEILA and the team at The Charleville Park Hotel are delighted to invite couples who are looking for a stylish venue to contact them for a show around.

The wedding team can meet couples in the evening or at weekends also - whatever suits your schedule.

Come and view the newly styled Garden Suite, the perfect venue for a Civil Ceremony or Drinks Reception.

View the stunning Deepark Suite with Crystal Chandeliers and Mood Lighting, and the romantic Bridal Suite.

Hear about the specials on offer for 2020 Christmas Weddings and our all new Summer & Winter Vibes Packages.

To arrange a show around simply contact the team on 063 33700 or email weddings@charlevilleparkhotel.com.

For full details of their wedding packages and everything the team can do for your special day- visit www. charlevilleparkhotel.com.

-Awarded- 2019 Cork Wedding Venue of The Year at The Brides of Limerick Awards