From the large stately homes to quaint cottages, Ireland has them all dotted amongst some of the most beautiful landscapes in the world. Over the past year, I have had the pleasure of working at over 30 incredible venues in Ireland. It really is one of the things I love the most about my job, I get to travel the place that I call home and see lots of the hidden gems that makes someone’s day even more special.
What to look for in your perfect venue?
Selecting the perfect venue can be a real hair puller, it’s the biggest expense and dictates many of the other factors of your day so it’s important to get it right. However there is no need to panic, Ireland has a plethora of options for venues, suitable for every price range, so you’re not stuck for choice and if you ask yourself a few questions you will be able to narrow this down quickly. Ask yourself these:
1. What type of ceremony do you want? A church wedding? Humanist, Spiritualist?
This isn’t always something that couples consider at this stage, but it can really impact where your venue will be. If you want to get married in a church, you will need to make sure there is one close to the reception and that both are perfect for your vision of your special day. My biggest advice is to try and limit travel on a wedding day. It can really eat into your time and can result in time constraints for getting your photos and your drinks reception. No more than 20 minutes to your venue would be ideal. If you don’t want a church wedding, then you need to ensure the venue can accommodate a ceremony and decide whether you wish for separate ceremony and reception rooms or if one room can be easily altered to allow for both.
2. How many guests do you have?
You may love a venue but if it is too small for your wedding then it isn’t going to work! While having a room that perfectly fits your guest list may seem ideal it’s always nice to have a little extra space for your guests to move around.
3. What is your budget?
Having a realistic budget in mind will allow you to rule out any venues before you visit them. You don’t want to fall in love with a venue only to find out you can’t afford it. Be aware of extra costs as well, some venues will come with catering, chair rental even centrepieces included in the price while others will charge for room only.
Most importantly go to the venue and experience it, ask if you can call just before a wedding so you can see how it looks set up. You need to make sure that you love not just the venue itself, but the staff also. Nothing can make up for horrible service. If the venue will be providing the catering, then try the food too, you want to make sure it’s super tasty.
So here are some of my suggestions, these are all venues that I have found great to work in on the day and my couples have loved also. However, it is mostly my opinion, hopefully, it can give you some ideas of places that you would like to check out.
My Top 5
- Castle Leslie
It isn’t very often that I spend an hour gathering establishing shots, however when I arrived here, I was overwhelmed by the beauty and I just couldn’t stop shooting. Situated on the outskirts of the small town of Glaslough in County Monaghan, this rustic original castle is nestled amongst ancient forests and even a lake. One of only a few castles to remain with the original family, the Leslie’s still live on the estate to this day. The castle has now been refurbished and converted to a luxury hotel while still maintaining that original character that makes it so awesome. The perfect place to celebrate your day.
Castle Leslie also has the option of spending your full day here. You can get married amongst the pristine gardens looking off across the lake in the background and move into the castle itself for the remainder of your day. There are numerous, incredible places to get your photos taken on site. Rain or shine you can be guaranteed to get some truly stunning shots here. Who could ask for a better backdrop for your ceremony and photos?
Being a hotel, you can also have all your guests close meaning no need for late-night buses or taxis. You can even get ready yourself in the castle with places like the West Wing, a massive 2 storey suite, where you will have all the space needed to get pampered and prepped for your day.
2. Tankardstown House
In 2021 I had the pleasure to work in Tankardstown House for the first time. Another gorgeous venue, this stately home is placed in private gated grounds meaning you will really feel secluded with your family and friends on the day.
With the incredible weather we got to have an intimate outdoor ceremony in the walled garden it was hard to imagine a more perfect setting for the bride and groom. Framed either side by large trees, the perfect symmetry of the garden is hard to beat.
My favourite part of the venue had to be the dining hall. A large conservatory roof floods the space with lots of natural light. No dark and moody vibes here, everything is light and airy, with plenty of room and a bar in the same room, always a plus.
The staff on the day are awesome, keeping things running smoothly, nothing is an issue, and they are always there to help. An awesome venue for your wedding.
3. Kilkea Castle
I remember pulling up to this venue and immediately thinking “Damn, that’s a proper castle”. With massive stone parapet walls, tall towers and arches to enter, this really does feel like something from Game of Thrones.
With 140 bedrooms ranging from castle bedrooms to self-catering lodges, there is plenty of room for you and your guests to stay. They also can cater for both indoor and outdoor ceremonies on site however the local town isn’t far away if you have a church wedding in your dreams.
A unique selling point of the castle is its ability to cater for weddings both large and small. The grand Baronial Hall has space for over 200 guests while intimate weddings can take place in the castle itself. You will be treated like royalty throughout your day by the incredible staff. This is a venue to really feel like a princess for the day.
4. The Wool Tower
Taking a step away from the large extravagant venues we now move to the wool tower, a quirky venue which simply oozes character. Seriously, it’s impossible not to love this place! A step closer to home for me in Ballymena, County Antrim however when the Irish weather plays ball you really could be anywhere in the world.
Set in a real converted mill, the room for dinner has incredible brick walls, large wooden beams, this is really my vibe. With the option to bring in your own caterer you really can work to any budget here.
There is also lots of room to roam around. Your guests can enjoy the setting and you can get photos with that rustic, industrial look or head to the river for a more countryside feel. This venue really has it all and the team to pull it all together.
5. The Green Holiday Cottages
This is a venue that I got to shoot towards the end of Summer 2021 and honestly had never heard of. I soon found out that this was because it was only with restrictions in 2020 that they decided to change things up and start doing weddings. If you like a rustic country look then you will love here. Set in a part of the world that I truly think is the most beautiful, you can see the mountains and the sea on your wedding day with the Mournes in the backdrop.
Take a walk along the river path and cross the steppingstones to find a barn where you, your friends and family can eat and drink the night away. It really does feel like it is just you and the mountains here, and I love it.
