2023 Best Wedding Venues in Ireland
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Complete Guide to Finding The Best Wedding Venues in Ireland
What is the cost for 2023 Best Wedding Venues in Ireland and how couples find the best cost-benefit?
Planning to say “I do” on the Emerald Isle? Have you found the love of your life and are now looking for the perfect venue to make it official? Lucky you! From Derry to Dublin, where are so many gorgeous wedding venues in Ireland. Whether you want to get married in a stately castle, five-star hotel, or a quaint little manor, you will be spoilt for choice here!
Ready to find the stage for one of the happiest days of your life? Here is how to choose the best wedding venue for you!
To take the stress out of wedding planning, we have compiled this complete guide to finding the perfect wedding venue for you as you mark the beginning of your married life. If you don’t know where to start, allow this guide to help you make the best choices, when it comes to picking the perfect venue for you!
While the looks of your venue are important, there are many things you will need to consider. Your venue has to be able to accommodate everything from ample parking to easily accessible bathrooms. Asking the right questions will ensure that you find something that will suit you, your other half, and everyone on your guest list.
Remember, it is YOUR special day, so make sure that the wedding venue suits both of your desires. You will avoid additional wedding stress by making choices that reflect your true desires when it comes to the type of wedding you want. If you both desire a smaller intimate wedding, booking a castle that accommodates hundreds of guests may not really suit your needs.
Now, which One Is Right for You?
Ps: All images featured in this post were captured by Bruno Rosa
Ireland is a magical place to get married!
You have the most beautiful natural settings and a choice of so many beautiful venues to have a dream wedding. No matter what your budget, or style, Ireland has the perfect place for you to make it official. Since your wedding venue is key when it comes to creating beautiful images, I‘ve listed venues that I have photographed before and highly recommend. They are divided into categories so that you can find what interests you more easily. If you have always dreamed of getting married in Ireland, you will have so many stunning choices. You can see which one will suit you best based on availability, size, style, location, budget and your preferences.
Here are some things to consider when you are searching for your wedding venue in Ireland:
What kind of wedding venue would suit BOTH of your desires?
If both of you having matching desires it is a lot simpler but if you don’t it is important that you come to a happy compromise. Explore your options - you may end up finding an alternate option that you both end up loving!
Big or a smaller, intimate wedding?
The first thing to determine is whether you would like a small intimate wedding ceremony or a larger one. This will depend on your personal preference as well as the number of people who will be attending your wedding. You can start by making a list of attendees starting with your families, extended families and closest friends. This will give you a good idea of the approximate size of the wedding and you can now narrow your list of options to venues that can accommodate your needs.
Local or destination wedding?
Would you like your wedding to be at a local venue or do you have a destination that you have always wanted for your big day? Once you know where you would like to get married, you can make a list of all the venues in the locality of your choice.
Church, Castle or Hotel?
Once you know the size of your wedding and the local area where you want to get married, you can decide on a type of venue; castle, church, hotel etc. You can then research the wedding venues that are available in your chosen locality and begin to narrow down your options by contacting venues and speaking with wedding coordinators.
Who makes the mark?
Now comes the weeding process and the first step here will weed out many of your choices. You will need to contact potential venues and find out their availability and if they cater to the size of your wedding party. If they pass these two steps, then you can make an appointment to speak with a wedding coordinator to ask more detailed questions before you make a booking to view venues. This is an important step that will save you a lot of time and energy. Once you have this and have asked them the questions below, you will know which ones you would like to book an appointment to view, and then select one as your wedding venue
Size of Your Wedding
The first question you have to ask yourself is about the size of the wedding you would like to have. To narrow down the beautiful wedding venues in Ireland, you need to determine if it’s going to be a grand event or an intimate affair. Sites vary dramatically in size so you will want to have an estimate on the number of guests before you get into any serious planning.
Religious or Secular Wedding
There are so many stunning wedding venues in Ireland (just look at these photos!) and you will have countless options for both religious and secular weddings. Of course, your type of wedding is a very personal choice and it all comes down to preference and belief.
One factor that is set in stone, however, is that you will need to meet set requirements to get married in a Catholic church in Ireland. ACCORD Catholic Marriage Care Service has a comprehensive guide to everything that you will need to secure a church for your big day. It can take a while to get your documents together so plan early and, of course, if you have questions, contact your dream church wedding venue for specific details.
Your wedding coordinator or team.
When you are making inquiries for venues, find out what tasks can be allocated to wedding coordinators to make your wedding planning less stressful. Depending on your budget you can decide what you can have done through a wedding coordinator. Make sure you have all their contact information and you know the availability of everyone who will be assisting you in your wedding preparations.
A few more things to take into consideration:
Are you flexible on your wedding date?
If you have any flexibility at all, take advantage of the best rates you can get from the venue of your choice. Dates that are closer to spring and autumn will cost less get you better value, so ask for the availability and pricing at the beginning and end of the wedding season.
Wedding venues in Ireland will always ask you about your wedding date. Of course, the more flexible that you are on your potential wedding date, the more options that you will have.
Did you know that one in four weddings in Ireland takes place in August and July? On top of that, a whopping 70 per cent of all weddings take place on a Friday or Saturday. That means that if you want to get married on a summer weekend, you will need to plan well in advance.
If you prefer to buck the trends and get married away from the most popular times, most wedding venues in Ireland will give you a bargain price for a wedding in the winter or during the week.
Does the venue offer flexible wedding packages?
You will find that most venues have packages that are pre-set. Some venues offer some flexibility and may be able to modify the packages slightly to accommodate substitutions that you may prefer. If you wanted an extra bottle of wine on the table for your guests instead of something else that they offer in a pre-set package, they may oblige. Or they might allow you to hire your own DJ and offer you more flowers instead. Changes may be possible, even within a great pre-set package price!
All of the wedding venues in Ireland have different policies. Some allow private use of the venue while others do not. You might able to bring in as much of your own décor as you want or you may find that your wedding venue will provide every element. Some have all-weather options while others are more restricted.
The best way to choose a wedding venue is to start a list. Figure out how much control you want over the space and write down everything that is important to you. Each venue will have different policies on privacy, deposits, music, décor, and food.
When you are ready to start seriously looking for wedding venues in Ireland, it’s time to start drooling over pictures online. For the most beautiful castles, churches, hotels, and other wedding venues in Ireland check out these beautiful photos to start on the journey to creating your dream wedding!
Is there a grace period after you have paid the deposit?
Some venues may offer a short grace period and will return the deposit if you have a change of heart soon after you have paid the deposit. It is worth finding out before you book a venue.
Can your guests get to the venue easily?
This is important especially if your guests do not know the local area well or are from out of town. You will want to consider how easily people will arrive by all types of transportation that will be required without getting lost or it costing a fortune. Also, make sure that there will be ample parking available for your guests.
What can the venue supply you with?
Many venues can provide you with décor including chair covers, centrepieces, plates, lights, candelabras and other small items you can use to decorate the venue. This can save you a lot of money, so it is worth finding out what different venues can offer.
How late can you stay?
If you plan on dancing the night away, find out what the curfew is for your venue. Some places offer a bar extension which will give you more time to celebrate, but remember this will be at an additional cost. Keep in mind that you will need to know what these timings when you hire your DJ and photographer and catering services. Arranging for transport after the wedding if required, for yourself and your guests is a good idea!
Do you require privacy?
Some larger venues or hotels may have several weddings at the same time and this could be bothersome if you prefer privacy. Often your wedding party will have to share bathrooms and other common areas. If the grounds are open to the public, it people may take pictures of you so ask ahead if you are not keen on sharing the space with multiple wedding parties and passers-by.
See if your venue can offer you the ease of lifts, bathrooms, quiet rooms and other amenities close by to accommodate all your guests from the youngest to the oldest.
What can you bring?
Your own stuff includes decor, food, alcohol, entertainment and other things you want to do your way. This is a very important question, as some venues have strict policies for their packages, while others are flexible. Discuss these details before you pay any deposits or sign on the dotted line.
Will you stay overnight?
You and your guests may decide to stay overnight at the venue if the option is available. See if your package includes a bridal suite and if there are special preferential rates for wedding guests. If the venue does not have this option, check nearby hotels and find out if they have special group rates. Also, find out if your venue has a secure location for you to store your gifts and cards. Leaving these items in a car is not the best option.
Options for all weather?
If you are planning an outdoor wedding, there is no way to guarantee that the weather will be favourable. See if the wedding can be moved indoors or if it will be possible to pitch a marquee if the weather is not suitable. It is best to be prepared for all types of weather to ensure that your big day is perfect!
Wedding Venues in Ireland: Questions You Must Ask Before You Decide on Yours
With so many wedding venues in Ireland, it is hard to narrow it down to your perfect pick! From castles to five-star hotels to quirky woodland hideaways, the Emerald Isle has some of the most amazing properties that you will find anywhere in the world.
There is so much information online about beautiful wedding venues and browsing the web is a great way to narrow down your options. Just check out these photos of the most beautiful wedding venues in Ireland. While you can fall in love online, ultimately it all comes down to see places in person. Though meeting with venues and making that final decision can be intimidating, the process doesn’t have to hard.
To find your perfect venue, take these questions to all of the wedding venues in Ireland that you’re considering.
The Basics
When you are looking at wedding venues in Ireland, you’ve got to start with the basics on ensuring available. These are questions that you can ask before you even schedule a visit. Of course, there is no right or right answer to any question of this list. Just decide what is important to you and what you can flexible on.
- Is our wedding date available?
- Is this an exclusive use venue?
- Can I hold my ceremony here or just the reception?
- If it’s not exclusive, how many other weddings will be booked for the same day?
Tip - Not sure what to budget for the big day? Check out these Irish wedding price stats!
Logistics
Wedding venues in Ireland vary so much, that is why it is essential to ask as many questions as you can think of and never make any assumptions. Don’t be shy! They will be happy to tell you everything that you want to know.
- What is the maximum and the minimum number of guests?
- Do have your space for cocktails and canapés?
- How many hours do we have access to space?
- How much parking is available?
- Is public transportation an option for guests?
- How does the venue change with rain or sunny weather?
- Do you have a coat check available?
- Is the venue child friendly?
Music and Dancing
- Are there any noise restrictions?
- Can we have a DJ or a live band?
- What space is available for a band or DJ?
- How large is the dance floor?
- Do you have microphones for speeches?
- Is it possible to connect a laptop to the sound system?
Fees
- What is covered in the price of the package?
- Is there a discount for off-season or mid-week weddings?
- How much is the deposit?
- When does the deposit need to be paid?
- Is the deposit refundable under any circumstances?
- How does your cancellation policy work?
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