Castles
Genuine castles and castle hotels across the country, many with rooms for every guest.
- Usually: Exclusive use or hotel packages
- Best for: A full wedding weekend
Swish Soirées
Wedding Venues Ireland
Castles, country house hotels and the Wild Atlantic Way, for an Irish wedding weekend that starts the night before and ends with breakfast.
Swish Soirées
Castles, country houses and the Wild Atlantic Way, planned by a team who knows the Irish wedding weekend.
We make luxury events memorable.
Notice
3 months to the Registrar
Setting
Castles and Atlantic coast
Format
Multi-day as standard
Best months
May to September
Why Ireland
Wedding venues in Ireland, where the party lasts all weekend
Ireland does the wedding weekend better than almost anywhere. The celebrations often start the night before and carry on into the day after, and the best venues are built around that: castles and country estates with rooms on site, a residents' bar and a kitchen that keeps going long after midnight.
The landscape ranges from the cliffs and beaches of the Wild Atlantic Way to lakeland estates, Georgian country houses and genuine castles, with Dublin and the east easy to reach for guests flying in.
Many of our couples are Irish, planning a wedding at home or abroad, so we know the traditions and expectations well. We compare wedding venues in the UK, Spain, Portugal, Italy and beyond, so if you are weighing up Ireland and a wedding in the sun, we can cost both properly.
Republic of Ireland
Wedding venues in the Republic of Ireland
From the Wild Atlantic Way to the capital, each region suits a different kind of wedding. Dublin, Shannon and Cork airports are the main gateways for travelling guests.
Northern Ireland
Wedding venues in Northern Ireland
Dramatic coastline, castles, mountains and lakes, with Belfast's two airports and ferries from Scotland and England close by.
What to expect
The Irish wedding weekend
Irish weddings run long, and guests expect it, so plan and budget for it rather than being surprised. A band and a DJ are close to standard rather than an upgrade, and food late in the night is expected rather than a nice touch.
That is why castles and country estates with rooms on site are so popular here: everyone stays, nobody has to drive, and the residents' bar can stay open long after the band has finished.
| When | What happens |
|---|---|
| The night before | Welcome drinks or a dinner for family and guests arriving early |
| The ceremony | Church, civil or humanist, often early afternoon |
| Drinks reception | A long one, with canapés, music and photographs |
| The meal | A full sit-down dinner and speeches |
| The evening | A live band, then a DJ, with late food |
| Into the night | The residents' bar, often until the early hours |
| The day after | A survivors' breakfast or barbecue |
Styles of venue
Types of wedding venue in Ireland
See our venue hire guide for dry hire, exclusive use and all-inclusive explained.
Country house hotels
Georgian and Victorian houses with gardens, a residents' bar and an experienced wedding team. See hotel venues.
- Usually: All-inclusive, price per head
- Best for: 100 to 200 guests
Coastal venues
Hotels and estates on the Wild Atlantic Way, with beaches and sunsets on the doorstep. See sea view venues.
- Usually: Hotel packages
- Best for: Dramatic photographs
Barns & private estates
Converted barns, walled gardens and private houses for a more relaxed wedding. See rustic venues.
- Usually: Dry hire, so you bring the caterer
- Best for: Couples who want to design every detail
The legal side
Getting legally married in Ireland
In the Republic of Ireland, every marriage, whether civil, religious or secular, needs at least three months' notice. That is longer than in the UK, so it needs planning around.
- Book a notification appointment: you both attend in person at a civil registration service at least three months before the wedding. The notification fee is €200.
- Receive the Marriage Registration Form: the registrar issues it once everything is in order. It is your licence to marry.
- Choose your solemniser: a civil registrar, a religious minister or a secular solemniser, such as a humanist, who must be on the Register of Solemnisers.
- Two witnesses: aged 18 or over, plus the form returned to the registrar after the ceremony.
- Living abroad? You can give notice by post, but must meet the registrar in person at least five days before the wedding.
Rules can change, so check the current requirements with the HSE Civil Registration Service before you book.
Best time to marry
When to get married in Ireland
May to September, with June and July often the driest months, though Irish weather is genuinely unpredictable all year. A serious wet-weather plan is not optional here, and the good venues are built with that in mind.
Weddings around Christmas and New Year are a popular Irish tradition, with log fires and candlelight, and winter dates are better value. See our winter weddings guide.
| Months | Average high | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| May | 15°C | Long evenings, gardens in bloom |
| June to August | 18°C to 20°C | Peak season, book early |
| September | 17°C | Settled spells, popular dates |
| October to April | 8°C to 13°C | Firesides, Christmas weddings, better value |
Approximate averages for Dublin. The west is milder and wetter.
Budget
How much does a wedding in Ireland cost?
The average Irish wedding costs €34,392, with an average of 154 guests and a meal price of around €93 per guest (weddingsonline Irish Wedding Survey, 2025). Costs are broadly comparable with England rather than cheaper, though the multi-day format gives more for the money. Many Irish couples compare that with a wedding abroad.
| Destination | Typical venue cost | What the figure covers | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| UK | Around £6,040 | Average venue hire, excluding catering | Bridebook 2026 Wedding Report |
| Spain | About 53% of a €25,183 average wedding | Venue and reception (banquet) together, average 123 guests | Bodas.net 2026 report, via Euronews |
| Portugal | €3,000 to €7,000 | Rustic and vineyard venue hire | Zankyou, 2026 |
| Italy | €3,000 to €5,500+ a day | Exclusive-use hire for one day | Weddings Abroad Guide, 2026 |
| Greece | €3,500 to €14,000 | Venue for around 100 guests | Big Fat Greek Day, 2026 |
Use these as a guide. Thinking of marrying abroad instead? See our wedding venues in Spain, a favourite with Irish couples, or let us cost both options properly.
How it works
How we plan your wedding in Ireland
The same team and the same method we use abroad.
1
Discovery
A relaxed call about your vision, guest numbers, budget and dates.
2
Venue & notice
Venues shortlisted, and your three-month notice timeline planned.
3
Suppliers
Band, DJ, photographer and late food booked for the long night.
4
The weekend
Night-before drinks to survivors' breakfast, plus a wet-weather plan.
5
On the day
We run the day so you and your guests can enjoy every moment.
How we help
Your Irish wedding, handled
Read more about our wedding planning and wedding coordination services, or see real celebrations in our portfolio.
Wedding planning
As destination wedding planners, we find the venue, plan the notice timeline and book every supplier, from the band and DJ to photography and flowers.
- Castle or country house shortlist
- Three-month notice timeline managed
- The whole weekend planned
On-day coordination
Already planned your Irish wedding? Our on-the-day wedding coordinators take over in the final weeks, brief every supplier and run the day.
- Supplier timings confirmed
- Plan B ready to go
- The day run from start to finish
Good to know
Ireland wedding venue questions
Why get married in Ireland?
+
Ireland does the wedding weekend better than almost anywhere, with celebrations that start the night before and carry on into the day after. Castles and country estates with rooms on site, the Wild Atlantic Way, a band and DJ as standard and a famous hospitality tradition make it a wedding guests talk about for years.
How much notice do you need to get married in Ireland?
+
At least three months, for civil, religious and secular weddings alike. You both attend a notification appointment in person at a civil registration service, pay the €200 notification fee and, if all is in order, receive the Marriage Registration Form. Couples living abroad can give notice by post but must meet the registrar at least five days before the wedding.
Can we have a humanist or outdoor wedding in Ireland?
+
Yes. Secular solemnisers, such as humanist celebrants, can legally marry you in Ireland if they are on the Register of Solemnisers, and many couples choose a venue garden or outdoor setting. Check the location with your solemniser and venue when you book.
How much does a wedding in Ireland cost?
+
The average Irish wedding costs €34,392, with an average of 154 guests and a meal price of around €93 per guest, according to the weddingsonline Irish Wedding Survey 2025. Costs are broadly comparable with England, though the multi-day format gives more for the money.
What are the best areas for a wedding in Ireland?
+
Kerry, Clare, Galway and Connemara and Donegal along the Wild Atlantic Way for coast and mountains, Dublin and the east for city venues and easy access, and the midlands and lakelands for country houses central to everyone.
When is the best time to get married in Ireland?
+
May to September, with June and July often the driest months, though the weather is unpredictable all year so a proper wet-weather plan is essential. Weddings around Christmas and New Year are also a popular Irish tradition and offer better value.
Do Irish couples get married abroad?
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Many do. Spain, Portugal and Italy are especially popular for the sunshine, and a wedding abroad can cost less than a large Irish wedding at home. We plan both, so we can cost a wedding in Ireland and abroad side by side.
Do you plan weddings in Ireland?
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Yes. We plan weddings across Ireland as well as abroad, finding the venue, planning the notice timeline, booking the band, DJ and suppliers, and running the whole weekend.
More answers on our frequently asked questions page.
About the author
Wes, Owner & Wedding Planner
Wes leads Swish Soirées from our office in Marbella and has spent seven years planning luxury weddings across the Costa del Sol and beyond. He writes from first-hand experience of the venues, suppliers, permits and timings our team works with every season.
Established 2019100+ weddings plannedBased in Marbella
Meet the team →
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