Add Gaelic legends to lush wild greenery and you get Ireland – one of the most precious jewels of Europe. Whether you’re looking for rugged Atlantic beaches or cosmopolitan cities for a romantic escapade, you’ll find that an Ireland wedding checks all the boxes.
While you’re here for your wedding, walk through the forests, cozy up in the local pubs, or enjoy the warm hospitality of the locals – there’s a lot to do in this country.
If you want to gaze at open valleys with the wind blowing through your hair as you prepare for an adventure, Ireland is your place.
Shelbourne is located in the heart of Dublin, only a couple of minutes walk from St. Stephen’s Green. It is one of Dublin’s most prominent hotels. This premium hotel is located among the city’s cultural and historical monuments. It provides luxurious amenities such as stunning event spaces, tantalizing culinary selections, stocked bars, and relaxing lounge areas.
The Shelbourne offers a range of wedding packages that cater to different types of weddings, from intimate ceremonies to grand celebrations. The hotel features all the latest facilities you’re searching for, including a luxury spa, barbershop, beauty salon, health club, and swimming pool. They also have an in-house florist and a family butler to ensure your Ireland wedding goes as planned.
The Saddle Room, which has a laid-back and relaxed ambiance, serves authentically Irish exquisite food. If you’re seeking traditional Irish cuisine, look no further. The Lord Mayor’s Lounge is also a great spot to have tea in the afternoon.
Visit No. 27 The Shelbourne Bar for a drink with your pals, which serves inventive homemade cocktails and various beers and wines. The Horseshoe Bar, 1824 Bar, and The Terrace at the hotel are well worth a visit. Indulge in some pampering in the hotel’s deluxe spa.
Powerscourt is located in Enniskerry hamlet, only 35 minutes from Dublin airport. It’s a 198-room luxury hotel that can help you plan a large-scale wedding in Ireland. Powerscourt will warmly welcome you whether you come for a civil or symbolic ceremony.
It is located inside the magnificent and historical Powerscourt Estate, where the stunning grounds showcase vibrant displays throughout the year. It’s a genuinely regal location that treats you to the utmost, with its 20m indoor pool illuminated with Swarovski crystals.
You may spend a relaxing afternoon at one of their two golf courses or in their large spa area with 20 rooms. With 10,000 square feet of event space, you can host whatever size reception you choose.
While eating at their Sika Restaurant, take in the views of Sugar Loaf Mountain. Make sure to have their evening tea at the Sugar Loaf Lounge, which includes a full selection of pastries.
A trip to Ireland is never complete without stopping by a decent bar. Walk to McGill’s traditional pub, which serves a wide selection of local and foreign whiskeys and drinks.
Sleep quietly in their luxurious featherbed, wake up rejuvenated, and prepare for your special day. You will find an ideal environment here whether you desire an inside or outdoor event.
This luxurious hotel is located in the Urban Resort district, which combines old-school splendor with modern conveniences. This location is close to Dublin City Center and several other major attractions, such as Aviva Stadium, Grafton Street, the Guinness Storehouse, and O’Connell Street.
Here at The Whiskey Bar, you may enjoy the cocktail hour of your Ireland wedding celebrations. Here you’ll discover the best selection of world-famous whiskeys and other liquors.
Seasons Restaurant serves the freshest and most delicious meals, while the Lobby Lounge is ideal for a relaxing evening. As you prepare for your wedding, unwind at the on-site spa. Don’t forget to swim in the 14m heated indoor pool afterward. There is also a Jacuzzi and relaxation chairs here. When it’s time to eat, the hotel’s restaurant serves local and seasonal Irish fare.
This hotel can accommodate a massive wedding with 215 rooms and feature-rich event areas. Because of the abundance of natural light, the well-planned hotel offers an affluent ambiance.
You can choose from their venues like the Seasons restaurant, the Ailesbury room, or the Terrace Garden. The best thing is that there are preset wedding packages that you may choose and personalize based on your requirements.
This is the place to go if you want a private event area that you and your guests only use. Cashel House is located in western Ireland, overlooking the picturesque Cashel Bay. It’s a lovely rural house hideaway with lush green surrounds.
This historic hotel boasts elegant interiors, beautiful gardens, and breathtaking views of the surrounding countryside, making it an ideal destination for couples looking for a romantic and intimate wedding experience. This small paradise spread across 50 acres of forests and gardens, provides everything you desire in an Irish wedding – stunning settings, exciting activities, and modern conveniences.
It contains 30 suites and bedrooms, making it perfect for a small-scale Ireland wedding. It offers a delightful touch to the surroundings with its vintage décor. Log fireplaces and soft sofas provide a warm and welcoming atmosphere.
Have lunch in the conservatory while admiring the beautiful views of the garden. Whether you want Connemara lamb or fresh seafood, you’ll find your favorite Irish cuisine here and freshly selected fruits and vegetables from the hotel’s gardens.
It’s only a few kilometers from Roundstone, a community known for its fishing. During your stay at the Cashel House, you may hike to surrounding villages or see the Aran islands.
Moxy Dublin City is a trendy and modern hotel in the heart of Dublin, Ireland. The hotel’s contemporary design, excellent facilities, and central location make it the perfect choice for couples looking for a chic and unforgettable wedding venue. The hotel provides a short form to fill out with event details, and they will contact you to organize your wedding.
Explore local culture and tradition during your Ireland wedding at this boutique hotel in Dublin City Center. Drink, relax, shop, and fall in love at this lovely small spot amid numerous well-known cafés, restaurants, and pubs. The Lobby Lounge is ideal for a quick snack anytime you become hungry. The hotel features king-sized, queen-sized, and twin-sized beds in the rooms.
If you enjoy reading, you’ll find consolation in their in-house library. The hotel has a wedding planning team, so you may discuss your ideas with them before you arrive, and they will coordinate everything for you. Their banquet area may accommodate a modest reception for up to ten persons. A reception area is available for more significant gatherings.
After the wedding, gather your friends and head to the Moxy Bar for delectable meals and beverages. Whether you want snacks or light eats, you’ll find them here.
With rugged coasts, green fields, notable castles, and renowned country inns, Ireland is a dreamy romantic destination. No wonder so many couples want to celebrate an Ireland wedding at a venue that catches the rustic ambiance of the place and mixes it with city glitz and glamour.
There are so many reasons to tie the knot in this country. If you’re traveling from the East Coast of the United States, you’ll reach here in less than five hours, which makes it the perfect destination for weddings. Here you’ll get quaint places and amazing nightlife, and everything comes with a splash of warm hospitality.
Average Cost of a Destination Wedding in Ireland
An Ireland wedding will typically cost you around €30,000. This includes the honeymoon costs. This includes the wedding planning services by the resort while you enjoy the vacation. However, if you do a little research and plan things on your own, you can cut the costs.
Almost all hotels and resorts will accept all major credit cards. Cash is acceptable everywhere.
Also, when you tie the knot in Ireland, you can take a local flight to France, Italy, or Portugal, and travel to several countries without spending a lot. This is another great reason to get married here.
Legal Requirements for Weddings in Ireland
Legal Weddings vs. Symbolic Weddings
Before you plan for your Ireland wedding, you should know the difference between a legal wedding and a symbolic one.
If you have already been legally married in your home country, you can hold a symbolic wedding in Ireland. If you want to register your marriage in Ireland, you can do the paperwork and sign the marriage documents here.
When you’re legally married in your home country and come here for the ceremony, it’s called a symbolic wedding.
When you get legally married here in Ireland, it’s called a legal or civil wedding. A symbolic wedding is cheaper than a legal wedding.
Required Legal Documents & Cost
Here are the documents you need for your wedding:
Passports of the bride and groom
National identity card accepting your travel into the European Union
Birth certificates of the bride and groom
Proofs of addresses of the bride and groom
If your documents are not in Irish or English, you need to translate them. For that, you’ll have to hire a certified and approved translator.
You’ll need two witnesses and both should be adults (over 18 years of age).
If you want a religious ceremony, you need an appointment with a church or other religious place. Contact the religious place for the wedding. You will still need to register the marriage legally.
Legal Marriage Timeline
The first step for an Ireland wedding is to book an appointment for marriage notification. You can book it over the phone by calling a civil registration service in Ireland. Some areas also allow online booking. You’ll need a 3-month notice for this.
You’ll need to meet the registrar before the ceremony. Arrive at the destination at least 5 days before the wedding date.
Once the registrar is satisfied with your marriage notification appointment, they will give you a registration form. Fill out the marriage registration form. The notification fee is €200.
When you’re here, discuss with your hotel or resort about two witnesses. Most hotels will be happy to arrange them for you.
Ireland Destination Wedding Planning Tips
How to Get There
You can reach Ireland by air, land, or sea.
Ireland is connected with all major countries via airways. It has four international airports: Dublin Airport, Cork Airport, Shannon Airport, and Knock Airport. Out of all these, Dublin Airport is the most connected to all major cities in the world.
The major airlines that fly to Ireland are American Airlines, British Airways, United, Air Canada, Lufthansa, Qatar Airways, and Aer Lingus, among others.
If you’re from the U.S., you don’t need a visa to travel to Ireland.
Ireland Weather
Ireland has humid and relatively mild weather all year around. The country gets abundant rainfall and temperatures don’t reach extremes.
Despite the mild climate, it’s never predictable here. It can rain any time even when it was just sunny a moment ago. Since it has an oceanic climate, it can be cloudy and rainy out of nowhere. It’s generally rare to find a completely sunny day so expect light showers any time of the day.
There are cool breezes throughout the year and northern areas are windier than southern ones.
Budgeting Tips
Here are some budgeting tips for your destination Ireland wedding:
Select a resort that offers enough activities for guests so you don’t have to put in too much effort (or money) in keeping them entertained.
An all-inclusive package can be cheaper in some cases. If you don’t want to do a lot of running around before your wedding, you can get an all-inclusive package. Discuss wedding packages with your hotel or resort.
An open bar will keep the costs in check. Also, for the toast, you can select a sparkling wine instead of champagne.
The Best Time of the Year to Get Married in Ireland
Deciding the right time for a wedding depends largely on the weather. But since Ireland has unpredictable weather, it’s difficult to say which month is the best.
The country experiences showers all through the year. The best thing to do is embrace the occasional showers and plan accordingly.
Generally, March to October will give you fewer showers so these might be the best months. July and August are the warmest months and January and February are the coldest. Keep in mind that there aren’t temperature extremes here.
Summer is a contributor at WeddingGoals.com and is here to help you plan the perfect wedding. She's been in the business for over 10 years and has planned hundreds of weddings. Her goal is to make your wedding planning process as fun and stress-free as possible. She'll help you with everything from finding the perfect venue to picking out your wedding dress. So whether you're a bride-to-be or a groom-to-be, she's got you covered with fantastic advice and guidance.
