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.
About Destination Weddings in Ireland
Why Get Married in Ireland
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.
The Best Ireland Wedding Venues
The Shelbourne, Autograph Collection
Right in the middle of Dublin, Shelbourne is just a few minutes of walking distance from St. Stephen’s Green. It’s among the most prestigious hotels in Dublin.
This luxury hotel stands next to the cultural and historical sites of the city and offers exquisite facilities such as beautiful event spaces, tempting menu options, loaded bars, and cozy lounge spaces.
With a luxury spa, barbershop, beauty salon, health club, and swimming pool, the hotel has all the modern amenities you’re looking for and more. They also have an in-house florist and a family butler to make sure your Ireland wedding goes perfectly and exactly as you planned.
Enjoy truly Irish fine dining at The Saddle Room which carries a laid-back and casual atmosphere. If you’re looking for Irish classic culinary delights, you’ll find them here. And if you want to enjoy a cup of tea in the afternoon, The Lord Mayor’s Lounge is the place to be.
For a drink with your friends, visit No. 27 The Shelbourne Bar which offers innovative handmade cocktails and several different types of beers and wines. Some other places you may enjoy are The Horseshoe Bar, 1824 Bar, and The Terrace in the hotel.
At the end of the day, make sure to enjoy a pampering session at the hotel’s luxury spa.
Powerscourt Hotel, Autograph Collection
Powerscourt is near Enniskerry village, just a 40-minute drive from Dublin airport. It’s a 198-room luxury hotel that can help you celebrate a large-scale Ireland wedding. With its 20m indoor pool lit with Swarovski crystals, it’s a truly royal place that pampers you to the maximum.
You can have a lazy afternoon at any of their two golf courses and a big spa area with 20 rooms. Hold a reception as big as you want with 10,000 square feet of the event area.
Enjoy the views of Sugar Loaf Mountain as you grab a bite at their Sika Restaurant. Make sure you taste their evening tea at the Sugar Loaf Lounge with a complete assortment of pastries.
A visit to Ireland can never be complete without going to a good pub. Walk to the in-house McGill’s traditional pub with a full range of local and international whiskeys and cocktails.
Whether you come here for a civil or a symbolic ceremony, you’ll get a warm welcome at Powerscourt.
Sleep peacefully in their luxury featherbedding and wake up refreshed and ready for your big day. No matter whether you want an indoor or outdoor ceremony, you will get an idyllic setting here.
Intercontinental Dublin
This luxury hotel is in the Urban Resort area where you’ll find old-school glamour with all the modern amenities. Find this place near Dublin City Center, among many other popular spots such as Aviva Stadium, Grafton Street, Guinness Storehouse, and O’Connell Street.
Enjoy the cocktail hour of your Ireland wedding celebrations here with The Whiskey Bar. You’ll find the finest collection of world-famous whiskeys here along with other liquors.
Taste the freshest and most delicious foods at the Seasons Restaurant and have a lazy evening at the Lobby Lounge. Relax and unwind in the in-house spa as you prepare for your big day. And later, don’t forget to take a dip in the 14m heated indoor pool.
You’ll also find a Jacuzzi and relaxation lounges here. When it’s time to dine, enjoy local and seasonal Irish foods served in the hotel’s restaurant.
With 215 rooms and feature-loaded event spaces, this hotel is ready to serve a large-sized wedding. The well-planned hotel has an opulent ambiance due to its full natural daylight.
Whether you want to invite 10 guests or 600, they can accommodate you in their spacious halls. And the best part is that there are readymade wedding packages that you can select and customize according to your needs.
Cashel House Hotel
If you’re looking for a private event space that’s occupied by just you and your guests, this is the place for you. Cashel House overlooks the beautiful Cashel Bay to the west of Ireland. It’s a country house retreat that has peaceful and lush green surroundings.
Sprawling across 50 acres of woodlands and gardens, this little paradise has everything you want in your Irish wedding – perfect venues, entertaining activities, and modern amenities.
It’s just a few miles from Roundstone, a village famous for its fishing activities. Whether you want to hike to the nearby villages or explore the Aran islands, you can do it when you stay at the Cashel House.
It has 30 suites and bedrooms, which makes it ideal for a small-sized Ireland wedding. With its antique décor, it adds a charming touch to the surroundings. Log fires and comfortable sofas give it a warm and homely ambiance.
Enjoy lunch at the conservatory dining space while you take in the beautiful views of the garden. Whether you’re a fan of Connemara lamb or fresh seafood, you’ll get your favorite Irish dishes here, not to mention the freshly picked fruits and vegetables from the gardens of the hotel.
Moxy Dublin City
Explore local culture and heritage at your Ireland wedding in this boutique hotel that’s in the heart of Dublin City Center. Drink, enjoy, shop, and fall in love in this beautiful little place that sits among several famous cafes, restaurants, and bars.
The Lobby Lounge is perfect for a quick bite whenever you feel peckish. And if you’re a bookworm, you’ll find solace in their in-house library. The hotel has a wedding planning crew so you can discuss your preferences before arriving and they’ll organize everything for you.
Their banquet hall can be used for a small-sized reception for up to 10 people. For a larger reception, there’s a reception room. There are comfortable rooms with king-sized, queen-sized, and twin beds.
Gather your gang after the wedding and visit the Moxy Bar for tasty cuisines and cocktails. Whether you’re looking for snacks or light bites, you’ll get them here.
The hotel offers a simple form that you can fill out with the details of the event (including the dates and number of guests) and they will contact you to plan your wedding.
Ireland Wedding Legal Requirements
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 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.
Looking for other destinations for your wedding? Check out our guides for Lake Como wedding, Tuscany wedding, and Florida wedding.
