Top Wedding Venues in Northern Ireland
The best wedding venues in Northern Ireland
When it comes to finding a wedding venue in Northern Ireland you are truly spoilt for choice. Northern Ireland might only be small but it is packed with fantastic wedding venues which suit all tastes & budgets. Whether you’re looking for a luxury resort, a rustic building packed with charm, a romantic escape or something completely out of the ordinary Northern Ireland has you covered.
Contents
Picking your wedding venue
Different styles of wedding venues
Rustic Wedding Venues
Orange Tree House, Greyabbey
Old Rectory, Killyman
The Loft, Templepatrick
Wool Tower, Broughshane
Country Houses & Estates Wedding Venues
Drenagh Country Estate, Limavady
Tullyveery House, Downpatrick
Hillmount House, Larne
Newforge House, Magheraline
Lissan House, Cookstown
Castle Wedding Venues
Lissanoure Castle, Ballymena
Narrow Water Castle, Warrenpoint
Belle Isle Castle, Enniskillen
Alternative Wedding Venues
Field of Dreams, Bangor
Finnebrogue Woods, Downpatrick
Queens Film Theatre, Belfast
Temple of the Winds, Mount Stewart
Deanes, Belfast
Tap room at Hilden Brewery, Lisburn
Belfast City Hall
Ardtara House, Upperlands
Picking your wedding venue
Before you jump into looking at venues I recommend you talk through the following questions with your partner & make sure you are on the same page before you get stuck into looking at the gorgeous venues.
How many guests would you’d like to invite? You don’t need to know an exact number but it’s pointless looking at intimate venues which a small capacity if you want to have 100s of guests.
What type of wedding ceremony you’d like to have? Would you like to have a church service, a civil ceremony or a humanist service. If you are thinking of having your ceremony in one location & your reception somewhere else think about the distance between the two venues. The last thing you want on your wedding day is to be driving for miles to get between two locations.
What’s your thoughts on food? Would you rather have a one stop shop where your venue take care of all the catering & alcohol for you or would you prefer the freedom from supplying your own alcohol & bringing in catering?
The dreaded budget! There are venues to suit every budget. When you start looking at venues don’t be shy about reaching out & asking for prices. Different venues approach pricing differently so make sure you understand whether you are paying per head or whether you are paying a flat fee for the room.
Different styles of wedding venues
There are a number of different styles of wedding venues. I’ve split the list below into 6 different categories to help you navigate your way through your options. If you have an idea of the style you’re after you can skip directly to the appropriate section or you can work your way through them all.
Rustic
Country Houses & Estates
Castles
Alternative
Rustic Wedding Venues
My personal favourite, the rustic venues. Whether it’s the wooden beams or the exposed bricks these venues all have a rustic charm & provide the perfect venue for a relaxed wedding.
Orange Tree House
Orange Tree House has is a beautiful, private wedding venues on the shores of Strangford Lough with views across to the Mourne Mountains. If you’re looking for a one stop rustic shop then you need to have a look at Orange Tree. The main building is a renovated church. It’s got beautiful beams, rustic stone walls & floor & stunning windows which floods the room with light. The venue is exclusive to you & your guests. They host ceremonies as well as receptions & there are a short drive from a number of beautiful venues if you’re thinking of escaping for your wedding portraits. Greyabbey Abbey is literally round the corner & Mount Stewart is a short drive away with endless photo options. Max capacity for dinner is 130 and minimum capacity varies throughout the year so if you are planning a smaller wedding don’t rule Orange Tree out. There known for their exceptional food & they are great at supporting local suppliers & producers. They are a very popular venue but they still have a little availability for 2021 weddings & good availability for Nov 21. They’re currently offering personal virtual visits so until we are allowed back in person you can still check out their venue & chat to their lovely team. I love Orange Tree & can’t wait to get back to shoot my next Orange Tree wedding in April 2021.
Old Rectory Killyman
The Old Rectory, Killyman is one of the newer wedding venues in Northern Ireland. It’s located just off the M1 in the quaint village of Killyman. As a venue it offers everything. Set in beautiful mature grounds they have a lovingly restored 18th Century house, a stunning rustic stone barn & their grand pavilion. As you drive through their gates, over the quaint stone bridge you are truly escaping to another world. It’s quiet, peaceful & there is an abundance of space so if you are dreaming of a secluded & romantic wedding you need to check out the Old Rectory.
The Loft
Opening in 2021, I can’t wait to photograph my first wedding in The Loft, Templepatrick in July 21. The Loft offers exclusivity with a one wedding a day policy. They describe themselves as offering ‘unabridged luxury’. I can’t wait to see their statement marble dining tables decorated with their stunning candelabras & greenery. I love the mixture of luxury, rustic wooden beams & the atmosphere created by all of the hanging greenery. I think The Loft will be an exciting addition to Northern Ireland’s wedding venues.
Wool Tower
Wool Tower prides itself on being a totally unique offering and I’m not going to disagree. Wool Tower is set within Raceview Mill, Broughshane. Unlike most wedding venues, Wool Tower has numerous things to surprise & delight your guests. Your guests can explore quaint craft shops, stretch their legs along the riverside path & simply enjoy the beautiful riverside gardens. The vaulted ceremony room is a standout venue with red brick vaulted ceilings, exposed walls & striking black cast iron beams. If you’re looking for a striking, romantic & alternative ceremony venue then you need to check out the Wool Tower. They can host civil ceremonies & partnerships with up to 200 guests. They provide in local in house catering & currently offer a Whirlwind package for up to 25 guests.
Country Houses & Estates Wedding Venues
Drenagh Estate
Drenagh House is a Georgian House set in beautiful Parklands in Limavady. It is home to the iconic Moon Garden which is possibly the most romantic ceremony location in Northern Ireland. Drenagh Estate also has other options for your wedding ceremony. If you’re planning a large wedding their Marquee might be a good fit with capacity for up to 275 seated guests. Or alternatively if you love the idea of getting married in their Georgian House you can do that with up to 100 guests. They are fully licensed to host religious & civil ceremonies. They also have their own team of professional chefs & they offer a list of approved suppliers to help you with the finer details.
Tullyveery House
Tullyveery House is full of charm & heritage. It’s located in Killyleagh set in over 12 acres of grounds. They offer a number of options for your wedding ceremony including two indoor options & 4 outdoor choices. They pride themselves on offering you a truly unique experience & you have the option to tailor every detail of your day so that it is exactly the way you want. They don’t tie you into any suppliers as they want you to have the freedom to create the day of your dreams. This includes picking your own catering & the option to bring your own wines without a corkage charge. Their Courtyard Rooms are split over 2 floors. The upper Garden View Dinning Room seats up to 96 guests while the group floor Reception Hall hosts up to 135 guests. They can be used for ceremonies. They are licensed to hold religious & civil ceremonies.
Hillmount House
If you want a stylish, unique & exclusive wedding venue then Hillmount House is worth a consideration. They have a number of options from micro mid week packages which include bridal bouquets & photography to luxury weekend house parties. Hillmount House has a lovely relaxed vibe, from drinks reception in the stable block, to cosying up by the fireplace they have you covered.
Newforge House
Newforge House is a stunning Georgian Country House set in beautiful mature gardens in Magheralin. If you chose to get married at Newforge House you get exclusive use of the house & gardens making it a lovely choice for an intimate wedding with up to 40 guests. They are licensed to host Civil ceremonies & civil partnerships. They’ll help you create a fresh & seasonal menu. If you fancy having your own country house for your wedding day then Newforge House might be the venue for you.
Lissan House
Lissan House is a beautiful location just outside of Cookstown. If you’re planning an intimate & quirky wedding, Lissan House might be the perfect venue for you. They offer exclusive use of their house for your wedding with complimentary use of the estate & grounds. It’s a lovely location for an intimate civil ceremony & reception.
Castle Wedding Venues
Lissanoure Castle
Lissanoure Castle is licensed to hold weddings & civil partnerships. There is also the option to have a church wedding in the small Church of Ireland located at the entrance to the estate. Lissanoure Castle pride themselves on giving you the freedom to design your day the way you desire from ceremony to reception but have the knowledge & expertise to help if desired. They offer a couple of options for your wedding. The first is their Coach House which has an open log fire & a fully licensed bar. It has capacity to seat up to 120 for dinner & up to 200 for evening receptions. Their second location is the Castle Barn. It can be used for small or large events & has amazing acoustics for music. Both buildings are set in stunning grounds which include lakes, ornamental canals & wooded parklands. If you love the idea of getting married in your own Castle, Lissanoure Castle could be a brilliant option.
Narrow Water Castle
Narrow Water Castle, Warrenpoint is an Elizabethan revival castle. The castle has beautiful grounds which include formal gardens, a lake & a forest. If you opt to have your ceremony & reception in the Castle it can accommodate up to 80 seated guests but if you are planning something a bit bigger you can have a marquee wedding catering for up to 400 guests.
Belle Isle Castle
Fancy getting married in a castle on your own private island? Belle Isle could be the location for you. The castle is licensed to host civil partnerships, humanist & religious ceremonies and can accommodate up to 60 people. They have a guaranteed one wedding per weekend policy so you get to enjoy the luxury all to yourselves. The castle has accommodation for up to 25 of your guests & there is additional self catering accommodation for up to 58 additional guests in the grounds. Belle Isle Castle is location in a truly stunning area of Northern Ireland offering spectacular views across Lough Erne. If you’re looking for a grand, luxury yet private wedding experience consider Belle Isle.
Alternative Wedding Venues
Field of Dreams
If you’re looking for a picturesque setting for a relaxed wedding check out Field of Dreams in Bangor, Northern Ireland. They are fully licensed to hold marriages & civil partnerships. They offer a number of options for your ceremony & reception. Their main venue is The Retreat which is a Scandinavian style wooden chalet situated on the lakeside with beautiful views across one of their 5 lakes. The Retreat can be used for your ceremony, reception or both & can comfortably seat 90 guests. If you fancy something a bit different you could opt for a traditional canvas Marquee or a North American Indian Tipee. If you love the idea of keeping your wedding small, you could plan a stunning outdoor ceremony for up to 24 guests on the deck with the lake as your backdrop. If you’d love to do something a little different just outside of Belfast then Field of Dreams could be an awesome option.
Finnebrogue Woods
Finnebrogue Woods is the ultimate alternative woodland wedding venue in Northern Ireland. Located just outside of Donwpatrick, Finnebrogue is hidden amongst the trees & is the perfect place for a quirky & unusual wedding. They are licensed to hold outdoor wedding ceremonies overlooking their lake. What could be more romantic than an outdoor ceremony followed by a reception in a Tipis surrounded by nature?
QFT
If you’re looking for something truly unique, check out the Queen’s Film Theatre. Set in the heart of Belfast this is possibly the most alternative wedding venue in Northern Ireland. Whether you’re a film buff or had your first date in QFT it could give you a wedding day like no other. Imagine having an intimate ceremony surrounded by family & friends and then settling down to a private screening of your favourite movie with all your guests. If you’re looking for something totally different then check out this character filled venue in the centre of Belfast.
Temple of the Winds
I’m a little biased when it comes to the Temple of the Winds, Mount Stewart as this is where we had our wedding ceremony. If you aren’t familiar with the Temple it is perched high on the hill amongst beautiful mature trees with views across Strangford Lough. The Temple has a truly unique shape & is flooded with light & it’s decor is simply stunning. It’s perfect for smaller & more intimate weddings. It can seat up to 70 guests for your ceremony & up to 44 guests for a formal reception. After your ceremony you can treat your guests to a garden drinks party in the formal sunken gardens by the main house or stay by the Temple & have a private party in the Temple basement. If you’re looking for an intimate, romantic & alternative venue then you need to consider the Temple of the Winds.
Deanes Belfast
Deanes Belfast are licensed to host civil ceremonies & civil partnerships in one of their two Belfast locations. The first option is their flagship premises located in Howard Street. Here you can celebrate your elegant & lavish wedding in the Private Dinning Room & bar. This option is suitable for 15 - 56 seated guests & if food is at the heart of your wedding celebration you couldn’t go wrong with Deanes. The second option is Deanes at Queens which can seat up to 140 guests in their main restaurant or if you fancy an intimate wedding you can have 44 guests in their Private Dinning Room. Deanes at Queens could be the perfect option if you fancy having an elegant wedding, with amazing food & escaping into Botanic Gardens for stunning photographs amongst the Palm House.
Tap room at Hilden Brewery
Hilden Brewery tap room can accommodate weddings big & small. They are licensed to host civil, religious & humanist ceremonies and have options for indoor & outdoor services. The Hilden Brewery can accommodate weddings from as little as 10 people to as large as 200. You can pick between The Tap Room, Malt Store or Tipi tents. Perfect venue for a relaxed day surrounded by family & friends and a few of your favourite beers.
Georgian House Comber
The Georgian House in Comber is the perfect spot of an intimate family wedding. They have a choice of two beautiful rooms which are perfect for intimate ceremonies & have a beautiful private walled garden which makes a lovely location for family photos.
Belfast City Hall
Belfast City Hall might not seem the most obvious alternative venue but it is the perfect location for a quick & easy ceremony. The City Hall is a stunning building with amazing marble everywhere you look. The ceremonies are short & sweet leaving you the maximum time to enjoy your wedding day. You could get married in the morning & then head off to the North Coast for a romantic adventure, head out for a lovely lunch in one of Belfast’s finest restaurants or hire a function room and have a big party with family & friends after you’ve done the ‘legal bit’. The options with a Belfast City Hall wedding are truly endless.
Ardtara House
Ardtara Country House hotel, is a stunning historic country house set in a secluded estate near the Upperlands outside of Maghera. The venue oozes with character, their interior is rich & striking and their gardens create a perfect backdrop for bridal photos. They also offer award winning dining & a handful of luxurious rooms for a romantic overnight stay.
