Destination wedding: Ireland
Filed under: Destination Ceremonies, Receptions, Ceremonies, Destination Weddings
Ireland, with it's gorgeous green countryside, rich history and fabulous castles, is a place that many people dream of getting married in. While it's not as easy to marry in Ireland as it is in England, it's definitely a lot easier than French destination wedding and at least they speak English so it's that much simpler to get things organised. Oh and they have some magical castle venues too, for a fairytale wedding.Ireland's climate is generally quite temperate. Summers are warm, with lots of rain showers and winters are mild but very wet. Temperature extremes, either hot or cold, are rare. The best time of year to visit Ireland is from June- September, but you could also have a fantastic Winter Wonderland wedding too.
The legal requirements can be a bit tricky, but are not insurmountable.
Civil Weddings
- You need to give 3 months notice of your intent to marry, to the Registrar of Marriages, in the district in which you want to get married.
- You need to live in that district for 8 consecutive days
- After the 8 day period, there's a further 21 day waiting time before you can marry.
A civil wedding can take place at a registry office, or in a venue approved by the registrar. However, the ceremony must take place indoors and cannot be held in a private house - but hotels and other public buildings are usually acceptable.
Civil weddings are held between 9am and 5pm and the registry office staff are quite strict about the timing, so don't be late for your wedding or it will be cancelled and you'll have to redo the whole process!
Non-resident couples can now legally marry in the churches of most major religions without needing a separate civil wedding. Actually, most legal marriages in Ireland happen in church and not in a registry office. Most importantly is that there is no residency requirement for a church wedding. You do still need to notify the Registrar of Marriages three months prior to the intended wedding date. a notification form is available for this.
Generally, the only people you need to contact are the clergy in the church where you will marry.
The Roman Catholic Church has a useful website full of information for Catholic weddings and the Church of Ireland has an informative marriage web page as well.
- Kilmainham Gaol Historical Museum: an absolute "must-see"
- Have a drink in The Long Hall, a traditional Dublin pub.
- Christ Church Cathedral - make sure you visit the crypts downstairs
- No. 29 Lower Fitzwilliam Street: a wonderfully-preserved, historical town house
- The Brazen Head Pub - another 'must-do'. Don't miss out on this great pub with it's marvellous sense of times gone by.
- The 1916 Rebellion Walking Tour: this tour is highly recommended. It's about the events leading up to that rebellion that changed Ireland forever. Well worth doing.
- Visit Dublin Castle: if you love history then this is a MUST!
- For a delicious, reasonably priced, French-style meal, eat at Chez Max, near Dublin Castle. It's a gem of a restaurant and great to unwind there before your wedding, with your friends. If you want something more upmarket and expensive then definitely head to Chapter One. For more foodie inspiration, visit Good Food Ireland.
La Peniche
A funky floating restaurant on a barge. It can be hired for small weddings, up to 40 guests. It's a wonderfully unique reception venue in Dublin.
Gougane Barra Hotel
This small, family-run hotel is a bit of a hidden gem. It has a lovely atmosphere, service is excellent and personalised and would make a fantastic place for a small wedding, up to about 65 guests.
The Whelyn Lodges
The lodges consist of 15, 3-bedroomed chalets that are just perfect for hosting your family and friends for your destination wedding. You can arrive by helicopter and have your ceremony conducted on the balcony, overlooking the beautiful Berehaven harbour.
The lodge staff will be as involved in your wedding planning as you wish, and can recommend reputable wedding vendors to you as well. They also lay on activities for you and your guests, including fishing, walking, golfing and guided excursion to the area.
Kinnitty Castle
A romantic, 11th century castle, very popular with Irish couples, that has numerous wedding packages available - visit the website for a comprehensive and detailed list of all their fabulous offers.
Leslie Castle
This is where PaulMcCartney married Heather Mills - but let's not well too much on that! It's a gorgeous castle and makes a fabulous wedding venue.
Dromoland Castle
This is probably the most well-known castle in Ireland. It's a super choice for a wedding venue and can accommodate up to 300 guests.
If you want professional help in planning you wedding then try these wedding planners:
Xena Productions
Waterlily Weddings
Weddings by Franc
With its magical castles, breathtaking countryside and stunning beaches, Ireland is a country where it is impossible to avoid romance. What better setting for a wedding than that?
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