Wedding Venues Northern Ireland
Wedding Venues in Northern Ireland, including hotels, barns, and Larchfield Estate, for your reception with my own photo packages starting from £1000 and £2000.
We have the best in the world; there’s no other way. I love traditional to alternative, from small to big, bold and fancy… we have it. There are many more I would love to explore. If you plan on having your day an unusual or quirky one, get in touch. I would love to work with you on your dream day. There are some beautiful ones where you can get married. I am focusing more on some information and images, too. Any prices mentioned could be outdated, so please check the websites for more up-to-date prices.
Riverdale Barn - Rustic, Craigavon
Barns are great, as you see the old structure of the barn in your images and photos, as the new owners most likely have left the old beams and barn structure, but fixed up and modernised, as the it needs to be safe for your guests. Your photos will get a modern yet old look. You can nearly feel the cobwebs in the corners of the barn, giving it an old, rustic feel, which is why I love barn weddings. Great, as your dress will look magical against the old rustic barn architecture. Just imagine the old beams and wooden roof structure. The ceremony would also be superb at your reception, too - something to keep in mind. We’ll look at the example below and Breckenhill, Altahammond Barn.
Riverdale Barn
Breckenhill
Altahammond
This rustic barn venue was used for Helen and Scott’s reception in Riverdale Barn, and you can visit the blog post for more information and lots of photos I took while I was booked for the reception.
Breckenhill - A barn venue, Ballyclare
Breckenhill has two barns: The Green Barn, which accommodates up to 220 guests, and The Stone Barn, which accommodates up to 80 guests. There is also an outdoor ceremony space if the weather is good. The Green Barn has three areas: the main barn, the sunroom extension and the bar, and there is space for dancing. The outdoors has a gazebo, a floral circle, chairs and a PA system. Plan B is to head to the Stone Barn if it rains.
Max capacity: There are two buildings, the Stone Barn and the Green Barn. The Stone Barn is licensed for ceremonies for up to 80 guests. The Green Barn is larger and is for up to 220 guests.
The Breckenhill prices range from £1,700 to £3000 for hire only. The furniture is included, along with exclusive access. You have access on the day before setup, and a dedicated coordinator is available on the day.
Address: Breckenhill, 45 Breckenhill Rd, Doagh, Ballyclare BT39 0TB
Altahammond - Rustic barn, Carrickfergus
Altahammond Wedding Barn (also known as Altahammond Barn) has a rustic charm. They have a bridal suite, three double bedrooms and a three-bedroom cottage. Guests who are not staying here should seek accommodation at a B&B or hotel. It features a carvery-style banquet.
Max Capacity: 150+ guests
Address: Whitehead, Carrickfergus BT38 9SP
As a Photographer and Videographer, I’ve helped many brides and grooms plan there big day. I’m all too happy to answer any questions you have. There is quite some information on the website, but you can still contact Philip for any planning or help you might need.
Orange Tree House - Church style, Greyabbey
I love the church as the new owners have left the structure of the church building and fixed it up. It feels religious but looks modern, and for this reason, I love it. This barn-style church in Northern Ireland was held for Ashley and Jake at the couple's ceremony and reception in Orange Tree House. Their photos were stunning! Again, this is not a hotel, so there is no accommodation on site, but there are plenty in Greyabbey and Newtownards. The function room was originally built as a church in the 1820s. Stone walls and exposed beams are a great backdrop for your ceremony and evening reception. They also have an outdoor area for ceremonies, ideal for use when the weather is good. There is a lounge area for drinks between the ceremony and the reception.
Max capacity: 130 guests
Prices vary depending on the time of year and the day. January and February, Monday to Thursday, £1,995 and Friday and Saturday, £2,495. March to December, Monday to Thursday, £3,495 and Friday and Saturday, £3,995. Finally, public holidays are £3,995. They have a minimum numbers policy, so you can check that. The prices mentioned include exclusive access.
Address: 1 Portaferry Road, Greyabbey, Co. Down, BT22 2RU
The Treehouse - City centre vibes, Belfast
There are many Belfast wedding venues to choose from, but I’ve just chosen a couple below. There are, of course, many, many more in the centre, so I will add to this in the future, so stay tuned for more party venues. We can take a look at Belfast Castle and the Culloden Hotel.
The Treehouse and AMPM in the Belfast centre. As the weather improved, they opened its rooftop, allowing some light to enter, which is ideal for taking pictures. AMPM is located in a small building within the restaurant (also known as AMPM Bohemian Restaurant) situated below the treehouse in the heart of the city. AMPM is easy to get to, with ample car parking and public transport within walking distance. Certainly, if you are planning a smaller get-together in the city, AMPM should be considered. AMPM has a floral setting and a 1920s style to it, which looks beautiful in your photos. You can work with them on your menu choices. The venue is quite quirky and is fully licensed to hold civil ceremonies and civil partnerships. AMPM can hold 40 guests downstairs and 70 upstairs on the rooftop. You can use your suppliers, or they might be able to offer advice; it’s completely up to you.
A Treehouse Belfast wedding in the building above AMPM Belfast on the rooftop terrace of the building was amazing inside, very stylish and trendy, therefore great for your photography and videography, and I was really over the moon with the decor, as you can see. They offer a laid-back vibe and setting. The rooftop can be covered when the weather is not great or uncovered when it is sunny. When we finished at The Treehouse, we headed outside for a couple more in one of the small back alleyways in Belfast, giving the photos a much more urban and street feel. Also worth mentioning is the Cabaret Supper Club, located in the same building, which offers comedy and music every weekend.
Malone Lodge Hotel - High luxury, Belfast
On to the Malone Lodge (also known as The Malone Hotel), a Victorian hotel on Eglantine Avenue, not too far from Queen’s University and Botanic Gardens, for the reception, where we photographed family photos in one of the spare rooms beside the reception. Due to the weather, it wasn’t practical to get outside. Before everyone was called in for the speeches, we photographed a mock cutting of the cake. The speeches were good fun.
The hotel has won several awards in the past, and I would expect it to win many more in the future. The hotel offers a warm Irish welcome to all guests staying with us or considering a booking. The hotel provides the famous Irish hospitality! They offer only one wedding, like most, so you won’t have to run into another party next to yours. The location is great as it’s on the Lisburn Road in Co Antrim, so quite handy to the motorway and centre.
…home to our stunning 240 seater Ball Room, 130 seater Ceremony Room, an executive wing of bedrooms and two presidential suites, as well as The Knife and Fork Restaurant and Macklin's Bar. Recent awards include Go Belfast’ Hotel of the Year…
Address: 60 Eglantine Avenue, Malone Road, Belfast BT9 6DY
Malone Road is quite a famous road in the city with lots of cafes and bars within walking distance, and is just off the Lisburn Road.
Crowne Plaza - Outskirts of the city, Belfast
Nicola and Phillip’s Crowne Plaza in the winter, as the couple booked me for a package to celebrate their anniversary. The hotel is close to the city, and the bride and groom wanted to celebrate with family and friends. The singer booked was the fab The Untouchables Band. The couple wanted to renew their vows as they had been married 25 years, and I was booked after the dinner to take photos of their family, not forgetting the guests. The room the bride and groom hired was quite big and looked like a ballroom. As it was in November, the Crowne Plaza had the Christmas decorations up too, which made it extra special for photos. Early on in the night, some of the kids were up on the dance floor playing and carrying on, then later on as the night progressed, the adults got up for a bit of a boogie too, so great for photos.
It was a great night craic as they also had a photo booth, DJ Startrax Disco. I was only there for a bit longer when the band started, but what can I say? Wow! Had everyone up on the dance floor. The hotel has some great packages you can check out.
Malone House - Luxury in a stately home, Belfast
Kylie and David's Malone House big day at the stunning Georgian house for their Christmas ceremony on New Year’s Eve. You wouldn't think it, but Kylie just had her wee baby a short while before their ceremony commenced in the Hilsborowe Room. They also held the babies’ christening after the ceremony. Malone House was beautifully decorated with a Christmas theme, and guests were impressed. The Ceremony started and was quite brisk, not lasting too long. The Hilsborowe Room was a good size for the number in attendance. There wasn't that much time for family and bridal, but we took a few in the halls upstairs while guests were in the restaurant downstairs.
Everyone took to their seats for the speeches and meal in the Harberton Room. Afterwards, Kylie and David took to the floor for their first dance, followed by the bridal party, and some of the guests joined in too. Congratulations, wishing you a lifetime of happiness, thanks for booking me. I must admit this was an ideal venue for the number of guests in attendance.
"David and I would just like to leave some feedback for an outstanding guy, Philip, who was 100% professional with all our guests. At most weddings, the person has to deal with a bridezilla, but instead, he had to deal with a snappy bride who
To summarise, Belfast Wedding Venues that would be great for photography are
Belfast Castle
Belfast Castle prices are currently £1020, which is very good considering you have the rooms for both the ceremony and reception, as well as use of the ground floor and gardens for ten hours from 3 pm to 1 am. Check out the council for more up-to-date information.
Queen’s University
Riddel Hall
Europa Hotel
Titanic Drawing Rooms
Ulster Museum
Belfast Empire Music Hall
Crowne Plaza
Crumlin Road Gaol
Ulster Hall
Titanic Belfast
The Treehouse & AMPM
Culloden Estate and Spa
The Empire Belfast
I’d love to photograph in The Empire Belfast.
Loughshore Hotel
Ten Square Belfast
If you are looking at Ten Square Belfast in the heart of the city, then consider it here, as you’ll not get any closer! This makes your day unique as it’s in the heart of the city. You may forget about leaving your car outside, as you’ll need to use the car parks in the city. After all, Belfast is the major city. If you want modern, you have it in Ten Square Belfast, there’s no doubt about it. One of the drawbacks of this is that you don’t have any places, unfortunately, but you have the Botanic Gardens, or if you want a more urban and city-style, you have the Cathedral Quarter and various landmarks in the city. Within Ten Square, there are 131 luxurious guestrooms well above the standard, which will keep your guests happy. There are plenty of historic Belfast landmarks to explore within walking distance. They offer a perfect package tailored to your own needs.
Culloden Estate - Award-winning, Holywood
The Culloden Estate and Spa has 12 acres of gardens, located on the Hollywood hills and overlooking the lough. A luxury five-star hotel was originally built as a palace. The estate has 98 bedrooms.
Max Capacity: Up to 480
Prices: The Culloden Hotel prices range from £300 to £1,500 for hire, and packages start at £70 to £105 per head. They have a massive 98 bedrooms, which would easily cater for large parties.
Address: The Culloden Estate and Spa, Holywood BT18 0EX
Check out these blogs.
If you have a small day, do you need a large venue? I think not! Would you mind going to an intimate, small venue? You get all the frills. This means you can mingle with your guests much more, making your photos much more personal.
I photographed at The Belfray Country Inn, one of the best is located in County Londonderry, that the bride and groom booked for their day. I’ve photographed some great small venues, and this is more focused on the interior and exterior with a little information, too. Groom Preparations, Ceremony and Reception were held in the small venue. I must say it is one of the best. Other examples are Kilmore Country House and Hillmount House. Also, check out these…
Tullyveery House, Downpatrick
Tullyveery House's cost for hire only is from £5,200 up to £7,400, which I assume is peak season. I am sure this is for Courtyard options. The marquee site is for numbers up to 137.
Kilmore Country House
I’d love to photograph here as it has a 17th-century house, modernised and made into a guest house and is located in Glenariffe Glen.
Ballymac Hotel, Lisburn
Hillmount House, Larne
I’d also love to shoot here as their Stable Block & Coach House is your drinks reception.
Ardtara Country House
Tullylagan Country House, Cookstown
Lissan House, Cookstown
Glenmore Manor, Lurgan
Hugh McCanns, Newcastle
Tully Mill Restaurant, Enniskillen
The Tully Mill Restaurant is located in Enniskillen and has some beautiful cottages within walking distance of Florence Court. The place has a lovely pond, which would be great for taking photos in front of. They have a lovely old rustic building with newer, more modern cottages.
The Belmont Hotel - Charming 4 star hotel, Banbridge
The Belmont Hotel is located in County Down and is a great venue in Banbridge. The hotel is at the front, and the venue is at the back of the hotel. We took photos of the bridal party and family outside the front, and I took both photos and videos, including the speeches and dances, which were filmed. We took photos of the bridal party and family outside the front. You can play the video below, which is a highlight of the couple's day. For more, check YouTube.
Brownlow House - Castle style, Lurgan
Brownlow House in Lurgan, with a spotlight on Gemma and Scott as the couple booked me for a full-day package at a great price. The bride, groom, and I headed to Brownlow House for some bridal pictures. It was October, so it was a little cold. After Brigita had changed, I got ready for the Brownlow House bridal in Lurgan Castle with wedding dresses provided by Dresselicious. We started inside one of the rooms. It has some fantastic architecture inside and outside, so you can't go wrong here. Brownlow House, Lurgan weddings are great, and you have the bonus of the lake beside Brownlow Castle, too. We shot a few variations with and without the bouquet before making our way around the back, as they have large coloured glass windows. Flowers were out in full bloom, too. If you are looking for a Brownlow House wedding package.
What makes Brownlow House truly unique? Brownlow House is unique as it is a castle with great architecture both inside and outside. The insides feature high ceilings, staircases, chandeliers and stained glass as featured. The castle is beside Lurgan Park and the lake.
…a stunning country manor in Northern Ireland overlooking the scenic surroundings of Lurgan Park. This tranquil setting is ideal for your dream wedding, conference, party or event. From the moment you enter ‘The Castle’, you are surrounded by luxury with ornate high ceilings, grand spiralling staircases and stunning stained glass windows, making it the perfect setting for your fairytale wedding… (source)
A small list of luxury wedding venues in Northern Ireland, some of which are Ballyscullion Park, Clandeboye Courtyard, Magheramorne Estate and Beech Hill Country House. These are for people who want some luxury for their day and would make great luxurious images for your album when photographed.
Montalto Estate, Ballynahinch
The Montalto Estate cost is quite affordable.
Ballyscullion Park, Magherafelt
Drenagh Estate, Limavady
Magheramorne Estate, Larne
Magheramorne Estate prices are quite affordable and include the bridal suite, alcohol license, exclusive use for your day, in-house coordinator and onsite parking.
Crawfordsburn Inn
Clandeboye Lodge Hotel, Bangor
I’d love to work and shoot at your Clandeboye Courtyard, which you could comfortably stay in after midnight. Who doesn’t want to get married or have their reception in a courtyard? Clandeboye Lodge Hotel is set in a romantic backdrop in the 19th-century schoolhouse in County Down, which is perfect for your day. Clandeboye Lodge Hotel can hold over 300 guests for your day. The hotel has 42 bedrooms. If you want a romantic backdrop to your big day, check out the lodge's 19th-century schoolhouse, coupled with gardens. If you are having your ceremony here, the room is in the timber-arched Blackwood suite. The hotel offers the usual one per day policy. The lodge has three suites.
The Clandeboye Suite
The Viceroy Suite
The Sheridan Suite
The first (1) is the Clandeboye suite, which features natural colours with a classic art collection hanging on the wall. The room opens up to the gardens. This suite holds receptions from 120 to slightly more than 300 guests. The second (2) is called The Viceroy suite and holds up to 100 guests. The suite has a roof terrace with another reception area beside it. The third (3) is called The Sheridan suite and is much more of a contemporary room where you can walk out to the courtyard. The ceremony can be held in The Blackwood Suite, which features timber beams and stylish windows and can hold up to 155 guests or smaller gatherings of 60 guests. The Clandeboye Lodge is a 4-star hotel in County Down.
Slieve Donard, Newcastle
Slieve Donard is always special as it’s beside the Mourne Mountains in Newcastle, County Down, which makes a stunning backdrop. The Slieve Donard Resort is impressive for an intimate marriage ceremony and a reception. Situated in Newcastle, County Down has tremendous views on all sides of the hotel. You can explore the grounds, as there are plenty of photo opportunities within walking distance of the Victorian hotel. Your guests can explore the grounds, too. It’s beside the famous Royal County Down, which is a bonus if you love golf.
There are four rooms in the Slieve Donard Hotel that you can book, which will accommodate. One of the largest function suites is the Grand Ballroom, which holds up to a massive 800 guests. The second is the Chandelier Room, which can hold up to 400 of your guests. The third is called the Annesley and features more of a grand and timeless feel with its original fireplace. This room can hold up to 100 guests. The fourth is called the Brunel Lounge, which has a dedicated bar and access to the front lawns. The room can hold up to 100 guests. There are other, much smaller rooms.
Beech Hill Country House, Derry
What a place for your celebrations! We broke for a light lunch before heading to the front of Beech Hill, where the amazing Mustang GT was introduced into the photo shoot. Looking at the surroundings, I’m sure the Beech Hill has a long and fascinating history that would make for interesting reading. The grounds are stunning, with a great waterfall around the back of the hotel and old, derelict buildings, which make a great backdrop for your day.
There are acres of land that you can pick for the bride and groom portrait photos. The Beech Hill is a classic country house that caters for your ceremony and reception from start to finish. The Beech Hill has a rustic woodland forest, a lake and a walled garden and its large rooms are called Skipton Hall, a traditional Gregorian room for your reception, and The Old Family Library, which will cater for fewer guests. The reception rooms are called the Garden Pavilion and the Conservatory, which have stunning views and cater for fewer guests than the Garden Pavilion and the larger Skipton Hall, as explained earlier. This room can double as a ceremony and reception room; guests need to move to another location while the staff change over the room.
Some people want a popular venue for their day, which is sensible. I love photographing in popular venues, as you can always find something new to photograph and make the images a bit different.
Tullyglass House Hotel
Tullylagan Country House Hotel, Cookstown
Glenavon Hotel, Cookstown
The Bushmills Inn Hotel, Bushmills
Ballygally Castle, Larne
Galgorm Spa & Golf Resort, Ballymena
Galgorm offers the best journey to your perfect day through exclusive packages to suit you. Here is some information you should check out. The resort is in a staggering 163-acre estate. You can both get ready here before your ceremony. The Galgorm offers three suites to suit you. The Great Hall is the ideal choice if you are looking for something elegant and grand. The furniture is bespoke, with large oak doors and a stunning centrepiece of the waterfall. The Four Seasons Suite is contemporary and is much more chic in style. It is much more sophisticated than The Great Hall and has floor-to-ceiling windows. There is the Great Hall or Renaissance Suite, which is inspired by Art Deco. Guests, when arriving, will marvel at the lounge with the 1920s bar and fireplace. When in the main suite, the top table is the big draw.
There are a couple of ceremony rooms you can pick from. First is The Phantom House, which offers a setting for your marriage. Second is the Ghost House, with the grounds visible around the room. Or what about outside? The third option is outside, which has been inspired by nature. Spaces can accommodate up to 120 guests. If you need additional information, please contact them to discover your dream day, as they have dedicated planners.
Galgorm prices offer three packages including (a) Whirlwind, which is for 40 guests at £8,950, (b) Galgorm with Love in the Four Seasons Suite, which is for 40-80 guests from £9,950 to £15,350 depending on when your booking and (c) Galgorm Ever After in The Great Hall or Renaissance Suite and is for 70-100 guests from £13,250 to £17,550.
Corick House Hotel and Spa, Clogher
Corick House Hotel is special for so many reasons, as it’s set in a country house surrounded by a walled garden in the Clogher Valley. This is ideal as it’s away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. This is ideal for photos as there are so many opportunities within the hotel. Like most, Corick House Hotel offers a one-per-day policy, which is the norm nowadays; if it isn’t, it should be. The hotel has 43 bedrooms, including suites, all with superb fixtures and fittings. You can have your ceremony in the Corick House Hotel as it’s licensed for Civil, Humanist & Religious Ceremonies. If your ceremony is indoors, it would be held in the Orchid Suite, and if the weather is going to be good, what about outdoors at the entrance of the hotel?
When you arrive as a couple at the hotel’s green doors, you’ll be walking up the red carpet to the Corick House Hotel. Your guests will most likely already be in The Conservatory, which offers some stunning views. If you want a much smaller, more intimate reception, the Garden Suite might suit you better
Glenpark Estate - Marquee, Omagh
Twyla and Kieran’s Glenpark Estate, with the couple’s reception in the beautiful marquee, is one of the best venues in Omagh. Glenpark Estate are the best in the area, but back to Twyla and Kieran. We all made our way to Glen Park Estate, and I believe some of the guests were staying at the Glen Park Estate Hotel that night. As there were Gaelic games on, proceedings were delayed a little bit. The reception was going to be held a short distance behind the hotel in a marquee. There was a tractor with a trailer attached (sounds a tad painful in the backside but quite comfortable) transporting guests down to it, so I used that and used the old-fashioned way too, i.e. walking!
The speeches were short and sweet, with a couple of the guests making speeches, too, which was great to see. The music commenced for the first dance, with the bridal party dancing shortly, followed by a few guests. A great day was had by all, and thanks for booking me.
Beechlawn Hotel, Dunmurry
Beechlawn Hotel in Dunmurry, as the couple picked one of my packages from the ceremony to the fabulous evening reception. When we got to the Beechlawn Hotel with its country house charm, I thought it best to organise some family and bridal as quickly as possible, as we only had a short window before the guests were called in for speeches, and it was decided outside around the side of the Beechlawn Hotel in the small garden area, which was the best option.
Canal Court Hotel - Beside the border, Newry
Canal Court ended at the evening reception in the hotel, which was great as it had forecast rain, but ended as a glorious day. I was booked for the couple’s wedding photography and arrived early in the morning for some bridal preparations at Ciara’s parents’ house. There were plenty of people there already, including hair stylists and make-up artists, so everything was in full swing, so to speak. Paddy didn’t need any groom prep photos, so I spent the morning here. I arrived a bit early, so I had a quick nibble with food supplied by Jeaniebelle’s Afternoon Tea, and started with some detail-type photos and tend not to take too many of these, but just a couple, as well as the dresses hanging up.
When I arrived at the Canal Court, the car park space was hard to find as the hotel’s car park was full. I had to park in the public car park. All the guests were there, so the hotel was packed with guests for the couple’s reception. The Clanrye Suite in Canal Court was very impressive, with plenty of space and a bar at the top of the room with air conditioning. There were about 120+ guests in attendance, but the room can hold 200 guests. When I arrived, I started charging batteries and changing memory cards. At this stage, I also took some photos of the room’s decor while it’s empty, as things tend to get a bit messy when guests are in, as you’d expect.
Ciara didn’t need any more canal court wedding photos, so they wanted me to take more casual table photos of the guests mingling, which I was more than happy to do. After a while, the guests were called into the Clanrye Suite for speeches. When all the guests were finally at their tables, the manager and speaker called the wedding party close, followed by the bride and groom. All the speeches were great, not too long, and Ciara’s mum made an opening speech along with the best man and groom, as well as both Ciara and Paddy’s dads.
Afterwards, there was a great surprise that was organised by Ciara’s mum, where the waiter tripped and fell over as most of the guests, including the party, thought the waiter had accidentally fallen over. Singers by Surprise did a tremendous job of getting the guests up, a great start to the evening. The guests moved back out to the lounge while the staff changed the room for the evening. I took some more wedding photography in the lounge, as well as casually chatting at their tables. Infinity Wedding Band started to set up, which took a while as the musicians spent a bit of time getting the audio correct. After a bit more mingling, the band called onto the dance floor for their first dance. Soon afterwards, the band called the bride and her father up for a daughter-daddy dance, then afterwards called the bridal party and then the guests too. Hope you have a great future together, Ciara, Paddy and all the best with your future together.
There are many top venues, where I’d like to shoot. We’ll look at the Titanic Hotel and Old Rectory, Killyman.
Hugh McCann's
Europa Hotel, Belfast
Europa Hotel packages are quite good, keeping it is in central Belfast, so it is in a premium position on Great Victoria Street. Packages start from £50pp (per person) and include the red carpet on arrival, room hire, white chair covers, white table linen and napkins, bridal suite on the night with late check-out, master of ceremonies and special accommodation rates for guests.
Titanic Hotel
Titanic Hotel prices. You can choose from one of their inclusive packages or per-person pricing starting from £75pp up to £115pp. This includes red carpet arrival, tea, coffee and homemade shortbread on arrival, room for a full day and evening, an evening buffet, candelabras on every table and a bedroom suite for the couple on the night.
The Chelsea, Belfast
The Old Rectory, Killyman, Dungannon
Old Rectory Killyman prices are for the Orangery for up to 57 guests and the dining room for up to 80 guests. The hotel and bedrooms are £2000, and the hotel, bedrooms and marquee are £2500. It includes a bridal suite and 13 individual bedrooms. The marquee caters for sit-down meals for up to 120 and 200 guests.
It's all sorted. Thanks, Sarah and Jason
Lough Erne Resort
Killeavy Castle Estate, Newry
Killeavy Castle is located in a peaceful and romantic 365-acre estate in Newry, overlooking the majestic Ring of Gullion. There is no better place to have your day than in a castle! The castle offers three packages, which are the Chestnut, Oak and Intimate Castle. Each package offers you the use of the walled garden and the woodland, which would be ideal for photos. The Killeavy is licensed for civil ceremonies.
Your guests can chat with each other in the grand reception rooms. The Castle Pavilion can hold up to 180 guests and has a bar. For a smaller, more intimate banquet, this can be served in the castle drawing room. The castle itself has four guestrooms, and guests can stay in the 45-guestroom luxury 4-star hotel or self-catering cottages called Gatelodge and Woodlodge. As with most hotels, the Killeavy offers one wedding per day. The grounds of the castle and spa have plenty of photo opportunities. You have the front entrance of the castle up the steps to the doors. Even if you turn around at this stage, you can see the Mourne Mountains. At the back of the castle is a forest, woodland and a small walled garden. As for the location, it is within driving distance of Newry and Belfast.
Larchfield Estate, Lisburn
Larchfield Estate will be in a fairy tale setting within the stone buildings and beautiful gardens in the Lisburn heritage property. Larchfield Estate caters for your evening reception and ceremony, too, if need be. The ceremony can be inside or, if it’s going to be a great day, outside in the courtyard. Inside, there are two rooms you can use depending on size and guest numbers, the barn and the orangery. Either way, it’ll be a great evening with a party environment or more of a relaxed atmosphere.
Larchfield Estate can accommodate up to 37 guests, and you’ll have a choice of cottages, suites and the more adventurous glamping truck. Whatever is booked, your guests will get a nice breakfast or hamper. There is no shortage of countryside for photos as Larchfield extends to 600 acres, including forest, woodland and river banks. As you’d expect from a building that dates back to about 1600, it has a great heritage. In 2015, the Orangery was built to replace the old marquee as an entry point into the estate. 2019 saw the redevelopment of an old railway-style building facing the cottages.
Larchfield Estate has a romantic setting for your ceremony, which features an old stone wall barn and rustic stables and is located in an estate. They can also accommodate a ceremony inside. The reception is held in the Orangery and Courtyard, which features cobbled stones. If you are staying overnight, it sleeps up to 37 guests.
Max capacity: The indoor stables can hold 150 guests, the barn and outdoor walled garden can each hold 264 max
Ballydugan Mill - Modernised, Downpatrick
Linda and Peter’s Ballydugan Mill Wedding, as the couple booked me for a full day for the ceremony and reception in Downpatrick. Starting with bridal preparations in Castlewellan and, during the speech, a Westlife Nicky Byrne speech (pre-recorded). After filming some interior and exterior in the Mill at Ballydugan with a couple with the drone for a bird's eye perspective, the guests started arriving, and soon afterwards, Linda arrived too. The room was well decorated and had exposed beams, which made the room more interesting for the couple's video. The ceremony was conducted by humanist celebrant Stewart Holden and was jolly good fun, telling the story of how they met and some family history, too.
Everyone was called in, and Linda and Peter arrived to a standing ovation from guests, making for a great and EPIC entrance for their wedding video. The layout was a little different as there was no top table, so the speeches from Linda and Peter commenced and ranged from fun to super fun! It was an 18th-century flour mill in the past and offers a unique take on weddings. There was a surprise pre-recorded message on the projector by famous Irish singer Nicky Byrne from the super Irish group Westlife at The Mill wedding, as Linda is a massive fan. Some great advice from the big man himself!
I have picked my top wedding video highlights that I have filmed for you to watch, and these include Glenpark Estate in Omagh in both Newry and Downpatrick. Enjoy!
Edenmore House - Golf club, Magheralin
If you are interested in Orchard County, namely County Armagh, check this section out. There are a few romantic things I’ll be writing about and adding to this page soon, so stay tuned. I’ve worked at a couple of council weddings, including Newry Town Hall. I’ve also worked at some golf club weddings, including Edenmore and Portadown Golf Club. I will be posting more info on these two soon, so stay tuned. I have a separate page for wedding venues in Ireland. You are free to visit and see if any interests you in the South (ROI).
Edenmore House wedding (bridal) in The Kircassock Suite, as it was a great spot, and you’ll not be disappointed. The bridal shoot was organised by a camera shop. We shot a couple of different setups outside as the weather was picking up quite a bit by this stage; it was still quite windy, though.
Edenmore Country Club weddings are also great, as they have large grounds with plenty of space. As you’d expect, it’s also a golf course, so you could spend a decent amount of time around the country club. After a while, we made our way back into the club for a few shots inside. I must say, Edenmore Golf Course weddings are the best; it is a great spot for your reception. Edenmore House is nestled in the centre of County Down countryside, right beside the golf course. You can have your ceremony here as Edenmore is licensed to hold civil, humanist, and religious ceremonies and evening receptions, too, so you don't even need to leave the premises. There are also rooms here for guests to stay overnight.
There are two rooms available for your wedding, the larger The Kircassock Suite, which can hold 130 guests max, and the smaller room The Kilfullert Suite, which can hold 35 guests max. It has a strict one-wedding-per-day policy so that you don’t clash with another wedding party. Due to the recent expansion and improvement of Edenmore, guests can now stay within the building.
Wedding Packages
If you're interested, have a look at my wedding packages in Northern Ireland, as you will find I offer some great packages to suit everyone’s budget and situation, from the cheaper end to the more luxurious end, and not forgetting whirlwind and elopement packages too. From small to large numbers of guests, there is a package to suit every bride and groom. These range from a micro wedding package, which is my minimum, to a full-day wedding package, which is the most popular and ideal, as I’m starting from bridal prep up to your first dance. If it works out, the bridal party and guests get up for a dance. I’ll stay for the second and hopefully third dance, too. If anything is different from what I have, please contact me, and I can design your package.
£1000 Wedding Package Northern Ireland
My £1000 wedding package in Northern Ireland is the minimum photo package option and can be used throughout the day at any time, but can’t be split, sorry. This is my most affordable package and quite good value for money in my opinion. £1000 is not a high price for this package. Does this include?
All high-res images
Wooden USB
Usual wait time is 4 to 5 weeks
All travel costs within NI are included
£2000 Wedding Package Belfast
I also have a £2000 wedding package in Belfast, which you might be interested in if you're getting married in the city. This is a full-day package starting from bridal preparations up to your second dance at your reception in the province. It is excellent value for money and should be booked one to two years in advance. What’s included in this package?
Full-Day and Album
All high-res images
Free pre-wedding at any location
Highlights slideshow
Wooden USB
Usual wait time is 4 to 5 weeks
All travel costs within NI included
Your wedding can be expensive, which is why I’ve looked at the average wedding cost in Northern Ireland. The price can vary depending on where you choose to get married or have your reception. In the UK, Northern Ireland was found to be the fourth cheapest place to get married, with an average cost of £13,000 (poll in 2019). You are free to check out my wedding packages in Northern Ireland. You may or may not have enough finances to cover, but it’s great to check options.
Let’s take a break and look at something unique! Something perhaps you haven’t even thought about.
One of them is an Island which offers a truly unique experience of being on an island, which makes it completely different from others. It is also very familiar as the distance to the island is not that far, and you can get the ferry by bringing your car with you or without leaving it in the car park. It takes 5 minutes and runs every 15 minutes or so. In many ways, this is breathtaking! I am compiling a list of unusual ones, so stay tuned for that! This is not your private island has other guests staying there that have nothing to do with your party, but it is quite a secluded outdoor venue, so I’m sure you’ll be really happy here.
For those on a tight budget, it can be difficult to find a venue that fits you. Hotels may seem like the cheaper option, but perhaps you don’t want to get married in a hotel if you're not looking for a traditional setting. Are there any recommendations that can meet a budget of £6k for the venue only? You may find flying off is the answer, but you may find it costs the same. I have included some notes beside the wedding name.
Dufferin Coaching Inn & Hall, Killyleagh
Also known as Dufferin Hall
Breckenhill, Ballyclare
Wild Duck Inn, Portglenone
Someone noted by far one of the best and cheapest, and great value for money, one to check out.
Old Rectory, Killyman, Dungannon
Limepark, Ballymoney
A Limepark Wedding is set on the north coast in the exclusive in Ballymoney for your reception and ceremony. The Limepark has two rooms for your ceremony that you can choose from. The Gallery is great if you need your ceremony inside, and the room can hold up to 90 guests. The natural stone means you have little to decorate. The other is the Chamomile Lawn, which is outside and is surrounded by stone walls, trees and beautiful landscaping. There’s plenty of space outside for garden games in good weather.
Your reception is held in The Barn, which is a renovated 18th-century stone barn and is the ideal place for your evening wedding reception. It can hold up to 114 guests, and the set-up is flexible. There’s no shortage of photo locations in Limepark, as you’ll have access to the estate, well within walking distance back to your guests.
Also…
The Whistledown Hotel, Warrenpoint
Altahammond House, Carrickfergus
Rocky Mountain Cottage, Newry
The Stables at Hilden Brewery, Lisburn
Finnebrogue Woods, Downpatrick
Parisien, Belfast
The Green Holiday Cottages, Kilkeel
Arcadia House, Portrush
Depends on smaller numbers, and you need to provide catering. I’d love to shoot your Arcadia Portrush Wedding in the venue. Contact me for any enquiries.
Hugh McCann's, Newcastle
Wedding packages with a choice of 2 function rooms, depending on the size of your wedding, have the option to hold weddings in their secret garden.
Cultra Manor, Holywood
Cultra Manor wedding prices are £2,640 for the hire only for a wedding reception and £3,000 for a wedding ceremony and reception. You can have your ceremony in Cultra Manor or the Omagh Meeting House Church.
Millbrook Lodge Hotel, Ballynahinch
If you choose the lower meal packages, you can get them for under 6k, depending on your numbers.
Barnabys Restaurant, Ballyclare
They have a great wedding package for around £4000
Harry's Shack, Portstewart
Ballyscullion Park, Magherafelt
Manor House Country Hotel
Edenmore House, Magheralin
Which is reasonably priced. Edenmore House wedding in The Kircassock Suite, as it was a great spot, and you’ll not be disappointed. The bridal shoot was organised by a camera shop. We shot a couple of different setups outside as the weather was picking up quite a bit by this stage; it was still quite windy, though. Edenmore Country Club weddings are also great, as they have large grounds with plenty of space. As you’d expect, it’s also a golf course, so you could spend a decent amount of time around the country club. After a while, we made our way back into the club for a few shots inside. I must say, Edenmore Golf Course weddings are the best. A great spot for your reception, thanks.
The Edenmore has its private bar and has the usual one wedding that most do. If you are a golfer, this could be considered the perfect location for several reasons. The restaurant is called The Curious Fox. The Kilfullert and Kircassock Suites are licensed to hold civil, humanist, and religious ceremonies. For smaller, intimate weddings, the Kilfullert Suite allows you to celebrate with up to 35 guests, with the option to move to the larger suite for your evening celebration should you wish to invite more evening guests. The Kircassock Suite can accommodate up to 130 guests for your main banquet, with space for additional guests to join for the evening celebrations.
Brookhall Cottages and Weddings, Lisburn
Brookhall is held in a 13th-century pre-Christian Church steeped in history and located on the corner of Ballinderry Road, Lisburn. The Brookhall is located in Maghergall on six acres and is just 3 miles from Lisburn, which you have exclusive use of. There are a couple of rooms at Brookhall. Firstly, the Church is a 13th-century pre-Christian church within the Brookhall Estate grounds and is full of history. Restored to its past glory, Brookhall has hosted hundreds of wedding ceremonies. Second is The Banqueting Room, which can seat up to 60 guests and can be dressed according to your special day. The space is perfect for those wishing to have an intimate banquet-style meal. There is space outside the room for outdoor tables and chairs for guests to enjoy the surrounding views. Thirdly, the rustic Barn is a retired farm shed that provides an outdoor space for your marriage celebrations, which can be covered in case it rains, with landscaped gardens. It is a large space and gives creative people a great place for styling to suit. It has a wedding coordinator on hand for your special day. To recap, you have
The Church
The Banqueting Room
Perfect for an intimate setting.
The Barn
The Wool Tower, Broughshane
The river and ground are both yours for your day, and the venue is beside the River Braid, beside the water in the acres of private natural countryside.
Max Capacity: Up to 480
Prices: The Wool Tower wedding cost is around £5000, but catering is a separate charge, and it is one of the cheapest as far as I know. For a more up-to-date price.
Address: Broughshane
A list of the best Wedding Venues in Armagh, Portadown and Lurgan. These could be ideal if you are in or close to the town! The area is commonly known as Orchard County. Wedding planning can be stressful for a bride, but to help you, I have compiled this shortlist.
All of the below have plenty of parks and countryside areas that can be used for wedding portraits and bridal photos in County Armagh, including but not limited to Tannaghmore Park, Demesne Park and Portadown People’s Park.
As I work in the area, a couple of notable ones are the Armagh City Hotel and Charlemont Arms Hotel. The biggest would be the city hotel, which also has a park beside it. I’m not too sure if there are many outside locations at the venue, but most go to these two. The city has some nice scenic surroundings.
County Armagh offers some great hotel weddings, but as you’d expect, a smaller county perhaps has limited and not an awful lot of hotels to choose from, so I’ll give you a quick summary of them. Some hotel weddings in the area are at the Armagh City Hotel.
Out of the above, some of my favourites and the best evening wedding reception venues are Gracehall, where you can easily spend the whole evening reception here without having to leave at the end of the evening and seek a place to stay which can be a real pain for some and a bit of an inconvenience for others if for example guests are quite a bit older.
Armagh City Hotel
Craigavon Civic Centre
Edenmore House, Moira
Pot Belly Restaurant, Craigavon
Seagoe Hotel
Seagoe Hotel, Portadown
Seagoe Hotel Wedding Photography (bridal), as the hotel is conveniently located close to the motorway, making for great access. Inside, the Seagoe has a great contemporary vibe and has some gardens around the back, ideal for wedding photos. The hotel is close to where I live, just 10 minutes away. Probably about 10 minutes away from the M1 motorway, so weddings are very handy in the Seagoe Hotel.
I am only a stone’s throw away from the place, and it's one of the best venues locally, no question about it. Rio (short for Rioghnach), the bride, changed into the wedding dress. We started the photo shoot inside at the back of the hotel, as they have a great staircase with some fantastic lighting and carpets. This part wasn’t being used as the guests were at the front of the hotel. We made our way up to the top of the balcony overlooking the car park, trying to avoid getting the car park in the photos. The receptionist told us earlier that the outside garden area had been fixed up a bit, so we ventured out there next, as it was quite sunny.
It was a very bright day with a slight breeze, maybe even too bright. With an eye on lighting conditions, I much prefer dull lighting casting an even light on people rather than harsh shadows. We photographed at a few areas within the garden and tried a few variations. There were two dresses similar in size, and Dresselicious kindly supplied the dresses. All together, we got some super images, and I was more than happy with the results.
This is a short list of quirky venues you can consider if you are thinking about booking somewhere off-beat, alternative and non-traditional. Some of these are small, and some are larger, in no particular order.
Crumlin Road Gaol Visitor Attraction and Conference Centre, Belfast
Field of Dreams, County Down
The Belfast Empire Music Hall
Magnakata, Downpatrick
Hidden Huntley, Dunmurry
Strangford View Mews, Downpatrick
There are many great wedding receptions, and most or all of these venues would cater for yours. It depends on what size reception you want for your big day, though: large, medium or small. Work this out before booking and see if the venue has a room that will cover however many are attending your evening reception.
A lot of venues have anywhere between £6500 - £10,000 hire fee alone without catering and a few other things too. Many private companies have a hiring fee, but I’m afraid you get what you pay for. If you are looking for a total venue hire with a lower cost, try the following; otherwise, you are looking at a hotel package, which is quite a bit less, but then, on the other hand, you don’t have exclusive use, you would have other guests that have nothing to do with your wedding. A list of potential venues which may have a lower hire cost, in no particular order, is:
Glen Park
Breckenhill
Brook Hall
Blessingbourne
Roe Park
I am starting to compile a short list of outdoors, so watch this page for more information. These are outdoors at the venues, obviously, weather permitting, as plan B would be inside. Unfortunately, in this country, sometimes the weather is a little unpredictable for an outdoor wedding.
Breckenhill
Hillsborough Castle
Is there any such thing as a perfect venue? Everyone is different, and as such, there are pros and cons, so when you think about it, there is no such thing, I’m afraid. You need something as close to what you want as you can get.
Wedding Venues summary
In County Armagh A few in and around Portadown and Armagh are
Armagh City Hotel
Craigavon Civic Centre
Edenmore House
Between Moira and Lurgan.
Pot Belly Restaurant
Off the main road between Gilford and Portadown.
Seagoe Hotel
Located in Portadown.
In County Antrim
Lissanoure Castle
Ballymena
Breckenhill
Ballyclare
Deanes at Queens
In the heart of Belfast city centre, which might be a bit challenging to get to.
The Highway Inn Bar & Kitchen
Lisburn
Crowne Plaza Belfast
County Londonderry Derry has some great venues worth checking out.
Lodge Hotel
The Terrace Hotel
Roe Valley Resort
Beech Hill Country House
The Belfray Country Inn
In County Fermanagh
Lough Erne Resort
Ashbrooke House
Castle Coole
In County Down
Clandeboye Lodge Hotel
Larchfield Estate
Edenmore House
The Carriage Rooms at Montalto Estate
Cultra Manor
In County Tyrone
Both Cookstown and Omagh have great venues.
The Silverbirch Hotel
The Royal Hotel
Glenavon House Hotel
Greenvale Hotel
Canal Court
The Right Wedding Venue for You
Here are a few things to consider and what to look for when choosing the right one. Choosing the right one is often the first thing you think of when starting to plan your wedding day. One of the most difficult parts is knowing where to start! Do you need yours to accommodate both families, or are you after a venue that is a little smaller, more intimate, and personal? Do you like the idea of a hotel, a barn or a castle?
Research is Important
When choosing your venue, be careful not to fall into the trap of arranging visits to every venue you’ve ever heard of amidst all of your excitement. Not only will this leave you feeling confused and overwhelmed, but you may also end up just choosing one to get the decision made and. I recommend sitting down and chatting about what your vision for your wedding day is – deciding if you want a relaxed venue where friends and family can chill out all day, or perhaps a luxury hotel with a stunning interior and modern design. It’s also important to keep in mind your budget when choosing yours.
Which have you been to before? Have you attended friends’ or family’s weddings before you were engaged? Likely, you weren’t over-analysing every part of the day compared to now, when all you seem to think about is your dream day. Try to think back to those weddings and what you enjoyed about each of them, or perhaps what didn’t do it for you. Sit down with your partner and start to make a list of what you require (such as capacity) and what you would like.
Research on Google
Go online and look around to see what you can find. A quick search on Google will start you off, and from there, you can narrow down to your favourites. Check out their wedding day section, email the wedding planner, ask them some questions and see what they can do for you.
Arrange a viewing
Once you’ve (fingers crossed) fallen in love with a couple of venues, it’s time to get in contact with them to arrange a viewing. This is a great opportunity for you both to go along and see the venue yourselves and get LOTS more info. When you’re choosing your venue, it’s important to go prepared with a list of questions or information that you want to find out. You want to know what’s ahead, so there are no surprises further down the line. Ask them LOTS of questions.