The ONLY wedding venue resource you'll need.

Well you got this far - you chose the partner, you got the ring - now you just need a venue and you're well on the way to your new career as a high class wedding planner :-). So you dig out grandads old computer from the shed, click yourself into "the Google" and type in those magical words - wedding venues ... and like every other bride/groom-to-be in the country, your eyes glaze over as you trawl through endless advertising pages entitled "top 20 wedding venues", "best wedding venues", "34 amazing wedding venues" - don't you wish someone would just make a list of them all so you could just get on with it! Well you just found it, you've arrived, now put the kettle on and prepare to dive into the "amazing super fabulous best top venues in the universe" (too much?).

YOUR DAY, YOUR WAY

Every couple is different, so while there are hundreds of beautiful classic hotel type venues in this list, we've also gone to great lengths to find all the unusual or quirky wedding venues in Ireland as well - along with what are considered Ireland's destination wedding specialities - castles, country houses and manors. Basically it's all here, whether you want to get married in a castle, brewery, boat, stadium, a theatre or even a zoo!

BEFORE YOU START

While the romance and ambiance are important, you still have to remember you're looking for a wedding venue that has to accommodate all your invited family and friends - of all ages. So before you continue, you should consider accessible bathrooms for the older guests, or suitability for kids (and their designated sober and hyper-caffeinated parent). Knowing these things from the start makes the decisions you have to make later a lot easier... and even if you're planning to arrive in a fleet of pink helicopters or on a pink unicorn, then a helipad (or accessible drinking trough) is something you'll have to think about at this stage too.

1 . Are there any restrictions we need to know about?

This is vital. You may have found the perfect venue, with the beautiful "orangery" and the giant heart shaped bed in the bridal suite - but what would happen in 10 months, when you've got the invites out, and you find out that the venue has a 10:30pm curfew, or if they have a strict policy regarding outside wedding caterers, or a fire safety policy that prohibits inviting afters guests? When you are making these initial inquiries with venues, ask lots of questions and check the last page or two (usually) of their current brochure for the details.

2. Are the wedding packages fixed, what about extras?

You've opted for the venue's silver package, but you really like the burgundy chair covers from the bronze package. How much are any changes or extras, and if you decide on an outside wedding supplier for say the flowers (instead of the hotel's arrangement), can you knock the flowers portion off your bill? Is there a corkage charge for wine? Can you bring your own alcohol?

3. What else can the venue supply?

4. What's the difference in cost for a weekday?

Most couples make their enquiry for a Saturday wedding, for obvious reasons. But think back over the times you attended a wedding on a Friday, or maybe even a Thursday. It wasn't so bad for you as a guest, you still enjoyed the day regardless - and you probably didn't give it a second thought after the warm prosecco reception did you? Wedding costs can get out of hand, so at every stage ask if you're getting the best price available - starting with the venue.

5. How much is the deposit, and what's the payment schedule?

How much is the deposit, when is it due, is it refundable, after what period of this is it not refundable? What's the payment plan for the entire bill?

6. Is the venue exclusive to your wedding, are areas open to the public too?

This is it - the big day, a romantic whirlwind, filled with flowers and frocks, friends and family and a bottomless champagne glass! But did you know there would be another bride (in a slightly nicer dress, with a slightly bigger ring) having her wedding here too - and her wedding's in the "grand ballroom" - and now your guests are sneaking into her wedding "cause they've got a chocolate fountain"!

Is the venue exclusive to your wedding? Are the public areas completely separate to your arrival reception? Is your classically trained harpist going to be drowned out by the City v United match in the bar? Is that woman with the Dunnes bag one of himself's distant relatives, and is she really going to eat all of your salmon & cucumber hors d'oeuvres?

7. How late can the party go?

While us Irish are a cosmopolitan lot, with our skinny lattes and our 'triple shot cherry mocha caffe macchiatos' (someone please tell me if that's a real drink!), we do like an occasional shindig - so Irish weddings are known to push the limits of human ability when it comes to last orders or finish time. With that in mind, it's a good idea to ask your potential venues about any possible noise curfews, overtime fees or cut-off points they might have - and consider whether that might also affect your band or your plans to hire a wedding DJ.

8. What overnight accommodation is available for you and your guests?

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