The Register: 6 boutique venues with a difference
Perfectly formed but without the big numbers, these wedding locations still deliver big on charm with eclectic detail
Durhamstown Castle
A 600-year-old castle and tower house located just a 10-minute drive from Navan in Co Meath, Durhamstown Castle is the home of Dave and Sue Prickett, who have transformed the castle into a rustic, country-style wedding venue for couples seeking a private, relaxed gathering.
Couples can choose to exchange vows in the original 18th-century cut-stone barn or stable area, both of which can fit up to 150 guests, while reception rooms and accommodation (which can sleep up to 30 guests) are located inside the castle.
Small weddings of up to 30 can dine in the castle, while larger groups dine and dance in the barn, where a three-course wedding dinner is served with exceptional meals created in-house from scratch.
Durhamstown Castle, Durhamstown, Bohermeen, Co Meath, C15XP80 +353 (046) 902 8045 info@durhamstowncastle.com durhamstowncastle.com
The Station House Hotel
Originally built in 1862 as a busy railway junction, The Station House took on a new life in 1984 as an award-winning, family-owned boutique hotel in the lush Boyne Valley, less than an hour from Dublin.
Approved for civil ceremonies, its outdoor venue The Turntable provides a magical amphitheatre setting outdoors amongst the trees, while the Carriage Suite can be set up for an elegant indoor ceremony that holds up to 180 guests.
A smaller, more intimate affair can be held in The Signal Restaurant. There is a two-storey honeymoon suite in a converted 19th-century signal box.
Originally where the Signal Master used to manage the train tracks with its 38 levers, it is now a beautifully decorated two-storey suite, elegantly furnished with a combination of contemporary Irish artisan furniture and antiques, giving the bridal couple a perfect hideaway.
The Station House Hotel, Kilmessan, Co Meath, C15 N40D +353 (046) 902 5239 info@stationhousehotel.ie stationhousehotel.ie
The Carriage Rooms at Montalto
The Carriage Rooms at Montalto is a private wedding venue set in the stunning Co Down countryside that can hold up to 180 people and is licensed for indoor and outdoor ceremonies.
Guests can spend the afternoon enjoying a drink in the walled garden while couples can take advantage of the many photo opportunities on the 400-acre estate before moving into the banquet hall for dinner.
Exposed walls, vaulted ceilings and 19th-century beams are the backdrops for a bridal couples evening, with the option to dance the night away downstairs in their late-night venue.
If you would like to stay the night and extend your experience, the Georgian Montalto House also offers private accommodation for up to 18 people.
Each stay includes a Northern Irish breakfast and butler service. Montalto House is also available as a beautiful wedding venue for up to 66 people
The Carriage Rooms at Montalto, Montalto Estate, Spa Road, Ballynahinch, Co Down, BT24 8PT +44 (028) 9756 6100, info@thecarriagerooms.com, thecarriagerooms.com
No. 25 Fitzwilliam Place
Located in Dublin’s historic Georgian Mile, No. 25 Fitzwilliam Place has been lovingly restored and decorated in a classic yet contemporary style highlighting its original period features.
Its one-wedding-per-day policy ensures that couples have exclusive use of the house, its exquisite private rooms, sumptuous fine dining menus and warm, attentive service for the entirety of their wedding day. No. 25 Fitzwilliam Place has a long tradition of warmth, love and romance that can be felt as soon as you walk through its Georgian doors.
A family home dating from the 1800s, the townhouse offers five-star service with a team trained from Fairmont Hotels and Four Seasons around the world.
The culinary team at No. 25 Fitzwilliam Place and their sister restaurant Suesey Street are committed to using locally-sourced ingredients and supporting Irish producers. All weddings are priced individually and tailored to the couple’s personal requirements.
No. 25 Fitzwilliam Place, 25 Fitzwilliam Place, Co Dublin info@25fitzwilliamplace.ie +353 (01) 669 4646, 25fitzwilliamplace.ie
The Wicklow Escape
This west Wicklow wedding venue brings plenty of rustic luxury, coming set in a secluded woodland lodge with a traditional cottage style that offers a charming, intimate experience.
With breathtaking views of Sugar Loaf Mountain and lush greenery, you can choose from a variety of picturesque locations for the ceremony, including their historic long hall, the woodland area, the mountain deck, or the pavilion.
There is a maximum capacity of 60 guests in the summer and 38 in the autumn and winter months, the venue works with a select group of trusted suppliers to create a bespoke, intimate and personalised experience.
You can hire the venue exclusively for one or two nights, with accommodation options that can sleep up to 30 guests.
The Wicklow Escape, Ballinclea, Donard, Co Wicklow, W91 HP94 +353 (083) 375 4372 reservations@thewicklowescape.com thewicklowescape.com
The Club at Goffs Hotel
The Club at Goffs Hotel is a unique, boutique hotel in Co Kildare that marks its first year as a wedding venue.
The Barn is the hotel’s dedicated indoor ceremony and celebrations space and accommodates both civil ceremonies and post-ceremony celebrations of up to 120 guests.
Its lofty, country-style atmosphere provides the perfect party setting, feeling rustic, traditional and modern all at once. The Barn comes complete with its own bar, toilets, PA sound and lighting system.
An outdoor terrace with cosy blankets and outdoor heaters and an airstream cocktail bar is the perfect place for guests to take some fresh air and mingle, where midnight snacks and finger food will also be served. A
s for the food, a four-course wedding dinner is served in the stunning Club Hotel at Goff’s restaurant by celebrity chef and restaurateur duo Derry and Sallyanne Clarke.
With just one wedding per day, couples can choose to exclusively book the hotel’s guest rooms which accommodate 100 guests. Located just 20 minutes from Kildare town and Dublin city, and 40 minutes from the airport, this conveniently-located wedding destination promises to make your big day magical.
The Club at Goffs Hotel, Greenhills, Kill, Co Kildare, W91 APW9 +353 (1) 6856 189 weddings@clubhotel.ie, clubhotel.ie
