12 alternative wedding... - Financial Unions

So much hinges on the wedding venue you pick.

From the food and drink, the music set up, accessibility, accommodation and more, there are so many criteria to be met when planning your dream day.

Chief among them, no doubt, is finding the place that represents you as a couple best. Depending on the couple, that might not be a traditional church or hotel.

While these options are fantastic, many couples are on the hunt for something different. Whether it's a rustic and charming barn, a chic and trendy city centre venue, or a heritage site that brings a sense of the past with it, there are dozens of alternative wedding venues up and down the country.

Here, we've rounded up a few of our favourites, so if you're newly affianced, save these for your planning sessions!

Hen's Teeth, Dublin

You can't get better testimony for a wedding venue than from the owners themselves. When Greg and Roise, co-owners of Hen's Teeth in Dublin 8, went looking for a location for their nuptials they couldn't find a space that ticked all the boxes - so they created one, holding their wedding in the chic industrial space in 2019.

The 2,600 sq ft gallery, café and event space features concrete walls covered with eclectic and eye-catching contemporary Irish art, and is an especially unique backdrop for bridal flowers. The space can host up to 175 for a cocktail reception and 80 for a sit-down dinner, with bar service running until 1:30am on Fridays to Sundays. The team helps with everything from food and drinks to entertainment.

Urban Brewing's Stack A Restaurant, Dublin

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If you're looking for something that combines the fun and history of the city, look no further than Urban Brewing. Located in the vaults of the CHQ Building, a listed building erected in 1820 to hold valuable stores of tea, tobacco and more, this restaurant offers an atmospheric setting for your wedding.

Flexible and with enough space for up to 250 guests, dinner is served in three limestone vaults and focuses on a modern take on traditional Irish fare. For the after party, the vaults can be transformed with your choice of lighting, music and more.

Bewleys, Dublin

The iconic Dublin cafe and theatre made headlines recently by hosting its first ever wedding for Sarah Brittain and Luke Carton, from Perrystown, who had had their first date there 20 years ago. The 90-person strong event was such a success that the Dublin institution is opening its doors for more events.

MoLI, Dublin

If your love story is one destined to be written down, the Museum of Literature Ireland might be the perfect venue for you. Located on the south side of St Stephen's Green in a breathtaking Georgian townhouse, MoLI has become renowned as a memorable and picturesque wedding venue.

Weddings take place in the romantic Old Physics Theatre and Saloon, with guests using a private entrance to keep the anticipation high. Even better, the venue is fully wheelchair accessible and can host up to 60 seated guests for ceremonies, and 50 for private dining. Round off your fairy tale wedding with photos taken in the Reader's Garden on site.

The Chocolate Factory, Dublin

If you want to make the most of your city centre wedding, ensure yours is a sweet celebration at the Chocolate Factory in Dublin. Housed in the original Williams & Woods building on King's Inn Street, this shared creative space has long been a hub for designers, food and drink producers and more.

With massive windows that flood the room with natural light, high ceilings and a pristine concrete structure, this industrial space is the perfect backdrop for your nuptials.

Mountain View, Kilkenny

In the rolling countryside of Ballyhale, Mountain View has become a destination in its own right in just a few short months. Once a sprawling golf course, the property has been transformed into a stunning event space, featuring a dining room, marquee, a cow shed for events and glamping tents.

The family-owned space can accommodate up to 200 guests, from the eclectic and boho wedding festivals in the Cow Shed, to the elegant and dreamy receptions in the marquee. A stand out detail will no doubt be the food served in the onsite Greenhouse Restaurant, headed up by ex-Chapter One chef Rory Nolan.

Cloughjordan House, Tipperary

What says "unexpected" more than an 800-year-old French-style manor house in Tipperary?

The stately Cloughjordan House is already a renowned wedding destination, but anyone visiting the manor for the first time will be struck by just how much is included on this breathtaking site. Couples can book out the entire venue, and have their choice of tying the knot in a romantic forest, a stately 17th century ballroom or the rustic converted barn.

Though bucolic, the manor is located only 90 minutes from Dublin and 40 minutes from Limerick, and there's a range of onsite accommodation to suit your guests.

Vaughan's Pub, Clare

If you're looking for a truly relaxed wedding, you can't get more laid back and homely than a buzzing pub. Vaughan's Pub in Kilfenora, Clare has finetuned their vision to perfection, with all manner of weddings taking place in their cosy stone-walled barn.

The space can accommodate up to 120 guests, with white organza room dressings and candles adding to the atmosphere, as well as additional room decor provided by the couple. And there'll be no need to call for taxis as the Inn includes 9 ensuite bedrooms, sleeping 21 people in total, and is self-catering.

Slieve Aughty Eco Weddings, Galway

Sustainability has become a big focus for couples around the world, and we're especially blessed in Ireland with the sheer scope of eco-friendly offerings available. The Slieve Aughty Eco Weddings package, however, would be particularly memorable.

Nestled in the Galway mountains, this resort immerses guests in nature, from the organic farm providing ingredients to the onsite restaurant, The Three Towers Eco House Organic Kitchen, to the horse riding centre and lush forests. Couples can marry either indoors or outdoors, and roam about the grounds for the most unique wedding photos.

Brigit's Garden, Galway

For the old souls among us, Brigit's Garden in Galway offers a type of ceremony that connects you with the ancient world of our past.

The space is highly symbolic, with four gardens that take you on a journey through the Celtic cycle of the seasons, each one representing one of the Celtic festivals of Samhain, Imbolc, Bealtaine and Lughnasa. This is designed to mirror the cycle of life from conception to old age and death, and is a poignant and powerful message to have on your wedding day.

The Roundhouse offers an indoor ceremony for up to 25 for a ceremony and accommodate 40 for a drinks reception, while The Hazel Room can accommodate up to 50 for a seated indoor ceremony or for a drinks reception.

Inish Beg, Cork

Irish families tend to be big, rowdy groups, and that's before you include the friends, the coworkers and everyone in between. With that in mind, renting an entire island starts to sound like the wiser choice of wedding venue

Run by couple Paul and Georgiana Keane, this idyllic 97 acre estate can be rented out exlcusively for your nuptials and come with a rake of stunning amenities. Up to 160 guests can be hosted, with 52 spaces available in the onsite accommodation.

The Boat House and slipway, the Walled Garden, the Sunken Garden, the Orchard, Woodlands and Landscaped Gardens are just some of the scenic spots ideal for wedding photos, and there's a range of options for where to hold the ceremony on the stunning grounds.

SS Nomadic, Belfast

Having your wedding on what is affectionately called "Titantic's little sister" might not immeidately sound like a path to the happy ending you want, but rest assured this historic and beautifully restored venue isn't just watertight, but a truly outstanding location for your special day.

The last remaining White Star Line ship in the world, the SS Nomadic is located in Belfast's Titanic Quarter and offers a glamorous glimpse into the luxury of the past.

With four decks and luxuriously outfitted as it would have been when it launched in 1911, the vessel can host up to 180 people for receptions.

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12 alternative wedding venues around Ireland