Northern Ireland is a beautiful and diverse region, absolutely packed with history, culture and stunning landscapes. Known for its music, sports and its key role in shipbuilding and linen production during the Industrial Revolution, Northern Ireland is bursting with character. From the bustling streets of Belfast to the picturesque landscapes of the Causeway Coast, Northern Ireland is a nation of people proud of their heritage – and deservedly so.
All of this makes Northern Ireland a wonderful location to host your wedding. Its deep cultural roots, top-notch hospitality and stunning scenery provide the perfect backdrop for your special day. There are also so many brilliant venues available that you’re bound to find something that fits with your vision for your big day. From luxury inner-city hotels to magnificent Celtic castles, Northern Ireland has the perfect venue for every couple.
Our 2025 Wedding Report revealed that 3% of UK weddings take place in Northern Ireland, which is actually the lowest amount across every region of the country. More than three-quarters (77%) of Irish couples choose to stay in Northern Ireland to get married, which means almost one in four (23%) travel out of the region to tie the knot. This is the third highest percentage out of the entire UK, behind southwest England (33%) and northeast England (26%). On average, couples in Northern Ireland pay £18,300 for their wedding, compared to the national average of £20,822. This works out as the cheapest average across the entire UK, meaning that you can not only have a beautiful wedding in Northern Ireland, but also do so with a smaller budget.
Couples in Northern Ireland love to have good food on their wedding day, with a big portion of the budget dedicated to the evening catering, at an average of £2,515, compared to the national average of £1,840. This actually makes Northern Irish couples the biggest spenders in the UK when it comes to catering for the evening reception.
Being so warm and welcoming, there should be no surprise in learning that couples in Northern Ireland are embracing guest interactivity. This includes cooking stations, photo installations and other ways to encourage guests to get involved.
Eco-friendly weddings are on the rise in Northern Ireland, with many couples making conscious choices to reduce their environmental impact. Couples are increasingly opting for local vendors; choosing venues that prioritise sustainability; and incorporating green initiatives into their weddings, such as biodegradable confetti, or incorporating second-hand or vintage elements.
Alongside this, couples in Northern Ireland are also more likely to choose an all-in-one venue, such as a hotel, which helps keep things organised and can cut down on certain costs, such as transport.
With so much history and wonderful culture in Northern Ireland, there are absolutely loads of venues to choose from to suit a whole range of budgets. From historic sites filled with stories and charm to luxurious hotels that are as elegant as they are convenient, Northern Ireland has so much to offer couples searching for the perfect place to say, ‘I do.’
To have a wedding ceremony fit for royalty, there are several castles in Northern Ireland that double as unique venues, so you can get married surrounded by centuries of Irish history. For an utterly enchanting wedding, you might consider venues like Killeavy Castle Estate, Castle Coole and Lissanoure Castle.
To take advantage of the postcard-worthy Irish countryside, lots of venues in Northern Ireland have beautiful outdoor spaces so you can get married surrounded by nature. Larchfield Estate in Lisburn is a converted 19th-century barn with bags of charm; The Carriage Rooms at Montalto Estate in Ballynahinch is a Grade B listed building set amongst expertly landscaped gardens; and Downhill Demesne and Hezlett House at Castlerock provides stunning ocean views.
If you’re keen to get married somewhere a little different, Northern Ireland also has you covered. You can tie the knot surrounded by exhibits, artwork and artefacts at Ulster Museum in Belfast, have a wedding like no other within the Victorian Crumlin Road Gaol (also in Belfast), or be immersed in more than 200 years of history at The Wool Tower, a reclaimed and exquisite woollen mill in Ballymena.
Because it has the most affordable weddings in the UK, Northern Ireland is also, of course, home to a huge selection of budget-friendly venues. And the great thing is, that affordability doesn’t come at the cost of luxury and class. There are so many fabulous but affordable venues across the country, including The Leighinmohr House Hotel, Dunadry Hotel And Gardens and Orange Tree House.
In Northern Ireland, the average cost of a venue, excluding catering, is £5,055, which isn’t as expensive as other regions within the UK but still higher than some. It’s savings across other areas of your wedding that make Northern Ireland so affordable. However, Northern Ireland is still a lot cheaper than other areas in the UK, including Yorkshire and the Humber (where the average cost of a venue is £7,356) and London (where the average cost is £7,020).
The average booking lead times for venues in Northern Ireland are around 12 to 18 months. Some of the most popular venues in the country may need to be booked two years ahead of your big day, or potentially longer. But, because Northern Ireland is generally one of the quieter regions for weddings in the UK, you may find that you can secure a venue as little as six months ahead, especially if you book for a date that avoids peak wedding season.
That being said, if you have your hearts set on a specific venue or a specific date, then it’s always best to book as far in advance as possible to avoid disappointment.
Just like the rest of the UK, the weather in Northern Ireland can be a little unpredictable, so it’s always a good idea to plan for every possibility. But, with every season, Northern Ireland has something a little different to offer couples on their wedding day.
Spring (March - May) can be a little cool and sometimes grey, but as the season progresses the greens become lush and the flowers bloom in full force. Temperatures range from 10°C (50°F) to 15°C (59°F), and there are equal chances of rainy spells as there are of sunny ones.
Summer (June - August) is the most popular time for weddings in Northern Ireland. With average temperatures around 20°C (68°F), it can sometimes reach the mid-30s, so there’s every chance your wedding will take place on a very long and very sunny day. Summer gives you the perfect chance to have an outdoor wedding and take full advantage of the unbeatable Irish countryside.
Autumn (September - November) is when Northern Ireland switches from green to various shades of oranges, reds and yellows. It’s also when the days get shorter and there’s an increased chance of rain – but, it’s not unheard of to have plenty of sunny days. Temperatures typically range from 12°C (54°F) in September to around 7°C (45°F) in November, so the later in the season you’re planning your wedding for, the more likely it is that you might want to choose a venue with plenty of indoor space.
Winter (December - February) is when Northern Ireland is at its coldest, with the temperature often dropping below zero. While it might be cold, the frost and potential of snow mean you can have a wedding day with the beautiful backdrop of snowcapped hills and frost-bitten fields.
Northern Ireland is a great country for getting around, but the closer you are to Belfast and other major towns and cities, the more transport options you have.
Northern Ireland’s rail network connects major towns and cities across the country, making it easy for you and your guests to get from A to B. Services link Belfast with Londonderry, Bangor, Larne and beyond.
For overseas guests, Northern Ireland has several convenient airports, including Belfast International Airport (BFS), located around 20 miles from Belfast city centre, as well as George Best Belfast City Airport (BHD) and City of Derry Airport (LDY). There’s also the option to travel by ferry, with services to Northern Ireland from Cairnryan in Scotland or Liverpool in England.
The country also has a fantastic road network, allowing you to get to where you need to be with little hassle. Plenty of its venues, whether within Belfast or out in the countryside, have great parking.
Northern Ireland is home to hundreds of hotels, so your guests shouldn’t find it too difficult to find somewhere to stay, no matter their budget. Many hotels even double up as amazing wedding venues, providing you with an all-in-one location to host your wedding, from the ceremony through to the reception (and a room for you all to collapse into at the end of the night). Some fabulous venues in Northern Ireland include Titanic Hotel Belfast, The Belfray Country Inn and Ballygally Castle Hotel.
If you have guests traveling from afar and want them to have accommodation options nearby then consider holding your wedding at one of the many hotels in Northern Ireland. Most of your wedding guests will likely reserve a room at the venue if you're getting married there so they can stumble up to bed once the party is over. A major benefit of choosing a venue with lodging on-site at your wedding is that your guests may enjoy themselves without worrying about how they're going to get home or where they can find their hotel later in the evening. From Northern Ireland’s imposing castles and stately homes to the Chic hotels in the city center of Belfast you will not be short of options to ensure your guests are well looked after and get a great nights sleep. No matter where you choose to get married it’s worth doing your research and including some local information for your guests that might be traveling from out of town including taxi numbers and a range of accommodation choices at different price points.
Northern Ireland holds a stunning amount of different scenery and rich culture, it offers many fantastic possibilities from the rolling countryside, historic cities and its incredible national heritage sites. With a great selection of venues, including historic, modern, and unusual it's easy to see why Northern Ireland is a popular location for weddings for all types of budgets and themes. When it comes to booking your wedding venue you might find there is extra competition as couples flock to the most popular venues such as the Grand Opera House and the Larchfield Estate in Lisburn.
From making sure the location is prepared, to welcoming and organising your guests for photos, to announcing the wedding meal and speeches, a Toastmaster will assist you with everything. Additionally, they will be present to coordinate the day's key events, such as the cake-cutting and first dance. Hiring a toastmaster in Northern Ireland is a personal decision for the couple to make but it's fair to say they will go a long way to making your day run smoothly. Some wedding venues may be able to advise you of toastmasters that have worked at their venue before and be familiar with the location. Its worth noting that toastmaster will be particularly useful if you are hiring a large venue or have lots of guests in attendance.
Due to their combination of practicality and efficiency with a hint of elegance, hotels are a particularly popular choice as wedding locations. Along with ceremony and reception spaces, they can offer catering and lodging that your guests will love. Another ideal Northern Irish wedding location would have to be a stately home such as Rathmullan House or Glenmore Manor. They possess a variety of amazing characteristics that newly engaged couples look for in a venue with staff who will make your day complete. Northern Ireland has an unrivalled coastline, so this is another popular location as couples flock to the coast to say their I-dos and celebrate amongst their nearest and dearest. Don’t forget to check out venues near the Giant’s Causeway in order to be able to some breathtaking snaps amongst the stones. You could also look at some of the more rustic venues that Northern Ireland has to offer such as converted barns like Riverdale Barn in Co. Armagh.
You will find an outstanding selection of not only large but gorgeous locations in Northern Ireland, from castles to stately houses, race tracks to larger hotel chains. These wedding venues are skilled at organising huge wedding ceremonies and receptions and are specialists at catering to all your needs, whatever sort of wedding you are looking to hold. Some wedding venues that cater for larger parties to take a look at are Tempo Manor which has a capacity to hold over 250 and Virginia Park Lodge which holds space for over 300 of your friends and family looking to celebrate a wedding. Whatever your reasons for needing the extra space. Northern Ireland will have something available for you. Start by taking a tour of some of your favourite venues to get a feel for how you will be cared for by the staff and take extra time to plan for a day that is likely to be larger than the average wedding.
