Top 10 Wedding Venues with Beautiful Gardens in Northern Ireland
Welcome and congratulations on your recent engagement!
I prepared this guide to help you narrow down your venue choice. The guide is split into four parts - this is the first one, Walled Garden Wedding Venues. Here you’ll find 10 amazing wedding venues in Northern Ireland (and 2 just across the border) that feature incredible gardens. Some of them are bigger, some smaller but all equally stunning for your wedding photos or drinks reception.
As a wedding photographer, I’ve experienced weddings in different locations. Below you will find some of my favourite venues to photograph if you’re looking for greenery, a romantic atmosphere and elegance.
Choosing your venue will be an extremely personal decision and there are many factors to take into consideration. If having a beautiful and elegant garden for you and your guests to enjoy is one of them, this guide will help you narrow down your options.
Hillsborough Castle
Fit for royalty with its stunning Georgian mansion, luxurious State Rooms and 100 acres of beautiful gardens. Perfect for photographs if you’re getting married nearby and have no photo opportunities at your venue.
https://www.hrp.org.uk/hillsborough-castle/hire-a-venue/weddings/
Perfect for: all year round, classic wedding & black tie
Larchfield Estate
Wonderfully relaxed and atmospheric, lots of room for guests to enjoy the day. Massive walled garden with lake and woodland, orangery, courtyard and a decorated barn. Perfect for a big party!
https://www.larchfieldestate.co.uk/
Perfect for: cosy Christmas wedding, rustic wedding, all year round
The Carriage Rooms at Montalto
I have experienced The Carriage rooms both as a guest and photographer and both times it was a memorable event. The 19th-century mill building, heritage estate, beautifully renovated outbuildings, acres and acres of land, orangery, walled garden and lake. Insane amount of photo opportunities, especially beautiful in early autumn when leaves turn orange.
https://www.thecarriagerooms.com/
Perfect for: autumnal wedding, all year round
Mount Stewart
Less known wedding option but absolutely worth considering! There’s something so magical about the gardens, so romantic and whimsical. An ideal option for photos if you’re getting married nearby and your venue doesn’t have much outdoor space. A perfect venue for a sunny summer day, outdoor wedding and marquee reception.
https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/mount-stewart/features/weddings-at-mount-stewart
Perfect for: outdoor summer wedding
Drenagh Country Estate
One of my absolute favourites in Northern Ireland - secluded, grand and stunning! Beautiful and airy Georgian Mansion, Moon Garden, walled garden, 1,000 acres of beautiful countryside and lots of space for a marquee. Put it on your priority list!
Perfect for: all year round & black tie
Magheramorne Estate
New addition to the wedding scene in Northern Ireland, 19th-century house & gardens makes for the most romantic and elegant affair. Looking forward to photographing my first wedding at the Estate this year!
https://magheramorneestate.com/
Perfect for: all year round & black tie
Glenarm Castle
The beautiful walled garden makes for a perfect backdrop to a relaxed, outdoor summer wedding. I photographed a lockdown wedding there with 14 guests and it was just perfect. Ideal for couples planning a fuss-free but elegant wedding!
https://www.glenarmcastle.com/weddings
Perfect for: outdoor summer wedding, autumn wedding
The Ivory Pavilion
The smallest walled garden on the list, the venue makes up for it with exclusive hire of Galgorm Castle, countryside and woodland. Perfect for relaxed and elegant wedding day photographs.
Perfect for: cosy Christmas wedding, summer outdoor wedding
Castle Leslie Estate & Hilton Park
Two absolutely stunning venues short drive from the border. Technically they aren’t Northern Ireland, but who could resist having such jaw-dropping locations so close by?
Castle Leslie needs no introduction, breath-taking venue nestled on 1,000 acres of the Irish countryside, dotted with ancient woodlands and lakes. Massive estate, marquee and lots of space for an outdoor wedding. All-round stunning and worth every penny!
https://www.castleleslie.com/castle-weddings-ireland/
Perfect for: all year round & black tie
Hilton Park, on the other hand, is a little less known but equally charming and grand. Idyllic estate set amidst hundreds of acres of natural lakes, heritage woodlands, meadows, thriving kitchen gardens and grounds. I photographed a small family lockdown wedding and it was a surreal experience. Beautiful in every way!
Perfect for: all year round & black tie
If you’d like to get in touch about your wedding photography at any of the venues above, please drop me a message HERE.
Paula