Unusual & unique wedding venues in Northern Ireland

Marry in The Drenagh House & Estate

This 19th century Georgian Mansion House is located in a gorgeous parkland that we cannot describe without superlatives. This is one of the unique wedding venues in Northern Ireland that is just right for couples dreaming of an intimate celebration. The entire estate can be reserved the whole day exclusively for you and your guests!

The Drenagh House & Estate’s Moon Garden is a favorite spot for outdoor wedding ceremonies. This historic garden dates back to the 1960s. It’s a favorite for couples because of its rich greenery consisting of tall, aged trees, lush grasslands, and big bushes decorated with colorful flowers. There’s also an iconic brick wall with a circular hole in the middle that lends a view to the estate’s gorgeous woodland. The majestic Moon Garden is listed as one of the Gardens and Demesnes of Special Historic Interest, and when you see it, you’ll understand why. Groups of up to 40 people can dine inside the house for a private and intimate reception. If you have more than 40 guests, a marquee can be set up in the Walled Garden outside. Don’t bother bringing a caterer with you! You can choose to take advantage of meals served on-site at The Drenagh House & Estate. Are you wondering where to stay before or after the wedding? Take note that the venue offers accommodation for up to 26 people. Isn’t that convenient?

Mussenden Temple elopements

If you want something more scenic and historic for your wedding in Northern Ireland, check out this 18th-century temple that was originally built for the Earl Bishop as a house for his books.

Perched on the edge of the Irish border along the Downhill Demesne near Castlerock, this temple and former library is located 120 feet above the Atlantic Ocean. Let that sink in for a while. 120 feet above the Atlantic Ocean! Imagine how amazing your photos will be when your backdrop is the beautiful ocean, clear blue skies, and the cliffs of the Northern Ireland coast. If that’s not enough reason to have a destination wedding here, we don’t know what is.

Because of the breathtaking ocean views that it offers and the scenic landscape around the temple, the National Trust was kind enough to open the Mussenden Temple for wedding ceremonies. Guests can also enjoy walking along the woodland, the gardens, and the ruins around the area after the service. Take note though that weddings are allowed here only from March to September every year.

Cultra Manor at the Ulster Folk & Transport Museum for weddings

Be transported back in time when you get married at the Cultra Manor. What makes it one of the most unusual wedding venues in NI is the fact that it is among the structures inside the Ulster Folk & Transport Museum that shows how Northern Ireland looked like 100 years ago.

Couples who get married at the Cultra Manor receive free access to the museum’s wedding trail. It’s a generous freebie not only for you and your spouse but to all your wedding guests. The wedding trail takes strollers to various original or replicas of century-old structures in Northern Ireland all located inside the museum. These structures include a historic school built in 1865, a century-old farm and fishermen’s house, an iconic Catholic church, and a replica of a building originally located at the foothills of the Mourne Mountains, among others.

As for your ceremony and reception, the elegant Cultra Manor will be reserved for your wedding exclusively. Wedding preparations happen inside the sophisticated rooms of the manor where you can have your photos taken. You’ll also have a very intimate wedding ceremony inside the venue, either at The Kennedy Room or the Drawing Room that houses 100 to 150 guests. The reception can take place in the bright and spacious terrace and the gardens.

Extraordinary wedding at Finnebrogue Woods

This unique NI venue offers the option for an exclusive wedding ceremony. The Finnebrogue Woods is a relatively new venue for all sizes of weddings, but it has captured the hearts of many adventurous couples, turning it into one of the wedding venues in Northern Ireland with perfect 5-star reviews. The photos of this beautiful location explain why.

The Finnebrogue Woods offers a stunning backdrop of the magical lake and the dense woodland on its 200-acre grounds. When you get married here, you and your guests will be housed in a huge Nordic Tipi for the reception, while you have the option to have a ceremony outdoors. The ancient oak trees and life-size bushes scattered all around will amaze you. Even the heaviest of rains won’t spoil your wedding because the owners of the Finnebrogue Woods created a mud-free setting for every event. Enjoy the campfire grounds which is a portion of the venue where you can enjoy barbecue, snacks, and drinks, while the kids can run around. Remember to take a moment to pause and marvel at the sight of the lake because you have all the time in the world to do that. The Finnebrogue Woods implements a one-wedding-per-weekend policy.

The Orange Tree House intimate weddings

Located in the historic village of Greyabbey on the shores of Strangford Lough, the Orange Tree House has been renovated over the past decades to make it a perfect setting for a rustic or boho-themed wedding.

This building was originally an 1820 stone barn-style church that was later transformed into a conference and wedding venue. It has a function room that can accommodate up to 130 guests for a dinner reception. It also has a terrace overlooking the lough towards the Mourne Mountains where you and your guests can watch the glorious sun setting behind this part of Northern Ireland’s scenic landscape.

The interior of the Orange Tree House consists of imperfect century-old bricks, a rustic ceiling, and an impressive green door. Despite these features, you can transform the venue into a perfect setting for your rustic, shabby chic, or boho wedding according to your taste and preferences.

Outside the tree house is a gorgeous white-sand beach where you can have your wedding photos taken. A marquee can also be erected along the beach if you want a panoramic backdrop of the Strangford Lough towards the Whiterock Bay for your ceremony. The Dromara Hills and the Mourne Mountains will add more majesty to your photo backdrop.

Kilmore Country House

The Kilmore Country House is another scenic spot for a sunset or mountain wedding. It’s famous for its gorgeous outdoor setting overlooking the mountains of NI. Lay the red carpet on the garden, place your wedding arc in front, and let your ceremony unfold with a stunning backdrop of the Glenariffe Glen right across this wedding venue.

In case you’re wondering, the Glengariffe Glen is one of the nine “glens” or valleys of Northern Ireland’s County Antrim. It’s called the “Queen of the Glens” because it’s the largest among them all and is arguably the most beautiful because of the rich woodland and magical waterfalls on its grounds. You can take the time to visit these places the day after your wedding.

This 17th-century house is among those unique wedding venues in Northern Ireland that went through several transformations to make them a perfect location for destination weddings. When you choose to get married here, you can bring up to 80 guests with you in the Ballinluig function room for an intimate wedding celebration. If you have up to 230 guests, the Kilmore House’s marquee can accommodate your larger group for both the ceremony and reception. There’s also a luxury pavilion with a patio extension for weddings with over 200 guests. What’s more is that the Kilmore Country House offers on-site sleeping accommodations for 35 people, providing the ultimate comfort and convenience for you and your loved ones.

Marry in the Tree House in Belfast

The last of our favorite unique wedding venues in Northern Ireland is the Tree House in Belfast. It only holds up to 70 guests, making it the perfect location for the most intimate of wedding ceremonies. You can hire it exclusively for your event, but unlike the other sites we’ve mentioned above, the Tree House in Belfast offers a more relaxed and urban ambiance, being an indoor restaurant type of wedding venue.

This charming location is available for both civil ceremonies and receptions. This quirky space is located on a rooftop terrace in the heart of the city center and has impressive interiors that combine modern luxury with rustic and minimalist greenery. Bring your favorite people here and dance the night away after your civil ceremony.

Pick an elopement venue, and we’ll arrange everything else!

Can you imagine how magical your destination wedding will be if you pick one of these unusual Northern Ireland wedding venues?

If you find one of them has the wow factor you’re looking for, don’t hesitate to contact us! Our planners here at Peach Perfect Weddings will make planning a destination wedding easy.

Discover the same thing as many other adventurous couples who have asked us to arrange their exclusive wedding in one of Europe’s scenic locations. You may be just one enquiry away from your dream wedding!

Photo Credits

The Drenagh House & Estate: Jayne Lindsay Mussenden Temple: Venue's official website Cultra Manor at the Ulster Folk & Transport Museum: Venue's official website Finnebrogue Woods: Venue's official website The Orange Tree House: Venue's official website Kilmore Country House: Bryan McEwan The Tree House in Belfast: Venue's official website