Best Wedding Venues in Kildare.
When planning your wedding one of the most important decisions you will make as a couple is choosing the perfect wedding venue. If you are thinking of getting married in Kildare you have come to the right place. Wedding venues in Kildare offer so many amazing options to suit every type of wedding. Finding that perfect venue can take time and tonnes of research. Don’t worry, I’ve got you sorted. To help you along the way and give you some honest advice and a great staring point, I have listed in no particular order some of my favourite wedding venues in Kildare. I have shot weddings at all these venues and each one brings something unique and different to the party. I have tried to give a good introduction to each venue and outline the some of the different options you can except. I also answer some of the questions you might have about the ceremony and reception options, guest capacity and accommodation options for your guests. Hopefully this venue guide will help you in your search for the perfect wedding location.
Burtown House Weddings
If you are searching of an intimate and private wedding venue and you both are passionate about your food, Burtown House is definitely a wedding venue to go on your list. Run passionately by the Fennell family, Burtown House is the hidden gem of the Kildare countryside. Located on the outskirts of Athy, Burtown House itself is a truly unique Georgian Villa that was built in 1710. Full of local history it is surrounded by many beautiful gardens that include an old orchard, a rock and sundial garden and an amazing woodland garden surrounded on all sides by water. Burtown House and Gardens is really easy to get to being just 45 minutes from Dublin, 25 minutes from Kilkenny, 50 minutes from Waterford.
Wedding Ceremony:
You have a number of stunning options when deciding where to have your wedding ceremony at Burtown House. The sundial garden or the beautiful court yard that is attached to the house are popular options. Or how about having your ceremony on a woodland island that is a stream bound garden? The choice is yours. For indoor options you can also use a really cool renovated barn to say your vows. You can also use the Green Barn restaurant. This can be turned into the ceremony location of your dreams.
Wedding Reception:
Your reception dinner can be held in the rustic Scandinavian styled Green Barn Restaurant that is yours for the day. The food here is what really makes Burtown House stand out from the crowd. The produce is all grown freshly on site making Burtown House a foodies heaven. For summer weddings and some really relaxed vibes you have the option of setting up a spider marquee anywhere on the grounds to enjoy your drinks reception outdoors and the party started.
Accommodation:
Accommodation is available for up to eight guests in the beautifully decorated Stable Yard House surrounded by woodland and gardens.
Guest capacity: 120.
https://burtownhouse.ie/weddings/
Martinstown House Weddings
Martinstown House has to be one of my personal favourite wedding venues in Kildare. Hidden away in the Kildare countryside not too far from The Curragh and less than an hour from Dublin. The house itself is a beautiful Gothic Cottage. Built at the beginning of the 1800’s it’s surrounded by parkland, big old trees and a stunning walled garden. Martinstown House is now owned and run by The Booth family who have done an amazing job of making Martinstown House one of most unique, intimate and cool wedding venues in the country. The gardens at Martinstown House are spectacular with so many quirky little places for photos.
Wedding Ceremony:
This is were things get really exciting. Martinstown House in my view boasts the best outdoor ceremony location in the country. There I said it. The place is called the woodlands and it’s perfect if you want to say your vows in the natural surroundings of the woods surrounded by nature and the sound of birds singing. Don’t let the harsh Irish weather stop you having your ceremony outside. The very considerate people at Martinstown House have built and amazing wooden canopy that will keep you and all your guests dry through out the ceremony. You also have the option of getting married on the front lawn, the stunning and flower rich walled garden and in the house it self. Their is no extra charge for holding your ceremony at Martinstown House which is a massive plus.
Wedding Reception:
Your drinks receptions is usually held on the lawn in front of the house. You and your guests can have a few drinks and chill out on the lawn that has its very own fire pit. This is a great place for natural photos of you and your guests and the canapés are delicious. You can then celebrate your wedding meal in a vintage style marquee located in the walled garden. The food here is amazing; everything is prepared from scratch and all the produce is home grown or sourced locally.
Accommodation:
The house itself has seven rooms that accommodate 14 people. All seven beautiful rooms in the house are included in the wedding package. Three further rooms are also available for hire in the Sone House Yard not far from the house. Just when you thought this place couldn’t get any cooler they have recently added a luxurious clamping village. The village contains ten deluxe bell tents that can accommodate up to twenty people.
Guest Capacity: 110.
https://martinstownhouse.com/wordpress/weddings/
Cliff at Lyons Weddings
Cliff at Lyons is a picturesque getaway in the leafy Kildare countryside next to the banks of the Grand canal. Only a 30 minute drive from Dublin, The Cliff at Lyons is a venue made perfect for a truly unique and exclusive wedding experience that can be tailored to suits your needs. Steeped in local Kildare history and set on the renovated Old Shackelton Mill, the grounds at Cliff at Lyons are spectacular. You have so many options for wedding photos including a stunning waterlily filled lake with a fountain and a beautiful old chapel in the middle of the pond that you can access via a walk way. The picturesque rural location of Cliff at Lyons with their rose-clad buildings, stunning gardens and water features also make this an amazing location for any wedding photography.
Wedding Ceremony:
For larger weddings you can choose to have your civil ceremony in Shackeltons Mill. This can seat up to 200 guests and has a cascading waterfall as a backdrop. You also have the option for an out door wedding ceremony surrounded by apple trees and nature which is always my favourite option or even the in the sunshine-filled glass Orangery (100 guests). There is a €1200 hire fee to holding your ceremony at Cliff at Lyons. Your smaller more intimate ceremonies can take place in unique San Peadro 20-seat chapel, reached by a stone bridge running over a pond ( hire fee €700 ).
Reception:
Drinks and canapés can be served in the 17th-century courtyard, or out on the lawn. This is another great option especially during the summer months. The food is freshly cooked with the best ingredients home grown in the garden on site and you can have your menu tailored to suit you and your guests. Your main wedding dinner is served in two tiered Shackeltons Mill over looking the mills very own waterfall.
Accommodation:
Cliff at Lyons has 38 guest rooms dotted around the pond and water fountain. Each room is unique and luxurious with four poster beds and they all have exceptional garden or lily-pond views, with some bedrooms looking towards the Grand Canal. The feeling is more of a private home than a hotel.
Guest capacity: 200.
https://cliffatlyons.ie/weddings/
Killashee Hotel Weddings
Killashee Hotel is situated on the outskirts of Naas town in the rolling hills of Kildare and only 30km from Dublin City. Killashee Hotel boasts an amazing butterfly garden and woodland walks that are perfect for your wedding photos. The original house at Killashee was an 18th century Georgian manor home full of character. It still retains much of these features today. Insider tip, I would definitely inquire about the snug bar that can be reserved as a private bar for your guests to party into the early hours. I have heard some great feedback about this from couples.
Wedding Ceremony:
Outdoor wedding ceremonies can be held in the Butterfly garden next to the old house. This is the perfect setting to say your wedding vows as you are surrounded by beautiful flowers and manicured gardens. Killashee has a range of gorgeous suites ideal for a Civil ceremonies. The ceremony room hire including floral altar arrangement, red carpet, chair covers, lanterns, rose petals and tee lights is €500.00.
Wedding Reception:
You have two main options for hosting your wedding reception at Killashee Hotel. For smaller intimate weddings you can reserve the original house. This caters for up to 99 guests. After your ceremony you and your guests will be taken through to the magnificent private entrance of the original old house. There you can enjoy tasty canapés beside the crackling log fires in the atmospheric banquet hall. For larger weddings of between 120 and 300 guests you have the option of the recently refurbished opulent Thomson Suite. This is a lavish ballroom with high ceilings and decorated with gold mirrors and chandeliers. One of the main benefits of the Thomson Suite is the distinctive separate dance floor which includes a stage that may be altered to accommodate bands of any size. At Killashee, their reputation is built on great food. Head Chef, Phillip Gleeson sources the best local quality Irish ingredients.
Accommodation:
Your guests won’t have a problem finding a place to stay as Killashee hotel has 141 guest rooms. Guests also have the options of many excellent hotels and b&b’s around Naas.
Guest capacity: 300.
https://www.killasheehotel.com/weddings-hotel-kildare.html
Barberstown Castle Weddings
If your dream is to to get married in a medieval castle in Ireland then Barberstown Castle could be the perfect wedding venue for you. Located next to the village of Straffan, Barberstown Castle is steeped in a 700 year old history. Once the home of Eric Clapton, The castle is set within twenty acres of grounds full of natural wildlife and a wide variety of trees. I have shot many weddings at Barberstown Castle and I’ve always had a great experience with the venue. Not just a Castle, the venue is also a modern luxury hotel and it’s just 30 minutes from Dublin City. Insider tip, arrange to dine in the Castle Keep the night before your wedding with family and friends. Have a unique Castle experience within the ancient stone walls, surrounded by music and candle light.
Wedding Ceremony:
Barberstown Castle has one of my favourite indoor rooms for a civil ceremony in the country. The reason for this is that the light is amazing for photos. The ceremony room is a stunning light filled conservatory. It also boasts the backdrop of a 13th century castle that has an option of an open crackling fire during the winter months. For outdoor options you can say your vows beneath an old ash tree in the private garden that has been decorated with magical fairy lights. Holding your ceremony at Barberstown Castle is an additional fee of €450.
Wedding Reception:
The medieval theme continues in the 16th century banquet hall at Barberstown Castle. The hall itself can host up to 250 guests and the atmosphere is truly unique. It is a separate building from the main hotel. This gives you full exclusivity for you and your Wedding guests. The Haggard is an old Coach House building dating back to the mid 1500’s. Situated in the Courtyard that has been converted into a quaint little Irish Pub. This is a great option for a private party the day after your wedding.
Accommodation:
Plenty of room for your guests with 55 rooms available. The heritage of the hotel’s original buildings is mirrored by these lavish guest bedrooms with comfortable four poster beds.
Guest capacity: 250.
https://www.barberstowncastle.ie/wedding.html
Moyvalley Hotel & Balyna House Weddings
Built on 550 acres of Kildare countryside and a stunning 18 hole golf course Moyvalley hotel and golf resort has plenty of options for your perfect wedding. Being less then less than 60 minutes from Dublin they cater just one wedding per day. Balyna House is exclusive for your wedding. This means the stunning gardens belong to you and your family for the day. If you want to hold a second day celebration for your family and bridal party you can use Balyna House for a BBQ or dinner. You will have full access to the house which contains it very own private cellar bar.
WeddingCeremony:
If you are having your ceremony at Moyvalley you are in for a real treat. You have three stunning options. The first option is The Stone House that comfortably seats 120. This offers real rustic charm with a wooden bolted ceiling and bare stone walls (€300 hire fee). You also have Balyna House itself that can seat 180 guests. Ceremonies in Balyna House are included in house fee. For outdoor ceremonies and summer weddings you can use the manicured gardens and rolling lawns that surrounds Balyna House.
Wedding Reception:
You have two great options for your wedding reception. Larger weddings, of up to 270 guests, can be held in Moyvalley Hotel in the Royal canal Suite. You also have the option of Balyna House for smaller intimate weddings that can cater for up to 100 guests. No matter which option you choose you have the use of Balyna House for the entire day. For larger weddings it’s a great idea to have the drinks reception at Balyna House. This will surely wow your guests on arrival. Then it’s only a short walk through the beautiful gardens to the Royal Canal suite in the the main hotel.
Accommodation:
You are your guests are sorted when it comes to accommodation. The Hotel has 54 bedrooms and 15 beautifully restored cottages on the grounds. You and the bridal party also have the option of staying in Balyna House itself on the night of the wedding. This stunning old house has 10 luxurious bedrooms with standing baths and four poster beds. They cater just one wedding per day so Balyna House is exclusive for your wedding.
Guest Capacity: 270
https://www.moyvalley.com/weddings.html
Best Kildare Wedding Venues
I hope my guide to the best wedding venues in Kildare was helpful. For more wedding inspiration you can check out my guide on How To Have A Stress Free Wedding Morning