Wedding Venues in County Louth: 7 Beautiful Places to Consider
Welcome to the 'Wee County' - a hidden gem of castles, coastal views and charming villages nestled between Dublin and Belfast. County Louth has become a hot spot for couples seeking a wedding venue with historical charm, natural beauty and modern flexibility.
As a Registered Solemniser based right here in Louth, I’ve had the privilege of crafting deeply personal, legal wedding ceremonies in many of these stunning locations.
If you’re planning your wedding in the North East, here is a guide to some of the most beautiful and unique venues in County Louth and how a bespoke ceremony can bring them to life.
1. Darver Castle, Readypenny
The Venue: Darver Castle is a restored 15th-century castle set on 50 acres of parkland and countryside near Readypenny. It’s an exclusive-use wedding venue, with just one wedding taking place each day.
The Ceremony: Couples can choose from indoor ceremony spaces or hold their ceremony outdoors in the gardens, giving you options depending on the size and style of wedding you’re planning.
Why Consider It: Darver works particularly well if you love the idea of a castle wedding but still want everything in one place. With the castle, gardens, accommodation and reception spaces all on the estate, you and your guests can settle in for the day without travelling between different locations.
2. Bellingham Castle, Castlebellingham
The Venue: Bellingham Castle is a 17th-century castle set on a private 17-acre estate on the banks of the River Glyde. It’s an exclusive-use wedding venue, so the castle and grounds are yours for the day.
The Ceremony: There are options for both indoor and outdoor ceremonies. The Bute Suite provides an elegant indoor setting, while outdoor ceremonies can take place beneath the pergola overlooking the gardens.
Why Consider It: Bellingham gives you the traditional castle setting without feeling enormous. The castle, gardens and riverside grounds provide plenty of options for the ceremony and photographs, while having everything on one estate keeps the day straightforward for you and your guests.
3. Four Seasons Hotel, Carlingford
The Venue: The Four Seasons Hotel is set in Carlingford, with views across Carlingford Lough and the surrounding mountains. It’s a good option for couples who want a hotel wedding while still having the scenery and atmosphere of Carlingford right on the doorstep.
The Ceremony: Ceremonies can take place indoors in the hotel’s wedding suite, with views towards Carlingford Lough and Slieve Foy, or outdoors in the gardens with the mountain backdrop.
Why Consider It: One of the big advantages is the location itself. Your ceremony, reception and accommodation can all be in one place, while Carlingford village, the Lough and the surrounding scenery give you plenty of options for photographs without having to travel far.
4. Ghan House, Carlingford
The Venue: Ghan House is an 18th-century Georgian house in the heart of Carlingford, with its own walled gardens and views towards Slieve Foy. It’s particularly suited to couples looking for a smaller, more intimate wedding rather than a large hotel or castle celebration.
The Ceremony: Legal wedding ceremonies can be held at Ghan House, with the house and gardens providing a lovely setting for a smaller ceremony. Their current wedding information describes weddings of up to 54 guests, so it’s very much an intimate option.
Why Consider It: If you’re planning a smaller wedding and good food is high on your list, Ghan House offers something quite different from the larger venues in Louth. You also have Carlingford village right outside the door, while still having the privacy of the house and gardens.
5. Segrave Barns, Dunany
The Venue: Segrave Barns is a relaxed countryside wedding venue near the coast at Dunany. The restored barns and surrounding grounds give it a very different feel from the hotels and castles on this list, with plenty of character and a more informal atmosphere.
The Ceremony: There are both indoor and outdoor options for ceremonies, including the ceremony barn and outdoor spaces within the grounds. That gives couples the flexibility to plan for an outdoor ceremony while still having an indoor option if the Irish weather has other ideas.
Why Consider It: Segrave is a great option if you want your wedding to feel relaxed and less traditional. Having recently conducted an outdoor wedding ceremony there myself, I particularly liked how naturally the ceremony fitted into the surroundings — it felt private without feeling overly formal.
6. Fairways Hotel, Dundalk
The Venue: Fairways Hotel is a contemporary hotel on the outskirts of Dundalk, offering a modern alternative to some of Louth’s more traditional castle and country-house venues. With accommodation, ceremony and reception spaces all on site, it works particularly well for couples who want everything in one place.
The Ceremony: The hotel offers space for wedding ceremonies as well as larger celebrations, so couples can hold their ceremony and reception at the same venue without guests having to travel between locations.
Why Consider It: Its location is genuinely one of its advantages — just outside Dundalk and easily accessible from the M1, it’s convenient for guests travelling from both north and south. It also gives you the practicality of a hotel wedding while still being close to the Cooley Peninsula and surrounding countryside for photographs.
7. Ballymascanlon Hotel & Golf Resort
The Venue: Ballymascanlon is a historic Victorian house set in extensive parkland just outside Dundalk. It has been hosting weddings for generations and offers the traditional feel of a country-house wedding with the convenience of a hotel.
The Ceremony: There are a number of options for wedding ceremonies, including the Oak Room and Garden Room, with the latter overlooking the Walled Rose Garden. Having different spaces available also gives couples options depending on the size and style of ceremony they’re planning.
Why Consider It: The grounds are one of Ballymascanlon’s biggest attractions, with mature parkland, gardens and the ancient Proleek Dolmen all within the estate. It’s also conveniently located close to Dundalk and the M1, making it accessible for guests travelling from both Ireland and Northern Ireland.
Your Wedding Ceremony in County Louth
Choosing the venue is one part of planning your wedding, but the ceremony itself is where you get to decide what you want the day to feel like.
As a Registered Solemniser based in Dundalk, I can conduct your legal wedding ceremony while giving you plenty of choice around what you would like to include. That might be personal vows, readings, music or a symbolic element such as handfasting, a unity candle or ring warming — or you might prefer to keep things simple.
Having worked in weddings and hospitality in County Louth for many years, I know many of the venues in the area and understand how differently a ceremony can work from one setting to another.
Planning Your Wedding in County Louth?
If you’re getting married in County Louth and would like to chat about your ceremony, get in touch and tell me a little about what you’re planning.
I’m based in Dundalk and conduct legal wedding ceremonies throughout Louth and the surrounding counties.