Are you ready to take that leap of faith and elope with your partner to Ireland? Have you made all the necessary plans that would ensure that you don’t come across any hurdles? If you haven’t, this guide will help you.
Do you need an elopement plan?
You may say that elopements should be spontaneous decisions and may not require detailed planning. Honestly, that would be a big mistake, and you may end up cursing yourself for not planning ahead. Remember, this is not a trip with your friends. It’s your wedding, and every wedding requires some sort of planning. Therefore, if you want to make your wedding day special, you should make arrangements ahead of time.
When should you elope to Ireland?
One of the first things that you need to remember before eloping to Ireland is when you should do it. Most couples want to find out when is the best weather to elope to this dream country. Well, there isn’t any bad weather or season in Ireland, so to speak. Each season has different pros and cons and it depends on what you like. For example, if you want to host an outdoor wedding and don’t want the rain to interfere, it would be best if you elope between April and July. Ireland is well known for it’s performing arts and wonderful culture, making it a sought after location for getting married.
Many people suggest the summer season for eloping, but it’s not a wise decision if you prefer an outdoor wedding. While the weather is warm and comfortable, there are high chances of rain during this season. Summer in Ireland is pleasant with the temperature not too high to make guests feel uncomfortable. But with rain hovering around the corner, you can’t take the risk of hosting an outdoor ceremony. It’s best to avoid the months of August, October, and December because it rains like cats and dogs during that time.
On the other hand, if you want to elope and marry in a popular destination, such as the Cliffs of Moher, then you should avoid the tourist season. In that case, you need to avoid the time between May and September.
Types of wedding ceremonies
Now that you know the best season or month for eloping to Ireland, you should plan the type of wedding ceremony that you want to conduct. The location plays a crucial role in deciding what type of ceremony is suitable for your wedding. Ireland allows various types of weddings, such as humanist, symbolic, religious, secular, civil, and spiritual. If you want to choose a legally-binding marriage ceremony that your country would recognise, then make sure the location meets the following two requirements:
- The location or the venue must have an identifiable landmark or postal address. That means you cannot host the ceremony in an open field or a random beach.
- The location shouldn’t be someone’s private property. It should be accessible to the public. Therefore, if you have a friend’s house in Ireland where you want to organise the ceremony, you probably would have to look for a different location. A ruined castle or a farmhouse is still acceptable, provided it has a proper address or name. Many couples who think that these restrictions involve too many hurdles prefer to have a symbolic ceremony instead of a legally-binding marriage. In this ceremony, you and your partner would exchange your rings and vows, but sign the official documents when you reach home.
Best ceremony locations
What are some of the best ceremony locations for eloping to Ireland? You may have this question in mind before you plan the wedding. Fortunately, Ireland doesn’t disappoint when it comes to some breath-taking locations with beautiful landscapes as backdrops to your ceremony. Here are a few places where you can host your wedding ceremony:
- O’Brien’s Tower
- Cliffs of Moher
- Moher Tower
- Newtown Castle
- Blasket Island Heritage Centre
- Castle Ruin
- Fanningstown Castle
- Ballycarbery Castle
- St Finbarr’s Oratory
- Glengarriff Lodge
The advantage of eloping to Ireland is that you have tons of venue options. There are stunning cliffs, beaches, forests, beautiful fields, abandoned churches, castles, and cosy cottages where you can conduct the ceremony. Also, don’t forget to keep a plan B in mind just in case the weather interrupts.
Wedding décor
Once you shortlist a few locations, you may want to take a look at the possible decorations that would make the venue look beautiful. Ireland is such a lovely place that you would hardly require any additional decoration for your venue. If you still want flowers, lights, and music, you can talk to some of the local wedding planners. They have various elopement packages that include bouquets of different flowers.
Some couples love traditional music on their wedding day. Hiring a group of musicians in Ireland is expensive. If you have the cash to splash, you can hire one after discussing it with the wedding planner; if you don’t, you can forego the expense and spend it on some delicious food.
Ireland’s cuisine is one of the finest in the world, especially when it comes to some of the meat preparations. Check a few sample menus before eloping to get an idea of the type of food that guests can expect at your wedding.
Transportation facilities
Do you want to reach your wedding venue directly from the airport? Or do you want to check in to a hotel and host the ceremony the next day? Your answer would decide what type of transport you can take. Ireland’s public transport isn’t so good. It’s best if you hire a luxurious car if you want to reach the wedding venue directly from the airport. Many car hire companies operate in Ireland. You can book the car that you want to arrive in before you reach the airport.
On the other hand, if you want to check in to a hotel first, you can take a cab and visit the hotel. Later, you can book a private car, and reach your wedding venue.
Ireland is a dream wedding destination for many. If you have plans of eloping with your partner, why not choose Ireland and make your wedding day one to remember for a lifetime!