Deciding where to get married is a big step in your wedding planning journey and one that shouldn’t be taken lightly. There are several factors to consider before you even get to choosing your wedding venue. First, you must choose your location! But how? Today, we are walking you through some practical things to consider when choosing where to get married.
How to decide where to get married
Wedding location options
Here are a few things you can consider as wedding location options:
Your hometown – Old-school tradition dictates that the couple should get married in the bride’s hometown. While tradition isn’t always up to date, it’s still worth considering either one of your hometowns. It’s familiar, there’s nostalgia and usually it’s closer to most of your family (which means less travel fuss and accommodation blocks).
Where you live now – If you no longer live in your hometown, then a strong choice is where you live now! It’s convenient for you and your wedding party and it’ll make wedding planning easier. For many, it’s the most affordable option with very little travel. And if you’ve got family that has never visited your new spot, now’s a great time!
Local destination – How about picking your favourite local holiday spot. It could be somewhere within a couple of hours, where everybody gets to take a short trip out. You’ll get the best of both worlds; a little traveling but with the added convenience of it not being too far away.
Destination wedding – For couples who aren’t fussed about traveling far, a proper international destination wedding could be for you! It may be a bit more challenging logistically, but destination weddings have their perks too.
Here’s what to consider:
Cost – The average Irish couple budgets €33,083 for their wedding (not including honeymoon) and costs will vary from location to location. Before making a decision, familiarise yourself with the costs.
Travel – Do you want to travel long distances to your wedding venue (both during the planning and in the lead-in to the day)? Are you OK with some guests not being able to attend due to travel?
Sentimentality – Is there something about a location that’s special to you, your partner and your families? It might be somewhere you visited growing up, the spot where you met your partner or a place you’ve always wanted to go together.
Venue options – Think about your dream wedding venue (be it a castle, hotel, wine farm or beach). There are some venue types which are only available in certain parts of the country/world. If you have your heart set on a particular type of wedding venue, that may answer the question for you!
Guest list size – On average, Irish couples invite 144 guests to their weddings. If you’re wanting a big wedding then local may be better, as not every guest will be able to afford to travel and take time off work.
Weather – For couples who really want an outdoor wedding, a tropical destination might be your best choice! No matter which location you choose, the weather isn’t guaranteed, but it’s worth considering.
Scenery – Have you always wanted to tie the knot on the beach? Maybe you’re a big fan of the mountains and forests?
Related: Irish Wedding Survey Results
Peak and off-peak
Finally, you should consider peak and off-peak seasons when working out where to get married. This isn’t about the weather, but rather about the location and how popular and busy it will be at different points in the year.
The most popular months to get married are May, June, July and August (somewhere between early summer and early autumn). Peak season may mean more predictable weather, but more expensive travel and accommodation.
Don’t forget about key dates and events that may make things busy on your proposed wedding date. For more, read: Important Irish Dates for 2025.
