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Where can I get married in Dublin City?
As a Dublin wedding photographer, shooting weddings since 2015, I’d like to think I know a thing or two about the best Dublin City Wedding Venues. I’m delighted to share some tips below that might help you if you’re newly engaged and on the lookout for the perfect city venue to say I do or to throw your ultimate wedding party.
Dublin is a rich and historic city and has so many options for wedding celebrations that you might find it overwhelming to choose. You might want to find a venue that can incorporate every element of your wedding from getting ready to a legal ceremony to dancing until late. Alternatively you might want to hold your ceremony in one location and your party in another. The list below covers lots of options and I really hope it helps you on your journey to find the perfect Dublin City wedding venue.
Needless to say, all photography below is my own and if you’d like to see more from each venue, just get in touch.
Pros & Cons of planning a Dublin City Wedding
Some factors to consider before making your decision to host your wedding in the city:
I hope this list provides genuine value for you as you plan your dream wedding in Dublin city. For each venue, in addition to a few words about why I love them, you will find I have researched the following pieces of info per venue to help you plan and to save you time when looking for your Dublin city venue:
I have also added some featured blogs of weddings I have shot in these venues, both from my own Real Weddings Blog and some that have been featured on One Fab Day.
I really hope you find this list helpful. If I can help with advice from a photographer’s perspective, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with me.
List of my favourite Dublin City Wedding Venues
City Hall
Location: Dame St.
The ultimate ceremony location in Dublin city. The beautiful and historical rotunda with its breathtaking domed ceiling is simply majestic and will surely wow your guests.
I’ve shot over a dozen weddings at Dublin City Hall now and it’s always such a joy. As impressive as the building is, the staff are wonderful too and really help to shape your day in a friendly, relaxed way.
There is plenty of space for live musicians but you can also make use of the in house PA if you’d prefer to play your own music.
While this is an incredible location for a wedding ceremony please note that the rotunda will only be available for to you for a limited time period and you will need to book another venue for your reception. You will have City Hall for three hours in total to celebrate your day. This is plenty of time to have an incredible ceremony, short drinks reception and get all your family photos done.
Nearby Photo Locations: Dublin Castle, Dame Street, Temple Bar.
See my full guide to Dublin City Hall Weddings.
The Dean
Location: 33 Harcourt Street
Easily one of the coolest hotels in Dublin, The Dean on Harcourt Street is one of my absolute favourite venues to shoot at. It just seems to attract the most fun and laidback couples. Cool and comfortable, The Dean has multiple options available for newly engaged couples looking for something a little bit different.
The main space for ceremonies and seated dinners is the beautiful Blue Room. With a private bar and two small balconies, it has everything needed for an intimate wedding celebration.
Nearest Photo Locations: Iveagh Gardens, Stephen’s Green
Other Details: Screen / Projector / Microphone / In-house sound system.
Featured Real Wedding (via One Fab Day) – Laura & Stephen
Featured Real Wedding 2 – Claire & Robin
See my full page on Weddings at The Dean Dublin.
The Devlin
Location: 117-119 Ranelagh, Dublin 6
One of the newer venues on this list and I’ve only been fortunate to shoot one wedding here (in 2020) but this has rocketed straight in to my list of my favourite Dublin city wedding venues!
The Devlin boasts a stunning rooftop bar and terrace. The Americana bar has some of the best mixologists working in Dublin right now and will be happy to work with couples on their signature cocktails. It has it’s own private cinema in the basement (also available for private hire)
The entire venue can be booked for your wedding or for more intimate weddings you can book just one area such as the Americana bar or Layla’s rooftop bar.
Breadown of venue capacity: 40 bedrooms // Americana Bar – 130 pax Laylas – 90 pax seater restaurant with 50 additional seats on the terrace area. Stella Theatre – 44 pax // Dime Coffee Shop – 40 pax
Nearest Photo Locations: The streets of Ranelagh! So many funky shopfronts and textures to explore.
Featured Wedding Slideshow at The Devlin – Ciara & Will
Fallon & Byrne
Location: 11-17 Exchequer Street, Dublin 2
I think I may have shot at Fallon & Byrne more than any other location on this list, other than City Hall. It’s such a popular venue. With fantastic food offerings and a room on the top floor that can be used for both ceremony and reception. The majority of weddings I’ve shot at Fallon & Byrne have tended to have had the ceremony elsewhere.
Nearby Photo Locations: Drury St, Fade St, Temple Bar etc.
Featured Wedding: Meg & Niall (F&B Reception)
Featured Wedding 2: Laura & Stephen (F&B Evening Reception)
Medley
Location: Fleet Street East, Dublin 2
Medley in a truly sophisticated venue available for private hire that can offer bespoke packages to newlyweds. Run by Andrew Rudd and team, they have an experienced team who are on hand every step of the way to ensure your wedding runs without a hitch. Some of the most fun weddings I’ve shot have been hosted at Medley, see Mere & Will’s wedding below.
Nearby Photo locations: Fleet Street, Temple Bar.
Featured Wedding: Will & Mere at Medley
Featured Wedding 2: Audrey & Ciaran at Medley
The Merrion Hotel
Location: Upper Merrion Street, Dublin 2.
Medley in a truly sophisticated venue available for private hire that can offer bespoke packages to newlyweds. Run by Andrew Rudd and team, they have an experienced team who are on hand every step of the way to ensure your wedding runs without a hitch. Some of the most fun weddings I’ve shot have been hosted at Medley, see Mere & Will’s wedding below.
Nearby Photo locations: Merrion Square Park, Stephen’s Green, Grafton Street.
The Chocolate Factory
Location:26 Kings Inn Street,
The Chocolate Factory is one of the newest spaces available for wedding parties and is such a fresh and funky space. It’s a genuinely alternative venue with large white walls and an abundance of natural light. A space often used by creatives, it’s just perfect for discerning couples looking for something different.
Nearby Photo Locations: Capel St, Smithfield, King’s Inn Park
Featured Wedding: Brogen and Seamus at The Chocolate Factory
Cliff Townhouse
Location: Stephen’s Green.
Located right across from Stephen’s Green in the heart of the city, this gorgeous Georgian Townhouse boasts nine elegant bedrooms.
Reception settings include the Upstairs Private Dining Room, a high-ceilinged (is that a word?) space with an elegant wrought-iron balcony that spans the Georgian façade. Perfect for group shots for smaller weddings! This room looks out over St Stephen’s Green.
The Upstairs Private Dining Room can also open up to include the Aviator Bar, increasing capacities from 60 to up to 120 for a standing reception.
If a wedding party takes over the entire property on an exclusive use, the restaurant downstairs seats up to 100.
Photo locations nearby: Stephen’s Green, Grafton St, Merrion Square.
Morrison Hotel
Location: Ormonde Quay
Located in the heart of Dublin 1, The Morrison Hotel is one of Dublin city’s leading 4 star boutique hotels. Wedding ceremonies can be held in an exclusive private art gallery with access from Ormonde Street through a set of beautiful oak doors. Original art and high ceilings feature throughout the hotel.
Nearby Photo Locations: Millenium Bridge. Temple Bar. Dublin Castle.
The Drury Buildings
Location:52-55 Drury St, Dublin 2
The Drury Buildings has become popular with modern couples looking for an alternative wedding with incredible food. Drury Buildings has been described as a mishmash of Berlin exterior, New York interior. It houses a fantastic cocktail bar on the ground floor and a bright and airy dining room on the first floor.
Stephen’s Green Club
Location:9 St Stephen’s Green.
The historic Stephen’s Green Club has capacity for wedding parties from 20 – 120 people. The Club provides the atmosphere and formality that turn a day into an occasion, coupled with the intimacy of a true family gathering.
The Hibernian Room, on the first floor, boasts beautiful views of St Stephen’s Green and is an ideal location for your reception meal and speeches.
Whatever wedding ceremony you are planning – civil, humanist, spiritualist – Stephen’s Green club can provide a room layout that suits you best. The Card Room is a fantastic rooms for ceremonies, with a domed ceiling, beautiful plasterwork and a marble fireplace to give the room a sense of ceremony.
The Club is home to 12 beautiful boutique-style bedrooms, each room is uniquely designed and decorated in the traditional Georgian manner with antique furniture.
Photo locations nearby: Stephen’s Green, Grafton St.
Featured Wedding – Tess & Ian as featured on Confetti magazine.
See my full venue guide to Stephen’s Green Club Weddings.
The Shelbourne Hotel
Location:27 St. Stephens Green, Dublin 2, Ireland
The Shelbourne is surely the most prestigious 5 star hotel in Dublin. Located on Stephen’s Green, it is an historic landmark hotel. The Shelbourne has multiple options available for everything from intimate family weddings to huge gala ball weddings.
Room Options
The Great Room
A legendary opulent ballroom that lives up to it’s name. Up to 348 guests.
The Adam & Deirdre Suites
Stunning, historically-inflected décor gives
this space an unreserved air of richness and
splendour, with soft colours, exquisite details
and a beautiful ornate ceiling. A gentle and
welcoming atmosphere of refined beauty to
enchant you and your guests on your day
The St Stephen’s Suites
A dream room for a small wedding, with a shimmering chandelier. Perfect for a smaller wedding.
The Constitution Suites
The most historic room in the building was the actual room where the first constitution of Ireland was written. With its original antique settings, this is an ideal room for an intimate wedding.
The Westbury Hotel
Location:Balfe Street, Dublin 2
Luxurious, spacious & elegant, located off Grafton St, The Westbury Hotel is a gem in the city.
The main space for wedding receptions is The Grafton Suite.
The suite features lofty double wooden doors, marble columns throughout and exquisite Waterford crystal chandeliers, with private
cocktail bars, elegant furnishings and picturesque balconies overlooking the hotel’s vibrant and colourful neighbourhood.
In addition to the Grafton Suite there are also a number of smaller spaces available for more intimate weddings.
Nearest Photo Locations: Grafton St, Stephen’s Green
Suesey Street
Location: Fitzwilliam Place
Suesey Street is a perfect, cosy restaurant venue for the modern-day couple,
providing a truly unique, nuptial experience while still including all the traditional
wedding elements. Located next door to the restaurant, sister property,
No. 25 Fitzwilliam Place, can provide the perfect Georgian backdrop for
those looking for a separate space for their civil ceremony.
Every wedding menu is designed by head chef Richard Stearn using the freshest local food and produce.
Featured Wedding – Sharon & Rory at Suesey Street.
Best Wedding Venues Near Dublin
If you want to stay close to Dublin but want to look at options outside the city centre, take a look at my blog for Best Wedding Venues Near Dublin. You’ll find lots of information on over a dozen fantastic venues near Dublin.
How much does a wedding cost in Ireland?
It’s hard to say as every wedding is different but One Fab Day estimated in 2020 that the average wedding in Ireland cost €28000
You’ve booked your Dublin city wedding venue – What happens next?
So you’re booked your Dublin city venue, what happens next? Now it’s time to look at your most important vendors, especially though who tend to book out in advance.
- Wedding Videographers
- Band/DJ
- Book your wedding planner if you haven’t already
- Book Hair & Makeup
And of course you will need to book your photographer. I have been shooting weddings since 2015 and although I specialise as a Dublin wedding photographer I cover the whole country and adore documenting wedding days. My style is casual, fun and creative. It’s so important that you find a photographer that totally meshes with your personality and style. You’re already on my website so please feel free to look around while you’re here and you can get in touch here for my full pricelist.
Here’s a little promo I put together to show off some of my favourite work:
