Discover 2 breathtaking country house wedding venues in Ireland
A country house wedding is becoming a popular choice amongst couples in Ireland. Many couples whose tastes lean towards the farm-like, shabby chic look are spoilt for choice with fabulous venues popping up.
Jack and Caitriona gave me the rare opportunity of experiencing two exceptional country house wedding venues in one go! Both boasting their own individuality yet complimenting each other spectacularly in one day.
Roundwood House is an 18th century Country House set at the foot of Slieve Blue Mountains. Conveniently just an hour’s drive from Dublin, it is the perfect escape away from the ‘Big Smoke’ without having to travel too far.
The house feels as though you have just stepped back in time with all the old furniture and paintings in every room. Each room is filled with beautiful light coming from the huge windows and each bedroom is painted a bold colour which lends a playful feel to the atmosphere. My favourite discovery (and I would suggest you take a tour of discovery at Roundwood) was the Play Room right at the very top of the stairs. It’s pink walls, tiny furniture and antique dolls you feel as if Mary Poppins will come around the corner at any moment.
The outdoor courtyard is a feast for the eyes! There are bits and bobs and nooks and crannies to enjoy and immerse yourself in. If that isn’t enough, you stumble into a beautifully restored library in the barn. Simply Magic.
Caitriona and Jack chose to spend the night in Roundwood Country House before the wedding with their family and wedding party. The morning of the wedding was calm and relaxed with Cat and the girls getting ready in the Green Room and the lads in the outside cottages. Most of the morning, the boys spent throwing and kicking around a rugby ball in the field at the front of the house. Sabba, their dog was free to run around all over the grounds.
They started off with an emotional First Look on the grounds of Roundwood House, followed by family portraits and then I took them to all the beautiful spots that Roundwood has to offer. The mood was calm, fun and jovial. I have to admit, I left a piece of my heart at Roundwood House that day.
We then jetted off 40 min down the road to Cloughjordan House. Nestled in the North Tipperary countryside, Cloughjordan is an 800-year-old French-style manor house. They pride themselves in their self-sustainability and delicious ‘homely’ style meals. The atmosphere is warm, friendly and relaxed. There is a true feeling that love and attention go into every detail. In fact, there is a real feeling of love all around the house and gardens.
Everything in Cloughjordan either comes from the grounds, house or local town. Menus change to suit the seasonal vegetable growth, flowers are picked from their own gardens to decorate the banquet tables and even the staff are from the area. This combination results in a country house wedding fit for a King and Queen!
Moving on from this hearty, homely talk, be prepared to be blown away by how beautiful this place is!! The house itself is simply breath-taking followed by the beautiful lawns, luscious gardens and large greenhouses at the back.
Cat and Jack had their ceremony in the beautiful barn at the back of the house followed by a reception on the front lawn. Some guests relaxed under the large marquee on giant bean bags and couches, some played board games such as jenga and many entertained themselves with games of table tennis, croquet and football on the lawn.
The Traditional Irish Folk Band put everyone in fantastic spirits, having the wedding party up in arms dancing in the sunshine before dinner call. Amazing!!
The décor, staff and the food were absolutely exceptional! Everything went off without a hitch. Catriona had her whole wedding party in a standing ovation from her incredibly emotional speech and their first dance got everyone rocking into the wee hours of the morning.
I went home elated, full of energy and totally in love with these two incredible people. Every ounce of this wedding was done the way they wanted it and for that, it showed the wonderful personalities that they are.
If you are thinking of a country house wedding with that bit of extra special magic look no further than Roundwood House or Cloughjordan. Or why not just do them both!!
What Cat and Jack said: ‘I could not recommend Dena as a wedding photographer more. …. Dena was amazing to deal with from start to finish and of all the wedding vendors we engaged with we were most impressed by the professional, yet personal, service Dena provided. Dena made sure we were all on the same page regarding the style and types of photographs we wanted and helped us pull together a schedule for the day to ensure everything ran seamlessly and no shot was missed.
Dena’s non-intrusive, documentary-style really suited what we were after. Guests commented that they barely saw Dena on the day and yet it feels like not a moment was missed in the fabulous images she captured. Dena was incredibly efficient and helpful post-wedding and we are delighted with our final pictures and album. We have already recommended her to family and friends!’
Thinking of booking me for your big day? I would love to hear from you! Click here!!!
