A wedding venue is one of the most important choices (besides your partner, of course!) that will give shape to your big day. Every place, every house will have a different vibe. You can usually feel it as soon as you set foot through the door. As you are looking for your perfect wedding venue consider having a Loughcrew House wedding. It’s unique. It’s different. It might be your perfect vibe. I fell in love with the house as soon as I set foot through the door.
The History of Loughcrew House
Just an hour’s drive from Dublin, Loughcrew House in Old Castle, Co. Meath feels like it comes from a different era. Originally home to the Plunkett Family (you can get married at their old church, too!), it was the birthplace of Ireland’s last Saint. St Oliver Plunkett was canonised in 1975 after he’d died a martyr in 1681.
After Oliver Cromwell’s invasion the grounds passed to the Naper family. They built their stately home featuring an impressive Iconic portico. It now goes by the name The Temple of the Rains. It’s those columns that you can see towering at the side of the house today. Loughcrew Estate burnt down 3 times, and after the last fire of 1964. Emily and Charles Naper restored the remaining buildings, turning it into a place of magic.
Unique Loughcrew House Wedding
Emily is as creative as her ancestors, decorating the house with unique taste and unexpected touches. It’s only fitting that your Lougchrew House wedding will be more full of creativity and personality than in any other venue. Whether you are planning an intimate wedding or a celebration with all your friends and family, the sky is the limit. You have the full run of the venue as you only pay for the hire, the rest of your day is fully up to you. No set ceremony or speeches times, no set menus (you have a choice of caterers), no packages. The day is entirely yours – how amazing is that?
The courtyard and the Stables Bar is a great setting for your drinks reception that will wow your guests from the start. You then proceed to the elegant Livery Rooms, which can seat up to 140 people for wedding banquet. The beauty of the place is that the partition in the middle allows to turn it into a more intimate setting, so you’ll never feel like the room is too large. If you are planning a larger party the grounds have plenty of space for a marquee.
Accommodation at Loughcrew House
The quirky and unique main house is where Loughcrew really shines – every bedroom is a masterpiece of their own. In addition to the 19th century Bridal Suite you can share the house with 30 of your closest friends and family. It’s lovely to enjoy the privacy of the house on your wedding morning and the day before / after. Check out the gallery of the rooms at the end of this page, you will have a hard time picking your favourite! Imagine having your wedding breakfast in the sunlit drawing room. It’s full of colourful murals, antique mirrors and beautiful furniture. I think it’s a dream come true.
Ceremony at Loughcrew House Wedding
The most popular spot for couples to say I Do is the ruins of the desecrated St Oliver Plunkett Church. It’s less than a mile from Loughcrew House. Seating up to 140 guests, the church is an amazing setting. After the ceremony you can escape for some alone time among Loughcrew Estate Gardens. Imagine exchanging your vows in such a historic location – definitely not your traditional church ceremony!
And if you’re worried about the weather, Loughcrew House provides super cute umbrellas for all the wedding guests. Nicole and Jack got typical Irish weather on their big day with the bright sunshine in between the rain showers. The sun coming out just as they said their I do’s felt extra special!
With full use of the house, you can also pick any other spot as your ceremony location. The palm house with its glass roof is wonderful for intimate ceremonies, and you could also use the banqueting room for a larger ceremony in case of bad weather.
Loughcrew House Wedding Gallery
Nicole and Jack flew all the way from the States with all their friends and family, and they fell in love with the unique Loughcrew House just as much as I did. When I asked them what drew them to the house in the first place, they said they especially loved the church ruins on the property – they are stunning! They also love the paths and scenery around the venue. They were looking for a venue where they had to bring everything in ourselves. That way they could customize everything the way they wanted!
And customize it they definitely did. From the unique ceremony to the unique catering food, to three different wedding cakes and whole lambs on a spit. They also said they were particularly looking forward to having the Vintage Coffee Horsebox serving espresso martinis and cappuccinos. That part of the day was certainly a highlight for me! The buffet dinner didn’t take half as long as the traditional 5-course celebration, so after cutting the cake Nicole and Jack brought everyone outside to enjoy the coffee delights around the open fire and watch the sunset!
Loughcrew House Gallery
