Nestled in Ireland’s sunny south-east, Marlfield House in Wexford ticks all the boxes as one of the best wedding venues in Ireland. It’s elegant and private, the grounds are stunning, the architecture is unique and the food from the award-winning Duck restaurant is something you won’t forget for a while. The house even has their own resident peacock roaming the gardens!
Accommodation and Getting Ready at Marlfield House
Marlfield House has 19 stately bedrooms, each one with a unique style. They sleep up to 42 people, with numerous B&Bs available in Gorey for the rest of your wedding party. The Print Room is most often used for the bridal morning preparations, and I absolutely loved photographing there. There are so many little details and so many patterns! The room in itself is quite dimly lit but the preparations are usually done close to the large French doors leading into the garden. The room overlooks the gardens so it also helps keep it secluded, without the chance of running into your guests or the groom! I also love being able to photograph some of the bridal details outside.
Wedding Ceremony at Marlfield House
Marlfield House is fully licensed to conduct wedding ceremonies, and you can pick between the conservatory, the Print Room and the gardens. There are lots of stunning settings and backdrops. The venue is so conveniently located just an hour away from Dublin that you can even have your ceremony there and travel down afterwards! I highly recommend the garden on a fine day – the backdrop of the unique conservatory is absolutely stunning.
Wedding Reception and Dinner
As soon as you arrive back from your ceremony there are drinks and canapes waiting for you in the reception area. You can go with various drinks option (including a very popular gin bar), and tea & scones are always in abundance. There are several reception areas – the main lobby transformed into your private hall, the library bar and State rooms. The open fires around the place make it really cosy, as well as abundant fresh flowers and vintage decor. You might even get a glance at the resident peacock in the garden!
The wedding dinner takes place in a large room adjacent to the conservatory. The conservatory itself seats about 35 people, and is usually reserved for the top table and close friends & family. The wings to the side of the conservatory are taken up with more tables. I loved the dinner setting as it’s so bright everywhere! The conservatory and the floor to ceiling windows along the side of the house allow plenty of natural light. The speeches are absolutely perfect to photograph there!
Another great advantage of not having a standard function room is the first dance arrangement. While you are having dinner your reception area is transformed into a dancefloor, so you can go straight into your first dance! No waiting around for the tables to be moved and the band to set up (they can do it while you’re having dessert!). It also means your guests won’t have the comfortable option of retreating back to their seats and missing out on the dancing 🙂 Of course there’s always the library bar and State rooms where you can take breaks or retreat late into the night!
Marlfield House Wedding Packages
Marlfield House has several weddings packages starting at €115pp, with everything you can expect on your wedding day. This includes refreshments and canapes for your drinks reception, a resplendent 5-course dinner with wine and midnight snacks. The decor is taken care of with flower arrangements from the garden, as well as personalized complimentary menus and menu covers. The best part of wedding planning is certainly food tasting, with wines, prosecco and champagne included. You also get a complimentary stay in the Master Suite with a bottle of champagne and freshly cooked breakfast in bed the next morning!
Where to Take Wedding Photos at Marlfield House
With 36 acres of lush gardens surrounding the house, you literally are spoiled for choice! Not that you have to walk all 36 acres, of course 🙂 Just a short walk from the house itself there are gorgeous oak trees, a rose garden, a picturesque pond with a bridge over it and a walk through the woods. There’s even a little maze!
The house itself is also stunning from all angles, and I love having the backdrop of the conservatory. And then if you get a nice day you can be treated to a spectacular sunset!
