So you’re eloping, and you’re planning on doing it in Ireland in 2025. But getting married in Ireland seems a bit confusing right? Where do you start? Who do you book? Where do you stay? There’s an abundance of information on the internet, and it can be hard to narrow it down. So I thought I’d give you the insider information from an elopement and destination wedding planner who has not only planned elopements in Ireland for over 6 years, but has also photographed them too. And the best part, I’m actually from Ireland, so I’m giving you the local knowledge that is invaluable in planning your dream elopement.

Where To Start With Planning An Elopement

Well the first place to start when planning an elopement is choosing where. If you’ve got here, you’re obviously strongly considering Ireland. But then you need to narrow it down from there. Ireland is unique in that whilst it is small, there are multiple areas to choose from for your elopement. Where you choose will impact a lot. You have one main split in that the country is technically split in two: the South of Ireland/Republic of Ireland and also the North/Northern Ireland.

5 Differences between the North and South of Ireland to Consider When Planning Your Ireland Elopement

• The Republic of Ireland has Euros as the currency, whereas the North has British Pounds. It’s important to factor this in to your conversion. British Pounds tends to be more favourable.
• The South show their roadsigns in kilometres per hour, the North shows theirs in Miles Per Hour. Remember this when you’re hiring a car.
• Prices tend to vary considerably between vendors in the North and South because their taxes are different. Most vendors in the North have taxes included in their prices; in the South most have to add VAT, which impacts their pricing
• Getting legally married will be impacted by where you choose to marry. In the North you need a British Visa to marry. In the South, it is an EU visa required. (neither visa is required if you have a symbolic ceremony and do the legal part back home).

Best places to Elope In Ireland

If you decide to elope in the South of Ireland, there are some great spots to consider. Here are 3 of the most popular places to elope in the South of Ireland:

1. Cliffs of Moher – Probably the most iconic location in Ireland. However, there are some logistics to consider and in 2024 there were major changes to accessibility to the cliffs and the photographs possible. It’s also a really popular tourist spot, so this is worth keeping in mind.
2. Dingle Peninsula – Another epic spot in Ireland to elope. It’s right at the very bottom of the country and there are multiple spots to choose from when it comes to your elopement. From Irish castles to coastal spots like Slea Head, there are so many choices. It’s around a 5 hour drive from Dublin, but there’s so much to do when you’re there.
3. The Wicklow Mountains – located pretty close to Dublin, the Wicklow Mountains are full of beautiful green spots to elope. Ideal if you’d like something a little different for your elopement.

Of course, you’re also spoiled for choice when it comes to Irish castles and wedding venues in Ireland. From a luxurious castle to little cottage venues, there are plenty to choose from depending on your vibe and what you’d like to bring to your elopement. Maybe you want to bring guests? Or incorporate some of your favourite activities in to your elopement? All of these things will play a factor in to where you choose.

Eloping in Northern Ireland

Planning elopements in Northern Ireland is our particular speciality. Being based on the Causeway Coast of Northern Ireland, we are a little biased when it comes to the advantages of eloping in Northern Ireland. We really do believe it’s the best place to elope for a number of reasons. Here’s why you should elope on the Causeway Coast of Northern Ireland:

1. There are multiple locations within a really close proximity meaning you get great variety in your pictures.
2. No hiking is required at most of the locations available meaning it’s perfect for an easy elopement.
3. You don’t need permits at a lot of epic locations, and those that do require permits are really reasonably priced.
4. It’s a great base for your travels around Ireland. Just 3 hours from Dublin, the Causeway Coastal Route is the most beautiful drive and the ideal start for an Irish roadtrip.
5. There are so many incredible things to do in the North. From the museums in Belfast to whiskey tours; you’ll never be bored, and you won’t have to drive too far.

When to Elope In Ireland

So by now, you’ll be set that you’re eloping in Ireland, and probably Northern Ireland ;), but when is the best time to elope? Well the honest answer is, there is no bad time to elope in Ireland. It’s green for a reason, and that’s because rain is a possibility all year around. But similarly the winters never get too harsh.

The biggest consideration is how busy the iconic spots can get. Summer is the busiest time for tourists and it drives up the costs and availability of accommodation. It also makes those epic elopement locations pretty busy, which is not the vibe you want when you’re eloping. The sun also sets really late in Ireland during the early summer months; with it not setting to after 10pm at the end of June/start of July. This means that if you’re wanting those beautiful golden hour shots, you’re going to have to forego dinner and you won’t be able to go to a restaurant.

The best time to elope in Ireland is really March to May or September to November. Sunset times are lovely and the weather, whilst changeable, is always manageable. The great thing about eloping at Irish locations, particularly on the Causeway Coast, is that there are no big hikes so you never have to be out for too long before you can hop back in the car and warm up.

Where to start when planning to elope in Ireland

The first thing you will need to do is pick where you are going to elope and a rough idea of when (which I have hopefully helped you with above). When it comes to an elopement, there’s very little you ‘need’ because the rule book is out the window. The priority is photography so that you have amazing images to take back from these iconic landscapes and special moments. Then it’s whether you’d like hair, makeup, flowers and a celebrant. Those would be the basics that most couples go for. But it’s really about deciding what is best for you.

Travelling to elope may make it harder to know about locations, permits and the best vendors. It can feel like a daunting task and you have probably been searching google or social media to even find yourself on this page. That’s where having a local planner makes things super easy. To be perfectly frank, if you filled out our contact form today, your elopement could be planned to perfection with zero stress by the end of the week. You’d just need to book your flights and sort some outfits; which we can help with too. It really couldn’t be easier. We’d love to hear about your plans and tell you more about what we offer and if eloping in Ireland is what you’re dreaming of, get in touch today.