Updated on 31 March 2021
If you’re looking for a wedding venue in Northern Ireland that is unique, with excellent service and great for photos; or maybe you’re already planning your Lissanoure Castle wedding, this is the blog you need to read. With tips from real brides and recommended wedding suppliers, I have everything you need to know about planning your Irish Castle wedding of dreams.
An Epic Wedding Venue in Northern Ireland
Lissanoure Castle has it all when it comes to photos. Being a castle, set on private grounds, in Country Antrim, you are spoiled for choice. Having shot weddings here in both summer and winter, I know that it is not a venue that is weather dependent. It looks beautiful all year round.
Wedding Photos at Lissanoure Castle
‘We weren’t great at posing, so I was thinking the pictures wouldn’t be as good as the ones Lauren posts on her instagram page of other couples – but when she sent us the pictures, I couldn’t believe how amazing they were!!! Blew me away! I am over the moon with all our pictures, and love that we have these memories captured in such a creative way. I will cherish these photos forever!’
- The Lake – Lissanoure has so many options for photos, but the lake is a beautiful spot all year round. Last year I had the joy of capturing a winter wedding and was blown away by the light at the lake. Even though it was freezing, the short distance from the castle made it totally manageable for the couple.
- The Courtyard – I love this area. It’s great for family photos, but it’s so incredible to really show off that your wedding is in a freakin’ castle. How dramatic and iconic.
- Beside The Castle – the walk between the Castle and the Barn is one of the lesser known spots, but the light there in summer is beautiful. We made the most of this little space to have an impromptu dance in the rain during Lauren and Eddie’s wedding this summer.
Intimate Ceremony Location
In the warmer weather there is the option to get married outdoors in the courtyard, but with Northern Ireland’s unreliable weather, there is no guarantee of this at any time. That’s why the beautiful ceremony room is perfect. With its curved nature adding drama to your entrance, and the intimate feel, it’s a beautiful place to say your vows.
With space for a small statement piece (like a floral arch or pillars) at the top of the aisle and a musician or two and you’re set for a beautiful ceremony. No need for anything else as the room has it all.
I recommend opting for an unplugged ceremony so you can see your guests’ faces and I can capture all those reactions.
Family Photos
Family photos can be the trickiest part of the day. Not because of taking them, normally the issue is rounding people up. With Lissanoure Castle having such a great layout, it makes this even easier. There are lots of spots for photos, but I think the courtyard and the gates of the castle are the perfect backdrop. It also means everyone is easy found and don’t have to go too far from the bar.
Here is what real 2019 bride Lauren said about her wedding photography experience:
‘Honestly, it was so easy. We spent about 20 minutes taking family shots, I have a big family so it was tricky getting everyone rounded up! Then after the family shots Eddie and I went down to the lake, for our portraits. It was so nice to be alone, before all the mingling and chatting started. Lauren only had us away for about an hour in total, with the family shots included, which was amazing, as we could join the drinks reception with our guests.’
Lissanoure Castle Wedding Videographers
It is so important for photographers and videographers to work as a team and have styles that compliment one another. I’m lucky enough to have worked with some incredible videographers, including Forever Social, who shot Lauren’s wedding.
‘Our videographers worked so well with Lauren, and it was just so relaxed.’
My top 5 videographers I highly recommend are:
Drinks Reception Entertainment
If you’re planning a wedding in an Irish Castle, Guinness tends to be pretty popular for the drinks reception. Here are some amazing musicians who will help the Guinness flow nicely.
But if you’d like to add an extra special touch, here are some other ideas for your drinks reception.
- Champagne Memories
- Brook Avenue Gelato Cart
- The Wedding Party NI (for the little ones)
- Rodd Hogg Magician
Hair Stylists Near Lissanoure Castle
Northern Ireland Makeup Artists
With MUAs travelling all over the country, you can rest assured they’ll come to you. But these are some of the local talent near Lissanoure Castle. They book up fast though so be quick to avoid disappointment.
Room Styling and Extras
The Barn at Lissanoure Castle is such a great space, with so much potential. And here are some incredible stylists and companies to help with making it what you dream of.
Wedding Cake Inspiration
Wedding cake trends are ever changing. This year I’ve had a lot of brides have family or friends make a selection of cakes. Lauren had an entire cake table which was wonderful. If you want to go for something more specialised, there are so many wonderful bakers in Northern Ireland, but here are a couple of amazing cake specialists near Lissanoure Castle.
The Best Bit of A Wedding
When all is said and done, and as you plan your dream wedding, it’s so important to focus on what matters. When I asked Lauren what was the highlight of her wedding, this is what she said:
‘My favourite part of the day was the ceremony. It felt so amazing, walking up the isle with my Dad and seeing Eddie waiting for me at the top. A feeling you just cannot describe. Standing up in front of all my family and friends, declaring my love for Eddie, making vows to him and promising to stand by his side for forever was just the most incredible moment of my life. I felt so grateful and lucky the whole day, I was surrounded by so much love’
Wedding Planning Tip for Brides
‘Enjoy every minute of your day. Don’t get stressed over the little things – no one notices them anyway. Delegate jobs to random friends, even if they are not in the wedding party. They are more reliable than the wedding party, and they feel touched to be asked to help. Have someone keeping an eye on your make up and hair, just so you still looked good for the whole day! Book an amazing photographer and videographer – cannot recommend LIT photography and Forever Social enough. You have a bit of a come down after your wedding, as you’ve been planning it for so long and the all of a sudden it’s over. So having photos and video allows you to re-live it all, and you have them for the rest of your life!‘
Wedding Photography Packages
You can see why this is one of my favourite venues. It has it all and is perfect. Even in the rain. That’s why I offer special rates and work closely with Lissanoure. My wedding photography packages start at £1495 and if you’d like to know more, please get in touch.
