Let’s elope in Northern Ireland

Does the idea of having a big wedding fill you with dread? I’m not here to dunk on big weddings – I think they can be lots of fun. But I’m a big believer that your wedding day should be exactly what you want it to be. 

A big wedding will come with certain expectations from family members – you will feel you have to cater the day to their needs as much as yours, which can alter your plans. A day that once felt like your own could inevitably feel more like something your parents want. 

On the other hand, an elopement is much more intentional. Your day can be exactly what you want it to be, a day that will reflect you as a couple. It doesn’t even need to be one day – it could be a multi-day or weekend. 

In the past, an elopement typically meant that you were running away so it was only just the two of you. Today, it could mean bringing a handful of close family with you. 

Why You Should Elope in Northern Ireland

You don’t need to leave your home city to elope – I’ve helped local couples to elope in Belfast and Northern Ireland, so why would you want to elope internationally?

Northern Ireland (and Ireland in general) boasts some of the most beautiful landscapes you can imagine. While we are a small country, we offer incredibly diverse areas that are within an easy travel distance. 

Not only that, the Irish people are some of the most friendly people around. They’ll go out of their way to make your vision come to life.

If you have a connection to Ireland, eloping here could make a special day even more unique.

Where You Can Elope in Northern Ireland

The Causeway Coast has some of the most beautiful locations in Northern Ireland. There are so many areas you can go for photos, and each will give you lots of variety. There are so many beautiful areas in Ireland, but the Causeway Coast is probably the area that has the most variety is such a short area, which makes it perfect for your elopement day. 

Dunluce Castle

The Castle dates back to the 16th Century and it’s the one of the most complete castle ruins along the coast.

While you get a tour to walk around the ruins, the best place to get married would be the field beside Dunluce Castle. It’s owned by a local farmer called Sean and you can rent a two-hour time slot for your ceremony and photos afterwards.

Since you have to book beforehand, this ensures you have privacy for your ceremony and photos.

Dunseverick Castle / Falls

Dunseverick Castle and Falls are a 2 minute drive apart and they both give beautiful views of the coastline.

Dunseverick Castle dates back to the 5th Century and is one of my favourite places along the coast. They aren’t as well known as other areas so you can enjoy more privacy here. There is a spot which gives a perfect view of the castle and is a great place to exchange your vows / get married.

The Falls are a bit of a hidden gem and not many people would think to visit there but you can stand in the waterfall itself and get some epic shots!

Giant’s Causeway

The Giant’s Causeway was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1986 and has been one of the most recognisable sights in Northern Ireland.

While the old Irish tale is about giants fighting between Ireland and Scotland, the hexagonal columns are the result of a volcanic eruption.

There are lots of ways to enjoy the Giant’s Causeway – you can walk the Causeway Coastal Route to Hamilton’s Seat which gives potentially the most beautiful view. You could walk the other way to Dunseverick Castle and beyond.

Kinbane Castle 

Kinbane Castle date back to the 1550s but only the ruins remain now. Located on a headland between Ballycastle and Ballintoy, Kinbane Castle (or Kinbane Head) can be easily missed but it’s one of the most unique places along the coast.

The castle and surrounding cliffs give beautiful views onto Fair Head (a stunning cliff face you’ll recognise from Game of Thrones).

Just be prepared for all the steps you have to walk up/down to reach the castle itself!

Ballintoy

Ballintoy Harbour is a quaint harbour and it’s best-known for being the Iron Islands in Game of Thrones.

The harbour itself can be found down a steep, windy road and has beautiful views out to Sheep Island.

There are lots of walks around the harbour, most notably Elephant Rock and the Secret Beach. The various rock formations at the secret beach and along the walk to Elephant Rock will be perfect for photos.

White Park Bay

The beach at White Park has some beautiful views to the nearby sand-dunes and cliffs. One of the coolest things about this beach is that cows graze here so they can sometimes be found sunbathing on the beach.

There is also a beautiful bothy at the beach, which is a beautiful place for photos.

Along the roadside between Ballintoy and White Park Bay, there’s a lay-by which gives a nice viewpoint of the beach.

Elope in the Mournes

If you’re like me and a Mountain gal, the Mournes would be the perfect place for your elopement. There’s nothing more soul-refreshing than a hike in nature. Luckily, you don’t need to hike long to get some beautiful views. Here’s a few of my favourites:

• Hen Mountain

• Slieve Doan 

• Slieve Muck

• Spelga Dam

Find out some more information here.

How You Elope in Northern Ireland

Like everything, there are logistics to think about when planning your elopement here. 

Can you get legally married in Northern Ireland?

The short answer is yes. The long answer is that there are a lot of considerations to bear in mind. You need to have the permission of the land-owner to get legally married, but a lot of the areas mentioned above are owned by the National Trust which would incur a large cost and would involve a lot of red tape/paperwork. 

The best place to get legally married here is Dunluce Castle. It’s owned by a local farmer and you can complete your legal documents in their cottage. There is a small fee to use their land and they will give you a two hour time slot so there’s lots of time for your ceremony and portraits afterwards. 

Another thing to consider when getting legally married is that you’ll need to arrive a few days before your elopement to file some paperwork with the local council. In the months prior, you can do most of this via email but you’ll need to arrange an in-person meeting to get the final paperwork a few days beforehand. 

On the other hand, having a symbolic ceremony (after getting legally married at home) will be so much easier. You can go to any of the above locations for this without the permissions you’ll need for a legal ceremony. 

How Can You Make Your Ceremony Special?

There are a mix of pastors, humanist celebrants and spiritual celebrants who are licensed to conduct legal and symbolic ceremonies in Northern Ireland. 

You can add Celtic traditions to your ceremony to make it special to you:

• Hand-fasting – 

• Own vows – 

• Warm the rings – 

Where You Should Stay during Your Elopement?

For eloping along the Causeway Coast, I would recommend staying somewhere around Portrush, Portstewart or Ballycastle. There are lots of beautiful hotels, nice self-catering accommodation and Irish cottages. 

If the Mourne Mountains are more your thing, I would recommend staying in Newcastle or Kilkeel. There are some beautiful Irish cottages which would be perfect to get ready in.

When is the best time to Elope in Northern Ireland?

Unlike a regular wedding, you can build your elopement timeline around your schedule. Are you an early-riser? Let’s go and catch the sunrise! Do you want to have a super relaxed morning? Sounds good – let’s get married later in the day and enjoy the gorgeous sunset. 

Photographers are renowned for being sunset-chasers and I’m no different. I believe enjoying your first sunset as a married couple is a special experience. It’s the perfect time to build your elopement schedule around. 

The other consideration is crowds. During the height of summer, there will be a lot of tourists visiting these areas (particularly the Giant’s Causeway) but there could also be other couples aiming to exchange vows. It’s like getting married at a venue, but there are other couples getting married there too. Would that diminish your experience of your elopement?

If that’s the case, planning for later in the day around sunset will mean there will be fewer people (even in the crowded areas). In saying that, planning for spring and autumn would be favourable as it will be quieter but the colours are still beautiful.

What can you do to make your elopement in Northern Ireland even more special

Like I said before, one of the reasons that elopements are so special is that you can be super intentional and make it all about you guys.

What do you love and how can you bring that to your elopement day?

Are you animal lovers? Why not arrange a beach horse-ride with Shean Farms?

Are you big foodies? Why not arrange a beautiful picnic, made by Tones?

Are you big car lovers? Why not rent some beautiful cars by Star Car Hire? They offer vintage vehicles as well as models from popular shows/movies.

Are you a big reader? Why not stop at a bookstore and get some awesome photos. One of my favourites is the Linenhall Library (although, it’s only open during the week).

Booking a local elopement photographer in Northern Ireland will ensure that they can bring your vision to life and give you some supplier recommendations for who would be best to book.

I would love to bring your vision to life and show you how Northern Ireland would be the perfect place for you to elope. Send me some details below: