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20th December 2016
12:10am GMT
We all know weddings are great craic.
They've got all the best things about life packed into one day: food, drink, dancing, nice shoes… love. But let's face it – while country estates are all very lovely, it's a bit of a pain in the hoop to have to drive three hours to get there. Not to mention back the next day...
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Well we promise you that’s not going to happen with these brilliant Dublin city centre venues. These are the kind of weddings we’d love to be invited to.
A wedding reception on a boat? I’m sold. La Peniche, floating merrily on the canal between Baggot Street and Leeson Street bridges offers fine dining or buffet options – and it even has a dance floor! And the best man will say the bride floats the groom’s boat and some joker will pipe up that the groom is a big floater.
Perfect.
Cool and contemporary Medley, overlooking Fade Street, is the perfect venue for a laid-back, rustic aesthetic.
Forget the usual uninspired hotel fare – run by gourmet foodie and Lovin Dublin contributor Andrew Rudd, guests will be blown away by the likes of Medley’s seared scallops, potato fondant with truffle purée and an unbelievable cheese board.
The Royal College of Surgeons on Stephen’s Green is a class choice for an elegant city centre wedding. Check out that oak panelling and those stunning Georgian cornices.
That’s what your guests will be saying: ‘Yeah the food was lovely but did you see those cornices?’
Even the name of this place conjures up monogrammed slippers, smoking jackets and bygone luxury.
The gorgeous 18th-Century building overlooks the park and will give your day a real ‘old Dublin’ feel.
No 25 just oozes class. Why not have your first meal as newlyweds in this super swanky venue?
You’ll soon be back to your tiny flat eating whatever’s on special offer, so you might as well do it while you can. Think an intimate reception with serious attention to detail and top class food.
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Music-themed the gibson hotel has always been a little different from other hotels in the city. Describing their offering as ‘the urban wedding venue you’ve been dreaming of’, this is the place for creative couples to get quirky, original parties.
How cool is this? The 12th century Medieval Crypt under Christ Church Cathedral, which by the way is the oldest structure in Dublin, can be hired for wedding receptions.
Underfloor heating and flickering candlelight keep the venue toasty and warm, making it a great choice for a cosy winter wedding.
The iconic five-star Shelbourne Hotel overlooking Stephen’s Green is a real dream venue. Plush, opulent and indulgent are the key words here – and although it ain’t cheap, by God it’s worth it.
Special little touches include a team of in-house florists, a very fancy spa for some pre-wedding chilling and a cracking afternoon tea for the day after.
This stunning Georgian mansion is pure romance. Again, not the cheapest option but if you plan to push the boat out for your big day it’s a winner.
Available for exclusive hire, you and your guests can enjoy the run of the place. For the love of God check out the amazing sample wedding menus and weep.
For overall ticking of boxes, Fallon and Byrne on Exchequer Street has got to claim the top spot. It offers a gorgeous space in a brilliant city centre location, amazing food (well it is a restaurant!) and a cool little wine cellar for pre-meal drinks.
Oh, and crucially, for those of us who want an elegant, special day without selling a kidney, it’s fantastic value.
