Ireland and Northern Ireland’s leading wedding venues and teams have been recognised at the inaugural Wedding Venue Awards, with a sold-out event celebrating the spaces where some of life’s most meaningful moments unfold.

On Monday night (March 23rd) the inaugural Wedding Venue Awards by WeddingDates took place in Kilkenny and brought together Ireland and Northern Ireland’s leading wedding venues and teams for a sold-out evening celebrating the spaces where some of life’s most meaningful moments unfold.

More than 20,000 weddings take place across the island of Ireland each year. At the centre of each are venues that host moments that stay with people for decades. These venues are the settings where hundreds of thousands of people gather each year to celebrate love and connection.

The Wedding Venue Awards 2026 recognised these venues and the teams behind them whose work shapes these experiences.

Speaking at the event, Ciara Crossan said: “We’re celebrating spaces where guests laugh at awkward best man speeches, shed a tear during father of the bride speeches, watch first dances with quiet emotion, and fill dancefloors when Rock the Boat inevitably plays.’““ Ciara Crossan - Wedding Dates Reflecting the Breadth of Irish Weddings

The awards reflect the diversity of venues across the island of Ireland: from castles and country houses to urban spaces and coastal destinations and these are alongside a growing demand for sustainable and inclusive wedding experiences.

“We’re recognising the teams behind those moments, they are the people who bring joy to thousands of couples every year and make each celebration feel special and they do it again and again consistently.” added Ciara Crossan.

A Rigorous and Unique Judging Process
Winners of the Wedding Venue Awards were selected through a combination of public voting, an expert judging panel, and testimonials from couples who celebrated their weddings at each venue.

Ciara Crossan added:“Our judges were particularly struck by couples reminiscing about their wedding day at these venues. The emotional connection people have to these places is very clear. They are not just locations, but anchors for some of the most enduring and meaningful memories in people’s lives.”

Celebrating an Industry Built on Creating Lasting Moments

The sold-out event marks a significant moment for the Irish wedding industry: recognising not just excellence, but the collective effort behind thousands of weddings each year.

At its core, the Wedding Venue Awards recognise the people and places that help create moments remembered for a lifetime.

Best Wedding Hotel Winners

• Leinster - Newpark Hotel Kilkenny
• Ulster - Manor House Hotel
• Munster - Kenmare Bay Hotel & Resort
• Connacht - Castlecourt Hotel

Full list of winners here.

Contact details

Ciara Crossan
Founder & CEO

 087 957 7733
 ciara@weddingdates.ie
Web www.theweddingcrm.com