Getting Married at Christmas in Ireland | A Guide to December Weddings
Bride and groom walking out of the church after their wedding ceremony in December
There’s something incredibly special about a December wedding in Ireland. The air is crisp, the candles glow brighter, and everything feels intimate and celebratory. Whether you’re planning a church ceremony followed by a castle reception or a full venue wedding, winter weddings have a magic all of their own.
Why Couples Love December Weddings in Ireland?
The Atmosphere Is Unmatched
Christmas décor, candlelight, fireplaces, twinkling trees, mulled wine, fireworks - most Irish venues lean into the season with cosy interiors and warm lighting making the day feel festive.
Cosy, Intimate Energy
Guests naturally stay close, mingle indoors, and settle in for long dinners and packed dance floors. Winter weddings often feel more immersive and relaxed.
Styling Works Beautifully
Velvet bows, black tie dress codes, long sleeves, faux fur wraps, rich florals, heirloom details - winter fashion photographs beautifully.
Supplier Availability
December (outside of the two weeks around Christmas Day and New Year’s) can offer more flexibility with suppliers and sometimes better venue availability.
The Realities of a Winter Wedding in Ireland
Winter light in Ireland is VERY different from summer. In December, sunset can be as early as 3:45pm depending on location.
That means couple portraits should ideally happen before 3pm. If your ceremony is at 2pm in a church, or you are facing a long drive to your venue, you will lose natural light for portraits.
Indoor ceremony spaces need good window light or thoughtful lighting design. That’s why we need to plan portraits strategically around the winter sunset and incorporate some indoor flash portraits when guests are being seated for the meal. Winter weddings allow for dramatic night portraits, which feel very festive and cinematic.
December and January in Ireland are also quite cold, stormy months. You might get a gorgeous sunset, but realistically plan for all the photos to be taken indoors.
Church Ceremony in December
Traditional, beautiful atmosphere.
Churches often look stunning decorated for Christmas.
Ceremony times are usually fixed (often 1pm - a bit too late).
It can be quite cold inside.
If your ceremony runs late, you may lose daylight for portraits. Travel time between church and venue eats into available light.
If having a church ceremony, consider doing a “first look” earlier in the day to guarantee daylight couple/family portraits.
Bride and groom walking to the venue during a rainy wedding day in December
Venue Ceremony in December
Flexible timing (you can schedule earlier, like 12pm or 1pm).
No travel time = more light preserved.
Cosy candlelit ceremonies feel magical in winter.
Indoor light quality becomes very important, venue balrooms can be quite dark.
Outdoor ceremony options are limited due to weather.
When venue hunting look for examples of winter weddings in their brochure. Venues ideal for winter have large windows, elegant interiors, and fireplaces that create warmth in photos even when it’s dark outside.
Winter & Christmas Wedding Timeline Example
7-8am - Getting ready
12pm - Ceremony (1pm venue ceremony), no greeting line
1:30pm - Drinks reception starts, Family Photos, Portraits
3:30pm - Sunset
4:30pm - Dinner call - indoor couple photos (bar, staircase)
5pm - Speeches (30 min)
7:30 or 8pm - Evening guests arrive, Cake cutting, Mingling
8:30 or 9pm-ish - First dance & party time!
Things to Consider for a December Wedding in Ireland
Have umbrellas on hand (clear ones photograph best).
Plan transport carefully. Snow, icy roads or a storm can really slow things down.
Build in buffer time for travel between locations.
Candlelight and moody interiors are your friend, embrace that darkness.
Encourage guests to dress warmly (especially if you want outdoor confetti).
Plan for the photography to be done inside, family photos at the church altar, portraits with flash, bridal party bar shot and so on.
A December wedding is perfect if you:
Love cosy, candlelit atmospheres
Want a black tie or elegant dress code
Prefer intimate energy over sprawling outdoor timelines
Don’t mind planning around limited daylight
As an Irish wedding photographer who works across both Northern Ireland and Ireland, I absolutely love December weddings — they feel emotional, atmospheric, and deeply romantic when planned well.