Bride posing against a wall on her wedding day at Mount Druid, Co. Westmeath

Mount Druid Wedding

Springtime

Mount Druid is the alternative wedding venue of the moment

If you are considering a unique way to celebrate your wedding day Mount Druid should be high on your list of venues to review. This is a place worth exploring if you are craving something quirky and alternative, or if you’ve had your fill of traditional and want to mark your celebration a little bit differently.

Mount Druid is a dedicated wedding venue in Co. Westmeath and weddings we’ve shot here share a distinctive charm and refreshing change of mindset.

When I think of ‘less traditional’ venues, Cloughjordan House in Tipperary and Ballintubbert House both spring to mind and fall into a similar unconventional ‘category’. The advantage of these locations is that you can really put your own stamp on the celebration and bring a personal vibe to the day.

This type of wedding doesn’t suit everyone of course, but when you are looking to mark your day in a fun and relaxed way, with your own particular slant – venues of real character like Mount Druid perfectly fit the bill.

An alternative wedding venue in Ireland

The business is family run, and the Murphys take a lot of pride in maintaining and promoting Mount Druid as an alternative wedding venue. For those mindful of sustainability and the environment it’s worth noting that they grow much of the food that is served within the gardens here and even manage their own organic sheep farm on site.

Newly married couple at Mount Druid

Rachel and Jonny at Mount Druid – wedding photograph by Rubistyle

Couples are to encouraged to make full use of the venue while it’s exclusively theirs, ensuring each wedding bears the personal touch of the couple being celebrated. We have filmed here a few times now, and every aspect of the wedding day has been entirely different to the previous outing.

There are a myriad of options to choose from when it comes to food and accommodation while the wedding ceremony itself at Mount Druid is always a beautiful and intimate affair. Situated in the village of Castletown Geoghegan getting here is relatively easy – indeed, being centrally located, it’s amenable to Dublin and most parts of the country.

Staying at Mount Druid

One of the most unique elements Mount Druid has to offer is its variety of accommodation. Weddings here are of course aimed at a particular type of couple so if you are looking for crystal chandeliers and red carpets you should look elsewhere. The accommodation here though is perfectly comfortable, inviting and – fun. And let’s remember, your friends and family are here to celebrate you, not for a spa weekend!

Mount Druid is famous for it’s glamping and any festival lovers in your party will feel right at home, while the rest will be pleasantly surprised at the comfort levels on offer.

There are 20 Yurts available on the grounds – with each sleeping between 2 and 4 people. The Yurts offer a different kind of living experience and are a great opportunity for you and your guests to completely immerse yourselves in the occasion.

Other glamping style accommodation includes the cosy Shepherds Huts, the Tin Huts and the more recently added Tigíns.

Wood Burning stoves are lit in all of the accommodations each evening by the Mount Druid staff – so you will always return to a snug and cosy room when it’s eventually time to turn in. I would definitely take that kind of personal turn-down service over a chocolate-on-the-pillow any day of the week!

The ‘Mount Druid bus’ is probably one of the quirkiest wedding accommodations we’ve come across – anywhere! Maybe not one for the mother of the bride, but it can be used on the day to get ready in also. All guests can make use of the ‘Granny’s Lounge’ – a communal lounge area, again – a great space for guests to mingle and good fun before the wedding.

If you are looking for something more conventional Mount Druid has that covered too. Kindalin House, The Gate Lodge and The Birches provide more typical options for overnighting but still maintain that unique, rustic charm.

Wedding Ceremonies at Mount Druid

Depending on the type of ceremony you want on your wedding day, Mount Druid caters to different needs but if you and your partner are hoping to tie the knot surrounded by nature, it particularly ticks that box.

Newly married couple kissing during their wedding ceremony at Mount Druid

Newly married couple at the Tin Chapel, Mount Druid- wedding photography by Rubistyle

The Tin Chapel on site is a great option for couples who prefer a civil wedding ceremony or a simple blessing. This chapel seats 150, but it also holds its own for smaller ceremonies, maintaining that intimate atmosphere for smaller groups.

The chapel allows for couples to create their own one of a kind ceremony. We have filmed wedding ceremonies here in wintertime and summertime and it has been equally as magic at both times of the year.

If you opt for a religious ceremony, as Rachel and Jonny did last spring, St. Micheal’s church situated just across from the entrance to Mount Druid and is incredibly convenient – a gorgeous quick walk for both bride and groom to enjoy. Rachel and her bridal party made full use of the bridal suite that morning, while Jonny and the lads got ready in one of the Pods.

Celebrating your wedding at Mount Druid

We followed Rachel and Jonny’s guests down to The Boathouse after the ceremony for drinks and nibbles – it’s a gorgeous lake-side spot your party won’t want to leave. Lots of wedding parties make use of this space the day after the wedding – they make pizzas and serve drinks by the lake and it’s an uber relaxing and inviting area to unwind after the dust has settled on the night before!

Table setting for a wedding at The converted Barn at Mount Druid

The converted barn at Mount Druid – table setting. Wedding photography by Rubistyle

Guests are led from the drinks reception at the Boat House to the converted Barn for the main wedding celebration. This chic and open space is your canvas to draw on, choose from a sit-down meal or a more relaxed barbecue.

If you are into your food the quality of dishes served on your wedding day won’t disappoint. You can expect fresh organic produce, with a good proportion of the fruit and vegetables served and grown on site and in surrounding Westmeath. Local suppliers are used where possible and vegans and vegetarians are very well looked after.

You will be able to choose from a barbecue, hog roast and more traditional sit down menus – and all will vary seasonally as you would expect from a foodie place like this.

On The Day

We were lucky enough to be working on the day by Amy French whose photography perfectly compliments the Mount Druid vibe and the couples who get married here. Amy is one of the most creative photographers in the country and it is always a wonderfully and seamlessly fun and relaxed day when she is behind the camera.

Amy is well acquainted with Mount Druid and we enjoyed a few moments with Rachel and Jonny exploring the hidden nooks and crannies that make this place so magical for wedding photography.

Find more of her Amy’s gorgeous work from Mount Druid at Rubistyle.

Myself and my partner debated for a while about getting a videographer given the mad costs surrounding weddings and I can honestly say it was the best decision we made about the whole day. Emma is incredibly talented and the editing of these videos is out of this world! We cannot thank you enough.
- Rachel and Jonny

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