Waterford Castle

Being on an island made the loss of access to the castle for a full 24 hours especially awkward. We were staying in one of the lodges, and the only other place on the island to get food was the golf club. The night we went, they had a golf event, so they sat us by ourselves in the banquet room. They’d run out of the one dish we could eat, and the food and wine were mediocre. We’d already booked and paid when the hotel emailed to say there’d be a private event and we couldn’t use the castle during that period. Looking back at the reviews afterwards, we saw this had happened to other people too. The hotel needs to do much more to accommodate its other guests when it holds a private event.

The whole wedding day, including the rehearsal dinner the night before, went beautifully. Gillian did so much as our wedding coordinator in the lead-up, and I’m sure she handled any problems herself because nothing caused us stress. The staff were incredibly hospitable, and everything ran smoothly. Our guests kept talking about how good the food was and how beautiful the venue looked. We knew we’d found our wedding venue the moment we drove onto the ferry. Waterford Castle is even more impressive in person than it looks online. The day felt like a fairytale, and the castle and its staff will always mean a lot to us. Photographs by Wilma Towell Photography, I had to include some to show off the venue!

We’re already talking about coming back, and our family and friends are planning return trips too. Between the ferry crossing, the 310-acre island, the castle’s 19 rooms and the way the staff make you feel like family, the setting has a special intimacy. We celebrated in beautiful castle spaces, then went to the cozy Fitzgerald Bar for late-night drinks. It had old-world charm with a welcoming modern feel. As an American bride arranging a destination wedding, I found Waterford Castle Hotel & Golf Resort perfect for us. Gillian, the wedding coordinator, was calm, kind, quick and thoughtful. She anticipated things we hadn’t even thought of, and looked after us from start to finish so we could enjoy the day. I can see why she’s award-winning. The team also put us in touch with a wonderful wedding planner, which made planning from the States feel easy and stress-free. The Munster Room dinner was a 20/10. Every course was beautifully presented and full of flavor, and our guests still talk about it. We’ll come back just to eat there again. Cal, our bartender, was friendly, fun and on it all night, and became a favorite with our guests. The front desk team made us feel welcome straight away. I can’t remember the name of the lovely woman who checked us in, but her timeless grace reminded me of Princess Diana. We’re forever grateful to Waterford Castle for a magical, stress-free wedding day that we’ll remember for a lifetime. 💚

Gillian, the castle’s wedding coordinator, made sure everything ran as smoothly as possible. From day 1, she covered every base and put us at ease, so we could focus on ourselves on the day. Antonio managed the service and was fantastic, always willing to help, even beyond his remit. We couldn’t have asked for a better team. The island, lodges and clubhouse gave us privacy and a feeling of closeness that we haven’t found elsewhere. It felt like our own place to celebrate with the people closest to us. This was unlike any venue we’d seen, and we’ve been to a lot. The pictures speak for themselves, but the hospitality and the welcome faces greeting all our guests throughout their stay deserve a mention. It’s a great option for couples who want something unique and inherently Irish for their special day. Not a bad word to say. I wish we could do it all again! Aaron & Antonia