So you want to learn how to elope in Northern Ireland, lass? Well we have the guide for you! First, GOOD PICK! The Irish are some of the best people around and Ireland is beeeaaautiful. We love a good green backdrop to make all your dreams come true. Let’s deep dive on one of THE BEST locations to elope in Northern Ireland – Horn Head. 

Horn who? Yes, Horn HEAD! Don’t knock it until you have seen the photos. Oh by George, it’s one of a kind. When we say it’s one of the most beautiful places, that’s not just us. It is LITERALLY on a website called themostbeautifulplacesineurope.com. According to the site, the county also contains Ireland’s northernmost tip, Malin Head, which is used as a Star Wars filming location (a stand in for the backdrop of Luke Skywalker’s hideout). If you are ready to have the force at your elopement, call us ASAP.

We provide support for your ideal adventure elopement. We spend literally hours pouring over your questionnaire to get you custom location ideas, permit info, local vendor recommendations, and activities that are fun for you. We’ll send you all the resources, guides, and checklists so you can dream while we work on the details. 

Before we go into what Horn Head is all about, let’s run through some of the basics on how to elope in Northern Ireland and get that marriage Facebook (and government) official. 

How to elope in Northern Ireland, you will need to ensure you have the following:

• Your elopement needs to be officiated by an officiant for religious weddings, or a registrar or humanist celebrant for secular weddings. 
• You must have two witnesses over the age of 18. (We count if you are keeping it just the two of you abroad!)
• Within 12 months of your wedding, you must give notice – plan for about eight weeks out from your ceremony. Here’s the form you’ll fill out, and you can read about timing here, as well as which documents you’ll need to provide.
• Apply for a UK marriage visa

Full list of marriage procedures in Northern Ireland found here to answer the big question of “how can I legally elope in Ireland?”

Another option is to get married stateside and have a ceremonial wedding in Ireland. This by no means takes out the fun of an Irish wedding, check out different Irish Traditions you can incorporate to make your wedding all berries and cream.

If you’re sold on Ireland but want to explore more options like eloping at Dunluce Castle, check out our overview blog How to Elope in Ireland. This will give you options for our elopement packages to make your wedding sealed with an Irish kiss. Also, when booking Ireland know that there is really no bad time of year to go. Summer gets touristy but all year round has moderate temperatures and a bout of rain. If you haven’t heard, rain is lucky on your wedding day and we are here to make sure you have the most fun so don’t let it deter you!

Kinbane Castle

Want to feel like you’ve stumbled into your own secret chapter of Irish mythology? Welcome to Kinbane Castle, the moody, lesser-known cousin of Dunluce! It’s a total gem for couples chasing intimacy, cliffs, and Celtic ruins. This place oozes history, with the remains of a 16th-century castle perched right on a narrow limestone headland. It’s quiet, breathtaking, and a little wild (in the best way).

Check out this recent elopement at Kinbane Castle!

Permit Info:
You’ll need permission from the Causeway Coast & Glens Borough Council to elope or photograph here. Email tourism@causewaycoastandglens.gov.uk to request a photography or ceremony permit. They’re super friendly and used to lovebirds like you asking for permission to “tie the knot on a cliff.”

Pro Tip: Wear hiking boots for the descent — it’s steep, and the walk down is basically your pre-wedding workout. The payoff? Unreal views, total privacy, and epic photos.

Horn Head

Now, back to why Horn Head is thee spot. First – it has those dramatic cliffs that just set our souls on fire. Then there is the green countryside with rolling hills and ancient stone fences. The hands down friendliest people. Last, of course, – the sheep. Yep, sheep everywhere, and we love them. Call yourself bo peep in white and let’s get some photos with our fluffy friends.

The area surrounding Horn Head is adorned with stone circles, stone tombs, and markings etched by ancient Celts in the Stone Age. An elopement at Horn Head could mean a sandy beach with the ocean and cliffs in the background or a ceremony overlooking the waves – the options are endless, and the views from the lookouts are breathtaking. You can even take an adventure drive to see the area! 

Dunluce Castle

If you’re looking for a location that screams “cinematic drama with a side of ancient ruins,” Dunluce Castle is IT. Perched dramatically on the edge of a cliff overlooking the North Atlantic, this spot is basically the definition of wild romance. Picture this: waves crashing below, wind in your hair (it’s a look, trust me), and the ruins of a 14th-century castle as your backdrop. It’s giving Game of Thrones meets The Notebook energy — minus the heartbreak.

Check out this recent Dunluce Castle Wedding!

Permit Info:
To host your ceremony or photos here, you’ll need to contact Christine Gilligan (yep, she’s the MVP) at christinegilligan90@hotmail.com. She’ll walk you through the process of booking Dunluce Castle for your ceremony. The site fee is £450, and honestly, that’s a small price to pay for the most jaw-dropping “we eloped in Ireland” moment of your life.

Pro Tip: The castle’s open-air nature means you’ll want to check weather conditions, pack layers, and have a backup location nearby — the Irish coast loves to keep you on your toes.

Giant’s Causeway

Okay, now for the showstopper… Giant’s Causeway! It’s one of the most famous natural wonders in the world. Geology decided to flex and created 40,000 interlocking basalt columns that look like a staircase built for giants (literally the legend of how these were made!). It’s rugged, mystical, and straight-up magical at sunset.

Check out this recent elopement at Giant’s Causeway!

Photographer’s Permit:
If you want to take professional photos here, you’ll need a photographer’s permit (€100), which you can snag by contacting the National Trust Northern Ireland. I went in a couple of days before the elopement to grab ours, and it was super easy. Just a little pro move to make sure everything goes smoothly!

Pro Tips:

• Timing is everything: Go close to closing time — the crowds thin out, and you’ll have the place practically to yourselves.
• Parking: Use the main visitor center, and be prepared for a short walk.
• Attire: The wind is intense, so flowy dresses = instant editorial-level drama.

Here’s our favorite Northern Ireland wedding vendors

When choosing your vendors for your Northern Ireland elopement, we have the people for you! 

Photography & Videography. You’re in luck: we (Honeybee Weddings) specialize in both photography AND videography while becoming your BFFs at the same time! Plus – you’ll get one helluva discount when you get hitched in Ireland – heyyyyy!

Hair and Makeup. For hair and makeup our number one is G&G. Not only is their work amazing, but they offer complimentary champagne, nibbles, and entry to a nightclub. Get pampered the day of and enjoy a fun evening of dancing before! The best way to make the most out of your two day elopement!

Officiant. If you plan to get married in Ireland, here are a few great officiants for North Ireland elopements, Celtic ceremonies,  Humanist weddings, or check out Marry Me Ireland for a list of the right officiant for you.

Catering. You want to elope AND have a fancy celebration? We’re here for it. Clink that champagne glass and check out The Red Door Country House and Yes Chef Catering – let’s talk; we can help you envision how this could work! Planning food is especially helpful if friends and family join you for your special day or part of it. 

Ireland is the best place for an elopement!

Flowers. Next, look no further than Donegal Flowers and Nikki Dunlop Floral! Since the Irish are big on wedding flowers, these bouquets are drop dead gorgeous.

Live Music. If music is a big part of your love story, you can book Sinead Black, a local Irish wedding singer.

Bakery. Is it important to you to have a cake to cut? Drool over Selena’s Creations. We can’t wait to capture that special moment of you two celebrating over your special cake!

Pub. We won’t let you leave Ireland without a whisky, a Guinness, or a pub with a view! Lighthouse Tavern and Harbour Bar are both known because of their traditional Irish pub feel with great food, friendly service, and outside eating.

Check out these digs for your Irish accommodations

If you’re on the hunt for where to stay during your Northern Ireland elopement at Horn Head, there’s a few great options.

Captain’s Tiny House – this micro space is great if you want to cozy up with your love and plan on spending time in the town. Located in the heart of Dunfanaghy, you have access to a local supermarket, coffee shops, pubs, restaurants, gift shops & delis. You can enjoy Tramore Beach and Killahoey Beach within walking distance. In addition, the owners run a surf school you can take advantage of. Cow-a-bunga Irish style!

TravelNest’s Holiday Apartment – Can we just say how much we love a “Holiday” apartment. Swooooon. This location provides more space and is across the street from sandy shores. Just a short walk away is Dunfanaghy S Main Street with plenty of restaurants, coffee shops, local craft shops and art galleries, and pubs. The surrounding area is a natural paradise perfect for fly fishing, deep-sea angling, horse riding, golfing, bird watching or walking. 

Basically, you can’t go wrong with your Northern Ireland elopement!

What to do on day 2

Hiking: You know us, we couldn’t let a guide go by without mentioning that how to elope in northern Ireland should include a wondrous hike. If you are into that sort of thing. Cause we would LOVE to take you on an epic adventure elopement! Which brings us to Glenveagh National Park, about 30 minutes away. You park in Letterkenny. Yes, like the Canadian sitcom! Next, you can choose one of the many trails, there’s options for every fitness level. 

Glenveagh National Park is the second biggest park in Ireland and it’s full of forests, pristine lakes, the Glenveagh waterfall, rugged mountains and the fairytale-like Glenveagh Castle. There’s also plenty of wild animals if you want a break from the sheep. 

Horseback Riding: Have you dreamed of galloping on the beaches? In northern Donegal is Dunfanaghy, a small seaside town on the shores of Sheephaven Bay. That offers plenty of horseback riding options to fit your vision. 

Kayaking: Join a guided coastal sea kayaking trip exploring Lough Swilly in beautiful county Donegal on the Wild Atlantic Way. See dramatic mountain scenery and discover tranquil coves, catch sightings of marine wildlife as you travel along the captivating Wild Atlantic Way. One of the many joys of this trip is observing the varied birdlife as you paddle along this coastline.

Start your Ireland journey today!

If you are ready to adventure from top of the mornin’ to an all day elopement adventure, call us to chat! We are ready to plan your Northern Ireland elopement, including what your wedding dreams are, the location where you can feel the most you, and all those gushy, just pinch me, pot of gold moments in between. 

TLDR: We can build a custom elopement package! Right now, we are creating the calendar for 2026, and are ready to make your wedding full of hearts, stars and horseshoes, as well as clovers and blue moons!