A huge storm blew through the night before Shae and Lore’s Ireland abbey ruins elopement. I was up all night listening to it rattle the windows and hoping it would blow through in time. It did, which was a stroke of luck, although it blocked my road with a tree as a parting gift.

But by the time we all arrived at the medieval priory, the sky had cleared. Still moody—this is Ireland in April—but the drizzle had stopped, and there were actual pockets of sunshine coming through. I always watch the weather radar leading up to elopements, and we got lucky this time.

From Castle to Abbey Ruins

When Shae and Lore first reached out, they had their heart set on a castle. They’d found one they loved and had the whole vision mapped out. But the one they wanted (Menlo Castle) was closed for restoration, so I sent them some alternatives, including a wildcard that wasn’t a castle at all but had castle vibes.

Because I’m a rascal.

It was this enormous medieval priory just…in the middle of a field, and I had a very good feeling about it. Weathered stone, open to the sky, crows circling overhead… They fell in love with it.

What they really wanted for their elopement experience was something intentional and low-pressure. Health considerations meant they needed a day that could move at their pace, without the usual wedding timeline stress, while also being close to a larger town. Ireland (and the abbey ruins) checked all their boxes: LGBTQIA+ friendly, wild and whimsical (hobbit vibes, always), and with enough remote corners to feel completely private.

The Day Itself

This entire elopement day was so charming.

They started by reading handwritten letters from loved ones in their hotel room, after helping each other get dressed. From there we headed out to the abbey ruins, along back country roads.

Their ceremony included a few Irish traditions (handfasting with a personalised cord and an oathing stone) along with vows they’d written themselves. I have some weird opinions about phones at ceremonies (the photos look better without them, obviously, but if you don’t care, I don’t care, it’s not my wedding). But one hill that I will die on is no phones for vows.

I say this because I care about you: absolutely not. You’re going to be standing on ancient land, brimming with magic, surrounded by either a dramatic landscape or stone walls hundreds of years old, and I just cannot bear for you to have your phone in your hand while you exchange vows with your partner. You’ll pull yourself out of the moment because of all the associations our brains have with the phones. Scrawling your vows on a napkin would be better!

(I never plan for detours, but here we are. Baaaack on track)

With no guests to coordinate and no strict timeline, we could wander slowly through different parts of the abbey ruins at a pace that felt right. The light kept shifting, which gave us a huge range of moods without ever leaving the spot.

Afterwards, we all bundled up in Donna’s van for a cup of tea (Donna was their celebrant; she’s a delightful human, and you should hire her for your ceremony too.)

Why Abbey Ruins Work for Elopements

Abbey ruins in Ireland are perfect for a ceremony. You’re standing in a place that’s been there for centuries, and most of them aren’t on the Internet’s radar yet, so you can just wander up and have the place to yourself.

For Shae and Lore, the abbey setting gave them exactly what they wanted: dramatic, historic, and private. No other tourists wandering through (although, sidebar, that’s always a possibility, just not super likely), and no need to book in advance.

What Made This Ireland Abbey Ruins Elopement Work

Shae and Lore knew they needed something that respected their pace and their energy, and they built a day that did exactly that. Instead of racing around to four different locations, we spent intentional time at the abbey ruins for their elopement. They got to explore the site, choose the spot that felt best for their ceremony, and then explore some more, just enjoying themselves and the surprise sunshine.

They also incorporated little personal touches to make the whole experience feel custom. Their handfasting cord was covered in charms and tokens from their loved ones, they read notes before their ceremony to feel their people with them, and they used DnD dice to decide who goes first in reading their vows.

Ready to Plan Your Irish Wedding?

If you’re drawn to Ireland but unsure where to start—or you have a specific location in mind but don’t know how to make it work—that’s exactly what I’m here for.

Everyone’s story is different. Every location has its own reality. And when you’re able to pick the right one, your ceremony is all the more special, because it feels chosen. It feels like yours.

Let’s talk about your vision! Contact me here, or check out “what to expect” to see if we’re a good fit.

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Details

• Season: Spring (April)
• Weather: Morning drizzle clearing to sunshine
• Guest count: Just them
• Location: Medieval abbey ruins
• Special elements: Letters from loved ones, handfasting, oathing stone, handwritten vows
• Timeline: Slow-paced, single-day elopement
• Why they chose this: Wanted an intentional, low-stress experience in an LGBTQIA+ friendly destination with wild, historic vibes
• Vendors:
  • Photographer/planner: Solar Rose Elopements
  • Celebrant: Donna McMillen