Belfast City Wedding Venues
The Best Belfast City Wedding Venues — A Photographer's Guide
Updated May 2026
Belfast has transformed beyond recognition as a wedding destination over the past decade. New restaurants, bars, galleries and hotels have opened across the city, and what was once a fairly limited choice has become one of the most exciting and varied wedding venue scenes in the UK and Ireland.
We've been photographing Belfast weddings for over 15 years and have shot in all the best venues - some of them many times. As our couples often ask us for venue advice, we wanted to share our honest, experience-led take on the best Belfast has to offer. From small, quirky restaurant weddings to grand hotel celebrations, there's something here for every couple.
Since 2001 Belfast has been divided into quarters, based on its historical past. That would suggest 4 distinct districts, but for eccentricity’s sake, Belfast actually has seven quarters (or maybe nine - it depends who you ask)! Yeah, we know, we know…
Queen's Quarter
Queen's Quarter takes in Queen's University and the surrounding area in South Belfast — one of our favourite parts of the city to photograph a wedding.
Queen's University is a licensed wedding venue for graduates, hosting both ceremonies and receptions. If the weather cooperates, you can have your drinks reception in the quad before dining in the Great Hall. It's one of the most photographically rich venues in Belfast — the architecture alone keeps us busy all day.
The Ulster Museum is one of our absolute favourites. Set in the heart of Belfast's Botanic Gardens, it gives you a brilliant mix of urban cool and gorgeous greenery. You can get married surrounded by dinosaurs, have your reception in one of the stunning upper rooms, and step outside for portraits in the Botanic Gardens. The Belfast Room is a particularly beautiful ceremony space. We've shot several weddings here and it never disappoints.
Deanes at Queens is a Michelin-starred restaurant that does weddings quietly and brilliantly. The food is everything you'd expect from a Michael Deane restaurant, the staff are wonderful, and the relaxed vibe makes for a really natural day. We love it so much we chose it for our own reception.
City Centre
The Muddler's Club is one of Belfast's best-kept secrets as a wedding venue. Michelin-starred, beautifully designed, and located in the Cathedral Quarter within walking distance of some of the best photo spots in the city. The staff are exceptional and the cocktails are legendary. If you're a foodie couple this should be near the top of your list.
Cafe Parisien on Donegal Place looks directly onto Belfast City Hall. We love the cosy, private feel of their upstairs reception room — you're in the middle of the city but it feels intimate and special. A brilliant option for smaller weddings.
Cafe Parisien is the perfect reception venue for those looking for European chic in the heart of Belfast.
Coco on the other side of City Hall has established itself as one of Belfast's top restaurants over the past decade and now caters for weddings. The boutique atmosphere inside is beautiful and the food is incredible. We photographed a wedding here recently and had a brilliant day.
The cosy boutique dining area of Coco Belfast.
The Dark Horse in the Cathedral Quarter is another brilliant alternative option. A gorgeous pub with real warmth and character, perfect for couples who want something intimate and genuinely Belfast rather than a hotel ballroom. Honestly, if having the craic is your number 1 goal, you have to consider the Dark Horse as your venue.
AM:PM — the Cabaret Supper Club at AM:PM has a large roof garden for drinks receptions and a main dining area that feels like stepping into the Great Gatsby. If you're having your ceremony at Belfast City Hall, AM:PM is only a few steps away.
St George's Market is available for weekday weddings only — a beautiful Victorian market that's unlike anywhere else in Belfast. We shot the first ever wedding there and it's a genuinely special location.
George's of the Market
Crumlin Road Gaol is one of the most divisive venues we've shot in, but also one of the most interesting. Your guests get a guided tour of the Gaol and there's something genuinely unique about celebrating your wedding in a building with that much history. Not for everyone, but unforgettable for those it suits.
Crumlin Road Gaol.
Cathedral Quarter Hotels
The Merchant Hotel is one of Belfast's most luxurious wedding venues. Set in a restored Victorian bank building, the grand interiors, ornate ceilings and famous staircase create an incredibly photogenic setting. The Cathedral Quarter location means you're steps away from some of Belfast's best street photography spots. The rooftop hot tub and Rolls Royce hire are optional extras that some couples find irresistible.
The beautiful front facade of the Merchant.
Malmaison in the Cathedral Quarter offers a stylish boutique option with excellent central location near the Albert Clock. Contemporary rooms, great food, and a cool atmosphere that suits couples who want something a little less traditional.
Bert's Jazz Bar at the Merchant is one of the most atmospheric small wedding venues in Belfast. Think low lighting, live jazz, and a genuinely glamorous Art Deco interior. Perfect for couples who want something intimate, stylish and a little bit showbiz.
Titanic Quarter
Titanic Hotel Belfast is one of our most-photographed venues and one we recommend without hesitation. The art deco interiors and parquet floors are stunning, the light-filled drawing room looking onto the Titanic Museum is one of the most beautiful ceremony spaces in Belfast, and if it rains you can get spectacular photographs without leaving the building. That's genuinely rare. It caters for both small and large weddings across several different rooms and the staff are brilliant.
Titanic Belfast (the museum) is perfect for larger weddings — it can seat up to 500 guests. The views from the ceremony room over the dry dock and the H&W cranes are spectacular, and the replica staircase will have your guests taking selfies all day.
You're treated to this amazing view with a Titanic Belfast wedding ceremony
SS Nomadic, just opposite the Titanic Museum, is the last White Star Line ship in the world is moored in the dock and available for weddings. An incredible piece of history and a genuinely special location for photographs.
South Belfast
Malone House is the perfect option if you want a Belfast address but not a fully urban feel. Set in extensive grounds in South Belfast, it's surrounded by beautiful countryside but only 15-20 minutes from the city centre.
Shaw's Bridge, Lagan Valley Park and Lady Dixon Park are all nearby for portraits, and outdoor ceremonies are possible in the gardens. Plus, it’s only 5 minutes from our house, so you can drop in for a cuppa.
It’s really an untapped gem when it comes to Belfast Weddings.
Arts Venues
The MAC in St Anne's Square is one of our favourite venues in the city. This cultural hub is home to some of the most exciting art exhibitions in Ireland and your guests can wander the building and take in the exhibitions between courses. The upper halls are beautiful event spaces and the whole building is endlessly photogenic.
The Mac
Oh Yeah Music Centre in the Cathedral Quarter has a main hall for weddings and a brilliant rooftop bar with views across Belfast's landmarks. A great option for music-loving couples.
The Oh Yeah Centre Roof bar.
Almost any of Belfast's famous arts or music venues will be willing to considering hosting your wedding photos. Being artsy fartsy people, we have contacts for some if you need help.
Pub Stops
One of our favourite things about Belfast is all the brilliant bars and restaurants we have. Bars such as The Crown, Duke of York, The Garrick, Muriels, The Spaniard, The Sunflower and Fibber Magees, while not wedding venues provide some really cool backdrops for photos and a nice relaxing pint of Guinness. It’s never a waste of time to factor in a trip to the pub!
Photo spots worth knowing
One of the things we love most about photographing Belfast weddings is that the city itself is a backdrop. Most city centre venues are within walking distance of some genuinely brilliant photo locations — and a 20-minute wander with your photographer after the ceremony can produce some of the most memorable images of the day.
Belfast City Hall and its grounds are beautiful for portraits — the building itself is stunning and the gardens are well maintained. If you're having a civil ceremony inside, the grand staircase and marble interiors give you incredible images before you even step outside.
Cathedral Quarter is our most-used area for city portraits. The cobbled streets, Victorian architecture, colourful shopfronts and back alleys around Commercial Court and Hill Street give you enormous variety within a very small area. The Duke of York, one of Belfast's most iconic pubs, is right in the middle of it and always worth a stop.
The Big Fish at Donegal Quay is one of Belfast's most recognisable landmarks and a brilliant spot for a quick, fun portrait. The ceramic tiles covering it tell the story of Belfast — couples who know the city love it.
Belfast’s answer to the leaning tower of Pisa, The Albert Clock, and the surrounding riverside area along the Lagan offer a classic Belfast backdrop. The river itself is underused as a photo location.
Titanic Quarter has become one of our favourite areas for portraits over the past decade. The H&W cranes — Samson and Goliath — are iconic Belfast landmarks and the surrounding architecture of the shipyard is industrial and dramatic in equal measure. The slipways, the dry dock and the dock walls all make for genuinely unique images you couldn't get anywhere else in Ireland.
Botanic Gardens in South Belfast is perfect if your venue is in the Queen's Quarter area. The Palm House and Tropical Ravine are both stunning — the Ravine in particular has a lush, tropical interior that looks extraordinary in photographs. The gardens themselves are beautifully maintained and give you greenery and colour whatever the season.
The Black Mountain and Cave Hill overlook the city from the north and west and are worth visiting if you’re having a Belfast Elopement with more time for portraits. The views over Belfast from Cave Hill are genuinely spectacular, and on a clear day you can see across to Scotland.
Belfast's street art is scattered across the city and some of it is world class. Beyond the peace walls, there are brilliant murals in the Cathedral Quarter, around the MAC, and across North and East Belfast. If you're up for an adventure with your photographer, Belfast's street art is one of the most underused backdrops for wedding portraits in Ireland.
Crown Bar on Great Victoria Street is one of the most beautiful Victorian pubs in the world — a National Trust property with stunning stained glass, ornate snugs and incredible tilework. It's not a wedding venue but it's always worth a visit for a quick portrait and possibly a pint. We've never had a couple regret the detour.
Shaws Bridge in South Belfast is a wee bit of heaven right on the edge of the city. There’s ancient woodlands and open fields all within walking distance of the concrete.
Although it looks like the middle of nowhere, this is a hidden gem in beautiful South Belfast.
Whatever venues you choose, Belfast rewards couples who are willing to explore it. Give your photographer time to show you the city and you'll come home with images that couldn't have been taken anywhere else.
Belfast marriage laws
For civil ceremonies, Belfast venues must be council-approved. You can find an up-to-date list of approved ceremony locations on the Belfast City Council website. The council advise contacting civil registrar before booking your ceremony venue to make sure they’re available.
You can also choose to get married at Belfast City Hall and bask in all the attention and good wishes you’ll get from visiting tourists!
For humanist or religious ceremonies you have much more flexibility. You can marry indoors or outdoors in almost any location as long as your celebrant agrees and you have permission from the landowner. This includes private houses, gardens, and outdoor spaces across the city. We've photographed living room weddings and garden ceremonies in Belfast… anything is possible.
Yup, you can get married in your own living room!
Accommodation for guests
Belfast has brilliant hotels within walking distance of most city venues. For bridal prep and honeymoon suites we have nothing but praise for The Merchant, Titanic, The Fitzwilliam, Malmaison and Bullitt. They're brilliant hotels, very central and know how to pamper you and make life easy on the morning of a wedding. We’ve also been in many stunning Airbnb houses and apartments if you would prefer self-catered accommodation.
A view from the 9th Floor of the Fitzwilliam.
The Merchant
Planning a Belfast wedding?
We'd love to hear about it. Get in touch and let us know which venue you're considering. We can tell you exactly what to expect from a photography perspective and guide you through planning your Belfast Wedding or Elopement.
-
For hotel weddings the Titanic Hotel and Merchant Hotel are our top picks. For restaurant weddings the Deanes at Queens, Muddler's Club, Coco and Cafe Parisien are brilliant. For something more alternative, The Dark Horse and Bert's Jazz Bar are all fantastic. The Ulster Museum is our pick for something genuinely cool and unique.
-
It depends on the feel you're after. Cathedral Quarter is brilliant for couples who want an urban, alternative vibe with great photo spots on the doorstep. Titanic Quarter suits couples who want something grand and dramatic. Queen's Quarter is perfect for a more relaxed, bohemian feel with access to the greenery of Botanic Gardens.
-
For humanist and religious ceremonies yes, you can marry outdoors almost anywhere in Belfast with the landowner's permission. For civil ceremonies you need a council-approved venue, but many Belfast venues have outdoor spaces that are licensed. Always check with your celebrant and venue before assuming.
-
For intimate weddings we love Cafe Parisien, Bert's Jazz Bar, Coco, The Dark Horse and Deanes at Queens. All of them feel personal and special rather than corporate, and the food in every single one is excellent.
-
Every venue on this list photographs well — that's partly why they're on it. But our personal favourites for photography are the Titanic Hotel (incredible light and interiors), the Ulster Museum (variety and outdoor access), the Merchant Hotel (architectural drama and access to Cathedral Quarter) and Malone House (grounds and greenery). The Cathedral Quarter as a backdrop is superb for urban portraits.
-
Several do. The Titanic Hotel, Merchant Hotel and Malmaison all have rooms and are brilliant for bridal prep and honeymoon suites. If your venue doesn't have accommodation, it shouldn’t be a deal breaker - Belfast has excellent hotels within walking distance of most city venues.
-
Costs vary enormously. Restaurant venues typically charge per head for food and drink with no room hire fee, making them cost-effective for smaller weddings. Hotel venues range from mid-range to luxury pricing. As a rough guide, full-day hotel weddings in Belfast typically range from £5,000 to £20,000 depending on guest numbers and day of the week. Midweek and off-season dates are significantly cheaper.
-
Absolutely YES! Belfast has transformed over the past two decades into one of the most exciting cities in Europe. It has brilliant food, a thriving arts scene, world-class hotels, and a warmth and character that's hard to find elsewhere. Couples from the US, Australia, Canada and across Europe increasingly choose Belfast for Irish heritage weddings, and we love photographing them.
-
Absolutely. Belfast is one of our favourite cities for elopements. You get all the character and variety of a great city without the stress of a big wedding. The Titanic Hotel is brilliant for an intimate elopement, as are the Ulster Museum and Malone House. For the ceremony itself, Belfast City Hall is iconic, or your humanist celebrant can marry you almost anywhere in the city with the landowner's permission. We can act as your legal witnesses and help with planning if needed.
-
Wedding photography in Belfast typically ranges from £1,500 to £4,000 depending on experience and coverage. At Simple Tapestry our packages start from £1,800 and always include both of us as a two-photographer team. Elopement packages with photo and video and ourselves as your witnesses start from £1,000. Get in touch for our full pricing brochure.
