Old Court Strangford Wedding Venue
Old Court Strangford — A Wedding Photographer's Guide
As a photographer, there are wedding venues where you just expect that you’ll have a great time. For us, Old Court is that kind of place.
Tucked away on a private estate on the shores of Strangford Lough in County Down, Old Court is one of those venues that genuinely stops people in their tracks. It's not widely known outside of couples who've done their research, but absolutely beloved by everyone who's been there.
If you're planning a wedding in Northern Ireland and you want something that feels unlike anywhere else, read on.
What kind of venue is Old Court?
Old Court is a family-owned private estate with roots going back to the 16th century (around the time we became wedding photographers… or so it feels sometimes). It's been thoughtfully restored and developed into a wedding venue that manages to combine feel both relaxed and grand at the same time. At its heart is a tiny, beautifully preserved 17th century chapel, surrounded by acres of natural gardens that sweep down to the shores of Strangford Lough.
The spaces across the estate each have their own distinct character. There's the chapel for relgious ceremonies, the gardens for drinks receptions with the Lough as your backdrop, a hand-built yurt-inspired hall for the wedding dinner and dancing. Your first night as a married couple can be spent in the boathouse — a private retreat nestled within the grounds with its own harbour and views straight across the water.
It's an exclusive use venue, and the day before your wedding is included in the booking so you can set up at your own pace and arrive on the day itself completely relaxed. That detail alone tells you a lot about how Old Court approaches things.
Where is Old Court?
Old Court sits just outside the village of Strangford on the Downpatrick Road in County Down. Strangford itself is a gorgeous little village on the narrows of the Lough, and the combination of the ferry crossing, the waterfront, and the surrounding countryside makes the whole area feel like a world apart from the city.
It's only about 40 minutes from Belfast by car, 45 minutes from Belfast City Airport, and a short drive from the Strangford ferry if guests are coming from the Ards Peninsula side. The incredible Castle Ward is nearby, as is the beautiful Killard Beach and Nature Reserve. Guests who make a weekend of it will have a tonne of exploring to do.
Ceremony options at Old Court
For religious ceremonies, the chapel is the centrepiece. A beautifully preserved 17th century building on the estate grounds, it's intimate, atmospheric, and full of history. It seats a smaller party comfortably, which suits couples who want their ceremony to feel personal rather than performative.
For outdoor ceremonies, the lough shore is extraordinary. We've photographed ceremonies here at the water's edge with Strangford Lough stretching out behind the couple. The sights and sounds of it, and the utter seclusion of the estate makes for something genuinely special.
What is the reception space like?
The flow of the day at Old Court is one of the things we love most about it. After the ceremony, guests move into the natural gardens for drinks with those Strangford Lough views opening up around them. The gardens are mature and beautifully maintained, and in good weather they're simply stunning. On a good day, nowhere beats it for a drinks reception.
For dinner, the yurt-inspired hall is cosy and warm with natural light flowing in. It holds up to 120 guests and feels neither too large nor too intimate. It’s really gorgeous.
You can have your evening entertainment in the Yurt or the adjacent barn. While the barn is big enough for a band, we do find that the majority of our Old Court couples have opted for just a DJ.
Where are the best photo locations at Old Court?
This is one of those venues where the honest answer is everywhere.
The chapel exterior and grounds are beautiful for arrival and ceremony shots — the old stone, the mature trees, the chapel door. The gardens during the drinks reception give you a natural, relaxed setting with the Lough always somewhere in the background. The boathouse and the private pier are exceptional for couple portraits — we've spent time down there with couples as the light drops over the water and come away with some of our favourite images from anywhere in Ireland.
The shoreline itself is stunning. The combination of the water, the sky, the trees, and the complete seclusion of the estate means every direction you turn there's something worth photographing. In summer the gardens are lush and full of colour. In autumn there's a warmth and softness to the light that suits this venue particularly well. In winter, the stripped-back landscape and the drama of Strangford Lough on a moody day has its own beauty.
What's the food like at Old Court?
Old Court works with a selection of preferred external caterers, giving couples real flexibility to find something that suits their taste and their day. The relaxed, garden-party feel of the venue suits sharing platters, BBQ menus, and grazing tables particularly well — and several of the recommended caterers have built menus specifically around that aesthetic. That said, more formal dining works beautifully in the yurt hall too. The venue doesn't push you in one direction, which we think is one of its strengths.
Will our guests like it?
They'll love it. There’s nothing quite like having a drinks reception on the shores of the Lough - it instantly puts everyone in a holiday mood.
The family-owned, personally managed nature of the venue means that everything is looked after with real care, and guests feel that. The estate itself gives people space to wander and explore before and after dinner, which always creates a relaxing vibe.
During the drinks reception, some couples put on lawn games for their guests. We’ve seen everything from giant Jenga to Archery. It’s always a lot of fun!
For guests who make a weekend of it, the village of Strangford is right on the doorstep, with the Lobster Pot pub a short walk away for a pre-wedding pint if the groomsmen need to settle their nerves.
What if it rains?
Obviously, Old Court with its open spaces and incredible lough views is best enjoyed in dry weather. But the owners have done their best to ensure that things still run smoothly if it rains.
While the venue have ample options to keep you sheltered for your vows and reception, when it comes to portraits you may have to brave the elements to get the best photos. Trees and archways do provide some shelter, but we’d highly recommend packing some photogenic umbrellas which are ample for all but the most torrential downpours.
Family shots can be taken in the barn, but this may involve moving guests out of the way.
Keeping it outdoors at Old Court
If the weather plays ball Old Court is a venue that rewards an outdoors-first approach.
A lough shore ceremony as the starting point. Drinks and cake cutting in the garden with the water behind you. Speeches outside as the afternoon light shifts. The gardens are designed for this, and the natural flow of the estate from ceremony to drinks to dinner to dancing lends itself to a day that spends as much time as possible outside before moving in as the evening comes on.
Accommodation at Old Court
The boathouse is the couple's accommodation on the wedding night — a private retreat within the grounds with its own harbour and direct views over the Lough. It's genuinely special and makes for beautiful getting-ready photographs in the morning if you're spending the night before there too. You can even go for a morning dip in the lough!
Guests need to look further afield as the venue doesn’t have on-site accommodation. The village of Strangford has some accommodation options, and the surrounding area of County Down offers plenty of places dotted around to stay for those making a weekend of it. And remember, Belfast is less than an hour away - couples will often put on a bus from Belfast that takes people to and from the venue.
A recommended Old Court wedding photographer
Simple Tapestry are a Belfast-based husband and wife wedding photography team with over 15 years of experience shooting weddings across Northern Ireland and Ireland. We've photographed weddings at Old Court many times and it remains one of our favourite venues. We know this gorgeous estate well and we love every corner of it.
If you're planning a wedding at Old Court and want to talk through how the day could look, get in touch — we'd love to hear about it.
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It's one of the most distinctive and beautiful wedding venues in Northern Ireland. The combination of a 17th century chapel, private gardens sweeping down to Strangford Lough, a hand-built yurt hall, and a restored barn for dancing makes it genuinely unlike anywhere else. Couples and guests consistently describe it as an extraordinary experience.
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On the Downpatrick Road just outside the village of Strangford, County Down. It's around 35 minutes from Belfast, 45 minutes from Belfast City Airport, and well placed for guests travelling from across Northern Ireland or arriving by ferry from the Ards Peninsula.
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Old Court can accommodate up to 120 guests.
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Yes. Old Court is an exclusive use venue, and the day before your wedding is included in the booking to allow time for setup and a relaxed start to your wedding day.
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Yes. Outdoor ceremonies on the lough shore are one of Old Court's most distinctive offerings. The 17th century chapel on the estate grounds is also available for indoor ceremonies.
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The lough shore, the private pier, the boathouse, the chapel grounds, the natural gardens, and the woodland paths all offer exceptional portrait opportunities.
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While it’s definitely a venue best enjoyed in dry weather, there are indoor ceremony options.
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You’ll want to enjoy a long sunny day at Old Court, so summer late spring into summer and all the way to early Autumn is perfect.
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Old court cater for all kinds of events and weddings. Get in touch with them to see how they can accommodate your elopement.
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Simple Tapestry are an experienced Northern Ireland wedding photography team who have photographed many weddings at Old Court. We know the venue and its light well across all seasons. Get in touch via simpletapestry.com to discuss your wedding day.
