Looking for a diferent experience for your Big Day Out? From weddings on the shimmering sea to private estate hire, to alternative fun for party animals, we’ve got it locked down for you.

1. CRUISING DOWN THE AISLE

Struggling to find a highly romantic and unique wedding solution that suits you, and isn’t all about putting on a big party with a meal for hundreds? Maybe getting married aboard a luxury cruise liner is the solution you’ve been looking for.

Last month, following a Supreme Court ruling enabling same-sex marriages in Bermuda, luxury cruise brand, Cunard can now host same-sex marriages with queenly style.

Cunnard, which has offered weddings on its Queen Elizabeth, Queen Mary 2 and Queen Victoria cruise liners for the past five years and has married over 250 couples, is one of the first cruise lines be able to conduct same-sex wedding ceremonies at sea. The company is a proud supporter of the LGBT+ community, and this year was the main sponsor of the Southampton Pride festival.

Wedding ceremonies are performed by the ship’s captain (or the deputy) and the marriage license will be issued by Bermuda. Couples who opt for the Wedding at Sea package can expect wedding ceremony venue with floral arrangements, a professional photographer, invitations, champagne on arrival in your cabin and a champagne toast at the ceremony, and practical help like a wedding outfit pressing service.

All you need to do is select your wedding package prior to your cruise, fill out some paperwork, and make a few decisions about on-board wedding arrangements. Then most other aspects will be handled by dedicated cruise staff. It’s a great option if you don’t want to be involved in every little detail of planning your wedding ceremony and simply want to tie the knot in the most relaxed fashion possible, complete with a great holiday in the mix.

Find out more about tying the knot on a Cunard cruise at John Galligan Travel, jgt.ie or at cunard.com

2. TURNING JAPANESE

Whatever kind of wedding you may be planning, we bet the word ‘Yamamori’ has never come to mind. Yet, the latest addition to the Yamamori restaurant family Tengu on Dublin’s Great Strand Street might just be the alternative venue you’re looking for, particularly if you’re wanting to host an all-out party.

Adorned with genuine Japanese artifacts and under the watchful eye of Tengu, himself, this is a Japanese venue with a difference, namely the fact that after dark it swaps the sushi for a session, becoming a kicking club that’s attracting Dublin’s top DJs right now.

The big draw of Tengu is its ample space, which allows for 250 guests downstairs, or 100 upstairs. The venue offers a drinks reception on arrival, custom made-menus or the regular ‘Japas’ menu, which offers the best of Japanese cuisine for you to enjoy in a laid-back atmosphere, and most importantly a state-of-theart sound system for your guests to get down to once the eating and toasting is done. There are even pool and ping-pong tables, for those guests who want a break from the dancefloor beats, plus there’s a great outdoor area for chilling out on a summer evening.

It’s an alternative venue in the coolest sense of the word.

Find out more about having your wedding at Tengu at yamamori.ie

3. FOR STATELY HOMO’S

In the beautiful environs of Kinsale, West Cork, Ballinacurra house is a private estate for hire that has a sense of glamour about it you won’t find in many other places. For years it’s hosted royalty and A-list celebs, who love its vintage chic feel, and you can have the same experience by booking the whole place for one evening, a weekend or even longer, should you want your wedding to be an extended experience.

Set within a walled garden with 10 foot-high stone walls and surrounded by 40 acres of woodland and lawns, this 18th century country mansion is steeped in old world opulence. It’s perfect for small luxury weddings of up to 60 people in the stunning ballroom, 120 in the light-filled garden room, or 180 people in a combination of both. Ballinacurra’s dedicated staff can also organise multiple events for your wedding group. For example, you may wish to have an intimate family dinner on the first night, or additional guests on the day following your wedding for a relaxed barbeque or buffet. The food across the options, and for the wedding reception itself, is five-star.

For a wedding that takes you out of this world and into another, Ballinacurra House is a must. And the real world just a few minutes down the road just happens to be Kinsale, one of the most beautiful and fun towns in Ireland. Your guests will love you for having your wedding here!

Find out more about Ballinacurra House at ballinacurra.com