An Abbey Kildare Wedding - Elegant Church & Estate Weddings

Q: Is The Abbey in Kildare an exclusive-use wedding venue?

Yes. The Abbey in Kildare is an exclusive-hire wedding venue. Once you arrive, the entire estate, including guestrooms, preparation suites, gardens and the Abbey Church, is reserved privately for you and your guests.

Keith Sullivan
7 days ago
4 min read

Updated: 14 hours ago

Faye and Gary having humanist ceremony at The Abby in Kildare

Faye & Gary’s Elegant Celebration

The Abbey in Kildare is one of those rare wedding venues that manages to feel luxurious, intimate, and deeply personal all at once. A former monastery, carefully restored and now run as an exclusive-hire wedding venue, it offers couples complete privacy for their entire day. Once you arrive, the whole estate — the guestrooms, the stunning preparation suites, the gardens, and the breathtaking Abbey Church — becomes fully yours.

From a photography perspective, The Abbey is a dream. The natural light that pours through the windows, the high ceilings, the textured stone, the elegant décor — everything works in harmony to create beautiful, timeless images.

Morning at The Abbey — A Calm, Bright Start

When I arrived that morning, I began (as I always do) by taking in the space. The Abbey is full of little details — framed artwork, textured walls, antique mirrors, pockets of beautiful light. These are the details I capture at the start of every wedding morning, weaving them through the story of the day.

Morning – The Light-Filled Makeup Suite

Faye and her bridal party got ready in the venue’s dedicated bridal makeup suite — a stylish, spacious room with floor-to-ceiling mirrors and natural light flooding through the windows. It’s one of the biggest advantages of The Abbey: the girls can get ready on-site, with no rushing and no travel.

Groom Prep – Close By and Stress Free

Gary and the lads also got ready on the grounds. They grabbed a relaxed morning coffee together in one of the lounges before heading to their suite. Because both sides were so close, I could move easily between them, documenting each part of the morning naturally without anything feeling staged or rushed.

A Humanist Ceremony in the Historic Abbey Church

The Abbey Church is the showstopper of the venue. High stone arches, warm filtered light, an aisle that feels sacred without feeling formal — it’s spectacular.

Faye & Gary chose a humanist ceremony, which brought a modern warmth into such a historic space. Family played a huge part in the day, and you’ll see throughout the images how close and connected everyone was.

Faye and Gary walk out of the church in the abbey in Kildare

Drinks, Speeches, and Celebrations Outdoors

After the ceremony, everyone gathered outside in the sheltered courtyard area for drinks, music, and speeches. The Abbey has several outdoor areas that allow guests to mingle in small groups or come together in larger ones — perfect for candid documentary-style moments.

Faye & Gary’s speeches took place outdoors, surrounded by their guests. A stunning space with loads of room, beautiful light, and a relaxed energy.

Portraits Around The Abbey — Endless Options

This venue genuinely has hundreds of portrait opportunities within a very short distance.

A few favourites from the day:

The gardens — manicured, elegant, and full of soft pockets of shade
The long stone steps at the back — dramatic but still natural
The walkway beside the historic walls — perfect for intimate moments
Inside the Abbey itself — warm, moody textures for fine-art style images
The courtyards — fantastic for relaxed, editorial-style portraits
Open lawn areas — ideal for family photos with easy mobility and plenty of space
And if it rains? There are so many indoor options with gorgeous light that we could make magic anywhere.

We kept the portraits calm, natural, and unfussy — just the way Faye & Gary wanted.

The Abbey Church — By Night, the Dance Floor Comes Alive

One of the most unique things about The Abbey is that the same church where couples marry transforms into the dance floor at night. The candles, the stone walls, the mood — it becomes something truly special.

Faye & Gary and their guests absolutely rocked the night away here. It’s rare to find a venue where the ceremony location becomes the party location, and it adds such a magical flow to the day.

Faye and Gary dancing in the church at the Abbey wedding venue

A Day Filled with Heart

This wedding was full of emotion, family, connection, and joy. It’s days like this that make The Abbey such a special place to document — everything happens naturally, without ever feeling rushed or overly structured.

Faye & Gary created a relaxed, warm, heartfelt celebration — exactly the kind of day The Abbey was made for.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Is The Abbey in Kildare an exclusive-use wedding venue?nue?

es. The Abbey in Kildare is an exclusive-hire wedding venue. Once you arrive, the entire estate, including guestrooms, preparation suites, gardens and the Abbey Church, is reserved privately for you and your guests.

2. Can we get ready on-site at The Abbey?

Yes. The Abbey provides dedicated preparation spaces, including a light-filled bridal makeup suite and nearby rooms for the groom and wedding party. This allows both sides to get ready on-site without any travel or rushing.

3. What is the Abbey Church like for a wedding ceremony?

The Abbey Church is one of the venue’s standout features. It has high stone arches, warm filtered light and a sacred, atmospheric aisle that suits both humanist and contemporary ceremonies while maintaining a sense of history.

4. Are there good locations for wedding portraits at The Abbey?

Yes. The Abbey offers many portrait locations within a short walking distance, including manicured gardens, long stone steps, walkways beside historic walls, courtyards, open lawns and indoor areas with beautiful natural light.

5. What happens to the Abbey Church after the ceremony?

At The Abbey, the church where couples marry transforms into the evening celebration space and dance floor at night. Candles, stone walls and lighting create a unique atmosphere for dancing and late-night celebrations.