Elope With Kids in Ireland: A Real Guide for Families Coming From the US
Eloping With Children in Ireland
Written by Rob Dight. Ireland-based elopement photographer, planning guide, and father of five. 300+ U.S. couples since 2014. Based on the Causeway Coast, Northern Ireland.
I’ve been planning and photographing elopements with American families in Ireland and Northern Ireland for twelve years. I’ve shot over 300 of them. I’m also a father of five. So when couples ask me whether it’s actually possible to elope with kids in Ireland, I’m not theorizing.
So instead of giving you a list of cute ceremony ideas, I asked real families what actually happened: the chaos, the moments they didn’t plan for, the things they’d tell another couple in the same situation. Here’s what I’d want you to know before you book the flights.
Planning the wider trip? My full guide to eloping in Ireland covers everything from legal requirements to location planning across the country.
Quick Answer: Can You Elope in Ireland With Kids?
Yes. Eloping in Ireland with kids works beautifully for the right family, but it needs a different structure from a couples-only elopement in Ireland. The biggest factors are arriving several days before the ceremony so everyone is actually rested, choosing locations that are safe and sheltered, having one trusted adult dedicated solely to the children, and keeping their ceremonial role realistic for their age. The families I’ve worked with who brought their children usually say the same thing: having them there made the day more meaningful, not more complicated.
What Three Couples With Kids Actually Said
Angie & Ryan – elopement with a toddler (18 months)
This family flew in from from Santa Cruz, USA 🇺🇸 with a handful of their family and friends to elope in Northern Ireland on the Causeway Coast.
What made you decide to bring Olivia rather than leave her at home?
Olivia is a part of us. Neither of us could have imagined that day without her. There was no “should we or shouldn’t we bring her” discussion. That day would not have been what it was supposed to be without her.
Was there any pushback from family about bringing her?
No. Everyone was very happy we decided to do it that way and agreed that without her it wouldn’t have felt right.
What role did she play in the ceremony?
She was too little for a formal role. We did talk about her doing things like flowers or the rings, but since she was so young, we didn’t want to spend any of our ceremony time digging through the grass trying to find the rings if they were dropped — instead, she was our cheerleader from the sidelines.
What’s the single moment you replay in your head the most?
Walking away from the ceremony through the tunnel of our friends and family with her. Picking her up and swinging her while everyone threw flowers. We look at those pictures often and they are some of our absolute favorites.
Was there a moment that didn’t go to plan?
Getting ready. We thought we had a plan with our family — she would spend some time with us that morning and then go with them in the afternoon so we could get ready, do pictures, all that stuff. The plan did not go the way we planned, but the chaos of her running around being crazy that morning is something we still remember fondly. It’s entirely in line with her personality and our lives with her.
How did she handle the travel and the day itself?
The ceremony day she did great. Travel was another story. Our flight began in the afternoon US time and ended in the morning Ireland time. That overnight portion was difficult — she was not keen on sleeping since there was a TV attached to her seat and just wanted to watch Bluey all night. She eventually fell asleep, and everything else about the flight she handled great.
What were you most worried about logistically?
Logistically, nothing. We were way more preoccupied with the nerves of the day itself. Thankfully we had Rob, and our friends and family to support us and let us focus on what we were there to do — get married.
What would you tell another couple who’s nervous about bringing a toddler?
For the flight, we opted for the premium economy upgrade to give us some extra space, as well as the front row of our section, so she could have room to be up and moving around and to sit on the floor and play. I would highly recommend anyone making that flight with a toddler do the same.
How was she during the actual ceremony?
She did great and just watched the whole time. She was with her grandparents and she knew mommy and daddy were doing something important, and she was perfect.
How did having her with you change the pace of the day?
The getting ready part was chaotic, and then the end of the night at the pub — but we always joke she was a party baby and never wanted to sleep anyway. She did great that night even though she was up late, and left with grandma and grandpa to stay the night with them. She didn’t affect anything in a bad way, and that’s just part of parenting.
How did having her there change what the day meant to you?
It changed everything. That day would not have been the same without her. Angie and I love each other, but we would not have been representing our love wholly without our daughter with us.
Is there anything you’d do differently?
Not anything major. The only thing would be to make sure everyone was on the same page with the plan of her being with our family while we were getting ready. But even then, the memory of her running around that house being crazy, me chasing her around while Angie is getting her hair and makeup done — it’s a beautiful image. We loved the day, we loved where we stayed, we loved having the people we had with us. It was a great experience.
Kayt & Kerby — elopement with a toddler (2 years old)
This family flew in from from Boston, USA 🇺🇸 with 25 guests to elope in Northern Ireland.
What made you decide to bring Lachlan rather than leave him at home?
We never considered leaving Lachlan behind. He was not a side character in our story, he was the story. Eloping felt like stripping everything back to what matters most, and that meant the three of us. Plus, if you are going to fly to Ireland and say your vows on a wild, beautiful coastline, how could we not let him be part of that memory?
How did you tell him? What was his reaction?
We told him like it was an adventure. We said we are going to Ireland, showed him pictures of the Airbnbs we were going to stay in, talked about what we would do, and showed him YouTube videos. His reaction was this perfect mix of curiosity and excitement, followed quickly by questions about planes. Once he realized he got to come and it was a big deal, he was all in.
Was there any pushback from family?
It never really came up — it never made sense to NOT bring him. There were some “are you sure that is a good idea” and “won’t it be harder” conversations, but we knew our kid and we knew what we wanted the day to feel like. In the end, it felt more important to be true to that than to aim for something easier or more conventional.
What role did he play in the ceremony?
Lachlan’s role was simply Lachlan. No strict job title, no pressure. He stood with us and family, wandered, chimed in when he felt like it — which made it all feel more real. It was not staged or overly polished, it was just our little family, exactly as we are. Worth mentioning: we did get married on a cliff, and a two-year-old is known to wander — so we made sure he was strapped into a stroller during the actual ceremony.
What’s the single moment you replay most?
He could not stop clapping after it was done. It was infectious and so cute.
Was there a moment that didn’t go to plan?
Before we made our way up north, we were in Dublin. He decided jumping off our suitcases and hitting his head on the wall was a good idea. He had a horrible goose egg on his forehead, so we had to change up his hairstyle a bit.
How did he handle the travel and the day itself?
He handled it like a champ, better than we expected. We were so worried about the jet lag, but it really only hit that first night. We all ended up staying up together, watching Harry Potter in the rain, snuggled up and leaning into it instead of fighting it. After that, he adjusted beautifully. Ballycastle made it easy — the pace of the town and how genuinely kind and accommodating everyone was gave all of us space to just be. There is a park and a huge field in the center of everything and it felt very kid-friendly.
What were you most worried about logistically?
The unknowns — travel delays, moods, weather, and that lingering “what if everything unravels” feeling. But once we got there, especially settling in at The Manse, everything softened. It felt like the town itself was rooting for us.
What would you tell another couple who’s nervous about bringing their kids?
Bring them. Truly. It will not be perfect, but perfect is not the point. The imperfections are what make it yours. Kids anchor you in the moment in a way nothing else can. You do not get lost in expectations — you stay right there in what is actually happening.
Did you do anything specific to keep him entertained during the parts that weren’t about him?
We kept things flexible — snacks, little breaks, letting him explore. Ballycastle did a lot of the work for us. Between wandering the town, cozy meals, walks on the beach, playground trips, and just the general warmth of the place, he was never bored for long.
How did having him with you change the pace of the day?
It slowed everything down in the best way. Instead of rushing from one important moment to the next, we followed his rhythm. It made the whole day feel more grounded and present, like we were actually living it instead of performing it.
Does he talk about the day now?
He does, and it is the best. He talks about Ireland like it is this magical place, which feels accurate. He has recently started learning his letters, and “I” will always be “I for Ireland.” Ballycastle really left an imprint on him, and the kindness and ease of the elopement made a big imprint on us all.
How did having him there change what the day meant to you?
It made it bigger and smaller at the same time. Bigger, because it was not just about us, it was about our family. Smaller, because it stripped away everything unnecessary. Being there with him, it felt like we already had everything we were promising.
Is there anything you’d do differently?
Honestly, no. It was not flawless, but it was completely ours. From the pints of Guinness to how warmly Ballycastle wrapped around us, it all came together in a way we could not have planned even if we tried. Eloping and having Rob there to make this a super simple process was the best investment we could have made in our little family. Everyone was kind and warm to our little one.
Desiree & William – elopement with two kids (ages 6 and 15)
This family flew in from California, USA 🇺🇸 to elope in Ireland with their 2 children and a handful of their closest friends and family.
What made you decide to include your kids rather than leave them at home?
We wanted our kids to be a part of our special day — we couldn’t imagine getting married without them. We were starting our next wonderful chapter in life and they are the most important part of our story.
How did you tell them? What was their reaction?
We sat them down and told them we were getting married in Ireland and that they were coming with us. Both of them were ecstatic. Our youngest was telling everyone her parents were getting married in Ireland. She still talks about it all the time. Not only was it an adventure for them, they were able to see and be part of the love story we share.
Was there any pushback from family?
None at all.
What roles did they play in the ceremony?
Jaden was the best man. He also walked me down the aisle and poured the whiskey into the quaich for our ceremony. Our daughter was the flower girl.
What’s the single moment you replay in your head the most?
There were so many moments, I don’t know if I can pick just one. They both helped me button my dress. Jaden walking me down the aisle — and while walking me down, there was a rainbow behind us, which felt like such a special moment. Our daughter crying after the ceremony, and when asked why she was crying her response was “it was just so beautiful” — she was 6 at the time. And Jaden holding my dress down behind me at Dunluce Castle to make sure we had the perfect picture. That boy got down on the ground and laid there holding my dress down from the wind.
Was there a moment that didn’t go to plan because of the kids?
Everything went very smoothly. They were both so amazing and helpful with everything. They both understood what the day meant for our family and they wanted it to be perfect.
How did they handle the travel and the day itself?
They handled everything great. I was expecting our daughter to struggle with the flight because it was over 14 hours, but she slept, colored, and watched movies the whole time — and Jaden did the same. Highly recommend bringing an activity book if you’re traveling with little ones. On the day itself, both did great. Our daughter was a little hyper, so the hardest thing was making sure her hair didn’t get messed up before the ceremony.
What were you most worried about logistically?
I’m a planner, so the lack of control was a struggle for me. But Rob was so amazing — he answered all our questions quickly and put us at ease, and when we actually met him he put us even more at ease. He really thinks of everything. He even scheduled a dinner for us after the ceremony, which we didn’t expect to even be an option. We were also worried about the weather, but we got lucky — and you know what they say about rain on your wedding day.
Looking back, what would you tell another couple nervous about bringing their kids?
Bring your kids. I would recommend having family or friends with you to help on the day — if we’d taken the kids around with us for pictures before the ceremony it would have been difficult. But it is such a beautiful moment, and having your kids there makes it even more special. We traveled to Scotland and Iceland after the wedding, and the kids went home with grandma and grandpa so we could have our honeymoon. Having your children there is worth facing down any bumps or stress in the travel. They are memories you and they will never forget.
Did you do anything specific to keep them entertained during the parts that weren’t about them?
They stayed at the Airbnb with our friends and family. At the end of the ceremony, when we took more photos of just us, our daughter went with family to the restaurant and Jaden stayed behind and helped with the pictures.
How did having the kids change the pace of the day?
Our biggest worry on the day was who was going to keep an eye on our youngest, but everyone we had with us offered to help, which was amazing. Everything went smoothly. If you bring kids, I can’t recommend enough having someone else there to keep them entertained — and to protect the hair.
Do your kids talk about the day now?
Our daughter tells people “my parents got married in Ireland” and says she wants to go back all the time. Jaden doesn’t talk about it as much now, but right after the wedding he talked about how awesome it was.
How did having them there change what the day meant to you?
It made our day more special. I couldn’t imagine not having our children at our wedding. If we could have only had two people there, it would be them. Now we can look back at pictures and smile seeing them next to us. It made so many moments extra special because we got to share them with our kids.
Is there anything you’d do differently?
The only thing I would have changed is not trying to coordinate where everyone was staying and transportation for the whole group — that caused the most stress. Everything else was perfect. I’d also highly recommend paying a little extra to have things like hair and makeup taken care of for you. That would have caused me a lot of stress to organize, but Rob had everything booked and ready. I encourage everyone to elope and tell newly engaged friends they should look into eloping with Rob.
Should You Bring Your Kids at All?
Before any logistics: if the day doesn’t feel complete without them, bring them. None of the three couples in this post seriously considered leaving their children at home. In every case it wasn’t a debate.
“Olivia is a part of us. Neither of us could have imagined that day without her. That day would not have been what it was supposed to be without her.”
“Lachlan was not a side character in our story — he was the story.”
“If we could have only had two people there, it would be them.”
Some couples want an elopement that is completely private, just the two of them, and that’s a legitimate thing to want. But if your family doesn’t feel whole without your children there, bring them. The rest of this page is about making it work.
The Single Most Important Thing You Can Do
If you’re bringing young children, you need one person whose sole job on the day is those kids.
Not someone who’s also handling flowers or transport or keeping another family member happy. One person, typically an auntie, grandparent, or close family friend, whose only responsibility is the children. Someone your kids already know and love.
I’ve had couples come with no family at all, just their kids, and hire a local childcare service. That’s workable. But it’s not the same as a grandmother the kids already know. That’s a no-brainer when you can make it happen.
The reason this matters is simple. Without that person, you spend the day trying to be a parent and a couple at the same time, and neither gets your full attention. With them, you can choose when to be in parent mode rather than being pulled into it constantly. When you’re getting ready, you can actually get ready. When you’re writing your vows, you can actually write your vows.
That person also has a safety role, which is why I want to talk about ceremony locations next.
Cliff Ceremonies and Small Children
I took my own kids to the Cliffs of Moher a couple of years ago. I spent the entire time squeezing their hands, genuinely uncomfortable with how close they were getting to the edge. And that was just a family walk. Not a ceremony where I’d have been focused on vows and rings and the moment itself, with young children who wanted to wander.
I’d avoid clifftop ceremonies with small children. The anxiety of managing it tends to overwhelm everything else. A parent standing at an exposed cliff edge trying to get married while also tracking a two-year-old isn’t actually present for their ceremony.
The allocated person is part of the solution. Their job includes genuine vigilance, not just keeping the kids entertained. They can’t be watching the ceremony and watching the kids at the same time. Location choice is the other part. There are spectacular ceremony spots on the Causeway Coast that aren’t exposed clifftops, and for families with young children those are usually the right call. More on that in the location section below.
How the Day Actually Works With Kids
There’s no fixed template, and the flexibility is the point. But here’s how most family elopement days on the Causeway Coast actually play out.
The ceremony timing is still based on the best light, sunrise or the golden hour before sunset. Within that, we work around the children’s energy rather than fighting it.
Most commonly: the ceremony happens with the children there, and immediately after they go with the allocated person, back to the Airbnb or off to do something fun. That handoff gives the couple thirty to sixty minutes for portraits without anyone being dragged around tired. Some couples bring the kids to one more location after the ceremony before the handoff. Others have done a next-day session when everyone is rested and more relaxed. All of it is workable.
One thing I do specifically for families: if there’s a baby or young toddler involved, I’ll shoot some family photographs at the Airbnb before we leave, right after the first look, while everyone is dressed and looks perfect. This is just covering the couple. I’ve had babies fall asleep in the car on the way to the ceremony and scream when woken up afterward. If that happens and we already have the family portraits in the bag, nobody goes home without the images they really wanted. Same instinct I apply to weather: get what matters early, and everything later is a bonus.
The timing of family shots is something photographers without kids often don’t think through. You can’t schedule a toddler. A two-year-old who falls asleep in the car and wakes up grumpy isn’t going to perform for portraits because it’s on the timeline. I’ve had family shots done before we left the Airbnb just to have them safe, and then again after the ceremony when the kids were happy and running around. Having five kids of my own has made me pretty clear on this: work with their energy, not against it.
The Best Version of This Day Is Not Perfect
The goal is not a perfectly behaved child, a perfectly clean outfit, or a perfectly controlled timeline. The goal is a day that can absorb real family life without falling apart.
Someone may be tired. Someone may need snacks. Someone may refuse the shoes until ten minutes before the ceremony. That does not mean the day is going badly. It means you brought children to an elopement, and the plan needs to be flexible enough to hold that.
You can’t schedule a toddler. The couples who enjoy this day most are the ones who stopped trying to.
| Age | What works | What to avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Baby / under 2 | Present for family photos, held during vows | Long outdoor waits, formal ceremonial roles |
| 2–4 | Stroller during ceremony, magical moments afterward | Ring carrying, expecting them to stand still |
| 5–10 | Flower girl, walking a parent down the aisle, simple rituals | Overloading them with jobs |
| Teenagers | Reading, witness role, toast | Treating them like they’re five |
A few things I’ve noticed across the ages:
A two-year-old in a tie will have it off within five minutes. Put it on for photos and let them be comfortable the rest of the time. A baby in a thin formal outfit on a Causeway Coast clifftop is a cold, unhappy baby. Warmth first, aesthetics second. More on that below.
Primary school age is the sweet spot for genuine participation. Old enough to have a real role, emotionally invested enough to cry at the beauty of it. Jaden lying flat on the ground holding his mum’s dress against the wind — nobody asked him to do that. Kids this age want to be useful.
The Transatlantic Flight
Most parents worry about the flight more than anything else. The families I’ve worked with usually say it was more manageable than they expected once they were actually on it.
Book premium economy or the front row of your economy section. The floor space for toddlers to sit, move around, and play is what makes the overnight leg survivable. Multiple families have come back to me specifically about this.
Bring activity books alongside screens. Tablets stop holding attention at 3am. Sticker books, coloring books, a small toy that doesn’t require WiFi — these bridge the gap when the screen has lost its appeal and you’re still four hours from Dublin.
The overnight portion is the hard part. Daytime flying with children is usually fine. The overnight segment is where it gets difficult, because a toddler’s body does not understand why it should sleep in a seat when there’s a screen attached to it and snacks available. Build patience into that window specifically.
One thing to sort before you reach the airport: if both parents aren’t traveling together, whether due to a custody arrangement, a blended family situation, or any other reason, US Customs and Border Protection recommends carrying a notarized consent letter from the absent parent when a child travels internationally without both legal parents present. Border officers may ask for it. If you have a custody arrangement, bring the relevant documentation. This is not something to remember at the departure gate.
When to Elope: The Arrival Timing Rule
I tell all my couples, kids or not, to plan their elopement for at least day four or five of their trip. By then they’re over the jet lag, they’ve had good meals, they’ve seen some things, they’re actually present. Add children to that equation and I’d push it to day five or six.
Day one of any transatlantic trip is survival. You land in Ireland around 8am local time, which is 3am Eastern or midnight Central. Day one is coffee, Irish stew, maybe a short walk, and trying to stay awake until 7pm. That’s the whole agenda. The trip starts properly on day two.
Don’t elope in the middle of the adjustment. Don’t pack the first three days full of driving and sightseeing and then try to get married. Be kind to the version of yourself who has to actually live this out.
The couples I’ve worked with who follow this advice arrive to their ceremony day already mid-way through the best trip they’ve ever taken. They’ve eaten well, they’ve slept, they’ve enjoyed themselves. Then add a ceremony on a dramatic stretch of the Causeway Coast. That rhythm gives the day a much better chance of feeling calm instead of forced. The photographs reflect it too, because those images are tied to that memory for the rest of their lives.
Ireland’s Weather With Kids
The wind is the main thing, more than the rain. A grey drizzly day with little wind is manageable and often beautiful on this coast. A dry day with a strong north wind coming off the Atlantic is harder on small children than adults. They don’t have the body weight to stand in it comfortably.
This is another reason I’d steer families with young children away from fully exposed headlands. It’s not just safety. A cold, miserable child is visible in every photograph and it changes the atmosphere of the day.
On clothing: base layers under the ceremony outfit are worth more than almost anything else you can do. I carry hand warmers in my kit and give them out on cold days. A big warm jacket over the top of the dressed outfit is standard practice: keep them cozy in between shots, strip it for the camera, put it straight back on. Don’t bother with a cute umbrella. The Causeway wind will have it inside out in seconds. Think Atlantic-proof rather than aesthetically pleasing.
Best Locations for Families on the Causeway Coast
When kids are involved, the ceremony location list gets shorter. That’s actually fine, because the spots that work are genuinely spectacular. The key is accessibility: locations you can reach without long walks, uneven terrain, or significant elevation changes with small children in tow.
Dunluce Castle: Short paved walk from the car park. One of the most dramatic backdrops on the coast and genuinely manageable with young children. Close to shelter afterward.
Dunseverick Castle: Even closer to the car. Minimal walking. The headland can be exposed to wind but the approach is easy, even with toddlers.
Elephant Rock: Accessible and visually striking. Works well for families because you’re not asking anyone to traverse difficult ground to get there.
Murlough Bay: More tucked away, sheltered, and beautiful in a quieter way than the castle locations. Worth considering for families who want something less exposed.
One practical note on strollers: Irish castle ruins and coastal paths are not pushchair-friendly in the way American sidewalks are. Cobblestones and uneven ground eat small-wheeled travel strollers. If you’re bringing one, go for an all-terrain or jogging stroller. A good carrier, an Ergobaby or similar, is often the better call around the ruins themselves.
What to Actually Dress the Kids In
Forget the cute umbrella. Think in layers.
A satin flower girl dress with no base layer on a Causeway Coast clifftop in any month other than August is going to produce a cold, unhappy child in every photograph. Base layers underneath the dress, a North Face jacket over the top that comes off for photographs, hand warmers in the pockets. That’s the formula.
A toddler boy in a tie will have that tie off before the ceremony starts. Keep it in your pocket. Add it on for photographs, then let him be comfortable again. A happy child — one who isn’t cold, isn’t restrained by formal clothes, isn’t uncomfortable — photographs infinitely better than a miserable one.
One More Thing: The Pubs
This comes up more often than you’d expect. American parents often assume they’ll be stuck in the Airbnb after the ceremony while the adults celebrate.
In most food-serving pubs, children are welcome with a parent until around 9pm, though rules vary by venue. So the wedding dinner in a pub, with the kids at the table, a Guinness for the parents, and a plate of goujons and chips for everyone under ten, is not only possible but genuinely wonderful. Goujons and chips are on the menu in most family-friendly pubs on the Causeway Coast. A jet-lagged toddler who won’t touch Irish stew will eat goujons. And if even that’s not landing, plain pasta is in virtually every pub kitchen and nobody will bat an eye asking for it.
Will You Still Get Intimate Couple Photos?
Yes. That concern is valid, and it has a practical answer.
The most common approach: children present for the ceremony and the immediate aftermath, which tends to produce some of the most genuine photographs of the day, and then transitioned to the allocated person for the main portrait session. Forty-five minutes to an hour with just the two of you while the children are with someone they love.
When a two-year-old is in the frame, parents stop performing. They stop thinking about whether they’re holding their faces correctly. They’re just there. That shows up in photographs in a way that’s very hard to manufacture. Some of the strongest images I’ve made have come from elopements with children present, precisely because of that.
What I Would Not Do With Kids
Having done this a lot, there are things I’d steer any family away from:
Don’t plan the ceremony within the first two to three days of arriving. You’ll be tired, the kids will be tired, and being exhausted on the day you get married isn’t optimal.
Don’t choose an exposed clifftop location for the ceremony with small children. The safety anxiety will pull you out of the moment.
Don’t rely solely on screens for the overnight flight. They stop working at 3am. Bring something tactile.
Don’t put small children in formal outfits with no warm base layers. A cold child changes the whole day.
Don’t expect toddlers to participate the way older children can. Work with the age you have.
Don’t try to parent, get married, and manage logistics simultaneously. That’s what the allocated person is for.
Don’t build a day with too much driving between locations. Kids in car seats for three hours between ceremony and portraits is a recipe for someone falling asleep at the wrong moment.
What Parents Worry About vs. What Actually Happens
| What parents worry about | What actually happens |
|---|---|
| Kids ruining the ceremony | Ceremonies are ten to fifteen minutes. Kids usually hold it together. The unscripted moments become the favorite images. |
| The rain | Wind is the bigger issue on the Causeway Coast. Rain is manageable. A wet castle is moodier anyway. |
| Jet lag meltdowns | The first night is hard. After that, most children adjust quickly. Staying up watching Harry Potter in the rain becomes a core memory. |
| Not getting romantic photographs | Parents are almost always more relaxed with their kids there than without them. It shows in the images. |
| The kids being a problem | Traveling with kids means someone’s grumpy, tired, or hungry at some point. That’s parenting. The day works around it. |
A Note on What This Post Is Not
This page is specifically about your children being at your ceremony because your family isn’t complete without them. If you’re also thinking about whether to invite parents, siblings, or a wider group to the elopement, that’s a different decision.
If you’re trying to work out whether your children can realistically be part of your Ireland elopement, get in touch and tell me their ages, your rough travel dates, and whether you’ll have family travelling with you. I’ll give you an honest answer about what I’d recommend — including if I think a particular location or timeline is a bad idea for your situation. Contact Rob here
Frequently Asked Questions
Should we bring our kids to our Ireland elopement? Yes — as long as you accept that the day will be a beautiful, slightly unpredictable adventure rather than a scripted production. The families I’ve worked with who brought their children consistently say the same thing: having them there made the day more meaningful, not more complicated.
What age is best for kids at an elopement? Every age works differently. Babies and toddlers are present rather than participating — the value is in the family being complete. Toddlers (2–4) can’t be given jobs requiring sustained attention, but they often produce the most memorable moments. Primary school age (5–10) is the sweet spot for genuine participation. Older children can take real roles and usually rise to them.
How do we travel to Ireland with kids from the US? Book premium economy or the front row of your economy section for floor space. Bring activity books alongside screens. Give yourself two to three buffer days after arrival before the ceremony — plan your elopement for day four or five at the earliest. Lean into the jet lag on the first night.
How many days should we spend in Ireland if we’re eloping with kids? A minimum of seven days, with ten being more comfortable. Arrival and adjustment take two days. Plan your ceremony for day four or five. The days after are when you actually get to enjoy being in Ireland without the ceremony still ahead of you.
Do we need someone specifically to help with the kids? Yes, if at all possible. One person — a grandparent, auntie, close family friend — whose only job on the day is the children. This is the single biggest difference between a smooth day and a stressful one.
Can young children handle Ireland’s weather? Yes, with preparation. The wind on the Causeway Coast is more significant than the rain, and children feel it more than adults. Base layers under the ceremony outfit, a warm jacket for in between, hand warmers in pockets. Prioritize warmth over aesthetics.
What are the best locations for families with young kids? Dunluce Castle, Dunseverick Castle, Elephant Rock, and Murlough Bay are the ceremony locations that work well with kids on the Causeway Coast — all accessible without long or difficult walks. I’d avoid fully exposed clifftops for ceremonies with small children, both for safety and for the atmosphere of the day.
Will we still get intimate couple photographs with kids there? Yes. Children present for the ceremony and immediate aftermath, then transitioned to the allocated person for the portrait session. You get time alone together. The ceremony photographs tend to be the strongest of the day anyway.
How do kids handle jet lag in Ireland? The first night is hard. Don’t fight it — do something low-key and let the reset happen. After one difficult night, most children adjust within a day or two, especially somewhere with a slower pace like the Causeway Coast.
What if both parents aren’t traveling together? US Customs and Border Protection recommends carrying a notarized consent letter when a child travels internationally without both legal parents present. Border officers may ask for it. If you have a custody arrangement, bring the relevant documentation. Sort this before you’re at the airport.
Are kids welcome in Irish pubs? Generally yes — children are welcome in pubs until around 9pm when the pub serves food, which most do. The wedding dinner in a pub with the kids at the table is not only possible but genuinely wonderful. And goujons — what Ireland calls chicken tenders — are on the menu in virtually every pub on the Causeway Coast.
About the Author
Rob Dight is an Ireland-based elopement photographer, planning guide, and father of five, featured by the BBC and named one of the UK’s Top 50 Wedding Photographers by Professional Photo Magazine.
Since 2014, he has worked with over 300 U.S. couples from all 50 states, guiding elopements across the Causeway Coast and beyond. He moved from England to Northern Ireland in 2005 and has spent more than a decade learning the coastline’s conditions, access points, and seasonal behaviour in enough detail to plan around them rather than hope for the best.
His approach combines photography, location strategy, vendor coordination, and real-time decision-making to create elopement days that hold up under real Irish conditions. Not on paper, but on the day itself. He works exclusively with U.S. couples eloping in Ireland and Northern Ireland, and with a small number of clients each year.
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Joni & Nick’s Ireland Micro Wedding: 2 Days on the Causeway Coast
Most couples planning a micro wedding in Ireland start the way Joni did: imagining something bigger. All the people you love in one room, a band, dancing, a banquet. It sounds beautiful…
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Joe and Lia’s Causeway Coast Elopement — Baltimore to the Basalt Cliffs
Joe popped the champagne so hard the first time that it went straight over Lia’s dress. The second time, spray soaked the videographer. The videographer and I were standing twenty feet away…
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She Wanted a Targaryen Wedding. So They Eloped in Northern Ireland Instead.
Lana and Anthony didn’t want a wedding. They wanted a secret Targaryen ceremony, the kind you only see in Game of Thrones, where two people make a vow quietly, in a place…
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Kinbane Castle Elopement Guide (2026)
How to Elope at Kinbane Castle on Northern Ireland’s Causeway Coast Updated 2026 Written by Rob Dight — Epic Love Photography, an Ireland elopement photographer and planner who has helped 300+ U.S….
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Dunseverick Castle Elopement Guide (2026)
How to Elope at Dunseverick Castle on Northern Ireland’s Causeway Coast Dunseverick Castle is one of the most dramatic and least crowded castle elopement locations on the Causeway Coast. Atlantic cliffs, genuine…
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Wicklow Mountains Elopement Guide (2026)
How to Elope in the Wicklow Mountains — Planning Tips for U.S. Couples The Wicklow Mountains are one of the most accessible wild landscapes in Ireland, offering dramatic mountain scenery just 75–90…
