The home of horse racing, Kildare is thoroughbred country dotted with stud farms and grand estates that offer quiet, secluded and idyllic settings for the big day. Historic country houses like Carton House, The K Club, Killashee and Barberstown Castle have long courted reputations as in-demand wedding venues with acres of gardens, rolling lawns for wedding photos and ceremony spaces and impeccable service. Factor in Kildare’s location next to Dublin and its international airport, direct train links, the county’s sweep of rivers, mountains and other prestigious wedding venues and it might just be the storybook setting you’re after.