A quick hop from Dublin, Laois may be Ireland’s littlest county but what it lacks in size it makes up for in pretty estates and unspoilt beauty. For unabashed wedding grandeur (if the budget stretches) nowhere beats Ballyfin Demesne, a country pile like no other with seamless service and unbridled opulence. It’s also overlooked by the Slieve Bloom mountains which have forests, walking and bicycle trails, rivers and waterfalls ripe for exploring. A step down from Ballyfin but deserving merit in its own right is Castle Durrow, another luxurious venue that’s top of the wedding venue list. Emo Court is another great Georgian house worth a visit and one of Ireland’s grandest.