Magic beyond my wildest dreams!
I think our photo says it all! I had envisioned and planned every detail of this day from half way across the world, for just under a year. And the magic on our wedding day was beyond my expectations and wildest imagination. And believe me, my imagination is intense! Roderick and the Temple House team are warm, professional, relaxed and on the ball! The food throughout our stay, and on the big day, was extraordinary and I am a huge foodie and so are my family and friends. We booked out the whole estate (rooms and cottage) for 5 days and this allowed us to sink into the beauty and soak everything in, bit by bit, before the wedding. Temple House is such a special place for a family and friends reunion and the grounds are simply breath taking! I'd like to thank Roderick for being such a gentleman and so hands-on. I felt immediately comfortable around him and knew our big day was in the best of hands. I can't wait to return for an anniversary and get on that row boat and enjoy the lake! Though I made sure to walk around the grounds- especially on the morning of my wedding so that we could be as grounded and present as possible come showtime! I'm grateful that Roderick allowed us to add our our own touches on design and also to put up photos of our family and friends around the house. That allowed for an intimate feel throughout our stay and for our friends to enjoy on the wedding day as they explored the wonderful home and grounds. Roderick made the wedding planning process FUUUNNN! I always looked forward to connecting with him and knew he had everything under control. My fiancé and I live in Singapore so we didn't have the chance to see Temple House in person but loved the virtual tour Roderick gave us and knew this was what we wanted: a family home rich in history and abounding in character and warmth. We have had friends and family from Ireland, and all over the world, tell us that this was the best wedding they'd ever been to! Even the photographer said it was in his TOP 5 . haha This was music to our ears! People have been talking about it for weeks since and so we know that something very special had happened that day. Whether you plan to get married indoors or outdoors, Temple House is guaranteed to take your breath away! Nikki and Tarig May 2024
The smallest details
Temple House is such a beautiful setting for a wedding, we were lucky enough to have the sun shine on us and have ours outside and the gardens were looking perfect! Roderick is the best host you could ask for, very responsive when organising and when some of our wedding party were delayed due to flight problems, Roderick stayed up late himself to make sure they were fed and comfortable, which was very much appreciated by all involved! The smallest details were thought of,including ear phones for our little one who suffered ear ache on the wedding day,nothing was too much effort for Temple House! The food on both days was impeccable and the bedrooms are spacious and so comfortable and peaceful, with lovely views. I heard nothing but praise for every aspect of the weekend and wish we could do it all again.Thank you Roderick and the Temple House staff for everything! Claire and Joe May 2024
Speeches on the staircase before dinner was a real standout moment
It’s going to be hard to put into words just how grateful we are to Temple House, and Roderick, it’s characterful custodian, for the wonderful weekend it gave us for our wedding in July 2024. Nothing will compare. As my husband (which feels v. grown up to say!) knows, I’m not easy to please and so it was a huge relief to us both that expectations were only exceeded. The house itself is made for celebrations and makes you feel welcome at every turn. Far warmer than the grey stone exterior would initially suggest. Roderick will speak to you about the importance of ‘energy and flow’ and together, the pair have worked up the perfect blueprint for a wedding day, one that suits those looking for something a little less standard. Speeches on the staircase before dinner was a real standout moment – one I didn’t know I needed! And, of upmost importance for Ireland, the venue is flexible to variable weather. Each space (indoor and out) has its own character, comes ready dressed for the occasion and suits guests of all ages. Our golden oldies were well looked after, something that was a real priority for us. Food was also a priority, so with little to go on (no pre-event tasting and limited photos), I was always going to be concerned. Happily, I needn’t have been, as is more often the case in Ireland than England, the food was very good - Roderick is right. The breakfast each morning with guests was particularly enjoyable. I’d also like to pay notice to the staff, who, as again is often more the case in Ireland than England, were simply lovely. The grandeur of Temple House is far from normal for us and I think it’s notable that we didn’t feel exploited at any stage. Costs were always transparent and, for the service given, very good value. The honesty bar works well, boating on the lake is a must (one we wished we’d discovered sooner) and a particular highlight of mine was the 4pm ‘tea and cake’ that Roderick and his team facilitated for us on the second day. Overall, we and our guests felt thoroughly spoilt. What better way to feel. Harriet and Sean July 2024
Perfect for an intimate wedding or party
Temple House is absolutely beautiful, from the moment you step in, you feel as though you've entered another world of luxury and history. We struggled to find a venue that would cater to our small numbers and wanted somewhere with a soul and a warm atmosphere which Temple House certainly provides. Once we'd visited, we knew we weren't going to find a more special place - we didn't look at anywhere else. A bereavement meant our wedding planning was postponed but Roderick was most helpful and accommodating with just six months' notice. The rooms were fantastic, the half acre is absolutely stunning as was all the accommodation. Roderick was most helpful with managing last minute guest accommodation also. There are numerous beautiful locations for photos and videos and perfect backdrops indoors and outdoors - no decorations even needed. Our photos came out beautifully and were really enhanced by the setting. A special note for the food, we were bowled over by the quality and range offered, all of our guests remarked on how much they enjoyed it. Guests with dietary needs were well looked after and all the staff were so attentive and kind. If you're looking for a venue for an intimate party or wedding or special occasion, Temple House is a fantastic choice. We hope to visit one day in the future and relive our happy memories.
Edel and Conor Nov 2023
we enjoyed every second of our time
We got married at Temple House on October 22, 2022 and stayed for two nights along with our family and closest friends. Booking Temple House was the best decision we made about our wedding. It was absolutely perfect.
Roderick is a fantastic party planner. He knows how to keep the energy flowing in the right way and he makes sure that everyone is taken care of. We live in Toronto and his communication was always on-point. Before we booked, he facilitated a thorough tour via video and then accommodated my parents on a visit around the venue. The ceremony room has the most stunning windows and skylight. It poured rain all day of our wedding, but despite that, the room was so bright and welcoming. Even though we didn't get many opportunities for photos outside, the house itself is so gorgeous! Our friends commented that our photos look like something from a movie.
The food was to-die for. The soda bread!!! The apple & rhurbarb crumble!!!! The pork belly!!! We served a four course meal for the wedding dinner and every plate was clean. It felt like the food was made with love. The house wine was delicious, and the midnight snacks were hoovered up.
The accommodations are stunning. Even though the rooms are huge, they felt so cozy and warm. The beds were some of the most comfortable we'd ever slept in!
Temple House bewitched our family and friends and we enjoyed every second of our time there. Thank you so much to Roderick and team for making our weekend so special! We can't wait to come back some day.
Maria and Ollie Oct 2022
Perfect for our small wedding
We had our small wedding of 25 guests over 2 days in Temple House in July. We could not have imagined it being any better.
Being based in Melbourne, we had not seen the venue in person before arrival but I can say the the house and grounds exceeded any expectations. We had booked the entire house and it made the whole thing perfectly relaxed and intimate even in the grand setting.
Roderick, his family and staff looked after us so well from arrival to departure. I’ll put in a special mention to how much fun the group of 7 kids had which meant their parents also had a great, stress free time.
From food & drinks to location to service, we can’t find a fault. They even managed to get us sunny weather in Sligo.
I’m not sure there is a better venue in Ireland for a wedding like ours.
Erin & Patrick. July 2022
"Our son and his beautiful wife had a very special wedding last weekend at Temple House Estate in Sligo: Roderick is a wonderful unflappable host, his family and the staff could not have been more helpful and were so easy to work with. Roderick advised us on what would work best and his input was invaluable. The food was spectacular from morning to night. The house itself has a lovely relaxed atmosphere with a balance of historic elegance and family comfort with memorabilia and portraits everywhere! We are looking forward to many more family events at Temple House."
D French
May 2022
It's been over a week now and we are still speechless! Thank you for everything you done for us, both on the day and on the lead up to it. Wedding planning seemed very much like a daunting (yet exciting) task for us but you guys made it so easy, you knew exactly what we needed and how to do it!
On the weekend you were brilliant, the Friday evening is such a lovely touch and really helps to relax everyone and settle in to the weekend, The house looked amazing and thanks for recommending leitrim flowers, like you said, they know what works for the house. We were overwhelmed with the amount of compliments the venue got from our guests, they were in amazement the whole time.
Your staff were brilliant all weekend, I have never been to a place before where the staff are so willing to go out of their way to accommodate you, thanks for all the little things you did to help Eva's mother have a good time, all the little things did not go unnoticed!
The food was unbelievable, Vicky is one very talented chef! I have never been to a wedding where the guests have had such high praise for the food, every meal we had was fabulous, my sister Jane says she will never be able to eat out again after sampling the GF food ye offered her!
Eva and William
Nov 2021
Just a quick update, now that we are back from our honeymoon (and back to reality!). We had the most amazing ceremony and celebrations in Temple House - the venue was just absolutely perfect and we were so lucky the sun even shone for us at the right time!
A massive thank you to George for all his help - and the girls were just absolutely wonderful, their service was spectacular. They were so helpful throughout and put such care into even the smallest of details - which didn't go unnoticed. Our families also commented on how lovely all the girls were even to the point of them making the effort to remember individual guests' names. We couldn't have been more impressed.
From start to finish - we were on cloud 9 and couldn't have asked for a more beautiful location to celebrate our wedding.
P.s a major thank you for pulling out all the stops to get the ceremony room finished for our day - you'll hear from the video attached how incredible the acoustics were for the ceremony. The room also looked fantastic - so thank you again for this!
Rachel and Andrew
Aug 2021
We had our wedding at temple house on the 11 June we stayed there with our guests for 3 days it was the best.. the house and grounds are just breath taking. The food over the 3 days was fabulous. Roderick and his staff were excellent nothing was to much trouble for them attention to detail was excellent. All our guests were very happy rooms were beautiful and the beds omg so so comfy. Can’t wait to go back for our one year anniversary. Thank you again Roderick Helena and staff for making our wedding so special.
Sean and Mary
June 2021
We got married in Temple House last month! Roderick was so helpful during our planning stages and always on hand to answer any questions or queries we had. The few days we spent in Temple House will never be equalled. Some of our guests enjoyed clay pigeon shooting and the boating facilities, while others explored the beautiful gardens. The staff were fabulous, they were all so friendly and helpful, going above and beyond to make our day run smoothly. The food was absolutely gorgeous, from Helena’s beautiful baking to Chef Vicki’s amazing canapés and our main meals! Our dream of getting married outside was put at risk by the inclement weather but Roderick was quick to come to the rescue with an alternative plan. The final point to note was how great everyone in Temple House was with our nieces and nephews (aged 4 - 9), they were spoiled and entertained by Roderick and all the staff. We are looking forward to returning! Thank you to all in Temple House for giving us such an amazing unforgettable experience.
"After a disappointing start to 2020 (having to postpone our large wedding abroad), we came across Temple House Estate. From the get-go Roderick, the host, was so organised and laid back about everything. On first viewing, we got an extensive tour of his home and he very simply put forward many ideas for our big day- we didn't need to look further for the perfect wedding venue. Temple House, is a venue like no other. Initially having invited 100+ to our big day, this was narrowed down to under 25 people which could not have suited Temple House more. The guests arrived and were all wowed by the surroundings and even more by the grand house, Christmas decorations and their rooms. With a small number, we were able to spend the perfect few days all together under one roof. Roderick and the staff could not have done any more, taking a very 'there but not there' approach, making it feel like it was our personal venue but with someone always there to top up a glass or help out if needed. All guests were completely wowed with the term 'unbelievable' floating about a lot! The food was amazing and to say the least no one went hungry!
Temple House, Roderick and the staff were amazing from day one and even with Covid 19 restrictions in place, we were able to have the best wedding we could have imagined! Many family and friends have already spoken of a return visit! To sum up; -amazing food, with a huge selection to cater for everyone. Wine and spirits all top quality. -amazing grounds -amazing bedrooms- clean, comfy beds with views of lake and ruins -amazing staff- they knew the guests by name by the end of the wedding 10/10 would recommend or do it all over again!"
"Thank you to Roderick, Lorraine and team in Temple House for making our wedding day perfect. When we saw Temple House and its beautiful surroundings we knew we wanted our wedding to be there. On first meeting Roderick we felt like he had safety as his top priority in light of Covid-19. Planning our day, it was difficult to picture how it would flow with social distancing, masks etc. The Temple House team made sure every safety measure and precaution was taken and everyone felt safe and enjoyed the day. The day itself flowed seamlessly, from getting ready in the morning, then our arrival back after the ceremony to enjoy the celebration. We had so many menu options to choose from for the canapé reception to the main meal itself, each one unique and something to suit every palate. The food did not disappoint, everyone enjoyed it from children to adults."
Carol & Brendan
Nov 2020
As a sixth-generation Irish American, exactly one of my dozens of living family members had ever set foot in Ireland before my wife-to-be and I decided on Country Sligo as the destination for our wedding. Using only the internet, we found the Temple House and put a deposit down after a single email and telephone exchange with Roderick, well in advance of even booking flights for a site visit.
The ends to which our instinctive decision was validated can not be overstated. Roderick and Helena were strangers prior to our first meeting in person on January 3rd, 2016. We were married at the Temple House on September 3, 2016, and by then it felt like being married under the auspices of our most pragmatic, empathetic, warm, Temple-House-owning friends.
Roderick, Helena and Temple House will forever be an instrumental, memorable part of our lives.
We can't imagine the alternative.
Eric and Holly
2016, received 2021.
From the minute we stepped through the door over a year before our big day, we knew it was the place for us. Welcoming and unique, the house offers both grandeur and homeliness.
Roderick is an exceptional host. He is a gracious and attentive with humour and charm and ensures that you and your guests have all that you could wish for. The whole team were truly fantastic.
One of our guests remarked that watching the speeches on the staircase reminded them of the intimacy and emotion of Christmas Eve. One of the wedding party took us aside to say that the house, although grand, made them feel comfortable as soon as they arrived and that staying there made the day truly special.
Having our wedding at Temple House was easily one of the best decisions we ever made.
Mary and David
It was incredible. Roderick and Helena were excellent throughout. They were responsive and supportive with all arrangements prior to the day. We found them to be very welcoming and we appreciated their laid-back approach. All staff were so friendly and smiley, they were a pleasure to have around. The house itself is magnificent and a great place to stay. We had it for the whole weekend. We also took advantage of the cottage along a private road not far from the house. It was a great place for the groom and groomsmen to stay prior to the wedding day. We would recommend the intimate meal with your nearest and dearest the night before the wedding also.
The venue speaks for itself but there is the option to decorate it further should you wish. Roderick really helps move your guests from room-to-room throughout the day. He even lets you bang the gong to help if you wish 😊 We released up to 50 Chinese lanterns that night. Watching them rise in to the air was magical and was complemented by Temple House’s beautiful grounds and clear starry skies.
Thank you again to all at Temple House.
Holly and Adam