Frequently Asked Questions
Wondering about your wedding
ceremony, canapés or costs?
You’ll find everything you need to know about celebrating your wedding at Cultra Manor right here. If you can’t find what you’re looking for, or have any other musings or queries, please get in touch with us.
We have a brilliant and dedicated team of people that will guide you through every step of your wedding, from your very first visit to the big day itself.
- We’ve an experienced and dedicated wedding teams who are on hand to answer all of your general questions about Cultra Manor, the Folk Museum, availability, bookings and will be on hand to assist during the planning process.
- Our award-winning Hospitality partner Craft Event Co will help with your menu selections, refreshment options and will work with you to agree on timings for your day.
- Craft will be on hand on the day of your wedding, overseeing venue staff and ensuring everything runs smoothly behind the scenes.
We have a fabulous team of expert chefs who can look after all of your food and beverage requirements. You can discuss with the friendly Craft team options to suit your budget and your vision for the day. Our chefs are highly-skilled and always produce exquisite. You can read more about our Hospitality Team and download a sample menu in The Cultra Kitchen section.
Cultra Manor is located within the picturesque grounds of the Ulster Folk Museum which is approximately 7 miles east of Belfast, near Holywood on the main Belfast to Bangor Road (A2). An exclusive, secluded venue nestled in rolling countryside, just 10 minutes from the city centre.
The DJ or Band will usually set up in the bay window of the downstairs Drawing Room. The ground floor is made up of a number of inter-connecting rooms and spaces which allows the flexibility for guests to mix and mingle without dividing the party.
The Drawing Room in Cultra Manor works very well for drinks receptions or weather permitting, you can have your drinks reception outside on the Terrace.
Cultra Manor, its grounds and the Folk Museum offer endless locations and backdrops for your wedding photos. Located on a 175 acre site, your photographer will be spoiled for choice. We offer a variety of interesting and accessible locations including the traditional shops and streets of 1900s Ballycultra Town with its silent cinema, schoolhouse, a pub, bank and the thatched cottages and farmsteads in the rural area.
If we do not have a wedding the day before your big day, you and your suppliers are more than welcome to come in and set up. If the Manor is unavailable the day before your wedding, we will make an appointment with you the week before and take detailed instructions from you so we can set out any personal touches for you on the morning of your wedding. Suppliers can also get access to the Manor on the morning of your wedding. Florists will generally prefer to set up on the morning of a wedding as there is less time for fresh flowers to wilt.
Monday – Saturday, the serving of alcohol will stop at 12.30am, entertainment stopping at 1am, with guests departing by 1.30am. On Sundays, the serving of alcohol will stop at 11.30pm, entertainment stopping at midnight, with guests departing by 12.30am. Special timings apply over Easter and Christmas as per NI licensing laws.
The maximum we can host for a seated meal is 100 and you can invite an additional 50 guests in the evening (the overall maximum is 150). We do not have a minimum number of guests for weddings however there is a surcharge from our caterers for weddings under 50 people. All numbers are subject to licensing & Covid restrictions.
We have a fabulous Hospitality Team, Craft Event Co who can look after all of your food and drink requirements so you do not have to worry about sourcing your own caterers. The team have extensive experience and know the venue inside out. They can offer a variety of dining styles and will develop a menu with you to suit your individual requirements and budget. You can read more about our Hospitality Team and what they can offer to make your wedding day delicious in The Cultra Kitchen section.
Yes, we have complimentary car parking at for up to 70 cars. Parking is also available at the Folk Museum. If your wedding ceremony is taking place in the Omagh Meeting House Church, a section of the Folk Museum carpark will be specially reserved for your guests.
Unfortunately, there is no accommodation onsite, but there are a number of options close by. We’re located next to the Culloden Estate & Spa and there are many other options including hotels, guesthouses and B&Bs in the local area. You can explore a list of options by clicking here.
Yes, we have a discreet and beautiful room situated just outside the main upstairs Kennedy Room with seating and a full-length mirror which the happy couple and wedding party can use throughout the day.
No. On the day of your wedding, we close the Church to the public to ensure your ceremony is private. On the day before your wedding, your suppliers can access the Church to set up once the Museum closes. The Church will not be open to the public the morning of your wedding, so your décor will not be disturbed.
If I am not getting married in the Omagh Meeting House, can my guests still explore the Folk Museum?
Of course! Complimentary guest access to the Folk Museum on the day of your wedding is included as standard. You do not have to get married in the Omagh Meeting House to take advantage of this.
Sweet token favours are a lovely touch and always a hit with wedding guests. You can create your own tokens so they match in with your theme and colours of your wedding stationery and give them to guests as they leave the ceremony. Guests are then free to go to the corner shop at their leisure to get a bag of sweets of their choice. We will then count the tokens that were redeemed for sweets on the day and invoice you accordingly after your wedding. This means that you will only pay for the tokens that were exchanged for sweets. It is £2 for 4oz bags.
Our venue hire cost varies depending on the time of year, and the day of the week. You view our pricing here.
You can choose to have your ceremony in either Cultra Manor or the Omagh Meeting House Church. As well as exclusive use of the Manor for the entire day, you can expect the following as standard:
- Personal management attention throughout the day
- Complimentary entry to the Ulster Folk Museum for you and your guests on your wedding day
- A self-guided Wedding Trail of 1900s Ballycultra Town for all your guests to enjoy
- Extensive complimentary parking for all guests
- Red carpet entrance
- A private dressing room for the wedding party to use throughout the day
- An easel to display the table plan
- Table stands and table numbers
- Silver cake stand and knife
- White linen tablecloths and napkins
- Choice of either Chiavari or tan leather chairs for your reception
- Mouth-watering seasonal menus, carefully prepared by our Executive Chef
- Excellent wine list to complement the menu
- Master of Ceremonies
- In-built sound system, screen, projector & microphone
- A one-year National Museums NI membership for the newly married couple, so you can come back and visit us often
- The Drawing Room in Cultra Manor can accommodate a maximum of 100 seated, including the couple.
- The Terrace to the back of the Manor can seat 100.
- The Omagh Meeting House Church can hold up to 200 guests.
The upstairs Kennedy Room can accommodate 100 for your meal.
The overall maximum number of guests (total day and evening) is 150.
If you decide that we are the perfect venue for you and would like to confirm your booking, please contact our Weddings Team on 028 9039 5111 or weddings@cultramanor.co.uk. A £500 deposit will secure your date and confirm your booking. This can be paid by card over the phone or via bank transfer using the BACS details provided. A final booking confirmation and terms and conditions of hire will be sent to you, which we will ask you to sign and return at your earliest convenience.
Yes, our space is fully accessible and has disabled parking, external ramped access, a lift and accessible toilets on both floors.
We will only ever host only one wedding per day, so you can rest assured that you will have the run of the Manor and the undivided attention of our entire team.
We do not have a preferred suppliers list so you are more than welcome to choose who you work with on your special day. Things like flowers, wedding photos and décor are all very personal and everybody has different taste, so we don’t want to restrict your choice in any way. If you need some advice about any suppliers, please speak to us. We can happily give you some personal recommendations and suggest some suppliers that have worked in the Manor before and know the venue well.
Yes, but we only permit real petal confetti or biodegradable confetti to be thrown only outside.
Craft Event Co has a fully-stocked bar and is a fully licenced venue. We have a phenomenal drinks menu and wine list and if there is something that is not on the list that you would like, we can generally source it for you with a little notice. We do not permit BYO and do not offer corkage.
Absolutely. Wedding décor is a very personal thing and you are more than welcome to decorate the Manor as you wish. Cultra Manor is a beautiful space so often couples do not feel the need to do too much to make it their own – often some beautiful flowers to tie in the colour scheme is enough, but this is completely up to you.
Yes. Your guests are free to spend time exploring the Folk Museum on the day of your wedding. We can provide you with a copy of our Wedding Trail which highlights some of the Museum ‘best bits’ which your guests can explore at their leisure. This is a lovely experience for your guests and is a great way for them to spend the time in between the ceremony and reception when most couples are having photographs taken.
Yes, you can choose to have your wedding ceremony in either the Manor or in the Omagh Meeting House Church in the Folk Museum.
- Cultra Manor is suitable for civil, humanist or religious wedding ceremonies. The Drawing Room in Cultra Manor is licenced by Ards and North Down Council for Civil Marriages and Partnerships (including Humanist ceremonies). Our beautiful Terrace to the back of Cultra Manor is also licenced for Civil Ceremonies. Each couple must apply directly to Ards and North Down Council Registration Office to organise the legalities for a civil ceremony. More information can be found on the Council website: https://www.ardsandnorthdown.gov.uk/resident/births-deaths-marriages-and-civil-partnerships/marriages
- The Omagh Meeting House Church located in the Folk Museum is suitable for religious or humanist wedding ceremonies. Couples will bring their own minister or celebrant, who will take care of the necessary paperwork involved and will ensure the legalities are in order.
Regrettably, fireworks and sky lanterns are not permitted at Cultra Manor due to nearby livestock in the Museum Rural Area and thatched roof buildings in the Folk Museum. Sparklers can be used outside the Manor and can create a magical atmosphere for photos.
Yes, of course you can bring your own wedding cake and there is no surcharge (but we kindly ask you to provide complete allergen information for it).
