Thinking About a Cliffs of Moher Elopement?
If you are planning an elopement in Ireland, there is a good chance the Cliffs of Moher are already on your list.
I get it.
They are one of the most famous places in Ireland. You have probably seen incredible photos online of couples standing beside huge cliffs with nobody else around.
But there is something important I want you to know before choosing the Cliffs of Moher for your day.
The Cliffs of Moher today are not quite the same as many of the older photos you see on Instagram, Pinterest and Google.
Access has changed. Parts of the old coastal walk are closed, the safe visitor areas have walls and barriers, and some beautiful photo spots used years ago are no longer accessible.
That does not mean you cannot get married at the Cliffs of Moher.
You can.
But it is important to understand the difference between the main Visitor Centre, the private access at Hag’s Head and the wild cliff experience you may be imagining.
What has changed at the Cliffs of Moher?
The public coastal walk has changed because of serious safety concerns.
As of 1 August 2026, the public 6 km southern section between Liscannor and Hag’s Head and the Cliffs of Moher Experience is fully closed. On the northern side, people can walk from Doolin to Surfers Path, but cannot continue into the Cliffs of Moher Experience.
The main Cliffs of Moher Experience has 3.5 km of designated safe walking routes and viewing areas. Visitors must remain on the paths and should never go beyond walls, barriers or closed fencing.
The safety work is there for a reason and I will always respect it.
That amazing photo online may not be possible today
This is probably the biggest thing I want couples to understand.
If you find an amazing Cliffs of Moher photo online, check when it was taken.
It may be five, eight or even ten years old. A photographer standing in a certain place in 2018 does not mean we can safely or legally return to that same spot now.
I will not climb over a wall, ignore a closed path or take you somewhere we are being told not to go simply to copy an old Instagram photo.
That is not an adventure. That is just being a gobshite. haha!
I would much rather take you somewhere we are free to walk, explore and enjoy the day.
What about the main Cliffs of Moher Visitor Centre?
The main Cliffs of Moher Experience does welcome weddings, elopements and vow renewals, subject to availability, with a maximum of 30 guests.
It is beautiful and it is still a brilliant place to visit.
But for the kind of relaxed adventure elopements I photograph, it would not normally be my first choice.
It is one of Ireland’s busiest visitor attractions. You may be sharing the area with tour buses, families, phones, selfie sticks and plenty of other people who want the same view.
Much of the public photography area is also behind stone walls or within designated viewing areas.
If your dream is simply to visit the famous Cliffs of Moher, absolutely go and enjoy them.
But if your dream is to say your vows somewhere quiet, wander along wild cliffs and feel like you have disappeared into Ireland together, the main visitor area may not give you the experience you have imagined.
Hag’s Head is different
Hag’s Head is at the southern end of the Cliffs of Moher, and this is the part I would consider for a very small elopement.
There is private access through local farmland. It must be arranged with the landowner and there is an extra access fee.
I have used this access myself.
We collect a key from the landowner and drive along the private farm road. There are several locked gates on the way. I open each gate, drive through, close and lock it again, and we can travel much closer to Hag’s Head.
When we are finished, we lock everything behind us and return the key to the owner.
This private arrangement is separate from the closed public coastal walk. Access, permission and the fee can change, so I will always check the latest details before anything is confirmed.
Can we have our ceremony at Hag’s Head?
For a small ceremony, Hag’s Head can still work beautifully when the private landowner access has been agreed.
You get the wild Atlantic, the famous cliffs and the old Moher Tower without arriving through the busy main Visitor Centre.
It also means we can drive much closer. That is a big help when you are carrying a dress, flowers, cameras and everything else needed for an elopement.
But there is one important catch.
Hag’s Head is beautiful, but the area is limited
Hag’s Head is a small spot. It can be lovely for your vows and a selection of cliff photographs, but it is not somewhere I would keep you for two or four hours.
Once we leave the available cliff area, there are not many nearby places that give us a completely different look. I do not want you to feel disappointed because we are staying around the same small spot for hours and trying to make it look different.
If the Cliffs of Moher themselves are important to you, we can include Hag’s Head as one part of your story.
But if what you really want is hours of exploring, lots of backgrounds, quiet cliffs and the freedom to move, I would recommend looking at other parts of Ireland.
What if we only want a couple shoot?
This is a little different from having your actual ceremony at Hag’s Head.
If your vows are taking place there and private access has been arranged, brilliant. We can photograph the ceremony and spend time around the available area afterwards.
But if you are travelling all the way to County Clare only for a two hour adventure couple shoot, it would not be my first choice now.
There is not enough variety for the way I like to photograph. I would rather use those two hours somewhere we can move, explore and create a full story instead of staying in one small area.
Do you want the Cliffs of Moher, or the feeling?
This is the question I really want you to ask.
Do you need to be at the Cliffs of Moher because the place itself means something to you?
Or are you choosing it because you want:
Huge wild cliffs
The Atlantic Ocean
Somewhere quiet
Space to walk and explore
Wind in your hair
A private place for your vows
Photos that feel like Ireland
If it is the feeling you want, we have plenty of other choices.
Ireland has a lot more cliffs
The Cliffs of Moher are incredible, but Ireland does not suddenly run out of cliffs once you leave County Clare. 😂
Kilkee and the Loop Head Peninsula
You do not even need to leave County Clare.
Kilkee, Loop Head and the Bridges of Ross have huge Atlantic scenery, dramatic coastlines and more space to create a proper adventure.
For the right couple and the right weather, this area can give you the wild west of Ireland feeling you hoped to find at Moher.
The Antrim Coast
Northern Ireland is one of my favourite areas for elopements.
We can mix cliffs, castles, sea stacks, beaches, ruins and mountains into one adventure. Instead of trying to make one viewpoint look different for hours, we can go somewhere, explore and follow the best light.
Kerry and the west of Ireland
Kerry gives you mountains dropping towards the sea, quiet roads, rugged coastline and old ruins.
You do not need a famous name attached to every place. Sometimes the location you have never heard of becomes the part of Ireland you never forget.
(BIG PHOTO: KERRY COAST OR MOUNTAINS)
And a few places I will not name online
Yep, I am keeping a few secrets.
I do not want every quiet cliff or mountain becoming the next busy Instagram location.
When you are planning your day with me, I can recommend places based on the feeling you want, how far you are comfortable walking, the weather, the season and where you are staying.
So, should you elope at the Cliffs of Moher?
Yes, if the Cliffs of Moher themselves really matter to you.
For the kind of small, quiet elopements I photograph, Hag’s Head with private landowner access is the option I would consider, subject to current permission and access.
It is beautiful and can work very well for your vows and cliff photographs.
But if you want a longer adventure with lots of space and different scenery, let us talk before you lock it in.
You may not need the Cliffs of Moher.
You may need the feeling you thought they would give you.
And Ireland has so many other places that may suit you better.
Do not choose the famous location. Choose your experience.
Your elopement is not a sightseeing checklist.
You do not need to stand in the exact place you saved on Pinterest or spend your wedding day recreating somebody else’s Instagram photo.
Tell me what you want your day to feel like.
Wild cliffs. Mountains. Ocean. Ruins. A cosy cottage. A quiet walk. A pint of Guinness afterwards.
Give me the feeling and I will help you find the place.
You do not have to perform your day. Just live it.
And I will photograph the adventure as it happens.
(FINAL FULL WIDTH PHOTO: COUPLE TINY IN FRAME WITH A MASSIVE IRISH LANDSCAPE)
Planning an elopement in Ireland?
If you are thinking about the Cliffs of Moher, Hag’s Head or somewhere completely different, get in touch and tell me what you want your day to feel like.
You do not need to know the perfect location yet.
I will help you find the adventure.
FAQ
-
Yes. The official Cliffs of Moher Experience welcomes weddings, elopements and vow renewals, subject to availability, with a maximum of 30 guests. For the small elopements I photograph, I would also consider Hag’s Head when private landowner access and permission have been arranged.
-
Not fully. As of 1 August 2026, the 6 km southern section between Liscannor and Hag’s Head and the Cliffs of Moher Experience is fully closed. The northern section from Doolin ends at Surfers Path. The main visitor area has 3.5 km of designated safe walking routes.
-
No. Visitors are asked to stay on designated paths and never go beyond walls or barriers. I will not use a closed or unsafe area for a photograph.
-
Private access through local farmland may be arranged with the landowner. From my own experience, this involves collecting a key, driving through several locked farm gates and returning the key afterwards. Permission, fees and access can change and must be checked before planning the day.
-
It is beautiful, but the available area is limited. It can work well as part of an elopement ceremony, but it would not be my first choice for a full two hour couple adventure because there is not enough variety for the way I photograph.
-
Kilkee and the Loop Head Peninsula are excellent options in County Clare. The Antrim Coast and parts of Kerry also offer wild cliffs, ruins, mountains and more room to explore. The best choice depends on the weather, season, walking level and the type of experience you want.