It's one of the first decisions you make when planning your big day - where to actually have it?

Your venue plays a central role in your wedding, from setting the tone of the day to looking after your guests and ensuring they have a brilliant time. Ireland isn't short on stunning venues, which can make the choice tricky, but the top one for Irish couples has been named as the Castlemartyr Resort in County Cork. The hotel, based in the east Cork village of Castlemartyr, came out on top in a survey of 25,000 Irish couples to be named as the overall venue of the year in the 2018 Weddings Online Awards. Looking at it, it's not hard to see why it's such a popular spot for brides and grooms. Castlemartyr Resort also won hotel venue of the year for Munster but it wasn't the only venue to be honoured in the awards. The Radisson Blu Hotel and Spa in Sligo is hotel venue of the year for Connaught while Clanard Court Hotel in Athy, Kildare picked up this award for Leinster and Silver Tassie Hotel and Spa in Letterkenny, Donegal got it for Ulster.  Dublin's Clontarf Castle won the Irish castle venue of the year award and Rathsallagh Country House in Dunlavin, County Wicklow was named as exclusive venue of the year. Finally, the Garryvoe Hotel in Cork won the award for waterside venue of the year.