Skip to main content
Weddings

About

Food and drink is at the heart of any Irish wedding and with our warm Irish hospitality, your wedding at Rí Rá will be an experience not to be missed. Whether it’s an intimate occasion or a larger event we can guarantee that your day will be special, memorable and unique. Born in Ireland and meticulously restored here in Portland, Maine, Rí Rá brings you an unrivalled authentic Irish experience that you and your guests will remember long after you leave Maine.

Rí Rá offers a host of private banqueting choices. Our dedicated special event menus are inspired by the best in traditional Irish cuisine and classic bistro preparations. Whether your wedding plan is simply an hors d’oeuvres and cocktail reception or full course dining, we can tailor a menu to suit your needs. We also cater for those all important pre-wedding celebrations; hen/stag celebrations and rehearsal dinners.

With our own dedicated Wedding Coordinator on hand, you can relax and enjoy the day knowing all details are taken care of from the moment you contact us to your final farewell.

illustration popular

Venues you may like

See other venues that are popular with couples right now

Frequently asked questions

Do you have a site fee for wedding receptions at your venue?

Yes

What is the starting site fee for wedding receptions during peak season?

$1,000

What is the starting site fee for wedding receptions during off-peak season?

$1,000

Which of the following are included in starting site fee?

Chairs
China
Clean Up
Flatware
Glassware
Lighting/Sound
Set Up
Tables

Which of the following are included in the cost of wedding catering?

Server(s)

What is the starting price per person for bar service?

$4

Which of the following are included in the starting price for bar service?

Bartender(s)
Champagne Toast
House Liquor
House Wine
Limited Bar
Open Bar
Premium Liquor
Signature Drink
Specialty Beer
Specialty Wine

How many event spaces or rooms does your venue offer?

4

Describe your venue:

Restaurant

What kind of settings are available?

Indoor

Which of the following wedding events does your venue service?

Reception
Bridal Shower
Engagement Party
Elopements
Rehearsal Dinner

What event services do you offer?

Bar Services
Clean Up
Wifi

What catering services do you offer?

Buffet
Cocktail Reception
Family Style
Hors d'oeuvres
Plated
Server(s)
Stations
Tastings

What bar services do you provide?

Bartender(s)
Cash Bar
Champagne Toast
House Beer
House Liquor
House Wine
Limited Bar
Liquor License
Open Bar
Premium Liquor
Signature Drink
Specialty Beer
Specialty Wine

What food and beverage items are available?

Barware
China
Flatware
Glassware
Linens

What transportation and access is available?

Wheelchair Access

What months are included in your peak season?

May
June
July
August
September
October
December

What months are included in your off-peak season?

January
February
March
April
November

Reviews of Rí Rá Irish Pub - Portland

K
Kaylin Sent on 06/03/2025
5 out of 5 rating

A Perfect Wedding at RiRa!

My husband and I just celebrated our wedding at RiRa Irish Pub in Portland's Old Port, and I couldn't be more thrilled to share our incredible experience! From the moment we walked through their doors for our initial consultation, the staff made us feel like family. The atmosphere at RiRa is absolutely magical for a wedding celebration. It mixes traditional coastal/nautical decor with the warmth of an Irish pub. The floor to ceiling windows created the perfect backdrop for our special day.

Our guests were enchanted by the genuine Irish hospitality and the venue's charming character. The upstairs private dining area was ideal for our reception, offering intimacy while still maintaining that lively pub spirit we fell in love with.

The staff went above and beyond to make our day flawless. Tara the event coordinator was attentive to every detail, working closely with us during the planning process and ensuring everything ran smoothly on the wedding day. The servers were professional, friendly, and kept our guests' glasses full throughout the celebration.

The food was outstanding! We opted for buffet style.. the SHORT RIBS & BRUSSEL SPROUTS were show stoppers. As were the oysters and seafood tower appetizers. The smoked mussels were a STAR. The bar service was exceptional too – their Guinness pours kept coming. What truly set RiRa apart was how they embraced our vision while adding their own special touches. They helped coordinate with our musicians for traditional Irish music and then a DJ for late night dancing. The location in the heart of Portland's Old Port was perfect for our out-of-town guests, with nearby hotels and easy access to the city's attractions. Many of our wedding party extended their weekend to explore Portland, making it a true destination celebration.

RiRa Irish Pub gave us the wedding of our dreams – authentic, warm, delicious, and unforgettable. The staff's dedication and the venue's unique charm made our special day absolutely perfect. We couldn't recommend them more highly for couples seeking a distinctive and heartfelt wedding experience! Sláinte to the amazing team at RiRa! 🍀
Chelsey
Chelsey Sent on 07/25/2024
5 out of 5 rating

Amazing night at rira’s!

We had our rehearsal dinner and welcome party at RiRa’s upstairs this past weekend, and it was absolutely wonderful. Tara, RiRa’s Event Manager, was incredibly easy to work with. She was responsive, on top of all the details, and over the top helpful. The food, drinks and service were flawless. We could not recommend RiRa more!
M
Michael Sent on 07/26/2023
5 out of 5 rating

Thank you for making our night beautiful!

Ri Ra Irish Pub and their staff was absolutely phenomenal from the beginning of our planning to executing our beautiful rehearsal dinner. If you want a stress free, beautiful, delicious venue for your event, this is a must! I have nothing but praise for how they set up, served and welcomed us into their home. If you want a piece of authentic Portland for your party or gathering, this is a must.
K
Kasie Sent on 06/03/2020
5 out of 5 rating

Amazing food & professional event team

We booked RiRa for our rehearsal dinner (30 people) which was then followed by our wedding weekend kickoff party (100 people). IT WAS AMAZING. Seriously! When looking for a rehearsal dinner/welcome party location that would fit our guest count, RiRa was the first to be recommended and the first venue we looked into. We loved RiRa from the start but wanted to look around and really research all our options. I'm going to be honest... that took forever and honestly I wish I saved myself the time and just went with RiRa from go because truly no other venue compared.... especially after we experienced the actual party! THE FOOD WAS INCREDIBLE! Like so good that in the back of my mind I was worried it would upstage the wedding night menu! THAT GOOD! ALL of our guests talk about the food AND about how beautiful the upstairs of RiRa's is. It's a bit deceiving because it feels like an old Irish Pub downstairs but upstairs is so modern and light! Lots of windows... fun nautical decor. It's perfect! Then there was the staff... UNBELIEVABLE! Rebecca was so easy to work with on the menu and any details leading up to the event and then Rita took charge and did absolutely everything on the day of. I didn't think about anything! Truly was a guest at my own event. Anyway, if you are looking for a casual dinner for a larger group this is the place to go! HIGHLY recommend!
V
Vanessa Sent on 10/05/2018
5 out of 5 rating
We hosted our wedding reception at RiRa for 117 people. We had the most amazing time, Rebecca and Desiree worked so closely with us throughout the whole process and helped take a lot of responsibility off my hands. Our wedding was absolutely amazing. Our florist was a guest at our ceremony and had little time to prepare decorations, Desiree and her team helped with little direction and everything was absolutely perfect. RiRa feels like home now, we couldn't thank them enough for making our night so special!
Joshua
Joshua Sent on 10/27/2017
5 out of 5 rating
Rebecca and the events team were amazing in the planning and execution of our event. They were very flexible to meet with us and to accommodate every request we had. Every email was replied to promptly and we felt like we were in great hands leading up to the event.

When it came to the event itself, the staff was super helpful and professional. Everything went very smoothly and I never felt like there was anything that we needed to request or attend to. Overall, I would suggest this venue to anyone for their reception.
S
Samantha Sent on 10/20/2017
5 out of 5 rating
We are so glad we went with RiRa’s for our wedding venue. Not only is there a great view from the upstairs dining room but there were plenty of great places to take pictures in downtown Portland and by the water! Having a wedding at a restaurant might not seem like a typical wedding venue to some but we were able to have both our ceremony and reception there. The planning leading up to the event went well. The team is very responsive and answered all of my silly questions along the way. The day of the event was great. The servers and bartenders on staff were very attentive. Not to mention the food and drinks are always spot on whether your in a small group going out for dinner or attending an 80 person wedding like we had! We had a breakfast buffet with pastries, juice, coffee and open bar - our guests loved it! This place is a great choice!
C
Christina Sent on 06/12/2014
5 out of 5 rating
I cannot say enough good things about Audree and RiRa's in Portland. Audree was probably the best part of our wedding. She was completely responsive, answering my emails and calls very promptly and going above and beyond to make our evening comfortable and perfect. She was there on the night of our event to make sure that things went smoothly, and accommodated every tiny thing I wanted for the day. She went above and beyond in helping us decorate the venue for our reception. She really attended to every single thing we wanted/needed.

To top it all off, she sent us an anniversary card on our recent first wedding anniversary. Audree was amazing, and RiRa's was the perfect venue for our celebration. If we had to do it all over again, we wouldn't change a thing.
B
Beth Sent on 10/14/2013
5 out of 5 rating
As soon as we decided to get married in Portland, I knew I wanted to have our rehearsal at Ri Ra's so that we could invite all our guests to join us for drinks afterwards.....but, the 2nd floor bar was booked. So we looked long & hard, at Grace, at Joe's Boathouse-a bunch of other locations, but none were perfect (on the water and within walking distance of everyone's hotels)--we lucked out when Ri Ra's had a cancellation on the space we wanted! It was absolutely perfect and our bartenders Ian & Evan were amazing-we'd been their patrons previously, but seeing them at work with a large dinner party and then dealing with all our friends when they rolled in was awesome! They made everything easy, food was great, apps for the welcome party were great-everyone was happy, in their cups and having a good time. They made the night and set the tone for an amazing weekend!
Amy
Amy Sent on 07/11/2010
5 out of 5 rating
Such an amazing place to have a wedding reception! Especially for couples who are not having a huge wedding, the layout of the upstairs room makes it feel full and alive all the time. The food is absolutely wonderful, the service was amazing and our only complaint was that their was more AC. They were very easy to work with and helped with everything!
We're all about trust. Our community relies on honest reviews to help you make those big decisions with ease.

Awards

12

Map

View next Restaurant Weddings

Other vendors in Portland for your wedding

Wedding Venues