October 20, 2022
Christina Williams
Why get married in West Wales?
Firstly, because it’s bloody awesome!
Ok, I am from St Davids (in Pembrokeshire), so perhaps a tad biased, but if you do your research you’ll see it has become a hugely popular location for the west wales elopement and weddings for couples from all over the UK, and further afield!
West Wales comprises Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion (Cardiganshire), and Pembrokeshire. Though in my opinion west is best, and Pembrokeshire weddings just rock. Yep, it’s that place everyone has at one time or another, holidayed as a child, though probably just to Tenby, but trust me there is so much more! So yeah, why get married here I hear you ask?
Well, it ain’t far from London, Bristol, Cardiff, or any other great city…
But it is far enough away to feel like you have escaped the city. You can come and embrace the wildness of the West Wales coastline.
Pembrokeshire Coast & Countryside
There’s so much to say about Pembrokeshire. It’s a National Park for starters and has a varied landscape of cliffs, stunning beaches, wooded estuaries, awesome wildlife, and coastal paths. The National Park also has wild inland hills, vast moorlands, Preseli mountains, and the ancient oak woodlands of the Gwaun valley. So if you’re planning a wedding in Pembrokeshire you are always just a hop skip and a jump from somewhere beautiful! But my fav place for couples portraits is any part of the coastal path, and Whitesands Beach ticks all the boxes!
So next up:
Pembrokeshire Castle Weddings
Yep…we have a bloody load of castles! Did you know Wales had the most castles per capita in Europe? I certainly didn’t until I started writing this blog. Here are some great local Castles:
- https://manorbiercastle.co.uk/weddings/ This one is fab as it’s on the Coast, near Tenby!
- https://cardigancastle.com/weddings-and-celebrations/ (ok yes it’s in Cardiganshire, but only just!)
- https://www.pictoncastle.co.uk/about/weddings My Fav is Picton, the gardens are INSANE!
When is it best to get hitched in the Wild West?
Autumn / Winter: I’ve actually had couples come and get married in January and head to the beach for a mid-wedding stroll in sideways rain?! But I love the lighting in an autumn wedding, it’s golden and so lovely.
Spring / Summer: In the summer West Wales is a great location for a festival wedding with countless air bnbs, farms, and campsites with heaps of space to do your thing. Pembrokeshire’s also the perfect place to escape the heat of the city, and combine a mini honeymoon with your wedding by heading to the coast.
Value for money
I think we all know Wales is cheaper than England, for pretty much everything, (with the exception of beer prices in St Davids, sheesh). Accommodation for guests and suppliers will be a lot more affordable too.
Pembrokeshire Wedding Venues
I’m in the process of writing a blog on my favorite venues in West Wales, but here are a few to get you started!
My top Eco-focused woodland wedding venue in the UK is Fforest farm, is my happy place. I MEAN, PLEASE JUST GET MARRIED IN A QUARRY!
If you have been looking for alternative outdoor natural wedding venues Fforest would have come up.
“Fforest Farm has been created as a place to enjoy the simplicity, pleasures and beauty of outdoor living in an outstanding natural environment. With its private tiny stone pub, large communal fire pit and secret woodland sauna, a choice of event spaces from giant hat tipis, garden pavilions and dining and party barns, fforest Farm is yours for the weekend.”
You can even book vegan or wellness weddings! YES PLEASE!
www.fforestweddings.co.uk @fforest_weddings
Nantwen – For the most amazing mico wedding or west wales elopement
This place is beautiful, and ideal for an elopement wedding. It is fully licensed for weddings, so the perfect wedding base or to tick off the legal element of the day before you head off into west wales for elopement photography!
“Nantwen is a beautiful intimate wedding and elopement venue, a secret location nestled in the middle of the Pembrokeshire national park, near Newport. Nantwen has views over open meadows and a wooded valley, with the sea and mountains moments away.”
https://www.nantwen.co.uk/wedding
Gellifawr – for a wedding village fairy tale.
The ultimate Pembrokeshire WEDDING VILLAGE. Set in a valley amongst farms and woodlands this venue has it all for a beautiful woodland stress-free wedding! I have spent a lot of time at this stunning venue, and I’m their recommended wedding photographer and videographer. The staff is fab and the grounds are gorgeous too. You can even head up into the hills for some epic wedding day photos and views.
As a wedding village, they can accommodate most guests overnight!
Crug Glâs – History and Location (food is great too)
This venue is a 5 min drive from me, and so close to St David’s, many couples are having their wedding at the Cathedral and heading to Crug Glâs for the reception and party!
“Crug Glâs dates back to the 12th Century. However, the current house maintains its elegant Georgian style. It is this passion for history that has ensured that Crug Glâs maintains its charm and elegance. With meticulous attention and imagination, The Cow Shed, a wedding venue that offers contemporary style, rustic beauty, and a luxurious, peaceful hideaway”
One of the best things about Crug Glâs is its location and proximity to the coast, an easy 10 min drive for epic couple photos (I’ll drive, you drink!).
Variety is the spice, innit!
There are so many manors, hotels, stately homes, cottages, and farmhouses that you could turn into your own personal venue for an alternative wedding dream! You could even have all the legal stuff completed at home, (link to elopements) then book a celebrant to create a totally personalised wedding wherever the hell you want.
Here is just some of the amazing private accommodation available in Pembrokeshire:
Let’s take Waterwynch house, for example, I mean wow!
Or a Hilton Court wedding, for stunning gardens, next to Not Far from Newgale beach!
https://fronfarmyurts.co.uk/ – Yurts, need I say more, also registered for weddings!
Trehale Farm is a campsite that offers alternative events and has had a few wedding parties
Ok, there are way more reasons to come to Pembrokeshire and celebrate your love story! If you do, then drop me a line, we offer natural but fun wedding and wedding videography in Pembrokeshire and beyond!
Contact me or send an email to christina@ymor.uk
Can’t wait to photograph your big day!
Christina.