Castles
Wales has more castles per square mile than almost anywhere in Europe, and several host weddings.
- Usually: Licensed rooms, approved caterers
- Best for: A dramatic setting with a story
Swish Soirées
Wedding Venues Wales
Castles, coastline, mountains and country houses across North and South Wales, from Snowdonia and Anglesey to the Gower and Cardiff, and better value than the south of England.
Swish Soirées
Snowdonia, Anglesey, the Gower, Pembrokeshire and Cardiff, planned by a team who also plans weddings abroad.
We make luxury events memorable.
Airports
Cardiff · Liverpool · Manchester
Setting
Snowdonia to the Gower
Value
Better than SE England
Best months
May to September
Why Wales
Wedding venues in Wales, from Snowdonia to the Gower
Wales is one of the most underrated parts of Britain for weddings. It has coastline, mountains, castles and country houses close together, more castles per square mile than almost anywhere in Europe, and it usually costs noticeably less than the English equivalent.
North Wales has the mountains of Snowdonia (Eryri), the island of Anglesey and the Llŷn Peninsula, within easy reach of Liverpool, Manchester and Chester. South Wales has the Gower, the UK's first Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, Pembrokeshire's coastline, the Brecon Beacons (Bannau Brycheiniog) and Cardiff, all within reach of Bristol, Birmingham and London.
We plan weddings in Wales as part of our work at wedding venues in the UK, Spain, Portugal, Italy and beyond. See also our UK wedding venues guide.
North Wales
Wedding venues in North Wales
Mountains, lakes, islands and medieval castles, within easy reach of Liverpool, Manchester and Chester. Liverpool and Manchester airports are the closest for travelling guests.
South Wales
Wedding venues in South Wales
Beaches, castles, mountains and a capital city, all within a short drive of each other, and within easy reach of Bristol, Birmingham and London. Cardiff and Bristol airports are both close by.
Styles of venue
Types of wedding venue in Wales
See our venue hire guide for dry hire, exclusive use and all-inclusive explained.
Country houses
Estates in the Vale, the Wye Valley, the Beacons and the Conwy Valley, often with rooms for your guests.
- Usually: Exclusive use for one or two nights
- Best for: Guests who want to stay together
Coastal venues
Clifftop hotels and seaside barns on the Gower, in Pembrokeshire and on Anglesey. See sea view venues.
- Usually: All-inclusive or approved suppliers
- Best for: Sunset photographs by the sea
Barns & farms
Rustic barns and working farms, often with space for a marquee. See rustic venues.
- Usually: Dry hire, so you bring the caterer
- Best for: A relaxed, personal wedding
The legal side
Getting legally married in Wales
Marriage law in Wales is the same as in England. Licensed venues can host the legal ceremony, so there is no separate register office wedding, and you can choose a ceremony in Welsh, English or both.
- Give notice: both of you, in person, at your local register office, at least 29 days before the wedding.
- Book the registrar: early for summer Saturdays. The registrar travels to your venue.
- Check the licence: it must cover the room or outdoor space you want to marry in.
- Bilingual ceremonies: Welsh and English are both official languages, and a bilingual ceremony is straightforward to arrange.
Rules can change, so check the current requirements with your local register office before you book.
Best time to marry
When to get married in Wales
May to September. Wales is wetter than the south east of England, and North Wales a little cooler than the south, so a genuinely good wet-weather plan is essential rather than optional. Late spring is particularly good, with long days and the countryside at its greenest.
Coastal venues on the Gower and Anglesey can be exposed and windy, which matters for marquees and outdoor ceremonies. Winter weddings in a castle or country house are much better value, with real fires and candlelight. See our winter weddings guide.
| Months | Average high | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| May | 16°C | Green countryside, long days |
| June to August | 19°C to 21°C | Peak season, book early |
| September | 18°C | Warm sea, quieter coast |
| October to April | 8°C to 13°C | Lower prices, cosy venues |
Approximate averages for Cardiff. North Wales runs a degree or two cooler.
Budget
How much does a wedding venue in Wales cost?
Wales is one of the best-value parts of the UK for weddings, usually noticeably cheaper than the south of England for a comparable venue, with cheaper accommodation too, which matters when guests stay two nights. Across the UK, the average wedding costs £20,604 and venue hire averages around £6,040 before catering (Bridebook, 2026).
| Destination | Typical venue cost | What the figure covers | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| UK | Around £6,040 | Average venue hire, excluding catering | Bridebook 2026 Wedding Report |
| Spain | About 53% of a €25,183 average wedding | Venue and reception (banquet) together, average 123 guests | Bodas.net 2026 report, via Euronews |
| Portugal | €3,000 to €7,000 | Rustic and vineyard venue hire | Zankyou, 2026 |
| Italy | €3,000 to €5,500+ a day | Exclusive-use hire for one day | Weddings Abroad Guide, 2026 |
| Greece | €3,500 to €14,000 | Venue for around 100 guests | Big Fat Greek Day, 2026 |
Use these as a guide. If you are weighing up Wales and abroad, we will cost both properly so you compare real numbers.
How it works
How we plan your wedding in Wales
The same team and the same method we use abroad.
1
Discovery
A relaxed call about your vision, guest numbers, budget and dates.
2
Venue shortlist
North or south, coast, castle or country house, with viewings arranged.
3
Suppliers & stays
Caterers and photographers booked, and nearby rooms checked for guests.
4
Plan B
A proper wet-weather and wind plan, plus the running order.
5
On the day
We run the day so you and your guests can enjoy every moment.
How we help
Your Welsh wedding, handled
Read more about our wedding planning and wedding coordination services, or see real celebrations in our portfolio.
Wedding planning
As destination wedding planners who also plan at home, we find the venue, build the budget and book every supplier, from wedding catering and flowers to photography.
- Venue shortlist and viewings
- Guest accommodation checked nearby
- A wet-weather plan you will be happy to use
On-day coordination
Already planned your Welsh wedding? Our on-the-day wedding coordinators take over in the final weeks, brief every supplier and run the day.
- Supplier timings confirmed
- Final walk-through at the venue
- The day run from start to finish
Good to know
Wales wedding venue questions
Why get married in Wales?
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Wales has coastline, mountains, castles and country houses close together, more castles per square mile than almost anywhere in Europe, and it usually costs noticeably less than the south of England. North Wales has Snowdonia and Anglesey, and South Wales has the Gower, Pembrokeshire, the Brecon Beacons and Cardiff.
What are the best areas for a wedding in North Wales?
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Snowdonia (Eryri) for mountains and lakes, Anglesey for island beaches and views to the mountains, the Llŷn Peninsula for quiet coves and coastal farms, and Conwy and the north coast for medieval castles, seaside towns and country houses.
What are the best areas for a wedding in South Wales?
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The Gower and Pembrokeshire for beaches and clifftops, the Brecon Beacons and Wye Valley for country houses and estates, and Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan for city venues, castles and easy transport links.
How much does a wedding venue in Wales cost?
+
Wales is one of the best-value parts of the UK for weddings, usually cheaper than the south of England for a comparable venue, with cheaper accommodation too. Across the UK, venue hire averages around £6,040 before catering and the average wedding costs £20,604 (Bridebook 2026).
How do we get legally married in Wales?
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The law is the same as in England. You both give notice in person at your local register office at least 29 days before the wedding, then marry at a licensed venue with a registrar, or in a religious ceremony. Check the venue's licence covers the exact room or outdoor space you want.
Can we have a bilingual Welsh and English ceremony?
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Yes. Welsh and English are both official languages in Wales, and a bilingual ceremony is straightforward to arrange with the registrar or celebrant. Many couples include readings or vows in Welsh.
Which airports are closest to wedding venues in Wales?
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For South Wales, Cardiff Airport, with Bristol around an hour from Cardiff by road. For North Wales, Liverpool and Manchester airports are the closest, around one to two hours from Snowdonia and Anglesey. Trains run from London to Cardiff in around two hours, and from London to the north coast via Chester.
Do you plan weddings in Wales?
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Yes. We plan weddings across North and South Wales as well as abroad, finding the venue, booking suppliers, checking guest accommodation nearby and running the day itself.
More answers on our frequently asked questions page.
About the author
Wes, Owner & Wedding Planner
Wes leads Swish Soirées from our office in Marbella and has spent seven years planning luxury weddings across the Costa del Sol and beyond. He writes from first-hand experience of the venues, suppliers, permits and timings our team works with every season.
Established 2019100+ weddings plannedBased in Marbella
Meet the team →
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