Unique and historic Welsh wedding venues

For a ceremony with serious class, why not choose one of our hundreds of ancient castles for your wedding or civil ceremony? Some  of our most impressive Cadw-managed properties can be hired for your special day. For a big bash, you could opt for the Great Hall at Castell Caerffili (Caerphilly Castle) (unavailable until late 2025). The centrepiece of the second-largest castle in the UK, this amazing space can seat up to 200 people. If you’re looking for a smaller ceremony, choose the magical Castle Coch (unavailable October 2024 to October 2025) on the wooded outskirts of Cardiff, a fantasy fortress straight out of the pages of a fairytale.

Plas Mawr Elizabethan Townhouse, Conwy, at the heart of the medieval town’s narrow cobbled streets and is probably the best-preserved Elizabethan townhouse in Britain with its elaborately decorated plaster ceilings and fine wooden screens, reflects the wealth and opulence of the Tudor gentry in Wales. Tretower Court in the Brecon Beacons National Park is a restored medieval courtyard house built in the fifteenth century, and provides an exceptionally romantic setting for your civil wedding or partnership ceremony.  Magnificent timberwork survives in the northern and western ranges, with later Classical-style windows dating to the 1630s. There is also a recreated fifteenth-century garden that provides a beautiful tranquil setting for photographic memories of your special day.

Right in the city centre, Cardiff Castle offers a choice of elegant and atmospheric rooms to suit your ceremony and celebrations. It's another fairytale location with beautiful grounds for photos, and if your ceremony is after visiting hours you'll have it to yourselves.

If you prefer a more 'remote' location, check out the super romantic ruined Castell Carreg Cennen (Carreg Cennen Castle) in Carmarthenshire. The ceremony and reception take place in the Wood Shed, overlooked by the castle. If the weather's good you can get married on the lawn outside, then wander up to the castle for some photos with a magical backdrop. 

The National Trust also offers wedding venues that will live long in the memory. Pick Newton House on the romantic Dinefwr estate in Carmarthenshire. This 17th century mansion can cater for wedding parties of between six and 90 guests in a selection of beautifully decorated rooms. As an added bonus, get married at one of their properties and you’ll get a free year’s membership of the National Trust. 

Find out more about the National Trust's Wedding Venues in Wales.

While Ynyshir, near Machynlleth, isn't quite a grand stately home, it was Queen Victoria's hunting retreat. It's now a beautiful, boutique five star restaurant with rooms, run by 2 Michelin Star chef Gareth Ward. They cater for intimate weddings (up to 50 guests) either in the restaurant or the stunning gardens.

For more unique photo opportunities, try the National Museum Cardiff. Its world-famous Impressionist gallery, featuring works by Cézanne, Monet and Renoir, is an amazing place for post-wedding drinks. You can also take your pick from a choice of settings for your ceremony and reception, from the marbled Grand Hall which seats up to 320 guests, to the more intimate Court Room for parties of up to 50. The surroundings are just part of the appeal. The museum’s specialist catering firm will serve up a mouth-watering wedding banquet built to your exact requirements. 

Amgueddfa Cymru-National Museum Wales also offer weddings at St Fagans National Museum of History and the National Waterfront Museum in Swansea.

If you’re a bookworm, what better place to begin a new chapter of your life than the National Library of Wales in Aberystwyth? With its wood-panelled walls and stunning Cardigan Bay views, the art nouveau Council Chamber can seat up to 100 people, while smaller parties can be accommodated in the intimate President’s Room. After the ceremony, you can stage an elegant drinks reception in the Library’s central hall and make an unforgettable entrance down the grand red-carpeted staircase.

Get your marriage off to a steamy start with a wedding or post-ceremony celebration on one of our historic railways.

The Vale of Rheidol Railway near Aberystwyth offers a range of post-ceremony packages, including receptions at the stations complete with catering and live music. The highlight will undoubtedly be a ride for you and your guests through 12 miles of stunning Welsh scenery, up to Devil’s Bridge in the Cambrian Mountains. You can even get a personalised train headboard painted by the railway’s expert sign writers, which you can take home as a unique keepsake of the day.

You can tie the knot on the Llangollen Railway. Hold your ceremony in the wood-beamed Henry Robertson Suite and take photos on the footbridge, before boarding the train for a round trip to Carrog. Along the way you and your guests can tuck into cream teas and sandwiches (plus a few glasses of fizz) as you watch the North Wales countryside go by your window.

You'll get a wedding train all to yourself on the steam hauled Talyllyn Railway in Tywyn. Travel along the scenic line to your civil ceremony at Abergynolwyn Station by train, with drinks and nibbles when you get there, before heading back to Tywyn for the wedding breakfast. The train will be beautifully decorated, and you'll get a personalised train headboard as well. 

We can’t think of a better way to start your journey as a married couple.

As places to get hitched go, a cave deep underground might not be your first thought. However, the spectacular setting at the National Showcaves Centre for Wales might change your mind. Suitable for small celebrations, you can have your ceremony in the magnificent Cathedral Cave with a backdrop of waterfalls cascading into an underground lake. If there are guests with accessibility needs, Dan-yr-Ogof cave is also available for ceremonies. Find out more on National Showcaves Centre for Wales website.