Oh Rhosygilwen, let me count the ways we love thee. No, that’s not just me being an old romantic (though I’d like to think that that’s part and parcel of the job…!), but also me introducing today’s blog post – a list of reasons why Rhosygilwen is one of my favourite wedding venues. Plus, why you should definitely consider it for your West Wales wedding plans…

Rhosygilwen West Wales wedding venue

Just before we get onto why Rhosygilwen is so great, let’s start with the basics: what and where is it? 

Rhosygilwen is a country retreat in Pembrokeshire, located between Cilgerran Castle and Cardigan Castle. Built on the grounds of a Grade II listed Victorian Gothic Mansion, it’s a family-run, family-focussed venue that specialises in bespoke and beautiful celebrations.

The Orangery

Rhosygilwen wedding ceremonies take place in the Orangery, complete with wall-to-wall windows (or, technically, wall-to-roof) and a checkerboard-tiled floor. Beyond the windows you can look out at some of the estate’s 55 acres of rolling woodland; inside, it’s a total gem of a space which feels simultaneously intimate and luxurious, elegant and cosy.

The Oak Hall (Neuadd y Dderwen)

The Oak Hall, or Neuadd y Dderwen, is the main space for Rhosygilwen wedding receptions (though you can have your ceremony in there too, if you so wish.) Complete with stunning wooden beams and a gorgeous mural, it’s perfectly rustic, whilst the architecture gives it all an airy, romantic vibe. 

Incredible acoustics

Another thing that makes a Rhosygilwen wedding so special is the focus they have on acoustics. As well as being a wedding venue, they’re also an iconic space for dance, theatre and music. This means you can rest assured that the acoustics for your band or evening entertainment will be epic. 

Exclusive use

When you hire Rhosygilwen for your wedding, you get the run of the place from the Thursday evening to the Sunday lunchtime. This means there’s no stress and no rush: just all the joy and excitement that you’re about to get married! It also gives you the chance to hang out properly with your brilliant guests, especially those staying at the super cute onsite bed and breakfast.

Eco-friendly wedding in West Wales

Another priority for the team at Rhosygilwen is sustainability, so it’s the perfect setting if you’re looking for an eco-friendly wedding venue in Wales. They’re even the site of Wales’ first solar farm!

Through measures such as the solar farm, electric vehicles, hot water pumps and growing their own seasonal produce, Rhosygilwen saves around 400,000 tonnes of CO² every year. Not only can you have your wedding looking and feeling the way you’ve always wanted it to, but you can have all of that with a negative carbon footprint – what’s not to love?!

The Gardens

Amongst their 55 acres, Rhosygilwen has stunning walled gardens which are the perfect spot for couples to go off for a nice walk and enjoy some time as just the two of them. It’s also where they grow all of their seasonal, organic produce. This includes apples, plums, gooseberries, pears, cherries, strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, kiwis, carrots, potatoes, courgettes, and more, all of which can be factored into your catering. 

In addition to the incredible variety of produce that grows, these well-kept walled gardens are an amazing spot for taking lots of photos in. Alongside growing all of the above, the head gardener John is so lovely, always making sure that the greenhouse and gardens are prepped and tidy for any shots! (He always shares his seeds and gardening advice, too.)

The glasshouse

The glasshouse is another part of the Rhosygilwen estate that combines aesthetics and function. As well as being the site of yet more incredible produce growing, it’s also a beautiful spot for photos. It’s especially good when drizzly rain coincides with your portrait session – I love ducking inside the glasshouse to take some romantic photos in the dry!

If you’re looking for more tips on having a sustainable wedding in West Wales, they also have a handy guide you can download on their website. 

Looking for a West Wales wedding photographer for your Rhosygilwen wedding?

If you’re looking for a west wales wedding photographer for your Rhosygilwen wedding, I’d love to chat – I specialise in relaxed, romantic photography that allows you to be your full, brilliant self. If you’re wondering how you can feel more confident and like yourself in wedding photos check this out. I’ve had the pleasure of shooting weddings at Rhosygilwen a number of times – in fact, you can see a number of my photos on their website – so you can rest assured that I know my way around. However, I always ensure my couples get something tailored to them, so you’ll never get a carbon copy of something I’ve done there before: such is the joy of the venue, there’s always more to explore and fall in love with.

If you’d like to get in touch, you can do that here — I can’t wait to hear from you and look forward to chatting all things Rhosygilwen.

(Getting married somewhere else, perhaps? I’d still love to hear from you!)