Three civil ceremony settings in South Wales
Exchanging your vows is a precious moment, so choose a venue as special as the occasion itself. Hensol Castle is licensed as an approved premises for civil marriages and civil partnerships, offering three distinctive settings for your ceremony within a Grade I listed castle and 650 acres of Welsh countryside.
The Oak Room
Our most popular choice for indoor ceremonies, seating up to 100 guests. Original wood panelling, a large marble fireplace and arched windows overlooking the Serpentine Lake give the room an elegant, romantic character.
The Bandstand
Introduced in 2022, this space offers an outdoor ceremony overlooking the lake and castle grounds. It's beautifully lit for evening ceremonies and provides a romantic backdrop of Welsh countryside with the castle itself in view. As with any outdoor ceremony in the UK, we recommend couples discuss a wet-weather contingency with our wedding team, and the Oak Room is available as an indoor alternative at short notice.
Courtyard Hall
A contemporary setting for civil ceremonies, accommodating up to 150 guests. Featuring high ceiling and stunning natural light, it provides a bright and spacious atmosphere while retaining the character and charm synonymous with Hensol Castle. Its versatile layout makes it ideal for larger celebrations, creating a memorable setting for couples to exchange their vows surrounded by family and friends.
Across all three settings, Hensol Castle can accommodate wedding parties from intimate gatherings of around 60 guests up to larger celebrations of 200.
Your Day Your Way
After your ceremony, you and your guests can enjoy a drinks reception in the Reception Hall, Morning Room or our landscaped gardens, depending on the weather and your preference. From there, the celebration moves into the Courtyard Hall - a striking space for your wedding breakfast, seating up to 150 guests, before it's transformed for an evening reception of up to 200. Throughout your day, choose from a selection of luxury menus using the finest ingredients, alongside a range of drinks packages to suit your celebration.
A civil ceremony is a legally binding wedding or civil partnership ceremony conducted by a registrar rather than a religious official. It contains no religious content, though couples are free to include readings, music and personal vows that reflect their own beliefs and relationship. Civil ceremonies can only take place at a venue licensed as an approved premises by the local authority - Hensol Castle holds this licence, meaning your ceremony here is fully recognised in law.
Civil ceremonies at Hensol Castle are conducted by registrars from the Vale of Glamorgan Register Office. Couples need to give notice of marriage at their local register office (this cannot be done more than 12 months, and must be at least 29 days, before the wedding), and then book the registrar separately for the ceremony date at Hensol Castle. Our wedding team can advise you of this process.
Hensol Castle is set in the Vale of Glamorgan on the grounds of the Vale Resort, around 11 miles from Cardiff city centre and just minutes from the M4, making it easily accessible for guests travelling from across South Wales and beyond.
Yes. Many couples choose to have their legal ceremony conducted by a registrar and follow this with a blessing or symbolic ceremony incorporating their own traditions or beliefs.
The Oak Room seats up to 100 guests. Speak to our wedding team about capacity for your guest list.
Yes. As an approved premises, Hensol Castle can host civil ceremonies for all couples in accordance with UK law.
You'll need to independently give notice of marriage at your local register office. Following this the Vale of Glamorgan Register Office will arrange a resgistrar to attend your ceremony.
Yes, the fairylight-lit Bandstand overlooks the lake and grounds for a romantic outdoor ceremony. We recommend agreeing on a wet weather alternative with our team in advance.
