Business Details
Award-Winning Wedding Venue in Fishguard, Pembrokeshire
Nestled in the heart of the Pembrokeshire National Park, Gellifawr Woodland Retreat Woodland Retreat has established itself as a premier wedding destination since its inception. Our 12-acre estate features meticulously landscaped gardens, serene ponds, and ancient woodlands, providing a magical backdrop for ceremonies and celebrations. The venue combines historic charm with modern amenities, including a state-of-the-art kitchen helmed by an award-winning culinary team, 22 luxury accommodations, and versatile event spaces ranging from rustic forest clearings to elegant indoor salons. Under the leadership of Venue Director Emily Jolly, our dedicated staff has earned recognition at the Welsh National Wedding Awards for seven consecutive years, including the 2024 'Best Wedding Coordinator in Wales' accolade.We pride ourselves on creating personalized experiences that reflect each couple's unique vision, supported by our commitment to local sourcing and community engagement through initiatives like sponsoring inclusive sports teams. With over 200 weddings successfully coordinated annually, our team combines extensive industry experience with a passion for creating unforgettable moments.
Services
Wedding Venue Hire
Accommodation
Catering Services
Beauty Salon
Evening Reception
Photography Backdrops
Ceremony Planning
Bar Services
Maintenance
Groundskeeping
Highlights and features
- We have won Welsh National Wedding Awards for seven consecutive years
- Our team coordinates over 200 weddings annually with expert precision
- We offer unique woodland ceremony spaces with handcrafted wooden arches
- Our in-house chefs create bespoke menus using locally sourced ingredients
- We provide 22 luxury accommodations for wedding guests and parties
What people say
Stunning surroundings
Outstanding staff
Delicious food
Attentive team
Unforgettable experiences
Services
Wedding Venue Hire
Our woodland retreat offers multiple ceremony and reception spaces including forest clearings, landscaped gardens, and rustic indoor venues. Each booking includes access to our dedicated event team, state-of-the-art facilities, and exclusive use of the estate's 12 acres. The venue accommodates both intimate gatherings and larger celebrations with flexible layout options.
Accommodation
We provide 22 luxury accommodations across 15 cottages and 7 ensuite rooms in our main house. All accommodations feature modern amenities while maintaining traditional charm, with special packages available for wedding parties requiring overnight stays. Housekeeping teams ensure pristine conditions throughout guests' stays.
Catering Services
Our award-winning chefs create bespoke menus using locally sourced ingredients, offering options from formal multi-course meals to casual evening receptions. We accommodate dietary requirements and special requests, with menu options including Bedwen, Derwen, and Gwernen selections. The kitchen team has over 8 years' experience in wedding catering.
Beauty Salon
Our dedicated salon spaces provide pre-wedding beauty treatments and hair styling services for both bride and groom parties. The facilities include two separate preparation areas to ensure privacy and comfort, with experienced professionals available for bookings on wedding days.
Evening Reception
We offer comprehensive evening reception services including bar facilities, dance floor setup, and outdoor fire pit areas. The team manages sound systems with wireless microphones and coordinates late-night food options like pizza ovens and burger bars for post-ceremony celebrations.
People
Emily Jolly
Venue Director
Award-winning wedding coordinator with multiple Welsh Wedding Awards. Leads our team to create magical wedding experiences in Pembrokeshire's most scenic location.
Rea Edge
Venue Manager
Manages venue operations with over 200 weddings coordinated since joining in 2021. Plays key role in sales and marketing for our Pembrokeshire venue.
Beth Howells
Accommodation & Bar Manager
Oversees 15 cottages and 7 ensuite rooms. Ensures exceptional guest experiences while managing housekeeping teams for our woodland retreat accommodations.
Charlie
Head Chef
8-year veteran of Gellifawr Woodland Retreat Woodland Retreat's kitchen. Creates award-winning menus using local ingredients. Manages culinary team for both formal meals and casual evening receptions.
Pal
Head of Maintenance & Grounds
Essential team member maintaining venue's pristine condition. Manages groundskeeping and facility maintenance to ensure perfect setting for every wedding.
Questions
What wedding packages do you offer?
We provide customizable packages including venue hire, accommodation, catering, and evening reception services. Options range from intimate ceremonies to large celebrations with full access to our 12-acre estate.
Can we have both indoor and outdoor ceremonies?
Yes, we offer multiple ceremony options including forest clearings with wooden arches, garden terraces, and our luxury Seren Yn Codi indoor space with valley views.
How many guests can you accommodate?
Our flexible spaces suit intimate gatherings up to large events. The main reception area comfortably hosts 100+ guests with additional outdoor terrace space available.
Do you provide accommodation for wedding guests?
Yes, we offer 22 luxury accommodations across 15 cottages and 7 ensuite rooms in our main house, all available for wedding parties.
What catering options are available?
Our award-winning chefs create bespoke menus using local ingredients. Options include formal multi-course meals, casual evening receptions, and special dietary requirements.
Are there photography opportunities at the venue?
Our 12-acre estate features landscaped gardens, ponds, woodland areas, and mountain views providing exceptional photography backdrops for wedding portraits.
Reviews (5)
Allison Lamnea
Oct 31, 2021
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Lovely wedding venue. Very remote but has holiday cottage accommodation along with rooms in the hotel.
Jasmin Jones
Oct 15, 2021
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Emily, Julie, Bethan, Rea and the team. Went above and beyond. They helped my mother and were outstanding to our friends and family. Its a beautiful venue, and I highly recommeend anyone getting married. Have a look at this venue. You wont be dissappinted.
Bork Smork
Oct 02, 2021
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An enchanting place to be sure. Very accessible, places go rest and quick to get from the event to the comfort of your room. Extremely apt and helpful staff. Only downside I can think of is the spider webs in my room, the drying electric heater and the electric shower not working when others are using hot water.
Jonathan Leek
Sep 17, 2021
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Had a bad experience right from the start not very interested in helping at all all the care about is money! No customer care right from the start ,wedding planners seemed to not care about anything once we paid our deposit couldn't wait to get away from us when we visited to talk about our wedding once paid and not very helpful at all , manager very rude and unhelpful hung the phone up on me half way through a conversation after shouting at me , place looks nice but very unhelpful staff and management. Definitely would not recommend this venue from our experience
Richard Lees
Aug 24, 2021
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Beautiful setting for a wedding. A bit pricey for drinks and wouldn't accept cash, card only.
Toilet facilities for Gents are really poor; hand dryers are pathetic!
Toilet facilities for Gents are really poor; hand dryers are pathetic!
