Llyn Gwynant Barns is one of the best wedding venues in the Snowdonia/Eryri area of Wales for nature lovers, thanks to its incredible outdoor ceremony options and wonderful wet weather alternatives. Get inspired by past real weddings at this venue, and discover my other top picks in case camping and kayaking isn’t quite what you’re looking for.
North Wales is an absolute riot for the outdoorsy, the adventurous, and the nature-loving, and when it comes to choosing your wedding venue, you probably want to embrace all that. If I could only pick one area of North Wales to start your search, I’d vote for Snowdonia/Eryri. It’s here in this national park that you’ll find Yr Wyddfa (which you might know better as Snowdon), valleys and lakes carved out by ancient glacial activity, historic castles, and ultimately a real feeling that you are, in fact, deep in Wales.
It’s also an amazing hub for all your activities, so I highly recommend making a weekend (or longer) of your wedding and enjoying everything the area has to offer. As well as the surrounding mountains, you can head out towards the beautiful coastline or out to the island of Anglesey/Ynys Môn, and whether you’re more into ziplines in old slate quarries or clifftop seal-spotting, there’s something here you’ll love.
When looking for your perfect wedding venue, consider what sort of outdoorsy vibe you want. Do you simply want a picturesque view, an all-out adventure wedding, or a deep-in-nature day without the challenges of the weather? If the latter sounds appealing, I’ve got just the place for you.
If you’re looking to be literally surrounded by Northern Welsh nature at your wedding, you can’t get much more immersed than at Llyn Gwynant barns. Nestled at the foot of Yr Wyddfa and on the shores of the lake, it’s an absolutely stunning location that looks dramatically beautiful, whatever the weather.
As a recommended celebrant for outdoor ceremonies here, I’ve seen my fair share - and it never gets old. Every time you visit Llyn Gwynant, the mountains have an ever so slightly different personality, and whether you choose to get married on the lake shore or in the lovely, light-filled barn building, you’re sure to say your I dos with a view.
Llyn Gwynant feels less barn and more village church on the inside, with rustic foundations finished to a high standard, an incredible stained glass window, and a real blank canvas feel that invites you to decorate it however you wish. Its hanging lanterns always look ‘wow’ in photos, too!
As well as being inherently outdoorsy just by its location, Llyn Gwynant as a venue has been thoughtfully designed to allow you access to and enjoyment from the surrounding scenery, at almost every turn. You can have your ceremony close to the shore of the lake under a big old oak tree, or inside, where big bifold doors lead out from your dinner space onto a lakeview terrace. Even if the Welsh weather has a mind of its own, you can stay dry and enjoy a slightly more moody and folklore-ish view of your surroundings. It’s also possible to plant a wedding tree, for a permanent, living reminder of your day.
On a practical level, there are some small outbuildings which have been converted into lovely little getting-ready rooms, and your whole day from ceremony through to party happens across a couple of nicely contained spaces. There are also plenty of accommodation options, from glamping bell tents in the grounds to smaller AirBnBs and bed and breakfasts in the local area.
It’s the perfect spot for dog-lovers (your four-legged friend will get a warm welcome here), festival-style weddings, and outdoor enthusiasts who love hiking, kayaking and meandering in nature. The vibe here is very relaxed, ideal for those who really want to spend good, quality time with their people, just like my previous couples who have got creative and made use of this venue in various different ways.
Janine and Clair had their ceremony in the light-filled barn, and placed big emphasis on making sure their friends and family felt involved in the proceedings. They had a reading, with each of the seven verses being split between seven friends, secret ringbearers and a singalong, and even asked their guests to vote on what new shared surname they should take!
As they’d been together a long time, the ceremony was as much about celebrating their love and telling their story as actually tying the knot. And on the subject of knots, I led a handfasting for them, where they read personal vows to one another while their hands were bound.
Find out more about getting your loved ones involved in your wedding ceremony, and read all about handfasting ceremonies in North Wales.
Other lovely touches were their céili in place of a first dance, and multiple wedding cakes as opposed to just one! The morning after the wedding, they and all their friends went for a swim in Llyn Gwynant (it was October, but they weren’t deterred!)
Daisy and JP really took Llyn Gwynant’s blank canvas and created their own art to decorate it. Daisy is a potter and very talented in crafts, and she made shot glasses for all the guests to use during the evening and a rag rug for them to stand on during the ceremony. Their favours were homemade strawberry jam pots - the best kind of favour, one that actually gets eaten!
After their ceremony they went out for a game of rounders before sitting down for their wedding breakfast - one way to work up an appetite!
Chloe and Usen’s ceremony at Llyn Gwynant took place outdoors, on the shores of the lake under the oak tree. Their handfasting was inspired by the elements, with their daughter helping to tie the final knot, and they involved nieces and nephews as their ringbearers.
Explore North Wales’ 8 best wedding venues for outdoor ceremonies
These three weddings were very different in personality and style (just like my couples), and ran to personal timelines with lots of well thought-out details. One of Llyn Gwynant’s strengths is that it allows you to really make your wedding your own, free from constraints about ‘what normally happens’ or what anyone expects.
If you’re getting married at a beautiful nature-lovers wedding venue in North Wales and looking for a celebrant to create a deeply personal, meaningful ceremony for you - get in touch. I work throughout North Wales and Cheshire with couples of all kinds. Find out more about me, my work and my values here.
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Kate Rostance is a humanist wedding celebrant based in North Wales. She creates ceremonies that are relaxed and full of meaning - with a touch of humour and plenty of heart. She works across North Wales, including Snowdonia, Anglesey, Gwynedd, the Llyn Peninsula, Cheshire and beyond.
Find out more about Kate, her approach to weddings, or what happy couples have said about her.
