Penallta House: Caerphilly Register Office Wedding Venue
The Ceremony Room at Penallta House has a ‘clean’ look, perfect for some gorgeous wedding photography.
Penallta House (Ty Penallta) is an ultra-modern council building built at the cost of £28m in 2008. It serves as the headquarters for Caerphilly County Council. The Council regularly conducts civil marriage ceremonies and civil partnerships here. The venue is in Tredomen, just outside Ystrad Mynach and about 5 miles (8.05 km) north of Caerphilly town.
The building is very striking, and although not to everyone’s taste makes a memorable backdrop to any smaller wedding. The frontage is predominantly glass with a large paving area and planted trees. Ystrad Mynach Registry Office weddings are sure to be memorable occasions.
Bride Tyler enters the room escorted by her uncle through the double doors at the back of Craig Penallta. I removed some light switches and sockets to give the photo a more polished look.
The venue is for ceremonies only with no facility for catering. Wedding parties must go elsewhere for the wedding reception and dinner, but there are plenty of choices locally. Popular options include the Maes Manor Country Hotel in nearby Blackwood, the Manor Parc Country Hotel near Cardiff and the very close Bryn Meadows Hotel & Spa.
Many other things can happen during the ceremony other than the couple getting married. This smart little chap made the most of exploring the room throughout.
Special Prices for Wedding Photography at Penallta House
1 Hour’s Coverage:**£350** 1.5 Hour’s Coverage:**£400** 2 Hour’s Coverage:**£450**
**These prices are not for Saturdays. Please contact me for pricing for a Saturday wedding at Penallta House**
Price includes all photographic coverage + beautifully edited photos uploaded in a mixture of colour and black and white JPEGS. Photo coverage includes some arrivals shots, the ceremony, congratulations/confetti and posed shots in the gardens (and early reception if 2 hours). For Full Details: Click here for my Prices for Photography for 2 Hours up to Full Day. |
I love the expression on the little girl’s face in this photograph. Guest arrivals in the car park are a great time to capture moments like this. I always arrive early to ensure I don’t miss anything.
Also Consider>> The 18th Century Llechwen Hall Hotel for Your Wedding.
The groom’s brother hands him his bride’s ring during the vows.
Penallta House Wedding Ceremony Rooms
An overview of the Ceremony Room (Craig Penallta) spaced out for COVID-19 social distancing.
Craig Penallta:
The larger ceremony room holds up to 70 guests. A central aisle for the bride to walk down and readings and music help to enhance the ceremony. The venue can provide a list of appropriate music, or you can choose your own. These enhancements must not be religious in content and be approved by the registrars before your wedding.
Statutory Register Office:
The smaller of the two rooms serves mainly as a ‘no frills‘ option with only the marriage or civil partnership ceremony taking place for the couple and two witnesses. I can provide short and good value wedding photography coverage for ceremonies in this room, so contact me to discuss.
Contact the venue on 01443 863478 to discuss your requirements.
The bride and groom share their first kiss – a must-have shot at the end of any wedding ceremony.
The ‘dummy’ signing of the register: This couple coped remarkably well with keeping straight faces for this!
Wedding Photography at Penallta House
The registrars at Caerphilly are amongst the most relaxed and easy-going in South Wales. They welcome wedding photography and the movement of the photographer around the room throughout the ceremony.
The only rule they have is that I don’t photograph the wedding register’s official signing, but this is in-line with all other Welsh boroughs and authorities. They set up a ‘dummy’ register after the vows and allow a few minutes for the photographer and guests to take some posed photos of the couple pretending to sign. It can be a source of amusement and slight awkwardness for the couple but is not compulsory. I always check with the couple beforehand.
The happy couple wanted their two young children in with them for some posed shots in Craig Penallta.
I couldn’t resist photographing this: Tyler’s little boy had trouble smiling on cue, so she mimicked him, giving this very unusual and charming portrait.
The newly-weds (and their baby daughter) receive their marriage certificate at the end of their wedding ceremony in Ty Penallta.
Read More>> Build Your Wedding Photography Package From 2 Hours Coverage.
Confetti is allowed but only outside the venue. The couple leave via the doors at the front of the room.
A narrow path to the side of Ty Penallta leads round to the gardens at the rear of the wedding venue.
The garden behind the building is perfect for wedding portraits after the ceremony.
Wedding Portraits in the Woodland Garden
The modern exterior hides the secluded woodland garden to the rear of the vast building. There is a well-kept lawn with a few benches, a wooden bridge over a stream and a woodland area.
You’ll have ample time for some stunning posed portraits after your ceremony. Below are some of my favourites from Tyler and Dan’s summer wedding at Penallta House…
A group shot of the whole wedding party is essential to show everyone present.
Some things are more fun than posing for photos. During the group shots, this little lad decides to launch himself at the camera, and I’m ready to catch the action.
A small group shot of the groom with his parents on one of the garden’s many benches.
An impromptu photo of the grandparents shows the rear of Penallta House in the background.
Group shots can be fun as well as serious. I prefer more natural images like this – as do most of my couples.
Finally – young and old. It’s so vital for me to take photos like this. The youngster will have them to look back on as she grows up…
Penallta House,
Tredomen Park,
Ystrad Mynach,
Hengoed.
CF82 7PG.
