The first-ever Carmarthenshire Wedding Showcase will take place this month at the iconic National Botanic Garden of Wales, bringing together wedding suppliers, venue managers, coordinators, tourism professionals, and registrars for a day of networking, collaboration, and business development.

Organised by the Tourism Development team of Carmarthenshire County Council (CCC) and funded by the UK Government Shared Prosperity Fund, the event on January 20 highlights their commitment to supporting local businesses and promoting the county as a premier wedding destination.

The event will open with a business breakfast at Ty Melyn, guest speaker Tomas Philips, co-founder of Blackline Academy, will deliver a keynote session on the importance of collaborative working as businesses plan their progression through 2026.

With more than 15 years’ experience in commercial development, problem-solving, and business scaling, Tomas has mentored thousands of business owners across the UK.

From 10am, the Wedding Showcase will open as a business-to-business event, bringing together wedding suppliers, venues, and accommodation providers.

Over 40 exhibitors will showcase services ranging from venues to creative and specialist providers. The day also includes a series of targeted workshops covering social media engagement with Purple Dog, AI in business with IT Associates, video content creation with Sgript, and unlocking the value of working with Carmarthenshire Registrars and Celebrants, who will be on hand throughout the event to guide and support businesses.

Whether it’s a flawlessly coordinated legal ceremony or an unforgettable non-legal celebration at your venue, the Showcase will help you offer more choice and create memorable moments together.

Weddings contribute approximately £6 million annually to Carmarthenshire’s economy, with over 560 weddings held in the county each year. The showcase aims to strengthen the local wedding supply chain, ensuring more wedding spend stays in the county while creating greater opportunities for local venues, creators, and service providers.

Attendees will have the opportunity to:

  • Forge new connections and strengthen existing partnerships
  • Explore collaborative opportunities to grow wedding bookings
  • Access specialist business support in marketing, finance, and development

This Wedding Showcase forms part of Carmarthenshire County Council’s new tourism campaign promoting the county as the The most romantic place in Wales, highlighting its stunning venues, scenic locations, and exceptional wedding services.

The campaign aims to attract more couples to celebrate their special day in Carmarthenshire, supporting both local tourism and the wedding economy.

Carmarthenshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Leisure, Culture and Tourism, Cllr Hazel Evans said: “The Carmarthenshire Wedding Showcase is a fantastic opportunity to celebrate the strength, creativity, and professionalism of our local wedding industry. By bringing businesses together, we are supporting collaboration, encouraging growth, and reinforcing Carmarthenshire’s reputation as one of the very best places in Wales to get married.

“This Showcase promises to be the start of stronger collaboration across the sector, helping businesses thrive while highlighting everything Carmarthenshire has to offer as a premier wedding destination. It also forms an exciting part of our new tourism campaign, promoting Carmarthenshire as the most romantic place in Wales for couples to tie the knot.”