HAPPY ANNIVERSARY Having opened its doors in 1999, the Vale Resort is celebrating its 25th anniversary with a year’s worth of promotions that are taking place on the venue’s social media channels. Couples can get their hands on golf and spa breaks, afternoon tea, gin-making experiences, golf lessons and more. The independent four-star Vale Resort was built by the Leeke family and is made up of the 143-bedroom Vale Hotel, two championship golf courses, extensive leisure and sports facilities, Wales’s largest spa, extensive conference and events facilities, restaurants, bars and Hensol Castle, an exclusive wedding and events venue that also incorporates a distillery. Stephen Leeke, the managing director, commented: “When I started at the Vale Resort in 1994, we had a portacabin, driving range and nine-hole golf course. My father, Gerald, had a love for sports and a vision for a sporting hotel. It’s been the proverbial extension on the extension since then, which has culminated in the worldclass facilities that you see today. Not only do we house the training bases for both Wales’s national rugby and football teams, but we can compete with the very best with our golf, leisure and business offerings. The ground-breaking opening of the Grade-I listed Hensol Castle as a venue tailored for exclusive weddings and events, incorporating a craft distillery in the cellars, is, in the words of my father, “the icing on the cake” and the feedback from guests has been outstanding. It’s been very much a team effort along the way, and I’d like to thank our staff, members, guests, colleagues and partners in the Welsh Rugby Union and Football Association of Wales for all they have done to contribute to our success.” Head over to www.valeresort.com for more information. AWARD-WINNING SERVICE The Glyn Clydach, nestled in an idyllic part of Neath, has been hosting weddings for over 30 years, working with couples to style and coordinate their special day, taking their ideas and turning them into reality. At E2 Media, The Glyn Clydach won the highly anticipated 2024 Awards of Excellence, highlighting outstanding achievements across various industries. This accolade not only showcases The Glyn Clydach’s commitment to excellence but also highlights their consistent efforts to go above and beyond in ensuring a positive and seamless experience for their couples. The venue offers packages suited to various budgets and can cater to any specific requirements you may want to include. Their delicious food menu is sure to tantalise your tastebuds, leaving lasting impressions on your guests. All the food is homemade and freshly prepared from the finest local suppliers. With a choice of a formal menu as well as options for canapés, evening buffets and hog roasts are also available. Discover more at www.glynclydach.co.uk CONGRATULATIONS! Taking place in Cardiff earlier this year, the sixth Welsh Wedding Awards celebrates wedding specialists and businesses. The awards recognise and reward those within the industry that work towards making weddings as perfect as possible. SGDJ Weddings was one of the finalists in the Entertainment Category. “We were bowled over by this, as we were already pleased with a nomination,” says owner June Gould. “Thank you to all our lovely couples for voting for us. To find we were highly commended in the DJ category too was just mind-blowing.” A spokesperson for the Welsh Wedding Awards added: “Winning an award in this prestigious competition is a significant achievement, as it acknowledges the talent and hard work of those in the wedding industry who set a benchmark for others to follow.” To find out more about SGDJ Weddings, visit the website, www.sgdjweddings.com NEWS Nearlywed All the latest from around South Wales www.crossjonesphotography.com 9 LOCAL NEWS
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