Wedding at St Just in Roseland Church

The Celtic Connection

Merrewyn and Dafydd met through friends at university. “We were friends for two years then realised we really should be together,” says Merrewyn. Dafydd popped the question on Christmas Day 2009 at Nare’s Head. “We came back to find my mum had put champagne in the fridge. It turned out that that particular bottle had been put into the fridge a number of times!” she laughs.



Taking inspiration from their Cornish-Welsh heritage, the couple celebrated their cultural identity through the details of their day. The Celtic trinity knots of Merrewyn’s engagement ring made a fitting motif for the stationery. With a menu full of locally sourced food and champagne, the table names were the 'ingredients' of a happy marriage in Cornish, complete with a Welsh and English translation. The wedding cake was a stack of saffron buns decorated with daffodils and black and gold ribbons, and Dafydd's mother made miniature Welsh cakes for favours.



A blue and yellow colour scheme served as a tribute to Merrewyn’s late grandfather, whose favourite colour was yellow. Fusing Cornish bluebells, daffodils and a twist of green, the flowers lent a modern and beautiful aesthetic.





Merrewyn arrived at St Just in Roseland Church in a VW campervan from Strawberry Leisure. “The ceremony was extremely personal and moving for us,” reflects Merrewyn. The couple said their vows in both Welsh and English, while the readings included a Welsh and an English poem. Some of Dafydd's family and friends sang Welsh hymn 'Calon Lan' as the couple signed the register.



The reception took place in a Coast2Coast marquee in the company’s field at Lowen Meadow, with views across St Mawes. About Taste, which is run by Merrewyn’s mother Charlotte, served up an exquisite feast. Lower Croan asparagus, Cornish smoked bacon and breaded soft poached free-range egg made for a delicious starter. For the main course, the designated ‘chef’ on each table was provided with a chef’s hat, apron and ladle to serve the main course: chicken, bacon and leek pies with seasonal vegetables. The dessert was a medley of croquembouche, dark chocolate torte and lemon tart amongst other treats.



During the evening party, The Other Band provided a ceilidh and, followed by a DJ, the dance floor was grooving into the night.





The couple timed their honeymoon just right – arriving in Jersey during April’s hot spell. As for advice, Merrewyn recommends a team effort: “Let people help – absolutely everything had personal meaning to us and nearly everything was done by people we loved which made everything that bit more special.”




 
The venue
St Just in Roseland Church followed by a marquee reception
Coast2Coast Marquees 01872 580153 www.coast2coastmarquees.co.uk

The dress
Lusan Mandongus from Suzanne James Bridal in Cardiff
02920 668349 www.suzannejamesbridal.com

The flowers
Wedding Flowers in Cornwall
01872 553080 www.weddingflowersincornwall.co.uk

Photography
Stewart Girvan Photography
07968 614759 www.stewartgirvan.co.uk

Copyright WED Magazine 2011