Wedding Day Challenges at St Cwyfan's Church
On many wedding days, guests often speculate whether the bride will arrive on time. Common reasons for delays include traffic, pre-ceremony nerves, or unexpected visits from past acquaintances. However, at St Cwyfan's Church, located off the coast of Anglesey, the concerns are quite different. Here, guests worry if the high tide will prevent the bride from reaching the church for her ceremony.
Fortunately, Alex Spall, aged 48, arrived punctually for her wedding but requested that her guests wear trainers instead of stilettos to ensure everyone could safely cross the sandy causeway to the church.
"Thankfully when I managed to get hold of the tide book and it had released the tide times for that month, we knew we'd be okay," she said.
"We knew that there were a good few hour windows that we could get away with it, we were very relieved.
"I think everyone was a bit gobsmacked really, everyone was blown away with the romanticism of it all and how beautiful it all was."
The History and Location of St Cwyfan's Church
Known affectionately as "the little church in the sea," St Cwyfan's Church is situated on a tiny island off the Welsh mainland. Its picturesque setting makes it a favored location for weddings and christenings. The church dates back to the 12th century and is located on Cribinau, a tidal island off the western coast of Anglesey.
The church was originally constructed at the end of a peninsula between two bays, as evidenced by a map from 1636. To facilitate access, a causeway was built connecting the island to the mainland. Despite this, high tides occasionally rendered the church inaccessible, leading to some services being held in a nearby house.
By the late 19th century, erosion had caused some graves surrounding the church to fall into the sea, and the building itself had become roofless and disused after a more accessible place of worship opened nearby. Architect Harold Hughes initiated fundraising efforts to build a seawall and restore the church. Restoration work was completed, and in 2006, the weathered walls were whitewashed, enhancing the church's visibility off the coast.
Today, the island is only accessible at low tide, and visitors are advised to check tide times before making the journey.
Alex and Jonathan's Wedding at St Cwyfan's
Alex, from Liverpool, and her husband Jonathan, aged 43, chose St Cwyfan's as their wedding venue. Both had spent over 40 years vacationing in Rhosneigr, Anglesey. Additionally, Jonathan's mother was born and raised in Caernarfon, establishing a connection for both sides of the family.
"Jonathan's mum was born and brought up in Caernarfon, so there was a connection on both sides, so it just seemed to fit."
The couple desired a small, intimate venue and described the location as "remote and so romantic." Despite planning their wedding for 18 months, they faced anxiety over whether the tide would be low enough to allow access to the church.
The relief upon confirming the tide times meant that adverse weather conditions did not dampen their spirits. Alex recalled:
"It was blowing a gale. It was pouring down.
"But the weather made it a bit Wuthering Heights-esque."
Due to the sandy causeway, Alex wore Converse trainers to cross before changing into her wedding shoes. She also gave clear instructions to guests regarding footwear.
"I made sure to tell all the female guests, do wear pumps, don't be wearing your stilettos for the wedding," she said.
