OUR LOCKDOWN WEDDING
47 guests watch couple’s lockdown wedding on their computer screens
DANNY and Nia Hughes had everything they could have wished for on their wedding day.
They were joined by their closest friends and family, the sun was shining and Nia wore her dream wedding dress.
But their special day wasn’t a traditional wedding – they tied the knot in their living room with 47 guests watching on computer screens.
As part of S4C’s reality TV wedding show Priodas Pum Mil, Danny and Nia, from Llangefni, Anglesey, had a virtual lockdown wedding on May 9 via Zoom.
Nia said: “When we first told our friends and family we were doing a virtual wedding they thought we were joking. They said we were crazy.
“We had no idea what we were letting ourselves in for – I didn’t even know what Zoom was.
“But it was amazing. It was everything I could have wished for. Even though we had no idea how to set anything up, it all went smoothly and everything was perfect.”
Nia and Danny, who have a sevenmonth-old daughter and four children from previous relationships, first met two-and-a-half years ago and got engaged in March of last year.
The couple started to plan their wedding but just weeks later Nia fell pregnant with their daughter Cadi.
Nia and Danny put their wedding plans on hold – until they saw that S4C was looking for couples to take part in the show.
Nia, who is also mum to 12-year-old Harlee, said: “Danny saw an advert on Facebook and asked me if we should enter. We ended up being shortlisted and made it to the final six. But then the coronavirus pandemic happened and we went into lockdown.
“We assumed we’d hear from the producers once everything was back to normal, but I had a call from the show asking if we wanted to take part in a virtual wedding through Zoom.
“It sounded really interesting, so I called Danny straightaway while he was at work and said, ‘Do you want to have a virtual wedding?’
“It was a wedding blessing, so we aren’t officially married – but as soon as we can, we’ll have another wedding at the register office with friends and family.”
Contestants on Priodas Pum Mil are given £5,000 for their wedding – but neither the bride nor groom are allowed to plan anything themselves.
Instead, every detail from the dress down to the cake must be planned by family and friends.
“My best friend and maid of honour Olivia Owens planned most of it,” said Nia. “She chose the decorations and had them delivered to our flat the day before, sorted who was going to make the cake and the food and even where we were going to have our wedding photos taken.
“I’d given my mum permission to chose my wedding dress. The dressmaker who works with the programme sent three to the house and I tried them on over a Zoom call with the dressmaker, Emma, who is one of the presenters, and my mum.
“I had no idea which one my mum had chosen until the morning of the wedding day, but I loved it. It was the one I had chosen in my head.”
Viewers will get to see Nia trying on the dresses and the moment she discovers which one her mum chose for her to wear when the show airs.
Nia said: “The day of the wedding was crazy. We were woken up by a knock at the door at 8am and that was
breakfast being delivered by the local deli. Next, my flowers arrived.
“At 10am I had to video call my make-up artist who did my make-up step by step on herself so I could copy. Then half an hour later I had to do the same with the hairdresser.
“Danny’s daughters Ela and Luci arrived and they were my flower girls. Unfortunately, his son Rhys couldn’t come because it was impossible for him to come from London.
“As soon as I’d finished getting ready, it was all systems go. At 1pm, Danny went into the living room and was waiting for me to come in with the girls. All 47 guests were on the Zoom call waiting for me to walk down the aisle – which was the hallway from the bedroom into the living room.”
Danny and Nia exchanged h d vows they’d written themselves and Welsh singer Elin Fflur officiated their wedding blessing. After the ceremony, more packages began to arrive at their flat, including a wedding feast cooked by TV chef Chris Roberts, a hamper of beer from their local pub and, of course, the wedding cake.
Danny and Nia had their first dance in their living room to The One by Kodaline and a local radio station played their favourite songs so the guests could tune in from home.
“Our friends and family put so much thought into planning it, and I know they must have worked so hard given the lockdown restrictions,” said Nia. “Olivia had organised for us to have our wedding photos taken on the fields fi ld of f th the l local l school. h lE Even th that t was special for us, because it’s where our children go.
“Guests who live locally had food delivered and The Moniars and Arfon Wyn performed outside. We had a brilliant day.”
Trystan Ellis Morris, who presents the show with Emma Walford, said: “It was a privilege to be part of Danny and Nia’s special day.
“It was a very surreal experience wearing a wedding suit and presenting the entire programme from the house without Emma beside me. But I think this is one of the best weddings yet.”
Priodas Pum Mil Dan Glo is on S4C with English subtitles tonight at 8pm.