Caernarfon wedding | Esyllt & zack

A relaxed, community-filled Welsh wedding in Caernarfon, rooted in family, music and place.

This was one of those weddings that felt deeply rooted in family, in community, and in place. Which is what we love! Esyllt & Zack’s day was full of handmade details, gentle surprises, and the kind of warmth you feel when everyone there really belongs.

wedding morning preparations at home

The morning began at home, with Esyllt’s Mam letting us in on a big secret as soon as we arrived! Esyllt got ready at her parents’ house with the bridesmaids, piling into the minibus from her work to take them all to the church together. Zack spent the morning with his family and groomsmen in a big house they’d rented nearby.

the wedding ceremony at Caersalem, Caernarfon

The ladies arrived at the church and paused to pray together outside before heading in. Inside, the ceremony was heartfelt and full of soul: incredible singing, a rousing sermon by a friend, thoughtfully translated through headphones for the non-Welsh speakers, and youngsters singing from the balcony above. We loved the stationery and floral details, all created by friends, and how personal everything felt.

One of my favourite moments of the day came just after the ceremony. Once the bridal party had stepped outside, we gathered everyone back inside the church. Then Esyllt & Zack re-entered the room to the warmest, loudest cheering, the kind that fills your chest. We took a few family photos on the church steps, and guests lined up to throw confetti as they headed off in their wedding car… or so they thought.

Instead, Esyllt’s parents had organised a surprise tuk-tuk to cycle them to their reception. The route took them past Caernarfon Castle, with guests gathering on a bridge to wave as they passed by. Such a joyful, unforgettable moment.

their wedding reception at Glan Morfa

Her parents run the most magical camping site just outside Caernarfon, which turned out to be the perfect place to celebrate. Drinks were served on arrival from the workshop, prepared by friends The atmosphere was instantly relaxed and welcoming. We took dreamy couple photos by the river (with a brief cuddle of some newly hatched chicks!), and I loved the family photos Malc took out in the field, being in that space with everyone gathered felt so grounding and special.

The marquee was filled with food, laughter and stories. Friends had helped decorate and set everything up, and the speeches were genuinely hilarious, giving us a brilliant insight into the groomsmen and the story of Esyllt & Zack. A huge thank you to their friend who continued providing in-ear translation, allowing us to fully join in the jokes (and feel a bit like secret service with our headsets on). That shared laughter, everyone in the room giggling together, is such a unifying kind of magic.

Dinner was incredible, thanks to a delicious vegan menu by Rainbow Eats, and we loved the chickens casually popping in to join the diners. After the cake was cut, we carved out some time for the bridal party to just hang out, discover the rope swing, mess around, and soak it all in.

Later, we snuck away with Esyllt & Zack to the beach. The blustery weather and flowing dress absolutely stole the show (we’ll take no credit for the stunning pictures), but the best part was the pause. Time for them to just be, together, in a place that mattered. We chatted in the car on the way, one of those moments you wish you could bottle up.

Back at Glan Morfa, guests were mingling and chatting (and told us it had rained while we were gone!). Everyone added their own colouring to a framed artwork for the couple, depicting all their guests. Such a lovely, collective keepsake!

Then came the surprise first dance. Without telling his family, Zack had been secretly learning to clog dance. He and Esyllt performed a beautiful duet before the band absolutely smashed the brief for a full-blown Welsh twmpath. There were called dances, seated all-play games, songs, and even one written especially for the newlyweds. We all picked up Welsh numbers just from the caller keeping time, and the dance floor stayed joyfully chaotic well into the night.

The photo booth brought top-tier nonsense right off the dance floor, and we waved Esyllt & Zack off through a tunnel of guests. The perfect ending to a deeply joyful day.