This is the gorgeous moment a Welsh couple shared their first dance at their wedding - after spending most of the last two years apart due to lockdown regulations. Ffion Martin and Chris Miller wed in a beautiful ceremony at Llansteffan Church last Saturday, June 18 surrounded by family, friends and neighbours, and surprised everyone with a lovely half-choreographed half-improvised first dance to Rewrite The Stars from popular film The Greatest Showman at the start of their wedding reception.
The couple both have Down's syndrome and met through performing arts classes at Hijinx Academy in Carmarthen three years ago. After their friendship blossomed into something more, they got engaged in Ffion's family garden last year, when pandemic restrictions allowed two households to meet outdoors. The happy couple and their mums toasted the occasion with prosecco, balloons and cake and soon began planning the wedding.
Apart from that one occasion where they got engaged in the garden, the pair barely saw each other during the pandemic, Ffion's mum Janice Martin said. Instead, they had regular phone calls or would go for walks and "wave across the road".
The pair chose Llansteffan Church for their big day as it's close to where they both live and has been Ffion's regular church for several years. That said, the loved-up pair's biggest focus for their wedding day was having a "great party" and enjoying themselves, they said.
"It was a magical day," said Janice. "The church was absolutely packed to the rafters, the whole community arrived to see them. She [Ffion] looked beautiful."
Asked to sum up their wedding day, Chris told WalesOnline it was "marvellous" while Ffion said she particularly enjoyed her first dance with Chris to Rewrite The Stars from The Greatest Showman. She said she chose this song because she "loves the words" and "everything about it".
The couple choreographed part of the dance using movements and routines they'd learnt in classes at Hijinx Academy and Ffion improvised the rest. "It was wonderful, I improvised it! Everyone was in bits crying," she added. You can watch a lovely clip of their first dance at the top of this article.
After the couple's dance, Ffion and her mum danced to Just The Way You Are by Bruno Mars. Janice said she chose this song because she likes to remind Ffion that she's beautiful and perfect just as she is. She told WalesOnline that part of her wedding speech at the couple's wedding was about Ffion not needing to change in any way.
"I'm proud of Ffion every day. She amazes me every day," Janice said. "And I've got another son in Chris. It's a myth that people with Down's syndrome can't do things, because they absolutely can.
"Don't listen to anybody that says you can't do anything - you can - they did! Give them [people with Down's syndrome] the support and they can do anything!"
Ffion, 23, and Chris, 39, are now enjoying married life and living together with Janice. Ffion said they do "everything" together and particularly enjoy going to the cinema and going out for food. "We have an amazing time every single time," she said.
Ffion would like to thank everybody who helped with her and Chris' wedding, especially her mum who is her "inspiration".
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