Today was a wedding of two halves. Starting near Monmouth at the Church of St Cenedlon for the ceremony before relocation to Treadam Barn near to Abergavenny for the reception.
The Wedding
Abbi and Gareth
St Cenedlon Church and Treadam Barn
Saturday 5 April 2025
Ceremony, Drinks and Meal
The Church of St Cenedlon near Monmouth
Oh, do come in—mind the step—and welcome to one of Wales’ most enchanting historical secrets: the Church of St Cenedlon, nestled ever so quietly in the rolling green folds just outside Monmouth.
Now, at first glance, you might think, “Well, this is just another lovely old country church,” but I must tell you—you’d be quite mistaken. Because this unassuming little gem has stories to tell, layers to peel back, and just a hint of medieval mischief in its bones.
Named after the rather mysterious St Cenedlon—a figure shrouded in both legend and a healthy dash of ecclesiastical ambiguity—this church is a charming puzzle box of architectural clues and curious connections. There’s a whisper of Norman stone here, a flourish of Victorian restoration there, and if you listen closely, perhaps even the echo of long-forgotten prayers wafting through the rafters.
And what’s more, its setting is positively cinematic—a timeless landscape of gentle hills and ancient trees, as though the church had been dropped into a pastoral painting and simply decided to stay. But don’t be fooled by the peace and quiet—this is a place where history is very much alive, just waiting for us to coax it out.
The Wedding Ceremony
Inside the church, we set up at the back as directed by Abbi which gave us a perfect view of the entrance and up the aisle. The service was lovely although the vicar did seem a little confused at certain points. I always think it’s a shame when the entrance of the bride isn’t announced – particularly when we had specifically asked if it would be! Nevertheless, with years of experience of church weddings, we ensure the music flowed seamlessly and there were some lovely music choices for the ceremony which included:
Pre Ceremony
A million dreams
I see the light
Now we are free
Can you feel the love tonight
Lord of the rings the shire and may it be
Bridal Entrance
Tale as old as time beauty and the beast
Signing
Hallelujah
You raise me up
Exit
Forever – Chis Brown
After the ceremony we quickly repacked our instruments and gear and managed to sneak away ahead of the guests and the couple who were busy engaged with photographs. This gave us a good head start to get to the venue for the reception and be set up ready and playing by the time the couple arrived with their guests.
The Wedding Reception – Treadam Barn
A short drive away was the delightful Treadam Barn near Abergavenny which was the setting for the reception.
At first glance, it might seem like just another picturesque stone building tucked away in the lush, storybook hills of Monmouthshire—but step a little closer, and you’ll find that this ancient barn is bursting with secrets, stories, and just a touch of scandal.
We’re in a part of Wales that has always sat deliciously close to the border with England—a land of shifting loyalties, quiet resilience, and deeply rooted traditions. And Treadam Barn, with its thick stone walls and whispering timbers, has seen centuries of history sweep past its doors. Once part of a medieval farmstead, it would have echoed with the clatter of hooves, the rustle of hay, and perhaps even the murmured prayers of monks or manor-born tenants going about their business.
But like so many historical buildings in Britain, this barn has reinvented itself over time. From agricultural workhorse to a peaceful country retreat, Treadam Barn now offers a glorious blend of rustic charm and modern comfort. Yet even with its polished floors and cosy corners, it still holds the spirit of the past in every beam and stone.
And let’s be honest—it’s the kind of place you half-expect to meet a wandering troubadour or a time-travelling noble in a muddy cloak. Just imagine what those walls would say if they could talk!
We set up, as directed, in the rafters of the barn which had a fabulous acoustic. Discussing this with the venue owners, one of whom we understood to be a retired Opera Singer, it turns out the acoustic plan for the barn was based largely on the mushrooms in the Royal Albert Hall.
It took a crack team of sound engineers armed with a reflector microphone, a bassoon and a starting pistol to solve one of the UK’s most enduring engineering challenges – the Royal Albert Hall echo.
Although the echo was identified at the time of the first acoustic tests in the Hall, on 26 February 1871, this issue that was not addressed properly until well into the 1960s.
The saying went that concertgoers heard a concert two times for the price of one, due to an unfortunate problem with reverberation – the giant expanse of empty space and glass roof of the auditorium caused the Hall to have an horrendously long echo. Between 1871 and 1968 various methods were used to try and muffle the tremendous echo that reverberated around the auditorium, but without much success.
In 1968, the Acoustical Investigation Research Organisation Limited surveyed the acoustics in the Hall with several tests, one of which involved an acoustic technician using a reflector microphone whilst another fired a starting pistol and another played the bassoon. On their advice, 135 ‘flying saucers’ filled with glass fibre wool were suspended above the arena to diffuse the reverberations.
The first concert after the diffusers were installed was performed by the BBC Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Colin Davis. The acoustics had improved noticeably and were greeted with enthusiasm by the press.
We really enjoyed being a part of Abbi and Gareth’s wedding and it was a delight to find two new venues during the course of this, both of which had a certain charm and style. We wish Abbi and Gareth every happiness as they embark on their future married life together.
