Proposing on St Dwynwen’s Day, Wales’s Own Day of Love

Valentine's Day gets all the attention, but Wales has its own day of love, and it arrives three weeks earlier. On 25 January every year, people across Wales celebrate Dydd Santes Dwynwen, St Dwynwen's Day, in honour of the Welsh patron saint of lovers. If you're looking for a proposal date that feels a little more personal than 14 February, it's well worth considering.

Here's the story behind the day, the place most connected to it, and how I'd plan a St Dwynwen's Day proposal in North Wales.

Who Was St Dwynwen?

According to Visit Wales, Dwynwen was a fourth century Welsh princess, one of King Brychan Brycheiniog's daughters. She fell in love with a young man called Maelon, but her father had already arranged for her to marry someone else. Heartbroken, she prayed for help and was granted three wishes. She asked for Maelon to be thawed (an angel's potion had turned him into a block of ice), for God to help all true lovers, and that she would never marry.

Dwynwen became a nun and set up a convent on Ynys Llanddwyn, Llanddwyn Island, on Anglesey. Her name means "she who leads a blessed life", and her most famous saying is one I think every proposal could use: "Nothing wins hearts like cheerfulness."

Why 25 January Works for a Proposal

Visit Wales describes 25 January as the most romantic day of the year in Wales. People exchange cards and gifts, have special meals and take long walks on quiet beaches. It's becoming more popular every year, especially among Welsh speakers, but you don't need to be Welsh or speak Welsh to join in.

For a proposal, it has a few lovely advantages. It carries a meaning you can explain to your partner, which makes a great line in a love letter. It's far less crowded than Valentine's Day, so restaurants and quiet spots are easier to come by. And because it isn't the obvious date, it's much harder for your partner to see it coming.

Ynys Llanddwyn: The Heart of the Story

Photo: Mark Warren 1973, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

If you want to propose where the story began, Ynys Llanddwyn is the place. It sits on the south west corner of Anglesey, beyond the village of Newborough. Visit Wales explains that it's actually a peninsula that's only very rarely cut off by the highest tides. Out on the headland you'll find two lighthouses, pilot's cottages and the ruins of Eglwys Santes Dwynwen, built on the site of the nunnery she founded.

I've written about Llanddwyn before in my round up of proposal ideas in North Wales, and it's still one of the most romantic spots I know. On St Dwynwen's Day it takes on a whole new meaning.

Getting There in January

Winter visits need a little more planning, and I always check the practical details from official sources before a proposal:

The Wales Coast Path describes a 4 mile (6 km) walk to the island and back through Newborough Forest, starting from the Llyn Rhos Ddu car park. If you'd rather park closer, the Newborough car park is run by Natural Resources Wales. Charges apply between 6am and 11:59pm: up to 30 minutes is free, up to two hours is £5, and all day is £15. You can pay at the contactless machine or with RingGo, and overnight parking isn't allowed.

Even though the highest tides only rarely cut the island off, I still check the tide times on Admiralty EasyTide before any visit, so we can walk out and back on firm sand without watching the clock.

Planning Around the Winter Light

January days are short, and that's no bad thing. A winter sunset arrives early in the afternoon, which means you can propose in the golden hour and still be tucked into a warm pub by teatime. I plan the whole day backwards from the light, leaving time for the walk out, a calm few minutes to settle, and the moment itself while the sky is at its best.

Pack layers, a flask and gloves you can take off quickly. Cold fingers and a ring box are not a good mix, and you'll want both hands free for the hug afterwards.

It's also worth checking the forecast the day before. Anglesey in January can be bright and crisp one day and blowing a gale the next, so I always keep a sheltered alternative in mind.

Making It Yours

A date with a story behind it fits beautifully with a guided proposal. Your love letter can mention why you chose 25 January, and as I read it aloud on the headland, your partner will hear exactly why the day matters to you. Then I capture the question, the "yes!" and every reaction that follows, with Polaroids developing in your hands to tuck inside the letter.

If you'd like to bring a little Welsh into your letter, a single word can go a long way. "Cariad" means love, or darling, and it's one of the most familiar Welsh words of affection. Even if your partner doesn't speak Welsh, one word in your letter, explained afterwards, makes the day feel rooted in the place. And if Welsh is part of your family story, it might just be the most meaningful line of all.

You can read how the guided proposal works, and if you're thinking of next January, the contact page is there whenever you're ready. Every guided proposal also comes with free entry into the Love Story Registry, so the story you start on St Dwynwen's Day has somewhere to keep growing. Fourth century princess or not, Dwynwen would surely approve of a cheerful yes on the island she called home.