After being trapped on a Welsh island by the tide and needing to be rescued by lifeboat while they posed for the photos, a bride and groom have revealed their picture-perfect wedding.
Sully Island, which sits off the coast of the Vale of Glamorgan, is tidal, but the bride, Shaniya Hirani, 36, and her new husband, Sohil, 36, were unaware of this.
The couple had trekked 400 meters with a photographer and video team to get the ideal shot on the island on August 14, but were cut off by the rising waves.
Ms. Hirani had to get into the lifeboat in her white gown, veil, and high heels when the RNLI sent a lifeboat to save the pair.
The pair has now made public the images from the dramatic rescue’s backstage.
Shaniya Hirani, 36, the bride, and Sohil, her new husband, also 36, have shared the breathtaking image that led them to get stranded on Sully Island since they were unaware it was tidal.
The gorgeous image captures Shaniya and Sohil posing on the island while wearing traditional Hindu wedding attire.
The pair is seen in the photo turning away from one another and gazing thoughtfully out to sea, with the dramatic backdrop of clouds in the background.
The bride said that the incident had only served to make her fantasy images more “memorable.”
The bride and groom were searching for the ideal wedding photograph when the tide left them trapped on the island.
The RNLI had to dispatch a lifeboat to save the pair, but they were able to capture some priceless images in the process.
Three people in a lifeboat soon came, and Ms. Hirani said that they were amusing themselves with the circumstances.
We crossed the street, me in my high heels, and since we were so delighted, we really missed three or four signs that read “DANGER.” Ms. Hirani recounted.
We took a couple pretty beautiful pictures before the photographer told us we had to go.
We decided to cross the route since we could see that it was submerged in water.
“Some person across the shore yelled not to try to cross because it was too dangerous as we drew closer to the route.”
That morning, in Shaniya’s hometown of Sully, the couple was wed in a conventional Hindu ceremony.
They chose the Captain’s Wife bar, which has a view of the historic Viking island, for their wedding celebration and reception with friends and family.
For the one-hour picture session with their photographer Mehul Shah, they crossed the causeway.
However, they discovered there was no way back when they made their way to the very end of Sully Island to take one more shot.
The bridal party was cut off by the rising seas since they were unaware that Sully Island, off the coast of the Vale of Glamorgan, is tidal.
When the tide is out, Sully Island is accessible by land, but when the tide is in, it is entirely blocked off.
In a lifeboat, a crew of three quickly came; according to Ms. Hirani, they were amusing themselves with the circumstances.
“Congratulations, this is a first, we’ve never had to rescue a wedding party before,” Ms. Hirani recalled when they arrived.
The newlyweds had to be rescued since Sully Island may be reached by land at low tide but is entirely blocked off when the tide comes in.
They spent the whole day giggling and making jokes with us; to be honest, it probably brightened their day! They went above and above in regards to the situation, even making every effort to keep my clothing clean.
In order to keep my clothing clean, one lifeguard even volunteered to let me piggyback from the boat to the land. Everyone cheered for it.
To inform visitors when they may safely approach the island, the RNLI has set up a traffic light system on the mainland.
To get the ideal shot on the island, the couple went 400 meters with a photographer and a camera team.
People often get stranded on Sully Island when they misjudge the tides.
On the Rocks restaurant owner Stephen Fifield said that he observed the pair snapping photos and rang a siren 15 minutes before the tide came in. When the pair remained still, he dialed the RNLI.
The Captain’s Wife pub’s assistant manager, Debs McManus, said Shaniya looked beautiful but “unfortunately her outfit got a little damp.”
South Wales is where Ms. Hirani was born and raised before relocating to London 17 years ago.
It didn’t destroy her homecoming wedding day, however; as she put it, “It’s made the entire day so unforgettable.”
The whole bar and the eateries in the area were all watching. Everyone applauded us quite loudly since we had been their entertainment for the last 30 minutes or so.