Cerys's chapel wedding date

A star-studded congregation - including Tom Jones, Shirley Bassey and rock icon Bob Dylan as best man - is expected to fill a chapel at Trevine near Fishguard on 22 February.

" They are such a lovely family "
Peggy James, villager

Matthews, 33, met American-born Riddle while she was recording her new solo album in a studio used by Bob Dylan in Nashville, Tennessee.

It has been said Matthews wanted to have a traditional Welsh wedding surrounded by all her family.

The dress code for guests is rumoured to be 1930s-style.

Her parents Pauline and Philip live in the Fishguard area.

"Cerys has been organising the whole wedding herself and we're just waiting for more details about it," her mother said.

"Seth seems really nice and they obviously like each other a lot."

Trevine villager Peggy James said she was excited about the forthcoming society event of the decade.

"We will have to go and have a look on the day," she said.

"All the invitations are for family and friends.

"They are such a lovely family, I was speaking to Pauline Matthews the other day but she didn't mention it."

Jill Moore, who runs a nearby guesthouse with her husband Robin, said: "It's a lovely idea and they are a lovely family.

"The family are very keen on their Welsh roots."

Community overjoyed

Mrs Moore said the community of Trevine is overjoyed the couple has chosen the small and close-knit village for their wedding celebrations.

A spokesman for St David's Information Centre said there has not been an influx of queries about accommodation as details of the wedding had only just emerged.

Matthews has been working on her new folk-influenced album, called Cock-a-Hoop, in the US.

Riddle, a record producer, and Matthews are said to be inseparable after working together on the project.

The solo venture marks a new career direction for the singer who was the face of the hugely-successful pop and rock band Catatonia, which was formed in the early 1990s.

In the past she was treated at a clinic for "anxiety and exhaustion" brought on, it was said, by smoking and drinking.

Her health problems forced the band to cancel a promotion tour in July 2001 in support of their album, Paper Scissors Stone.

The band had rescheduled dates but these could not go ahead because the singer had not recovered.

Catatonia's refreshing sound catapaulted them to the forefront of the UK - and international - music scene.

The band, who are expected to travel to Pembrokeshire for the wedding, finally split in September 2001.