Elopement Photographer Cornwall Lower Barns // Anita and Alan

There’s something really beautiful about an elopement. I just love capturing this style of intimate wedding. Just me, the couple and a celebrant (maybe even their dog would come along) feels so special.

And I’m pleased to observe in the world of weddings, elopements have become a rising trend, offering couples a more intimate and personal way to say “I do.”  As a Devon and Cornwall Wedding and ElopementPhotographer, we have many beautiful locations to choose from for that kind of wedding…

Capturing the essence of these private celebrations requires a unique set of skills and a keen eye for detail. As it is harder to stay in the background to just observe and capture the day as it unfolds like I do at bigger weddings. It’s just the three of us and I’m obviously there capturing it! But I still try my best to keep it all natural and easy flowing with not too much awkward posing involved.

Before the special day I always take the time to connect with the couple and understand their vision for the elopement so that I can tell their story in the most intimate of detail. A meeting in person is highly recommended but if that’s not possible we at least discuss the details via an online meeting.

Anita and Alan bought their adorable rescue dog with them, who was also a very well behaved ring bearer. Sadly we had to leave him behind on our venture to the beach as it was a very hot day, but we managed to take some photos of the three of them at the beautiful grounds of Lower Barns. I love this venue and Mike and Janie always make me feel so welcome! If you’re looking for a beautiful, eclectic romantic getaway for your elopement in Cornwall, don’t look any further, Lower Barns is a truly quirky, unique and romantic hideaway, perfect for an intimate elopement wedding!

Here is a mini preview from Anita and Alan’s special day here recently. I hope you like the images as much as I did enjoy capturing them!

Venue: Lower Barns // Date: 20.06.2025

Best of 2023 Wedding Photography

What a year, 2023 you were amazing! I feel truly privileged to do a job I love so much. The people I meet, the places I visit, the laughter, joy and love I witness and memories I capture put a big smile in my face. Thanks to all my couples for choosing me as your wedding photographer, you were amazing and I feel so honoured to have played a part in your very special day. Thanks a million for having me. Here is a look back at some of my favourite moments…to be honest there were hundreds and it was really hard to make this collection.

Roll on 2024, I know it will be a cracker!

Cornwall Elopement at Lower Barns // Zoe & Stew

Zoe and Stew eloped at Lower Barns in Cornwall .They decided to have a no fuss relaxed elopement wedding and booked Lower Barns for a few days to have a quality break in Cornwall. They couldn’t have chosen a better week for it. We have been blessed here recently with plenty of sunshine and quality beach time. The ceremony was held outside in the beautiful grounds of Lower Barns. After some Prosecco and a few photos around the grounds we ventured to Caerhays beach for some more beach portraits.

A mini preview here…

Venue: Lower Barns // Date: 23.05.2023 // Hair: LJP hair and Makeup

Elopement Photography at Lower Barns in Cornwall // Nicky & Joe

Nicky and Joe finally got married early march at Lower Barns in Cornwall after postponing their wedding day twice. They decided to have an elopement with not too much fuss and make it a weekend get away for just the two of them and their adorable little pooch.

More and more couples opt for a low key wedding. Elopements are a great alternative to a big wedding. You can enjoy your day your way, there is less planning involved, you won’t have to be in the spotlight or follow strict timelines but rather enjoy more time together. Nicky and Joe did just that. They also didn’t want the typical beach portraits and opted for a visit to St Austell Brewery instead to enjoy burgers and a beer, they said it’s just more like them…when I heard this, I knew it’s going to be a great day to photograph. I like things a little different! And what a lovely pair to work with…

Here is a small selection of my favourites…

Venue: Lower Barns // Date: 02.03.2022

Cornwall Elopement Photographer at Tremenheere Sculptured Gardens // Nuala & Daniël

Nuala and Daniël opted for a runaway wedding at Tremenheere Sculptured Gardens in Cornwall. This beautiful garden on the South Coast is is a real Cornish Gem. You could believe you are somewhere on a tropical island, so beautiful! Nuala and Daniël were blessed with a relative mild and dry day for December so they had an outdoor ceremony in the Pagoda on top of the hill overlooking St Michael’s Mount, which was wrapped in a mystical mist that day. It really was a fairytale elopement wedding and you wouldn’t believe it was Winter!

Here is a small collection of my favourite photos from the day…Nuala and Daniël, thanks again for letting me document your truly magical day…

Venue: Tremenheere Sculptured Gardens // Wedding Coordinator: Petite Weddings // Flowers: Lafonia Flower Company

Micro Wedding Photography Porthtowan Cornwall // Robyn + Amy

Robyn and Amy asked me if I could take some photos of them after their registry office ceremony on their favourite cornish beach, Porthtowan. They weren’t too fussed about having their ceremony photographed but rather wanted a couple of hours with me taking some relaxed photos of them and their friends on the beach afterwards.

I was a bit worried how it would turn out as the day started rather stormy with no breaks in the rain in sight. I ventured down anyway, finding shelter at the Blue Bar. I was waiting for them half an hour loosing hope they would turn up. When they finally arrived they told me they had some problems at the registry office. I guess the slight delay was meant to be as the clouds broke and the sun came out for an hour, just in time for our photo session! And how beautiful is the light just before or after rain, especially in autumn!

What a pleasure to meet you, Amy and Robyn! You and your gang were absolute stars and I had a great time documenting a brief time of your very special day…champagne was flowing en masse, I’m sure you enjoyed your wedding meal, ha, ha!

A little preview for you

“Alexa was absolutely amazing.. very friendly and professional really went that extra mile to get to know us and what we wanted and also to get the best pictures.. I honestly can’t say enough good things that would do any justice to the quality of work and Alexa’s commitment to her job. Extremely helpful from day 1 and very easy to talk to and also to contact.we live 5 hours away and arrangingfor our wedding photos was a breeze.. Thankyou for helping us make amazing memories and giving us the wonderful pictures we can look back on for a lifetime.”

— Robyn & Amy

Location: Porthtowan Beach // Makeup: Lianne Layton Morris // Dress: Brighton Belle // Suit: Next

Small Weddings - big Memories

Are you thinking of getting married but don't want to spend the big money?

Are you thinking big weddings have got a bit out of hand?

Are you feeling overwhelmed by the wedding planning process?

Then why don't you consider to downsizing? Smaller weddings are not any less special and have many benefits unique to them. They might even be the trend in the near future.

Let's explain the difference in between larger and smaller weddings first. An intimate or small wedding is generally considered to have between 30 and 60 guests. Whereas Micro weddings are much smaller than this, with guest numbers usually in between 10-20. An elopement with just the two of you is considered a 'runaway wedding'. Usually it means getting married without telling anyone especially your parents, but I have also seen a few elopements where couples bring their parents along as witnesses.

Many couples and celebrities are now opting for smaller weddings. It doesn't have to be a big expensive affair to be the special day of your life. Let me show you that a downsized day can not just be more romantic and intimate but also save you cost along with a whole host of other benefits.

A more personal and intimate atmosphere

While every bride and groom would much rather spend quality time with guests, hosting duties usually prevent this from happening. With a smaller wedding, you’ll have fewer guests to worry about and an opportunity to spend more quality time with them. You’ll also get plenty more special moments for the two of you to enjoy alone. 

With a lot of small wedding venues being exclusive hire, you can do everything your way and decorate the whole place the way you like it with less effort than transforming a large venue to suit your style. It's much easier to create a more personal athmosphere for you and your guests in a small venue than a large one. Make it yours, reflecting your style and personality.

Finding a unique wedding venue suiting your style

Lavish weddings with guest numbers of 200+ don’t always ensure the best in wedding venues. In fact, finding a wedding venue to accommodate a large number of guests can be rather difficult – meaning you have to settle for the best of what’s available. Small, intimate weddings, on the other hand, offer plenty of choice and a whole range of hidden gems. One of my favourite venues here in Cornwall is the stylish Lowerbarns Boutique Bed and Breakfast on the Southcoast, a great option for elopements and intimate weddings up to 30 guests. It offers eclectic and unique rooms with private gardens to stay in. Some of them even come with a Jacuzzi. The owners Janey and Mike offer a more personal service than larger venues do and make everybody feel at home in no time. They also have a great catering team to make you some delicious meals. If you're opting for something slightly bigger like 60 guests, there are plenty of venues to choose from here in Cornwall. Lusty Glaze is one of them, located on its own private beach, you can't get closer to getting married by the sea here in Cornwall. They offer everything from elopements to larger weddings. You can hire whole or part of the beach venue for as little or as long as you like and if you book early you can even stay in one of their cottages on the beach. Knightor Winery is a beautiful rustic barn venue with a beautiful courtyard and some delicious food on offer. You can even offer your guests a wine tasting session of Knightor wines. Or you treat yourself to a luxury weekend away at the Scarlet hotel in Mawganporth. There are plenty of stunning locations to choose from here in Cornwall. I have a added a list of my favourites at the end of this article.

Savings on your big day budget

Whether you simply can’t afford the typical costs of a larger wedding or you think a big budget spend is a waste of money, downsizing your day can help you make essential savings. Limiting the number of wedding guests can allow you to focus on what you really want, which could be quality and individuality over size.

Saving big bucks on your wedding day will open other opportunites like a special honeymoon where you can make more special memories.

A more laid back day

Firstly a smaller wedding involves way less planning than a big celebration with 100 plus guests. Even better when you can accommodate all your guests on location and make it a weekend with everybody together. A lot of smaller wedding venues cater for accommodating up to 30 guests. There is also the possibility of renting a larger holiday house and spend the weekend together under one roof with strolls down the beach, dips in the sea, and bbq's with gin and beers.

Small weddings are easier to make more laid back, giving you the opportunity to break free from the typical wedding day traditions if you wish. With a more laid back day and less guests you can spend your special day less stressed and just enjoy the day as it unfolds.

Enjoyment of each and every moment

One of the most common statements I get from couples is that they feel the whole day was flying by too fast. With so many people to see, speeches, cake cutting, dancing and time obsessed wedding planners/managers – the day just disappears. When you downsize your wedding, you don't have to downsize the fun. It is about giving yourself the opportunity to enjoy every moment, spend more quality time with your guests, and enjoy your special day.

My favourite small wedding and elopement venues in Cornwall:

Lower Barns Boutique Bed & Breakfast

Cosawes Barton

Treseren

Lusty Glaze Beach Weddings

Pengenna Manor

The Green

Fal River Cruises

The Scarlet Hotel

Petite Weddings (small wedding venues and planning service for runaway weddings)

If you’re planning a smaller wedding or elopement in Cornwall or anywhere else in the UK please email me for further information. I can’t wait to hear all about it!

Micala & Kevin // Lower Barns Cornwall Elopement Photography

I do love an elopement wedding, they are so special and intimate, even better if it’s at one of my favourite Elopement venues Lower Barns Boutique Bed and Breakfast on the Cornish Southcoast!

Micala and Kevin decided to have a true ‘runaway wedding’ with just the two of them and didn’t tell their family and friends until the next day. The Ceremony was held in the cosy ‘Love Shack’ , it started off quite drizzly, but when the weather brightened up we ventured to Caerhays beach for some couple photos. The rain stopped, but it couldn’t have been windier, I love a bit of wind though as it makes the images more dynamic and can add a bit of drama. Just before we headed back, the sun came out just for a couple of minutes and added some great light for the last few photos! I think it’s a great set and the two were so natural in front of the camera considering they don’t like their photo taken..

Micala and Kevin, I hope you had a fab evening after I left and you got to use the hot tub a little more ;-)

Here is a small preview for you, I hope you like it!

Venue: Lower Barns // Date: 08.05.19 // Flowers: Perdies Flowers // Hair & Makeup: Jenny from Cornwall Hair and MUA

Cornwall Elopement Wedding Photography at Lower Barns // Kirsty and Rich

What can I say, Rich and Kirsty really showed us how a runaway wedding is done properly! They only brought their mums, brother, a chocolate labrador and their adorable little daughter with them and didn't tell anyone at home. It officially just was a holiday in Cornwall. And when Kirsty called her dad after the ceremony to tell him they just got married there was a big 'WHAT, WOW, REALLY??' On the other end of the line. A great surprise!

They tied the knot at the fabulous Lower Barns Boutique and Breakfast on the Cornwall South Coast. The morning started unsettled with drizzle so it was a bit worrying if the sun comes out for them. But just in time during their ceremony the clouds cleared and we were blessed with scorching sunshine, ideal for a photo trip to the nearby Vault Bay.

Rich and Kirsty, I can't say enough how much I loved working with you. You have such a lovely bond for each other and your daughter is just so cute I couldn't stop taking photos of her!!!

I wish you all the best for your married life and I hope you like this little preview xxx..

Best of 2017 Collection

OMG it was a tough decision to make the cut, so many beautiful weddings and moments captured in 2017! So I would like to present you a rather large collection of the best shots from last year. It was a busy year and I have witnessed some beautiful people tying the knot in some incredible places in the south west and further afield. 

Some of you braved the elements just to get some great photos, including torrential rain, thistle fields, dodging sheep poo, climbing up high cliffs and avoiding sparkler burns.. I have witnessed happy tears and raw emotion and of course lots and lots of alcoholic beverages which provided fuel for some wild parties and dancing! I can't tell you how fortunate I feel to have been able to document all your beautiful wedding stories, to meet so many lovely people and to make some new friends along the way.

I also had the opportunity to work with some great talented people in the UK wedding industry. Thanks for all your support, without you I wouldn't be where I am today.

Roll on 2018 for some more amazing adventures!