Claire & Andy // Trevenna Wedding Photography, a scorcher of a day!

When you’re preparing for the worst stormy weather and get your wellies and umbrellas ready for your wedding day in Cornwall and you wake up in the morning of your special day and the sun smiles in your face. The weather gods really were in favour for Claire and Andy! Everything just came together on this magical spring day wedding, a fun bunch of people, beautiful sunshine, a stunning venue in the heart of Cornwall, friendly and super helpful staff, a wedding cake made by Andy himself, beautiful flowers, great music, good food and most of all lots of fun, laughter and love.

I had a pleasure being there to tell this story. Andy and Claire, what a scorcher of a day, it couldn’t have been any better!

Here are a few of my favourites. I hope you like them…

Venue: Trevenna // Date: 06.04.19 // Flowers: Alexandra Sylvester // Dress: Wed2Be // Hair & Makeup: Lisa Want // Cake: Andy, Caketopper: Artful Caketoppers // Music: I Love Amp

Becky & Jonathan // Trevenna Barns Wedding Photography

It’s always a bonus when the sun comes out for a winter wedding, well it’s late winter and in recent years I had more sunny weddings in March than in August here in Cornwall. And it’s extra special as it was my first outdoor ceremony this year! Becky and Jon, you were so lucky, what a day for your winter wedding at Trevenna Barns in Cornwall…

I was only hired for half of it, so ca 5 hours and must admit I was sad to not get the whole story for this one covered!

Here are a few of my favourites. I hope you like them…

Venue: Trevenna // Date: 30.03.19 // Flowers: Sharon Mesher // Dress: The Bridal Corner // Hair: Rhian Ward, Armaesalon // Makeup: Emmieemua

Layla & Simon // Wedding Photography at The Green Cornwall

Layla and Simon had a small wedding at The Green Cornwall late march. As you would expect that time of year the weather was rather changeable but mild. Although I quite like the overcast weather here in Cornwall it can create a moody and sometimes mystical atmosphere and you don’t have to fight harsh shadows caused by bright midday sunlight. The day was nice and relaxed and I admired Layla’s gorgeous wedding dress and her overall look, just so stunning! It definitely makes my job as a wedding photographer easier when the couple is as good looking and relaxed as Layla and Simon.

I was only booked for 3 hours so you won’t see the whole story, but I’m pleased we got quite a bit covered and I’m excited to show you a small preview here.

Venue: The Green Cornwall // Date: 23.03.19 // Silk Flowers: Vintage Silk // Dress: Fleur de Lys Bridal, Saffron Walden // Hair: HairbyEmmac // Video: Shoot it yourself // Music: Pat McIntyre

Chycara House Wedding Photography // Beth & Justin

Beth and Justin are such a lovely couple. I met them the week before their wedding to discuss their day and just knew straight away this one would be fun!

I started the day early at Beth’s mum’s house in Truro where all the girls were getting ready. It was a lovely relaxed morning with lots of cups of tea and laughter. The ceremony was held in Truro Methodist church not far away by Beth’s dad, yes you heard me, he married his daughter and what a great ceremony it was! I have never been to a methodist ceremony and I did love the music and communal vibe. I found myself singing along quietly which never happened in a church before!

Straight after the ceremony we made use out of the dry spell and took some family shots just outside the church before the cream tea upstairs. Early afternoon we ventured to the stunning Chycara House. Beth and Justin traveled in style in a vintage 1930’s Beauford. I haven’t been to this venue before and I was impressed, such a beautiful spot tucked away in a sheltered green valley not far from Bissoe. They recently renovated the wedding barn and I love what they did! Beth and her crew did a great job with the styling and she made personal blankets for her guests to keep warm in the fresh late winter’s evening. The landscaped gardens are great for couple portraits. There are bridges, ponds and lots of foliage to work with. Although I couldn’t quite find the right perspective for the bridge shot and climbed into a pond to find myself knee deep in mud, maybe not the right idea this time of year, but I’m happy with the results!

Unfortunately Beth felt sick in the afternoon and disappeared just after the meal. We were all worried if she would make it back to the reception. After an hour of sleep she returned with a big applause and her evening outfit on. I’m so happy she made it back and could enjoy the evening!

The Ceilidh Dance is always a great entertainment at weddings, it gets everyone involved and I just love to capture the confused faces and funny moves..

A perfect day filled with love and I feel blessed to have played my part in it. Great to work alongside Beth’s brother Joel who did the videography.

Congratulations again to Beth & Justin, you were great x

Here is a preview for you…

Venue: Chycara House // Date: 16.03.19 //  Makeup: Jenna Loveridge of Jenna Jazz // Dress: Bleu Bridal Gowns // Hair: Zoe Salmon // Flowers: Beth’s mum // Music: The Cumberland Ceilidh Band // Wedding Car: Roaring 30’s Automobiles // Videography: Joel Dunn-Wilson

I really enjoyed photographing this lovely wedding at Chycara House. I’m on their recommended supplier’s list and would love to shoot more weddings there. So if you are planning a wedding there please contact me for further details

What to do when it rains on your Wedding Day in Cornwall

It's every bride's nightmare - you plan a beautiful summer wedding but when the day itself comes, you look out of the window and instead of bright blue skies you’it's pouring down with rain! No matter how much you wish for a sunny wedding day the elements might not play their part – especially here in the UK. It can change so fast as we are so open to storms coming over from the Atlantic here. You can't control the weather, but you can control how you feel about it.

So here are a few tips on how to make sure that the wet weather doesn't spoil your big day.

PLAN SHELTER

Making your day a success all comes down to preparation and planning and that goes for the weather too. Make sure you take the possibility of rain into account. Of course, it would be lovely if your guests can play garden games and sip Champagne in the gardens of your wedding venue, but if does rain, is there somewhere else that they can go? Check with the venue and make sure they can accommodate all your guests in the case of a downpour.

Regarding the garden games, there are great indoor activities for an alternative.

DON’T FORGET UMBRELLAS AND WELLIES

Make sure you have plenty of umbrellas - especially for the wedding party. Some venues provide them, so it's worth asking beforehand. For the wedding couple I suggest to gor for a stylish white one as coloured umbrellas can cast a light on your faces which is not so flattering for the photos.

Wellies are a good accessory to have when you venture out for some couple portraits. You can walk comfortably and don't have to worry about ruining your dainty wedding shoes. The photos always turn out more natural when you can move freely. For the rest of the guests, put the ushers in charge of rounding up a range of umbrellas to have on hand and have them hand them out to those that need them.

WORK WITH YOUR VENDORS

Confirm with your vendors to see how they work on a rain day. Will the florist need to reconsider their wedding flower ideas, will the live music still be bale to perform, does the venue have an indoor ceremony alternative. The important thing to know is that you’ve hired a group of professionals  who you can trust they will deliver a memorable wedding whatever the conditions.

If you're having a marquee, think carefully about the flooring you choose. Coconut matting is a cheaper option but if it rains, it can be difficult to walk on, especially in heels. Wooden floors are the best even though slightly more expensive, but you'll weather-proof your venue against even the wettest of days.

PLAN WITH YOUR PHOTOGRAPHER

Here comes the fun part. Rain can produce some of the most atmospheric, romantic shots. Disappointing as the rain is the lighting is softer and can produce better images than on a bright sunny day. An experienced photographer will be able to make you pop in photos. Most  photographers will sort out a wet weather plan before the big day. Maybe there is a nice door way you could stand under or there might be some woodland  that is sheltered from the rain? As mentioned before, bring wellies to be able to walk comfortably. Umbrellas can be a fun prop in the photos too! Most importantly if you're having a good time it reflects in the images!  

BE FLEXIBLE AND KEEP AN EYE ON THE FORECAST

Keep an eye on the forecast up and until your wedding. You may find out that it will only rain during certain times of the day. This will allow you to adjust your wedding day timings accordingly to fit your plans while taking account of the weather.

Ask the caterers beforehand if they are flexible with timings. If it's showery, it might be worth moving the dinner forward half an hour so guests can be inside while it's raining and head out afterwards once it clears.

Same for the photos, you can plan to have them all done before the meal, but if the weather is just better later in the day, it is worth being flexible about it and trust the photographer when is the best timing.

CREATE A WARM ENVIRONMENT

There’s nothing better than cozying up on a rainy day. Serve favorites like hot cocoa and warm cider and set up heat lamps or fire pits to keep your guests warm and toasty.

Rain can invite plenty of wind, so you and your guests will appreciate the extra blankets and towels to stay warm between activities.  

BE PRACTICAL ABOUT HAIR AND MAKEUP

Rain may not be beauty’s best friend, no one likes runny mascara amd frizzy hair, but you can still look flawless on your wedding. Your hair and makeup experts will be able to waterproof your makeup and give you a trendy messy bun or similar that won’t fall apart from water and wind. 

EMBRACE AND ENJOY IT

So it might not be what you had envisioned for your day and it's perfectly okay to be upset about the rain, but don't let the feeling overtake you.  You are the center of attention and if you stay upbeat about it so will your guests. 

Think about what really matters. It's not going to be a disaster if everything doesn't go completely to plan and you do end up with rain on your wedding day. This is about the two of you sharing your big day with friends and family, having a blast and not even a rainstorm can ruin that! You are getting married to the love of your life – rain or shine. Embrace and enjoy it!

Best of 2018 Weddings!

A collection of my favourite shots from 2018. Thanks to all the lovely couples who let me cover their special days. I had the opportunity to visit some new stunning venues and work with some of the best wedding suppliers the Southwest has to offer. I got stuck in snow during the beast from the east, dodged sheep poo, plenty of rain, incoming tides and so much more, but I can’t tell you how blessed I feel and how much I love my job and you guys are playing an important part in it. A year filled with laughter, tears and so much love. Thanks soooooo much! Roll on 2019…

Tredudwell Cornwall festive Winter Wedding - Emma & Lee

THE VENUE

Emma and Lee tied the knot with a festive winter wedding at Tredudwell Manor in Cornwall. This stunning venue was on my bucket list for a while and I’m pleased that I finally had the opportunity to shoot a wedding there. The stunning Queen Anne Manor house dated 1705 was entirely renovated keeping most of it’s features. With acres of land and views over cornish hills it is a hidden gem on the beautiful south coast not far from Looe.

THE DAY

It was an overcast day and drizzled on the way there and I was slightly worried about the lack of light this time of year especially on a rainy day, but the rain stopped just after the ceremony and we could venture outside for some photos. While the guests kept busy drinking Gin from the mobile Gin bar. The styling was kept simple with green leaves, pine cones and recycled Gin bottles as candle holders and centrepieces.

The couples son Seb kept entertaining everyone with his unique charm. During the ceremony he thought it was his job providing his parents with chocolates given to him by grandma and later in the day he even had his part to say or ‘sing’ in the speeches!

Thanks to the steady flow of alcohol the dance floor filled up soon and I’m sure one of the bridesmaids didn’t remember all that much the next day ;-)

Emma and Lee, thanks again for having me photograph your truly wonderful day. Here is a small collection for you. I hope you like the images as much as I do and I’m pleased to tell you your USB is in the post to arrive in time for Christmas x

Venue: Tredudwell // Date: 01.12.18 // Flowers and Decor: Twigs and Greens // Hair: TBC // Makeup: TBC // Music: DJ

Cosawes Barton Cornwall Wedding Photographer - Lindsay & Jordan

Lindsay and Jordan tied the knot in early November at Cosawes Barton in Cornwall. They had a small wedding with just their closest family and friends, some may call it a ‘petite wedding’. It was one of those Cornish ‘mizzle’ days but that didn’t stop then from having a great time and lucky enough the rain stopped just before the ceremony. The ceremony itself was held in the cosy barn room lovingly decorated by with a beautiful flower arch. With it being dry and surprisingly mild everyone enjoyed some canapés and champagne in the courtyard.

I admire the gardens st Cosawes Barton especially this time of year with beautiful autumn trees adding colour to an overcast day. Unfortunately the rain came back half way trough our couple photo shoot, but who cares about the rain when you have red and golden leaves to brighten up your day! I was only with them for 3 hours and left just before the meal and speeches. It looked like everyone was in good swing for a great evening and I’m sure they enjoyed the rest of the day.

Here is a small collection for you. Thanks again for having me there and I hope you’re enjoying the torquoise waters of the maldives on your honeymoon…xxx

Venue: Cosawes Barton // Date: 10.11.18 // Flowers and Decor: Stargazey Weddingdecor Hire // Hair: TBC // Makeup: Stacey Cremin MUA// Music: Kajmusic

Knightor Winery Wedding Photography // Ali & Matt

Ali and Matt tied the knot in early October at the fabulous Knightor Winery with a micro wedding. They decided to have a smaller more intimate celebration and it turned out such a lovely day! It was quite mild but slightly overcast and kept drizzling so the tension was high to the last minute if we can have the ceremony outside. Gladly the registrars finally made the call that outdoors is a go and I’m so pleased for Ali and Matt as it was really important to them.

Autumn is Ali’s favourite time of year and I tried to incorporate the autumn mood into the images although the leaves weren’t quite there yet. The decorations were reflecting the autumn theme and looked festive with twigs, nuts and tea lights all collected and lovingly decorated by family and friends. Ali is very passionate about the environment and found me through some work I did with ‘Surfers Against Sewage’.

Here is what Ali says about her wedding day:

‘I am super proud of the environmentally friendly choices we made for our wedding day- my dress was second hand, (saving me £500), a lot of our stationary, decorations and gifts were reusable, recyclable or compostable. We used family and friends where we could; my dad did our invites, Matts mum made our wedding cake, matts aunt made our garlands, I made the buttonholes and bouquets. What we couldn’t do we bought second hand or from small businesses, (apart from a few purchases in m&s/ ikea/ Poundland!). The mua is the creator of the vegan/ environmentally friendly @angelfacemc (which I highly recommend) a brand also used by the hairstylist. Our photographer lives the Cornish lifestyle and has been featured on surfers against sewage, our band a local Cornish group, our venue prides itself on local produce. We did try hard to limit our carbon footprint. I hate it when people make negative comments about my ideals, but you know what, that’s their problem, not mine. I absolutely loved our wedding day, and I wouldn’t have changed a thing, thank you so much to all our family, friends and suppliers!’

I was only booked for 5 hours, so I missed the bridal preparations and evening entertainment. I would have loved to stay and listened to ‘Black Friday’ who played at a friends wedding a few years back and are ace!

Here is a small collection from the few hours I shared with the lovely couple, I hope you like it..

Venue: Knightor Winery // Date: 08.10.18 // Flowers: TBC // Hair: Emily’s Pro Hair Cornwall // Makeup: Julie Wiz Makeup Artist // Music: Black Friday

Lusty Glaze Beach Cornwall Wedding Photography // Becky & Alex

Well what another cracker of a day this was! Becky and Alex had a scorcher of a wedding day on the ever epic Lusty Glaze Beach.

They first spotted me having dinner at Lusty and watched me photographing another wedding there. They liked my relaxed and discrete approach and looked up my work. It was also the day Alex proposed to Becky. What a great story, love it!

For all the other weddings I photographed at Lusty the couple stayed elsewhere nearby in the Newquay area. So today I had the opportunity to meet the bridal party in the cottages down on the beach for the getting ready shots. I was quite excited to finally see them from the inside! When I arrived, Becky had a box with a surprise wedding present for Alex. I brought it over to the guy’s cottage and OMG, if I tell you what was in the box, it’s a man’s dream come true…Becky ordered a Harley Davidson for her future husband, ready to be delivered a few days after the wedding!!! Definitely the best wedding present I have ever seen…Apparently Alex doesn’t easily cry, I’m sure I could see some tears appearing in the corner of his eyes…what a surprise!

The whole day had a beautiful casual feel to it and the weather was playing it’s part, a warm slightly overcast late September day with a few sunny glimpses. Although we missed a good sunset, but hey, you can’t have it all!

I must say I’m adoring their cute German Shepherd ‘Bear’ who was ‘best man dog’ and ring bearer and honestly couldn’t have done a better job.

Becky and Alex, you are truly made for each other! Here is a small preview for you…I hope you like it xxx

I’ll let the images do the talking here!

Venue: Lusty Glaze Beach Weddings // Date: 28.09.18 // Flowers: Coastal Floral Designs // Dress: Ava Rose Hamilton Bridal Shop // Music: Fistral Stereo // Food: Lusty // Makeup: Jessica ley Makeup // Cake: Carmel Earnshaw