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

Charlotte & John's Winter Wedding at The Green Cornwall

My first wedding of the season 2019 and it starts at one of my all time favourite venues with Charlotte & John’s small wedding at The Green in Cornwall. As you would expect this time of year, it’s still winter even though it felt like spring recently, the weather was rather changeable, but we managed to stay dry and even seen some glimpses of sunshine, yey!

About the day

What I loved about this day were all these personal touches and DIY details. Starting with the brides and bridesmaids headpieces which were crafted by Charlotte’s friend. Hair was done by one of the bride’s closest friends and bridesmaid Livvy and makeup by her sister Vicky. The decorations and flowers were DIY, the paper flower in Charlotte’s bouquet came from her friend’s bridal bouquet who was married last year. Charlotte made the flower girl’s hair rosette pieces. John and Charlotte’s faithful labrador did a great job as ring bearer. A close friend and usher was leading the ceremony. The bridal entrance was accompanied by the groom and usher’s live singing performance … and the list goes on ... I can’t point out enough how I adore personal touches at a wedding, they make it so much more special by reflecting the couple’s personality and spirit.

I was only booked for my smallest package, so I only stayed with this fun bunch for 3 hours covering a tiny bit of getting ready (as I arrived early..), the ceremony and some photos in the grounds after..

Here are a few highlights, I hope you like them…

Venue: The Green Cornwall // Date: 28.02.19

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!

Wedding Photographer in Costa Rica

Yes, I had some time out and recharged my batteries on a surf trip in tropical Costa Rica. No, I didn’t photograph a wedding there! I surfed, enjoyed plenty of sunshine, drove down dusty roads, met some lovely people and seen beautiful wildlife. Here is a photo of me sliding on an inside peeler. More photos coming soon, I promise!

Bridebook Gold Award of Excellence!

Yes, yes, yes! I’ve just found out that I’ve won a Bridebook ‘Gold Award of Excellence’! Thanks to all the lovely couples who have voted for me and left such amazing reviews :-)

Trevenna Barns Winter Wedding, Cornwall - Hayley & Tom

Hayley and Tom sandwiched their wedding in between Christmas and New Year. Oh yes, it can be done and what a blast they had! The sun was out and flooded the whole place in beautiful golden winter light. This winter wedding had better weather than some August weddings I photographed last year… Cornwall is always full of surprises!

I had the opportunity to work with Sean White again, not the Snowboarder even though that would have been ace! Sean makes beautiful wedding films and he is always a pleasure to work with.

Trevenna was beautifully decorated in a winter’s theme with white trees and fake snow spread over the tables edges. A very festive look.

I left them after an intimate first dance and a spectacular sparkler exit, but I’m sure they danced the night away. Hayley and Tom, it was pleasure to be part of your very special day, I hope you like this little preview. Not long now for the full set to arrive in your post box…

Venue: Trevenna Barns // Date: 27.12.18 // Flowers: Sharon Mesher // Decor: Unique Designs by Tina // Hair: The Lounge Plymouth // Makeup: Sophie White // Music: DJ // Videographer: Sean White Wedding Films

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…