Tips to have a more eco friendly wedding

In a world of imminent climate change it is ever more important to do our part to save the Earth’s natural resources. Here are my top tips for an eco-friendly, plastic-free wedding…

Wildlife friendly wedding favours

Packing and products can use up a lot of the planet’s resources. Think about giving your guests something something useful, and environmentally-friendly instead.

I have seen a lot of Beautiful Wildflower Seed Favours  as a gift at last year’s weddings. Your guess will love it when they see their gardens blossom and the bees will find a much needed source of food from the pollen. You can personalise the paper packaging too.

Scented Candles are a lovely gift too. A great supplier of natural candles and bath and body products is Join Store London , made in the UK by Mother Nature and handcrafted using pure essential oils and only natural, plant based ingredients.100% natural and cruelty free, never tested on animals.

Join handcrafted are not just natural but they smell gorgeous too and make great wedding deco elements leaving your venue in a divine scent!

Or you just leave the favours entirely and you make a statement of donating the money to a charity of your choice. Let your guests know and inspire them to perhaps donate too.

Helen & Ed have chosen to donate to the Extra -Mile instead of investing in wedding favours..

Conscious Choice of Decor

Borrow or hire whatever you need. Prop and hire companies have so many beautiful styling items, and you won't need to worry about packing them up and trying to sell them afterwards. Anything you put on the table or decorate with, look at it and think about ways to use natural materials instead of plastic ribbons, place markers and table confetti/glitter. Regarding confetti, use biodegradable. For example Real Flower Petal Confetti Company is natural real flower petal confetti grown in the UK countryside. Biodegradable, environmentally friendly and accepted as non-littering at wedding venues and churchyards. A great bonus as some venues won’t let you use confetti unless its biodegradable more out of the reason that they can’t be asked cleaning it all up after your wedding. The GreenWedding in Cornwall started using homemade pom pom confetti instead, they can look great on your photos!

Re-use or borrow stuff, it can be surprising how willing people are when it comes to offer things from their own weddings. Wood and wild seasonal flowers are always a beautiful sight at weddings. You can collect some lovely coloured glass vases from charity shops, or collect jars. I have seen gin or wine bottles too. Slices of wood with names carved into them make a great table decor and you can take it one step further and ask the National Trust for off cuts from their land managing programme.

And be aware when it comes to your decor balloons are one of the worst environmental issues.

Helen & Ed had a ‘green’ wedding at the Eco Park Porthtowan with locally sourced flower petal confetti from Cornish Gardens Confetti…

Vintage bottles collected from charity shops used as vases and tea light holders…

Wooden center pieces with wild seasonal flowers in recycled jars…

a great DIY table plan made from wooden pallets and pheasant feathers for a farmer’s wedding in St Ives.

Ask for eco-friendly wedding gifts

Avoid plastic packaging and explore other gift ideas instead.

If you’ve got everything you need why not ask your guests to donate to a charity of your choice instead. You can set up your own page with JustGiving . Or ask your guests to donate towards your honeymoon. On Honeyfund you can set up a custom page where you big day and your honeymoon can be funded your own way.

But if you do have a wish list then ask for eco-friendly gifts and make sure you only ask for things you really need and will use.

Use recycled paper for invitations and go digital

Make sure you search for stationary companies that use only recycled paper. Or even better, don’t use paper invites at all and set up a wedding webpage with all the relevant information for your wedding and use e-invites. The webpage is great way to send your guests directions and contacts for your big day and after the big day you can set up a photo gallery for everyone to relive the day.

Regarding your wedding photos, don’t print them all, just the ones you want for framing or an album. Most photographers gladly deliver their photos digitally these days anyway. But if you want a printed album ask your wedding photographer for eco friendly wedding albums.

Buy Ethical Wedding Rings

Try and find wedding and engagement rings in antiques shops or search for suppliers that use recycled gold or fairtrade silver.

Visit Friends of Earth for their guide on buying ethical jewellery.

Choose locally sourced organic food and drink for your wedding feast

One scary wedding statistic is it takes an average of 1,500 miles for food to get from farm to table. So when it comes to your food, the most eco-friendly thing to do is source food locally.

Search for a supplier that uses local, seasonal and organic food or ask your caterer to do this for you. Plus locally sourced food is likely to come with less plastic packaging. Many Cornish venues and caterers are now offering locally sourced food for your wedding meal. Or you could take it one step further and have a vegetarian or vegan wedding meal so your food is not contributing to climate change. I know vegan and vegetarian is not everyone’s thing, but if you do have a meaty feast planned, think about finding suppliers who provide organic lamb and beef, locally reared and maintaining high levels of animal welfare. A great example is the award-winning Nancarrow Farm near Truro, their feasts are absolutely delicious and completely organic and reared on the farm. A stunning wedding venue too!

Another way is to ask you guests to contribute to your meal, it helps to keep the costs down too. Have a ‘best cake’ competition!

Don’t use disposable grocery and recycle whatever you can. You can buy cheap mix and match grocery from charity shops or if that’s not your style think about hiring before using disposables. Don't use straws or plastic cutlery, full stop. Perhaps get a few paper straws for people who really want one, and use wooden cutlery that's later collected up and can be composted.

For evening food, takeaway boxes can be replaced with bagasse boxes or cardboard boxes, depending on what food is going in them. Your caterer will know which one is suited best.

Part of a Vegan Wedding Buffet at Ecopark Porthtowan. So delicious! It’s amazing what their skilled chefs can create…

If you have a meat feast wedding meal make sure it’s organic and locally reared like at Nancarrow Farm.

A cake buffet supplied by wedding guests

A fun thing to do: let your guests bring some home baked cakes along and make it a competition!

The Wedding Dress

One of the biggest waste of resources at weddings is the wedding dress. It costs hundreds or thousands of pounds and will only be worn one day! Think about buying a dress a little different, something you can wear again. You can stand out from the crowds in not wearing a traditional white dress…Or you could buy one second hand from vintage shops or ebay. Same for the groom’s suit and bridesmaid’s dresses and accessories, buy something you can wear again. And consider selling it afterwards if you don’t wear it anymore.

Another option is to choose your wedding dress supplier wisely. Claire L. Headdon's bridal wear collection uses silk fabrics that are all organic, eco-friendly and fairtrade. Handmade in Cornwall, her beautifully designed gowns are ‘environmentally friendly’ and you can still look stunning on your wedding day!

Bella’s gorgeous Ballroom style wedding dress! Something you can wear again on a special night out and such an eye-catcher compared to the traditional white dress! Phil is wearing his scottish kilt, no words needed ;-)

Seasonal flowers

Try to choose flowers which are locally grown and in season. Also ask your florist to avoid plastic ribbons etc and instead use natural materials. Or consider using a bouquet with dried or silk flowers which lasts forever and can be used afterwards as decoration in your house.

Choose an organic wedding cake

As your baker or wedding cake maker to use organic local ingredients in your cake. You could even have a dairy-free cake that will be suitable for vegans and better for the planet. Try not to waste food with a cake that only gets half eaten, consider using it as the main dessert or think about having individual cupcakes or a cheeseboard instead.

Oh this cake! Love it, and 100% organic too!

Environmentally-friendly transport

Ideally find a wedding venue close to home to avoid any unnecessary travel. At least stay in the UK where your guests can car share or use public transport instead of flying. Regarding wedding cars, think about making a statement and hiring a horse carriage, very classy! Or turn up at your wedding with an electric car or even a bicycle.

Encourage guests to consider leaving the car at home if possible and use public transport or you could hire a bus for them– it means they can enjoy a few drinks too!

Choosing the right venue

Choosing where to tie the knot is a big decision. Your venue sets the scene for everything else on your wedding day and we are so lucky to have plenty of beautiful venues on our doorstep here in Cornwall with many of them taking big steps towards becoming more sustainable.

Cornish Tipi Weddings for example is set in beautiful scenery of woodland and lakes to bring you a fairytale venue. They have no electricity on-site (except in the timber-decked marquee), and restricted car means guests are using minimal resources.

Green Weddings at Eco Park Porthtowan Cornwall. A stunning hill top position overlooking the Cornish Coast. Perfect for an informal celebration with the environment in mind. They are passionate about ensuring your wedding leaves as little mark on the world as possible. The wedding menus are 100% Vegetarian and /or Vegan using locally and ethically sourced ingredients. And believe me they are mouthwatering delicious!

The Eden Project one of the most stunning venues in the UK! And weather proof too as you will be in a mediterranean biome where it never rains, definitely a bonus with the unpredictable weather here in Cornwall! Eden is a charity, so everything you spend with them helps to further their transformational social and environmental projects locally and internationally. And the food, oh so delicious! Of course locally sourced too.

Nancarrow Farm Set in a secluded valley near Truro 5 lovingly converted 5 barns create a beautiful venue. They have an in house catering team providing a tasty menu from locally sourced produce and all the meat comes from animals reared on the farm. Also a host of the infamous Nancarrow Feast Nights, which I highly recommend!

There are many more venues who are doing great work to go ‘greener’, but I would sit here all day to list them all. If you are keen on a ‘greener wedding’ please email me and I will send you a list of eco-friendly suppliers.

Featured on Shotkit! Camera Gear of the World's best Photographers...

Proud to be featured on Shotkit a page to show the inside of the camera bag from the world’s best photographer’s. There is a lot of information and useful tips about camera gear and where you can buy it plus so much more…

Here is the link: Shotkit

I have to add that after I said I have used Canon all my career, I have now made the the decision to switch to Sony mirrorless for less weight and a few other reasons like focusing reliability. Also a lot of my gear needed updating. I kept one of my old trusted Canons as a backup.

My trusted gear up to the end of 2019

Best of 2019!

What a year it’s been! We fought the elements from torrential rain to high winds and bright sunshine, incoming tides, steep cliffs, made our way through muddy fields, ran away from cows…just to get our ‘poster shots’. I photographed intimate elopements with just the two of you and huge gatherings with family and friends from near and far. Sorry for all of you having to put up with my messy hair at the end of the day! I enjoyed being a part of every single celebration and feel honoured to document so much joy and happiness. I can’t tell you enough how blessed I feel to have such a great job. Thanks for confiding in me and have a great 2020, can’t wait to meet all the couples booked in with me this year soon! Love to you all you soppy lot!

Here is a collection of my favourite moments in 2019, I hope you like it… xxx

Engagement Photography at Lanhydrock, Cornwall // Leanne + Ross

Leanne and Ross are getting married at the Green Cornwall next year. They came down for the weekend to go to a taster session there to choose their wedding meal. Exciting times!

So we met up at Lanhydrock for a coffee to go through their wedding day and for an engagement shoot. Leanne and Ross don’t like their photo taken, like most of the couples who book with me. Do they decided to book a pre - wedding photoshoot with me to see how I work and to get used to be behind the Lens. We sat in the cafe and were waiting for the rain to ease off a little to venture out for a stroll in Lanhydrock’s woodland. They brought their adorable cockerpoo ‘Ruby’ with them. I wish she could come to the wedding, but only 1 year old she is very excitable and Leanne is worried she might jump up her dress with her muddy paws. I still hope they change their minds and bring her along for their special day, she would look too cute with a bow tie on!

So here you go, I picked a few of my favourites from the day, I just wish I took more of Ruby, but she was too busy messing in the undergrowth and getting herself muddy...

If you are in two minds if you should book and engagement photography session with me, maybe this article ‘engagement photos - are they worth it?’ I wrote for Lusty Glaze will help you to decide.

To book an engagement session with me just contact me for further details. If you have a wedding booked with me I can even offer you a discount.

Engagement Photoshoot on Perranporth Beach // James + Rachel

I can’t tell you enough how much I’m looking forward to shooting Rachel and Jame’s wedding at Tenderway Farm next year! It sounds like just the kind of wedding I love photographing so much, a relaxed style weekend with friends and family in Cornwall. This venue has also been on my bucket list since quite a while, so extra bonus! I met the two for their pre wedding consultation in Perranporth. Jame’s grew up here, so they wanted a few photos on Perranporth beach to ease their nerves before the big day. We were so lucky as it was a sunny day sandwiched in between all the rain we had here recently in Cornwall. The late winter light is super special on a sunny day this time of year. I would say this shoot was literally cast in gold!

Here you go, a few of my favourite photos from this session

If you are in two minds if you should book and engagement photography session with me, maybe this article ‘engagement photos - are they worth it?’ I wrote for Lusty Glaze will help you to decide.

To book an engagement session with me just contact me for further details. If you have a wedding booked with me I can even offer you a discount.

Cornwall Engagement Photographer on Perranporth Beach // Chelsea + Dan

I met Chelsea and Dan last week at the Watering Hole in Perranporth to discuss their wedding day next year at Lusty glaze beach and take some engagement photos on the beach. They had a week down here in Cornwall and are lucky enough to stay in Dan’s father’s holiday apartment overlooking Perranporth beach.

After a coffee we ventured out for a little taster photoshoot or some may call it engagement or pre-wedding photoshoot. They just wanted to get a feel for how it’s like to be in front of a camera before their big day. Well, we got a bit unlucky as it was dry during our meeting and as soon as we ventured on the beach the cornish drizzle came back.

Nevertheless I love the results and I hope you do too, Chelsea and Dan! Here are a few favourites from our session…

To book an engagement session in Cornwall just contact me for further details. If you have a wedding booked with me I can even offer you a discount.

Cornwall Wedding Photography at Knightor Winery // Sophie + Joe

My last wedding this season and what a way to finish in torrential rain!

It was my first ever Jehova’s Witness ceremony, which was held at the Kingdom Hall in St Austell. Afterwards we moved on to Knightor Winery for the reception. The ceremony was finished after 4pm and we had to be fast to get some photos done before the light was fading. Well gladly Sophie and Joe were so easy going and keen on getting some good photos of their day that we ventured out in wind and rain and made it work. We even found some lovely sheltered spots around Knightor’s grounds for some beautiful autumnal wedding photos

Knightor Winery has consists of beautiful rustic barns, perfect for smaller to medium sized weddings like this one. Beautifully decorated with lots of fairy lights and candles giving it an extra special festive look. I guess that’s the positive side of fading day light, the dark time of year can add a cosy and festive atmosphere to your celebration.

Sophie and Joe booked me for my half day package from ceremony until just after the speeches. Here is a preview of their day

If you are getting married at Knightor Winery or anywhere in Cornwall or Devon please contact me for further information.

Venue Ceremony: Kingdom Hall St Austell // Venue Reception: Knightor Winery // Date: 25.10.19

Family Photography Watergate Bay Cornwall

We had some lovely sunny autumn days here in Cornwall recently. Rebecca contacted me a while ago tp photograph their family during their stay at Watergate Bay in Cornwall. It was her mum’s birthday weekend and together with her sister’s family they stayed at Watergate Bay hotel to celebrate. Rebecca wanted make a photo album with family photos for her mum’s birthday present. I think its such a great idea!

So we ventured to on the beach on a sunny day to take some natural family portraits. They had so much fun playing around in the rock pools, I just quietly observed and took some candid shots. What a lovely family!

Here are a few of my favourites from the session.

If you need some natural family portraits, now is a great time of year to photograph your loved ones. Please email me for a quote.

Cornwall Wedding Photographer at Knightor Winery // Dylan + Jake

Dylan and Jake tied the knot late September at Knightor Winery. I love this venue for smaller weddings, it is located na stones throw away from the Eden Project and not far from St Austell and the South Cornwall Coast. A working winery with historic barns and 4 acres of land, an outside arbour and beautiful gardens it is a great location for your wedding celebrations and offers beautiful photos opportunities. The food is prepared from local produce and served with superb wine.

The weather was rather temperamental and kept changing, one minute it would be super sunny, the next minute the heaven’s gates opened with heavy downpours, at times it would happen all at once. Hence they had an indoor ceremony in one of the venues cosy barns. It also meant that we had to stay felxible with the photos and ended up doing a few sessions when it stopped raining.

The speeches were rather touching and tears were shed… I stayed until the first dance which soon after filled the dance floor. I’m sure Knightor’s fantastic wines had something to do with the party starting early in full swing…

Dylan and Jake, thanks so much for having me documenting your fantastic wedding day. Here is a little taster of the 6 hours I shared with you…

“We couldn’t recommend Alexa enough! Alexa’s work can clearly speak for itself as she is able to capture such intimate moments so beautifully. We honestly still keep looking at the pictures Alexa took of our special day and can’t help but smile and see more detail each time we do, On the day Alexa was amazing. She made us feel so at ease, took the time get to know us and what we liked and made everything feel so natural and easy. For us not being people who like our photo’s being taken, Alexa did such a wonderful job. Alexa was amazing with our guests. All of them have commented on how she effortlessly fit into the wedding and was brilliant at making everyone feel welcome, comfortable and at ease with her being there. If you are thinking of using Alexa, do it!! It will be the best decision you make!! Alexa was amazing from start to finish! ”

— Dylan & Jake

Venue: Knightor Winery // Date: 26.09.19

Cornwall Micro Wedding Photography at Lusty Glaze // Sami & Lee

Sami and Lee tied the knot at Lusty Glaze on a beautiful sunny September day here in Cornwall. They had a small intimate day with just their closest family and friends. The beach was literally empty as the weather forecast was not as good as it turned out. I love photographing micro weddings and elopements, they just feel so special and I get to focus on the individual people more.

Sami and Lee I promised you a little preview. So here you go, I hope you like it.

If you’re looking to get married at Lusty Glaze in Cornwall please contact me for further details

“We had Alexa photograph our small, intimate, relaxed wedding in September 2019 at Lusty Glaze Beach in Cornwall. Alexa made us feel so relaxed from start to finish, she captured our day perfectly and we are so, so happy with the results. We had great communication from the day of booking until the wedding from Alexa and nothing was too much trouble. Thank you so much Alexa!”

— Sami & Lee

Venue: Lusty Glaze // Date: 10.09.19