Engagement Photoshoot at Godrevy Beach Cornwall // Karinne + Tony

I was supposed to photograph Karinne and Tony’s wedding at Tredudwell Manor in Cornwall this August but due to COVID 19 restrictions they decided to postpone till later on this year.

So we met at Godrevy, their favourite beach in Cornwall for an engagement photoshoot instead.

Here is a mini preview

If you’re planning to add an engagement session to your wedding or if you want to swap your pre wedding photoshoot to a family photography session, please contact me for further details

Wedding Photographer Porthilly Cornwall // Victoria + Tom

When everything seems to fall apart for Tom & Victoria because of the ever-changing social distancing rules caused by the global pandemic they found a way to still get married with their closest family and the help of their parent’s neighbours. A beautiful small wedding at Porthilly and Rock in Cornwall. The full story coming soon.

For now here is a 20 image preview

Family Portrait Photography Godrevy Beach Cornwall

A few weeks ago Katie asked me if I can take some family photos while they are visiting Cornwall. They wanted some more positive memories than the hard times they just went through. Ruby was diagnosed with cancer only 2 years old. I can imagine how devastating these horrible news were with my own mum terminal sick from it. I truly believe that times like this make you a stronger more compassionate human. Ruby’s charisma is beautiful with a strong light shining in her. The strong bond this family has is amazing and I feel privileged they asked me to create some memories on their break here.

I think I mentioned this before, I’m not a fan of studio portraits, I rather go for a walk with you and capture the essence of your family in natural non-staged photography. If you’re after some candid shots with your family, please contact me for more information

We had a fun evening at Godrevy beach, here is a selection of some of my favourites…

If you are looking for natural family portrait photography in Cornwall or Devon, please email me for further information

Wedding Photography at Lower Barns in Cornwall // Sam & Andy

My first wedding back this season and I had the pleasure to visit one of my favourite Cornish venues the fabulous Lower Barns!

It has been a rollercoaster the last few months with most of my weddings postponed to next year and beyond. For most suppliers in the wedding industry 2020 supposed to be a busy year, but then the global pandemic kicked in and what was a busy year ahead crumbled! It must have been just as bad for some of the couples who had to cancel or postpone their weddings and plan all over again trying to coordinate their suppliers for new dates etc..

Well for some couples it turned out ok, they could still keep their original wedding dates when the social distancing restrictions eased a bit. One of them are the lucky Sam and Andy. I’m so pleased for them as their wedding day turned out to be as they planned for, a relaxed afternoon with their nearest and dearest and 2 dogs. They didn’t want all the fuss of a big wedding, but guess what, they had 2 wedding cakes! Don’t underestimate the importance of cake, ha, ha!

I feel blessed to have spend a few hours with them capturing it all. Here is a small collection for you, I hope you like it!

If you’re getting married at Lower Barns please contact me about my wedding and elopement photography packages

Venue: Lower Barns // Date: 21.07.2020 // Flowers: Cornish Farm Flowers // Hair: Hair by Emma C // Dress: Adrianna Papell // Food: Lower Barns // Cake: Lower Barns & Claire’s Sweet Temptations // Bridesmaids Dresses: Jolie Moi // Suit: Ted Baker

Wedding Trends for 2020/2021 to help you with your wedding planning

Weddings are very personal and there is no wedding that fits all, everyone has their own taste and wants something different be it the venue, dress, makeup, catering, styling or flowers. Along with trends people's tastes are changing and what they wish their special day to look like. 

I have researched the latest trends in the wedding industry to give you some inspiration for your wedding planning.

RELAXED AND INFORMAL

Informal gatherings are top on the list for 2020/21 weddings. Going smaller with more to spend on quality instead of inviting everyone on your friend's list for your big day is gaining popularity as couples opt for more intimate, meaningful celebrations with their nearest and dearest. 

I see more and more bookings for ‘Micro weddings’ meaning having a guest list of around 40 people or fewer. They can be formal or informal, keep with tradition, take a more modern approach or can be a fusion of both. 

As there is more budget to spend on the personalisation you can make your wedding bespoke and offer your guests extra entertainment such as wine tasting, some quality favours and a 5 star dinner. You have more budget to add those little extras which make your wedding extra special and reflect your personality.

One of the most important qualities of smaller gatherings, they allow the bride and groom to spend more quality time with each and every guest. 

Read also my blog post on 'small weddings'

Sami and Lee had a micro wedding at Lusty Glaze last year, what a great place to have a reception with your nearest and dearest

SUSTAINABLE / ECO WEDDINGS 

In a world of imminent climate change it is ever more important to do our part to save the Earth’s natural resources. Now more than ever, couples are looking at ways to host responsibly.

This means cutting back on unnecessary waste and trying to be as eco-friendly as possible. There are plenty of 'greener' wedding venues to choose from and a lot of caterers offer deliciousness made from locally sourced food.

Another way to do your part to save the environment is to use upcycled and DIY décor , it doesn't just add a personal touch to your day but has been a wedding trend since a while and continues to grow. 

I have also seen a lot of couples going 'plastic free' or even zero waste in swapping plastic straws for paper ones, using dried flower bouquets, compostable confetti or even sharing décor with other couples using the venue. Offering to 'replant trees' or 'giving to charities' as a wedding favour has become popular too.

There is plenty more...please also read my article on: 

Tips to have a more Eco-Friendly Wedding

Dylan and Jake opted for compostable dried flower petal confetti and a dried flower bridal bouquet

GOING BIG AND BOLD ON STYLING AND LIGHTING

A smaller number of guests means you can spend more on styling your venue, so, it’s no surprise that one of the latest wedding trends right now is for oversize decor and giant statements.

Giving your wedding that personal style makes it different and more your day. Think giant balloons, giant centerpieces, floral arches, hanging displays and fancy lights.

Great lighting is often underrated and can transform your wedding venue and your images if it's indoors or outdoors. When the sun sets the lights come on, make them count and create an athmosphere for your reception. Even the simplest venue can start to glizzen with the right lighting installed.

Look at different ways to integrate lighting in a creative way. From exposed vintage style bulbs to funky lampshades, vintage chandeliers or candles in recycled jars to light up indoor and outdoor spaces. There’s lots of different ways that you can bring a touch of sparkle to your evening.

Bold Neon signage and lights have been around for a while and continue to be popular. With plenty of hire companies you can choose what you need to make a personal statement if you have the space.

Lighting can add a great ambience to your room and is often underrated. It also makes the photography more athmosperic. Hanging vintage light bulbs and fairy lights flood the room in a warm and light and can create some beautiful bokeh on your images.

make your wedding stylish with some hanging vintage lights

a warm atmosphere for your reception with the hanging vintage light bulbs

bold neon signage stays on trend if you have enough space to display it

the rustic barn at The Green Weddings in Cornwall with vintage lighting is a unique place for a ceremony

bridesmaids portrait in the old rustic barn with vintage lighting

THE DRESS

We all remember the Megan Markles beautiful wedding dress, designed by Clare Waight Keller it was elegant, chic and modern with a long veil and had a great impact on the wedding gown trend. 

Sleeves are also making a comeback. Long-sleeved wedding gowns are often paired with a backless dress to balance out the look, and adding a touch of sexiness. 

Wedding dresses with pockets are one of the hot bridal trends for this year. They don't just look great they are also practical for storing things like phones, lipsticks etc...or your hands when you don't know where you should put them during the photoshoot, only joking! 

Along with weddings tending more and more towards being unique and personalised comes the trend of a professional tailored or upcycled weddingdress, a way to have your own unique wedding dress like no one else and to suit your style.

Finally, along with the trend ‘going big’, extravagant and unique, flashy red statement lips are one of the makeup trends to look out for too.

Melodie’s vintage style dress was chic and elegant

simple elegance!

back less dress with added accessories

long sleeves are making a comeback!

Jenny’s custom designed wedding dress with tassel handbag , so gorgeous!

red lips are hip!

LARGE FLORALS

Flowers play a major part in every big day.

More and more couples are sourcing their flowers from an independent local florist.

Some even ask for seasonal locally sourced flowers, which is another great way to add a personal touch to your special day.

When choosing your flowers it's all about bold statement colours layered up with different textures and shapes. Speak to your florist about how they can layer up displays with an explosion of colour contributing to your colour scheme. 

Add a bit of colour as floral hair weaves for the bridal party.

And when it comes to your bridal bouquet, it’s all about understated tidy bouquets with plenty of overflowing greenery or even add some succulents.

Jenny’s bridal bold bouquet was just stunning!

big flower arches

oh those succulents, I’m a big fan!

colour, succulents and vintage glass, a stylish combination

VIDEOGRAPHY

In recent years I have been asked for videographer recommendations by more and more couples. Having your wedding day captured as a film is becoming more popular and a great way to relive your day. 

With videography gaining popularity we also see the rise of drone footage. Perfect for the videographer getting some stunning shots of you and your guests as well as your venue and the surroundings from above.

I have a list of talented videographers I work with, so please email me if you want some tips in the right direction.

FOOD AND DRINK

As everything else becomes more unique and personal so does the food and drink choices. From DIY bars with custom signature cocktails to unique canapés and desserts that reflect the couple's taste. Gin bars seem to be a favourite!

I have seen a lot of variations of grazing and dessert tables instead of a tradional wedding cake. I asked couples why they are not having a wedding cake and most of them answered that the 'cutting of the cake' is the biggest non-event of a wedding and with so much food on offer lots of it goes to waste and a grazing table or cheese tower/board makes much more sense.

So yes, if you want to be hip offer your guests cheese tables with artisan bread and crackers. Cupcake, donut towers are also popular choices or ask your guests to bring some homemade cake and offer a cake buffet. I have seen a 'bake off' competition, where the couple judges which is the best cake offering the 'star baker' a prize so your guets are inspired to bake the best cakes ever! 

Homemade Cake crazing table

homemade tastes best!

Winner of the ‘cake bake off’ competition

DO IT YOUR WAY

So these are some of the most popular things I have discovered , but whatever the trends remember this is your day, so make it your own and don’t worry about what’s popular and what others are doing. Instead use it for inspiration, to have your day your way.

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!

Engagement Photos - reasons why to have them...

I have recently written an article about engagement photoshoots and the reasons why to have them for Lusty Glaze Beach Weddings

For a lot of couples, the term ‘engagement photo session’ doesn’t sound appealing because it sounds more like a posed photoshoot and I usually get booked for my natural un-posed and canid style of photography. We can argue that this is true and we are meeting for the purpose of taking portraits so it’s not really reportage style or documentary photography, but it doesn’t mean that we can’t take candid photos during a pre-wedding shoot. In my opinion Engagement Sessions should feel like you’re going for a walk with a friend who happened to bring a camera along.

More and more couples are choosing to have an engagement shoot with me as an opportunity to get to know me and my ways of working and for me to get to know them. It’s also a great way to prepare themselves for the big day, and to get used to the camera. 

I’ve had great feedback from all my couples who booked pre wedding photoshoots, as they said they didn’t expect it to be so much fun it was a great way to ease the nerves before the big day.

Have a read through the advice to help make your mind up about whether an engagement photoshoot is worth it…

here is the link: Engagement Photoshoots - are they worth it?

I’m currently offering the biggest discount ever on engagement and family photoshoots.

Contact me for further info

Get your bookings in for 2021!

I can’t wait to get back to capturing your wedding memories. They say ‘good things come to those who wait’, well that might be true for all the postponements I had recently, but if you’re currently planning your wedding I urge you not to wait too long to get the best suppliers the Southwest has to offer. I’m recently getting overwhelmed with enquiries for 2021 weddings! With all the postponements and new bookings I wish I would have a bigger diary or just more days in the year as I’m now already 75% booked!

So if you’re planning to get married in 2021 and looking for a wedding photographer please get your enquiries in as soon as you can to avoid any disappointment.

Here is the direct link to my email

20% off Wedding Albums special offer limited time only!

I have a special offer for all my past couples. If you have ver thought about ordering an album but never got round to doing so, now is the time! I can offer you 20% off all my album options if ordered until 20th of may!

Bound by a team of experienced book binders, these luxurious albums just takes your breath away. Both ink and paper are archival, guaranteeing a lifetime of gorgeous colour. Choose from one of many beautiful, soft cowhide leathers, sourced locally from the UK. Or if leather is not your thing you can choose from a variety of linen covers too. With 6 different sizes to choose from, the luxury book offers great versatility, plus you can now order press printed smaller duplicates with your Fine Art books!

Please contact me for further information…

Postpone don't cancel!

I’m really sorry some of my clients having to deal with this crisis at the same time as planning their wedding. I know you never expected to be having to do this, and it's uncertain times for us all but together we can get through it! I'm here to help and make it as stress free as possible. If it turns out you have to postpone then I've got a procedure in place to make it as stress free for you as possible...

IF YOU'VE NOT YET SET A NEW DATE - Work with me to make sure I can be there on the new date, I still really really would love to be your photographer with all my heart and soul. This whole episode has just made me even more passionate about capturing the love and happiness in the world, and so grateful to be able to share these occasions with people like you. We are a small network of wedding industry businesses down here in Cornwall and we will do everything in our power to make your wedding happen at a different date later on this year or if not possible next year. September and October can often be nicer down here in Cornwall than May and June, I’m not kidding! And on top of it I offer you a 20% discount on full day (full price) packages if you decide to postpone your wedding to a date in between October 2020 and March 2021.

ONCE YOU'VE SET THE NEW DATE - I will ask you to sign a new contract for the new date at the same price you're paying now - Your initial payment will carry across to the new date with no penalties, so you won't lose out financially at all - I will ask you if possible to pay 50% of your balance payment at the time of rearrangement - times are so hard and uncertain now for tiny businesses like mine and this cash flow will help me get through this blip - Your remaining balance will be due a month before the new date If you've got any questions as things develop, or you just want to have a chat about anything - text, email or call me. We can jump on a Skype or anything any time you want a chat. I'm here to help as much as I can.

Take care of your physical and mental health during this time and I can't wait to see you soon.

Together we are strong and we will make the celebration of your dreams happen!

Sending you lots of Love!

Alexa xxx