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When couples are thinking about wedding day flowers where would you suggest they start, and what key factors should they consider? The brides’ bouquet is a great place to start. It sets the style, colour, shape and feel of all the wedding flowers and it will feature in all your wedding photos. There are so many beautiful flowers to choose from, so choose your favourites to be your focal flowers. The supporting flowers and foliage included in the bouquet form the theme for the whole occasion, with the focal flowers playing the starring role. Photography by Jess Apps at Cosawes Barton. Consider your own personal style, you may choose a neat and tidy style that accentuates the design; or a wild and flowing natural look with focus on harmony of colour and texture. There are many styles in between that express the brides’ personal style, so have a think about what this means for you. The style, size and shape of the brides dress are also important factors. A petite bride would be swamped by a huge bouquet whilst a dramatic ballgown may look silly with a small bouquet. A trailing bouquet can be wide or narrow. Consider the season and feelings you want to create. Each season has its own colours, tones and tints that contribute to our mood. For example, if you choose your flowers for a spring wedding in autumn, be prepared to change your mind when spring comes around, with its fresh new shoots, blossoms and buds. Spring has a background of yellows and lime greens full of energy and optimism, and that’s how we feel in the spring. In contrast, autumn has a warm relaxed and cosy feel with gold, orange, reds and purple together with grasses and seed-heads in fawns and chestnut browns, greys and muted pastels also work well. Summer has an abundance of flowers in every bright and brilliant hue, both pastels and bright colours and so much to choose from. Whereas, winter is a time of rest for nature, evergreens, bare branches, twigs and silhouettes dominate. Colours are forest green, chestnut brown, moss and lichen, or silver, white and icy blues. Against this backdrop, winter arrangements are bold with stunning flowers, berries and added sparkle. A smaller wedding doesn’t mean a less gorgeous wedding. Can you share some of your small wedding flower ideas with us? I’ve been incredibly lucky to have been a part of so many smaller weddings and I have to say they are my favourite. An intimate wedding can be so much more relaxed it takes the pressure off you as you are no longer trying to please everyone. Sharing your wedding day with your closest family and friends can be so personal and meaningful. It also gives the opportunity for lots of personal touches and involving those close to you in the celebration. It’s far easier on a smaller scale to create a breath-taking backdrop to your ceremony and an intimate table setting you will always remember. Those special details; such as chair-backs and favours are easier to include on a smaller budget. For couples not based in Cornwall can you describe how you would work with them to make sure everything is just right? Each experience is totally unique for me. Email, a phone conversation or WhatsApp is usually the starting point. If the couple have some ideas they want to share with me then I set up a private Pinterest board (that no one else can see), we keep adding ideas to the board allowing it to develop. We might start with a quotation as a rough guide and develop designs within a budget. After a deposit is paid to secure the date, the ideas can be tweaked right up to 10 days before the wedding date. Photograph by Jess Apps at Fallen Angel with bridal hair and make up by Hair by Emma C and Gemma Campbell MUA. Dress from St Ives Bridal Your passion for floristry shines through. How would you describe your floristry? I always work with my customer; their own personal style and what they want to achieve is paramount. I tend towards a natural style, viewing my work as an art form; framing and staging nature in a similar way to a nature photographer or artist. As a grower I observe each leaf, each delicate petal, stem and silhouette and how they grow naturally and this reflects how they are placed within a design. I’m familiar with how different species grow, their vase life and any special requirements they may have. I also love the many different flowers that don’t grow in our country. I’ve been a grower for over 20 years and I trained with the British Academy of Floral Art to become a qualified freelance florist. I’m continuously updating my skills, trying out new designs and I love a challenge. Many couples are making eco-conscious decisions in relation to all aspects of their wedding how would this fit with what you can offer? I’m also passionate about sustainable floristry and I grow my own flowers on my farm in Cornwall and also do a bit of foraging. I don’t use ‘single use plastic’ or ‘Oasis Floral Foam’ in my designs because of the damage it does to the environment. I‘m doing everything I can to be environmentally friendly in all aspects of my work and with everything I use. I’m a member of ‘Flowers From the Farm’ and include flowers from a network of local growers. I supplement my designs with Fair Trade Roses and speciality flowers to achieve the very best choice and quality. It’s important to me where I source my flowers from and I seek out blooms from ethical growers who have fair trade and environmental certification. They’re shipped in paper not plastic and grown sustainably without artificial heat and light. I can’t change the world but hope others will follow my example. On my own farm I don’t use any harmful pesticides or artificial fertilisers, I grow annuals amongst biennials, perennials, shrubs and ornamental grasses; this suppresses the weeds and confuses pests. I grow a wide selection of plants throughout the year in small quantities. I’m a huge fan of Piet Oudolf and natural planting styles, I also use no-dig gardening and a regular layer of mulch keeps the weeds down. Flowers play an important role in nature; besides bringing great pleasure and the ability to change our mood, they are essential for attracting pollinating insects, including our own bees. By Tracey Warbey Photography at Boscundle Manor How can couples find out more and make contact with Katie? You can see more of Katie’s work on her website you can also fine her on Facebook, Instagram . If you’d like to have an initial chat you can call Katie on 01726 810109 or mobile 07914169987. If you prefer to email you can contact Katie here: email katie@brooksideflowers.co.uk. By Wise Photography at Treseren

Wedding photography isn’t all about an expensive camera, it’s about capturing a story. It’s no coincidence that in French and German they say to “make” a photograph, not take a photograph. (Interestingly they “take” selfies – a subtle but important difference that English does not allow for.) And that’s what you’re asking your wedding photographer to do, to make a visual record of one of the most precious days in your lives. It’s all about you entrusting a photographer: their eye, their vision and their skills, with your story. It’s a big deal. Your wedding day photography is an investment that you’ll be glad you made years down the road, bringing to life your special day for those who were not even born when you were married and reliving all the emotion of those special moments together. It’s a photographically captured story you’ll take with you forever. We caught up with award winning photographer Alexa Poppe to get her views on great wedding photography and she captures the magic of each of very special wedding day she is entrusted with. We put questions to her that we hear from the couples we help on a regular basis. How can we find the right photographer for their wedding? What factors should we consider? How might we best find the information we need to make an informed decision? I get a lot of bookings through personal recommendations, and as a couple nothing beats this. A good place to start is your friends and family. Did anyone you know get married recently and if so, did they rate their photographer? Ask your friends for recommendations. You can also ask them if you can look at their wedding photography and see if it’s your vibe. What might be right for one couple might not necessarily right for another. Other good sources of recommendations are your wedding planner, venue, social media, wedding blogs and online reviews. Have a good look through these different options and try to narrow your search to a certain style of photography you prefer that fits with the type of wedding you are planning. There’re so many different styles in photography. Some are more formal and fashion shoot orientated whereas others work in a more relaxed documentary-style to tell a story. Try and determine what the two of you want out of your photography. When you narrow your research down to a shortlist, take some time and look at a larger album of a wedding day by each photographer and not just the 'poster couple portraits'. Remember, your couple portraits are just a small portion of the entire collection of photos you will receive, so it’s important to look at a range of wedding day photographs they have taken to get a feel of how your photographer captures the entire day. You can do this by taking a look at your shortlisted photographers’ social media accounts and website to get a real vibe for their style. Then, have a chat or meet up with your preferred photographer to ensure there is a good rapport and their approach is right for you. You’ll be spending a big part of the most important day of your life in this person’s presence and entrusting them to record every special moment, so it’s really important you feel super-comfortable with them. Lots of our couples get married in a UK destination that’s not close to their home. How do you build a good understanding of what they want from you and a good rapport with these couples when it’s unlikely you will meet them face-to-face ahead of their wedding day? I always recommend a face-to-face meeting if possible, as it’s much better to have that interaction with someone who’ll be spending most parts of your special day with you. Your photographer shouldn’t be a stranger on the day. However, if a face-to-face meeting is not possible, I usually arrange a Facetime call or Zoom meeting to see if we’re a good fit in the first instance and then another one closer to the wedding to go through the details of the day and to get some more information about the couples so I can see what's important to them. This helps ensure I capture personal touches and document a better, more personal story that I might otherwise be able to achieve. Should we go with a photographer recommended by the venue they have booked? I would say it is a good starting point because a photographer on a recommendation list will have photographed at that particular venue before and it’s always a bonus for the photographer to know your venue and surrounding area well as they will know all the best places for the photography you want to capture. However, it’s not essential for your chosen photographer to know your venue before the big day. We’re all pretty good and searching out all the best areas in and around your chosen wedding venue as we shoot. I would expect venues to recommend a few photographers with different styles on their list, so you should still do your research! How much of our wedding day should we book a photographer for? To tell the whole story of your wedding day well I really like to shoot the entire day: from bridal preparations through to your party. Who wants a half-told story, right? I totally understand it’s not within everyone’s budget, or necessarily what every couple wants. In these cases, I can shoot half a day or so, and I still try my best to document the part of your story you booked me for to the best of my ability. Can we have photography at more than one location on our wedding day, maybe incorporating the beach/woods/local beauty spot? It all depends on timeline of the day. Sometimes the schedule is very tight and we might just have time to use the grounds of your venue, but that's not to worry, there’re always nice spots to find for beautiful portraits. If the weather and timing permits, we can venture to the beach or woods. I usually discuss this with the couples at their pre-wedding meeting. Sometimes the timeline can be adjusted to make some time to drive to the beach if it’s important to them. This is particularly true of small intimate weddings and elopements where the day is a little less hectic and more flexible than larger events. How much should we expect to pay for wedding day photography and what should we expect in return? I offer various packages with prices starting from £500 for elopement weddings to £1550 for a 10-hour full-day wedding shoot. My prices are mid-market, but I hope I always deliver a high quality and well-done job for every couple I work with. It’s for this reason that I limit the number of wedding bookings I take each year, ensuring every couple get the very best of me. In terms of what you get, every photographer is different, so I can only really speak for myself. As I mentioned before, the story of a wedding day is best told with a full day coverage, this is typically 10 hours, sometimes more. You can expect to receive 450 plus professionally edited images, a USB stick in presentation case, a couple of fine art prints and an online gallery to share with your friends and family. If you’re having a smaller celebration or an elopement wedding, I offer smaller packages to suit your requirements and budget. It’s a good idea to check what’s included in your package before your book your photographer. Check that extras you want can be added on, and at what cost. It’s important you know what you are committing to up-front and no one will mind you asking. How long after the wedding should I expect to receive my wedding photography? How will I receive it? You’ll receive your wedding day images between 4 to 6 weeks after the wedding depending on the time of year. If you have booked a full-day package, you’ll receive a link to an online gallery and USB stick in the post. If you opt for a smaller package, you’ll be able to download their images from an online gallery. What’s the best way to get prints or create a wedding album? Couples and their guests can order prints direct from my online galleries, making life really easy. Wedding albums can be ordered from me any time after your wedding as an optional extra. I have a range of options including smaller duplicates and parent albums – just let me know what sort of thing you are looking to create and I’ll work with you to find the best solution for you. Should guests be taking photographs whilst our wedding photographer is working on our wedding? Stopping guests taking photographs at weddings is nearly impossible. However, they can get in the way during ceremonies, we’ve all seen those images when the bride walks up the aisle and all you see is phones and ipads either side of it. It's just not a beautiful image. So, I suggest asking your guests to go 'unplugged' during the ceremony at least. In fact, have a word with your registrar or celebrant as most of them are more than happy to add this to the “turn your phone to silent” message at the beginning of your ceremony! Some photographers do not offer smaller packages for smaller weddings. What do you offer to these couples? I offer bespoke packages for smaller weddings, however, spaces are limited during high season weekend dates. They range from 2-3 hours coverage for elopements to half day or full day coverage for small weddings. You can expect to receive the same service from me whether you book a smaller or larger wedding. This includes a pre-wedding consultation where we can get to know each other, I can get a good understanding of your photography requirements and answer any questions you might have. The only difference is the photographs will be delivered via download from an online gallery. Having said that, USB sticks, prints and albums can be purchased as an optional extra. Where can couples see more of your work, the different services you can offer and make contact with you? I have a few options for packages listed on my website's prices page. This provides a guideline to give you a rough idea of some of the options available. Please do remember these can be adjusted to suit exactly what you are looking for. You can contact me via my website, Facebook or Instagram.

Sally is owner and manager of Orchard Make-up, and is an award-winning make-up artist specialising in wedding make-up and photographic make-up, based in Cornwall. Over the past 20 years she’s helped many beautiful brides look and feel their best on their wedding day. We’ve got a stack of questions that brides regularly ask us about bridal make-up, so who better that Sally to answer these questions on bridal make-up? Lots of the brides we speak to are nervous about wedding day make-up, particularly if they do not wear much themselves on a “normal” day, what is your advice to these brides? I can totally understand why brides feel this way, particularly if they’ve never had professional make-up done before. For me, bridal make-up is all about enhancing each brides’ features: not creating a mask for them to wear. I like to get a really good idea of how much and what sort of make-up my brides usually wear and what their expectations are with make-up. This means me asking lots of questions! This is a really important part of the preparation as it allows me to give my professional advice and for me and my bride to agree a very clear brief for their wedding day look. It’s fair to say that your wedding day is probably the day you’re going to be most photographed in your whole life. Of course, every bride will want to look great on camera (those photographs will last a life time and longer!) as well as in real life, so it’s getting a balance of wearing more make-up than usual, but still feeling like yourself. That’s where my skills and experience come in. And what about brides who feel they do their own make-up well and perhaps have a very set idea in terms of how they want to look already? This is a very personal decision and of course whatever you feel most comfortable with is what you should go with. I would recommend having professional hair and make-up on your wedding day for a few reasons. Firstly, you’ll want to be relaxed and enjoy your wedding morning with your bridal party and the pressure of doing your own styling is one less thing for you to think about; it’s also rather nice to feel totally pampered on your special day; and, don’t under-estimate your wedding day nerves and the impact this might have on your usually steady hand! Furthermore, brides who feel they’re good at their own make-up may want to me to use specific make-up products that they usually use, which is fine and I can do this. However, my complete make-up kit is designed to look good on the camera and to last all day and into the evening. Everyday use make-up cannot achieve these things. For example, one of the make-up products I use is airbrush foundation, which is a very fine foundation which is blown onto the skin with a gun. This is perfect for wedding day make-up, as you can layer it up, but it doesn’t feel heavy and as it’s built-up in thin layers and it stays all day. If a bride has photographs of a specific look I like to see these and take them into account, for sure. Just a word of caution regarding photographs: they may have been highly edited, have very heavy make-up applied, but, with flash photography you won’t be able to tell. That’s why it’s important that I always look carefully at each brides’ features so I can give each bride personalised advice and guidance in terms of how I can create a look she’ll love for her wedding day. For me it’s about striking the right balance, creating a realistic look based on what each bride wants and what we can achieve. How much time should a bride allow for her make up to be done on her wedding day? Your wedding day make-up should be a lovely relaxed pampered experience and an integral part of your day. That’s why I usually allow an hour for bridal make-up. Should make-up be done before or after hair? I usually recommend make-up is done after hair, unless the bride is having her hair in rollers then dressed out at the end. Many brides who book via Petite Weddings do not live locally to their wedding venue and travel for a destination wedding here in the UK. It can be difficult to schedule a trial – how do you prepare in advance and work with the bride on the absence of a trail before the wedding day? For those brides who cannot manage a face-to-face trial ahead of their wedding for whatever reason, I offer a Zoom pre-wedding trial. This is where I ask lots of questions and we come up with a look that I think will suit them. The beauty of today’s technology is we can share images and bring ideas to life even when we are not face-to-face. It’s really helpful to see each bride on the screen to see how they're face moves, as sometimes a photo doesn’t always show this. These Zoom calls are also a great opportunity for brides to ask any questions they might have as well. It’s as much about getting to know each other and feeling comfortable with a specific wedding day plan that each of my brides feels confident in. Do brides/others need waterproof make up in case they cry happy tears on their wedding day? Yes! For this very reason most of my make-up is water resistant including the eyeliner and lashes. Most make-up will move from rubbing or touching, so I do advise my brides to dab at the eyes rather than wipe and catch the tears at the tear duct before they run, but this isn’t always easy. Who else should the couples book in for make-up services on their wedding day? This is entirely up to the couple and their guests. Most weddings I’m booked for I do make-up for the bridesmaids, the mums and flower girls, but families are diverse, so I can end up do lots of different family members. If there are more than 6 people, I’ll bring another make-up artist colleague to assist me, as I want to keep things calm. Also an additional pair of hands means that the bridal party do not have to be up at the crack of dawn to get everyone done. How do you work with brides with make-up allergies? At each trial I ask if my brides have any allergies. If they come in for a trial in-person I can try the make-up on beforehand in case they react. Having said that, all the make-up products I use are hypoallergenic which drastically reduces the risk of an adverse reaction. What make-up brushes do you use? That’s a hard question! I have a bit of an addiction on brushes… I have accumulated quite a few brushes over the years, but my favourite brands are Zoeva, Crown brushes, Louise Young, Mac and Mii. What is it you love most about what you do? I love seeing the brides faces when they see the completed look, you can’t beat it! I have some brides who don’t feel like they can look good (wrongly!) and it’s truly a gift to be able to bring out their features with make-up and make them look and feel amazing and still be themselves. It’s a real high that I never tire of. What geographic areas do you cover? I tend to work in Cornwall and Devon. I am usually so busy I don’t need to travel further. How can couples find out more about your services and book you for their wedding day? My website has all my prices and a contact form to fill out. On my site I also have lots of photographs of past brides for inspiration, as well as some great before and after photographs on my site too that show what professional make-up can achieve. Take a look here. For brides concerned about sustainable bridal hair and make-up products we recommend taking a read of A Beginner’s Guide to Sustainable Health & Beauty https://yoppie.com/sustainable-health-beauty

What is a wedding celebrant? A wedding celebrant creates and delivers personal, meaningful and totally bespoke ceremonies for couples wanting a unique and authentic wedding experience. Each celebrant works slightly differently, but broadly, we start by building a relationship with the couple, getting to know you and what makes the two of tick. We tailor the ceremony to exact requirements, writing it from scratch so it is a completely distinctive and hand-crafted event; it can include traditional or unconventional elements, symbolic rituals or spiritual acts, bespoke vows, singing, dancing and even audience participation! Wedding celebrants are a great option for couples who think outside the box. Personally, I’m always happy to join in, even dress the part and get on board with a theme if you want me to! My job is to be 100% focussed on making sure that your big day is exactly you imagined it to be. As your wedding celebrant I’ll not only ensure that everything runs smoothly from the planning to the actual ceremony, I can guarantee that the experience and memories of the day will be truly one of a kind. What drew you to this role? My background is in performance, marketing and training. I trained and worked as a professional dancer and then spent 20 years in the corporate sector organising high profile events, writing creative marketing material and standing up to speak in front of large and - sometimes demanding! – audiences. On escaping the rat-race and moving to Cornwall, I took a part-time role in the Registration Service, legally marrying couples every weekend, sometimes three, four or five couples a day. It took me a short time to realise that while I totally loved being part of a couple’s special day, I really didn’t like the conveyor belt of legal weddings. I also witnessed many restrictions and limitations imposed by a legal ceremony, resulting in couples needing to compromise or change their plans at the last minute. In my mind, this was not how weddings should be. I wanted to deliver ceremonies that were joyful celebrations, full of fun, flexibility, creativity and expression. I wanted couples to have the chance to fully personalise their ceremony and have the opportunity to share their unique story. I wanted couples to have the chance to get to know their celebrant, feel like they are in a safe pair of hands, and not feel rushed, constrained or institutionalised. So I decided to trade on my experiences and skills, play to my strengths, and train as an independent celebrant – and I’ve not looked back! What is the difference between a registrar-led wedding ceremony and a celebrant led-ceremony? You’ve probably got the gist of a celebrant-ceremony by now – it offers complete flexibility and personalisation. It can take place at any time and in any location. It is written in a deeply sincere style, which fits with the couple’s values and lifestyle and reflects the individuality of the partnership. A registrar-led ceremony is a civil ceremony in which the focus is stating the legal declaratory and contracting words. There are limitations as to where it can happen and as to what the ceremony can contain. The ceremony is likely to be one of many ceremonies taking place that day in an allocated time slot, and it’s highly unlikely you’ll meet the registrars before the ceremony. And finally, the ceremony ‘script’ is one that is recycled time and time again – possibly not the most creative or exciting ceremonies you’ll ever hear! Porthcurno Beach by Joey Lamb Photography What types of ceremonies can you conduct? I’m qualified and experienced in delivering wedding, naming and renewal of vow ceremonies, although most of my work is with couples wanting to celebrate their marriages. And I have a particular interest in eco, green and ethical ceremonies, with a soft spot for intimate and informal weddings; if you’re planning an elopement or smaller celebration, especially in an outdoor setting, we’d be a perfect pairing. Can we choose to combine a naming ceremony with a vow renewal ceremony? Yes, this is entirely possible! What sort of places can we have our wedding ceremony conducted by a celebrant? Quite simply, you can have it anywhere you want. The only caveat is that if it’s on private land not belonging to you, that you have the land-owners permission. So you don’t need to worry about having a licenced venue, and you can have your ceremony in a private home or garden, your local pub or village hall, your favourite hotel or restaurant, on a beach, in a meadow, under a tree, along a riverbank, on a train – you get the idea! Roman Baths Will you ever be able to conduct a legal wedding ceremony? Yes, I hope so. The Law Commission is currently consulting on provisional proposals to reform the law governing how and where couples can get married – and this includes a framework that could allow independent celebrants to conduct legal weddings. Time will tell! Brickhouse Vineyard by Mimosa Photography How much do you charge and what can couples expect in return? The average fees in UK for a celebrant are £500-£1300. Our fees are as follows. 2023 fees: £700 for ceremonies in Cornwall and £750 for ceremonies in Devon 2024 fees: £750 for ceremonies in Cornwall and £800 for ceremonies in Devon 2025: ask us! This covers a completely bespoke ceremony, with a lower fee for smaller elopement ceremonies and for ceremonies taking place on a weekday. I also offer a ceremony writing service for people who have a special someone in mind who they want to deliver – but not write - their ceremony! For their fee, the couple can expect as many emails, telephone and zoom calls as is needed, up to three meetings in person including a visit to the venue or location, a fully personalised ceremony to include any symbolic rituals, along with advice on readings, writing bespoke vows and special touches to make the ceremony completely unique. I’m always happy to liaise with other suppliers, such as planners and photographers, and on the day I am there to offer a calming (or energising!) influence as well as deliver the ceremony in my very smiley style – and afterwards I provide a copy of the ceremony in a pretty keepsake box to my couple. And by this time, we usually feel like old friends, which is a lovely bonus! How can couples get in touch with you to find out more? Head on over to my website www.celebrantincornwall.co.uk and see if you like what you see! Matchmaking is incredibly important to me – so ideally we’ll have a good chat via phone or video link before you book, to check we are all going to work well together. And it might be helpful to know that if I am already booked up for your special day, I work with another lovely celebrant – so we always have a back-up plan in place for those super-popular weekends!

If you’re looking for the ideal location for a micro wedding we have a wonderful idea for your consideration. Frieda and the Moon is a quirky and beautiful Cornish smallholding. It combines spectacular views over the rolling countryside towards the coast; a wedding license so you can legally get married at this idyll small wedding venue; romantic, unique accommodation design just for two, and owners Paul and Babs bring a wealth of experience and skills to help you create your own unique wedding day, whatever that might look like. In Paul and Bab’s own words, “Our speciality is to wrap you up in the glow of this unique haven, so that you can focus fully on the special meaning of your relationship. Every wedding at Frieda And The Moon, whether just the two of you or with a few guests — is simply unique. We know that the magic comes from making an exceptional experience that reflects your personal story and unique vision.” Aimee & Kai's Autumn Elopement Wedding by Verity Westcott Your ceremony, your way The Studio is licensed for wedding ceremonies for up to 20 people. As with every aspect of this unique wedding venue, it benefits from brilliant creative design. It is a beautiful timber framed structure with Italianate ceiling, oak floors, a wood burning stove, and the most gorgeous stained-glass feature, known as The Ocean Window. Many couples choose to follow their legal wedding ceremony with a celebrant-led blessing which can be held in The Studio or in one of the array of beautiful natural location on and close to Freida and the Moon. Stay a day or so You don’t have to stay at Frieda and the Moon to get married here. However, it seems rude not to when you see the amazing accommodation. Choose from the Cornish Tin Tabernacle and spectacular Observatory. Both are cleverly and uniquely designed to provide a truly wonderful wedding stay or mini-moon experience. Both come with their own hot tub too! Extra guests can stay locally, and Paul and Bab's friends have fabulous holiday cottages 2 minutes away that they can recommend. Meg and Tom's Micro Wedding at Frieda and the Moon by Verity Westcott Make your micro wedding dream a reality Your wedding can be as individual as you can imagine. Whether it’s the simplicity of the two of you finding the perfect hideaway to get married in or whether you are looking for the perfect place to create something more elaborate, you’ll find Frieda and the Moon accommodation, supportive and well and truly magical in every sense. You can find out more about weddings at Frieda and the Moon here. The images featured in this blog were from two real elopement weddings that took place in the in the past few two weeks by Verity Westcott. You can see more of Frieda and the Moon here.

We spend our time helping couples to realise the wedding experiences they want rather than facilitating the weddings they feel duty-bound to have. These days couples are much more likely to choose a wedding experience that’s on a smaller scale, authentic, environmentally conscious and most importantly actually what they want. This sentiment is driven in part by finances, in part by a high number of second marriages taking place where couples do not wish to duplicate the traditional weddings they had first time around and in consideration of avoiding conflict caused by often complicated relationships where members of family and friendship groups are divorced and/or remarried. More than this, it feels like those getting married in the 2020’s are more empowered to do what they feel is right and what really makes them happy rather than being constrained by tradition. Whilst helping couples realise their small wedding and elopement goals we come across some brilliant ideas and service developments that can really add something different and personal to a wedding day. One of these is The Buffalo. The Buffalo created an Airstream bar mobile service founded on a commitment to an excellent drinks service, supreme cocktails and celebrating local produce. The owners had seen too many weddings and events with a basic bar, too much plastic and warm, flat drinks. They have a passion for serving really good drinks and this includes fabulous cocktails made with quality spirits and the freshest ingredients. When COVID 19 hit, many larger weddings and events which form the bedrock of the business were cancelled or deferred. Owners at The Buffalo were not to be beaten. They came up with an innovative service that’s just perfect for smaller weddings and elopements that are allowed to continue. They have developed a “drinks by post” service that you cannot help but love. We can vouch for this as we’ve tried it! (All the name of research of course…) Here’s how it works. You can go to The Buffalo website and pick your choice of cocktails from their menu. You can pick and mix and order enough for however many guests you have. This includes all the popular favourite categories including Gin Fizz, Tropical Collection and Martin Collection and many more. The drinks are sent out to you or your wedding venue (check with your venue that this is OK first) in great look, strong recyclable boxes. In each box you will find the full ingredients for each cocktail, easy to follow recipes and all you need to do is add ice. When we tested and tasted the cocktails we found the process of making them as much fun as enjoying drinking them. It’s a really nice alternative wedding day activity for you and your guests. If cocktails aren’t quite your thing you may prefer the tasting options. You can choose from bourbon, gin, rum or whiskey. Each pack comprises, 5 x 30ml tasting samples chosen by the experts at The Buffalo and full tasting notes. A gteat way to round off your wedding meal maybe? There are only 20 releases for each option in this category so if this is your thing, we recommend that you put your order in quickly! We can see this excellent service working well at wedding for up to 30 people thorough the COVID 19 restricted period at venues without an alcohol licence, but also after this period as it’s often not cost effective to have a mobile bar for these smaller weddings. Our closing thought is, why restrict The Buffalo drinks by post service to weddings? Whether it’s a social catch up on line with a group of friends, an intimate celebration for up to 6 or just the two of you celebrating something special. This is a really affordable, environmentally friendly addition to any celebration or gathering. They've also got a new product launching soon, some very luxurious, beautiful and eco friendly Christmas Crackers (filled with cocktails of course!).

With weddings being reduced back to a maximum 15 people ( probably for the next 6 months...)it's heartening to know that many couples were actually looking for smaller weddings before COVID 19 restrictions took hold. The latest Pinterest Wedding Trends Report states that searches for “small beach weddings” has increased by 511%. They conclude, “Trends show that there’s an increasing desire to keep things simpler and more personal, rather than spending a fortune to tie the knot. After all, marriage is about the couple - and Pinners around the world are focusing more and more on what actually makes them happy.” Under current wedding laws in England and Wales, a legally binding beach wedding in the is not actually possible, but there are changes afoot that we hope will make this a reality in the future. The Law Commission published their consultation paper earlier this month focusing on the future of the law surrounding wedding ceremonies in the England and Wales. Encouragingly they are proposing more flexibility in terms of exactly where a wedding ceremony can take place, giving notice of your wedding online and relaxing the rules around the content of a wedding ceremony to make it a more personal, relevant and meaningful experience for couples getting married in the 21st Century. With most of the current laws dating back to 1863 and 1949 it’s about time for change. In the meantime, couples in England and Wales seeking that special intimate wedding day incorporating the beach or other natural surroundings don’t need to wait until the law perhaps changes at some point on the future to enjoy a simple, personal and meaningful wedding day incorporating exactly what they want, where they want and with who they want. Petite Weddings www.petiteweddings.co.uk have been successfully creating bespoke, intimate weddings for over 5 years and have a passion for empowering couples to get married exactly how they want to. We love helping couples to think differently about weddings. Think intimate, relaxed, hassle-free, affordable luxury, yet without compromising the very special feel of your wedding day. We are passionate about meeting the needs of todays’ free-thinking couples. The important thing to remember is that the current legislation and the ongoing review of this only covers your wedding ceremony. Just 30 minutes from a whole day. This means that many of our couples are already able to incorporate beaches and other outside spaces in their day both before and after their legal ceremony. The reality is that most beaches are public spaces and the lack of privacy is not ideal for a heartfelt exchange of wedding vows. We work within the existing wedding laws to help couples create wedding days that incorporate the great outdoors as much as they wish. A lovely example is Danny and Ellie’s elopement wedding at Antonia’s Pearls https://www.petiteweddings.co.uk/antonia-s-pearls set on the historic harbour in Charlestown earlier this month. The couple enjoyed a luxurious stay in Marine Villa overlooking the harbour and got married in the privacy of the garden to the sound of the sea, venturing out after toast drinks for photography around the picturesque harbour and on the beach below. Many of the venues we work with are within easy shooting distance of the beach, iconic coastlines, wood and forests or craggy moors. Whether it’s a picnic in the woods, beach games with your guests, a blessing overlooking the ocean or a post-wedding ceremony walk captured by your photographer in beautiful natural surroundings far from the madding crowds or even an evening round a campfire toasting marshmallows and sipping hot cocoa we can help make the simple pleasures your happy memories of your wedding day. It must be the rebel living in our hearts, we just love actively encouraging and supporting couples to do things their way. Photography by Thomas Frost Venue for this real wedding Antonia's Pearls

Daniel and Ania didn't plan a COVID19 wedding, in fact when I think back to the initial conversations and booking this wedding for the couple, COVID 19 seemed to be something happening in China. I remember we were still looking forward to spending time with family over Easter and a trip to New York in May. And wedding, we had lots of weddings and elopements booked! How quickly things changed. When Daniel and Ania booked their elopement wedding in March 2020 for the end of April 2020 we had no idea what the coming days, weeks and (what turned out to be) months would throw at us. COVID 19 quickly took hold and threw theirs and many other romantic elopement and intimate wedding plans into disarray. It was very quickly apparent that weddings would not be permitted under lockdown. So, we rescheduled their dreamy elopement for two at Fallen Angel to the beginning of June. Once again, they were scuppered as, although lockdown ended for most on 4 June, weddings remained impossible for another month. Finally, in July they managed to enjoy their wedding day. It certainly was third time lucky as you can see. A vision of seaside luxury and a heartfelt ceremony Daniel and Ania wanted an alternative wedding day involving just the two of them, and two friends, one of whom is the talented photographer responsible for the beautiful shots of this bespoke elopement day. They wanted to enjoy a luxurious stay; a heartfelt private wedding ceremony in a beautiful place overlooking the sea and to be able to say words to each other that they meant and had meaning to them; they wanted to indulge in amazing food and Ania wanted to enjoy having her hair styled before their wedding ceremony. Most of all they wanted to create their own unique memories of their wedding day that will stay with them both throughout their lives: having these captured by their photographer friend Aga meant that the intimate nature of their day could be captured in its entirety whilst feeling totally relaxed and enjoying every moment. The venue chosen by the couple was Fallen Angel and the team that worked with the couple to create this extra special day was: Bridal hair – By Jules Spurgeon of So Buff Ceremony created and conducted by independent celebrant – Rebecca Morris Private chef wedding meal at Fallen Angel – Indulgence Catering And, of course, this beautiful photography by Aga Hosking. No ordinary love Whilst there is not typical elopement wedding, we strive to enable every one of our couples to create unique wedding day experiences that reflect their own preferences and style. Seeing these beautiful shots from Aga makes me even more excited about the future of weddings in England and Wales. Should the Law Commission’s proposals continue to develop in the current direction, allowing weddings in many more amazing places, relaxing the rules around ceremony content and allowing creativity driven by each couples’ love to shape each wedding we are all in for a real treat! You can read more about the proposals and get involved with the public consultation here. Here’s what Ania and Daniel had to say about their Petite Wedding day experience: “ I am sending some of our wedding photos. Aga is a wonderful photographer and she captured a lot of lovely details…please feel free to share them as we think it’s good that other people see slightly different ways of celebrating marriage and what a wedding day can look like. For us it was absolutely wonderful, relaxed and stress-free. We had a wonderful stay too! Thank you for all your help with organisation and the lovely people you recommended for our special day. Best regards, Daniel and Ania xx” We just love receiving photographs from people’s special days, it makes our day every time! If you would like to explore putting together a bespoke wedding package just for two, or maybe more please do get in touch by email jane@petiteweddings.co.uk as we’d love to be able to help you create your own special wedding day memories.

When Carol’s children finally flew the nest, rather than stay in Essex, she decided to follow her dream and re-locate to the country. In September 2019 she took the plunge! Her by no-means-easy master plan included relocating her existing wedding and events business, Wedding Events Angel, that offers wedding favours, wedding cakes and small events catering. In addition, she purchased The Folly. Video By Sally Johns of Capture Weddings She took on the renovation and complete restyling of The Folly that now provides a unique, idyllic romantic retreat for couples that’s just perfect for a proposal weekend, mini-moon, honeymoon or anniversary stay. It’s also perfect for an elopement stay as The Folly overlooks Brickhouse Vineyard where you can have your elopement wedding, returning to this stunning abode to a private chef meal and celebration just for two! You can read more about this unique wedding package just for two here. Carol’s journey Talking to Carol, you cannot help but feel a real positive energy and boundless creativity. It seems to be in her genes. She told me that she’s been passionate about cooking and baking for as long as she can remember. In fact, she can remember visits to Newlyn St East in Cornwall when she was a child where the ritual of preparation of meals and baking was as much a part of the day as the clock chiming. As an adult she trained as a professional chef, followed by three years at the London Bakery School, where she mastered sugar craft and patisserie. The Folly The Folly really is a fulcrum for Carol’s creativity bringing together her amazing interior design, event planning and culinary skills. The Folly is now a property where every detail has been taken into consideration to bring together a visual “wow”, yet also ensure your every comfort has been catered for. For example, fluffy white dressing gowns and towels, a selection of complimentary coffee and tea and home baked cakes and biscuits will be ready for your arrival. Add on top of this the thoughtful and kind service that Carol offers with amazing food that makes my mouth water just reading about it on her website and you have winning combination. Carol’s cookery is not just beautiful and tasty, its versatile. She’s as happy cooking vegan feasts as she is a traditional game pie. Whatever your tastes and preferences, whatever the style of meal her experience and flair will work their magic to create you the perfect meal or meals. Carol’s five-star catering service at The Folly brings her vision of all the benefits of a luxury hotel, yet just for two to life. Although there are cooking facilities at the property suitable for preparing snacks, the private chef service which you can book to suit your plans, is available for breakfast, dinner and afternoon tea. Over and above this Carol’s just a really lovely lady who will be attentive when needs be, and invisible when not. To book a romantic stay at The Folly you can give Carol a call on +44 7938 949100 or email carolbwcooks@btinternet.com to find availability and secure your dates. To book a wedding stay complete the contact box on this page. Unique wedding favour idea In addition to this, Carol has started to create bespoke biscuit favours which can be finished with a design of your choice to reflect your wedding day. She creates the design using print technology, so it could be any image at all in top of your biscuit. Just let your imaginations run wild. These delicious gifts not only look great, but taste great and we guarantee will be taken home. They have proved so popular that Carol is getting demand from local businesses who are also interested in using them as gifts for their guests and customers. To find out more about Carol’s bespoke biscuit favours you can contact Carol by calling +44 7938 949100 or email carolbwcooks@btinternet.com Beautiful photography in this by Sally Johns of Capture Weddings

Camel Studio Petite Weddings was founded 5 years ago after our own search for the perfect small wedding venue failed. We ended up buying a property that we converted to host small weddings for up to 20 people bringing together the things we valued to for like-minded couples to also enjoy: the weddings we promote and arrange are authentic, small but perfectly formed, heartfelt and quirky. We encourage couples to create intimate weddings that reflect their relationship and do things their way. Increasingly, this means considering questions such as, “how do I make my wedding more sustainable?” and “how can I make my wedding environmentally friendly?” Of course one obvious way is to reduce the numbers at your wedding and the distance travelled by guests, so rather than taking a party of 100 to the Med for a location wedding, many of our couples combine an elopement with a break in the UK, either just for the two of them, or for them and their nearest and dearest. But this is just the start of the story, and there is so much more you can consider if you are serious about having a green wedding. Sustainable weddings are here to stay Climate change, and the importance of protecting our environment, is playing a larger role in the public consciousness than ever before. Although the scientific evidence has existed for decades, it hasn’t always been mainstream. But we may be reaching a tipping point and time looks like it’s running out. Many people are more consciously minded than ever before; both in their shopping habits and in their wider lifestyle. Weddings are an important event for eco-conscious consumers to take into account; as (depending on the size and location of the celebration) the carbon footprint of a wedding can quickly become astronomical. Here are just a few of the highlights (or low lights!) that 77 Diamonds have unearthed to demonstrate the level of wedding wastage in the UK: ● 4,910 tonnes of unrecyclable plastic were used at British weddings in a single year ● An average of £488 worth of food is wasted at every wedding ● The average UK wedding creates 14.5 tonnes of CO2 Give such grim numbers, it can be easy to give into fatalism and accept that it’s impossible for weddings to ever change. But sustainable weddings are thankfully growing in popularity, and will only become more important in the future. If the carbon footprint of your wedding is important to you, the 77 Diamonds guide to sustainable weddings is a great place to start. They’ve created an extensive guide to sustainable, zero-waste, ethical weddings. This includes sections on eco-conscious wedding venues, rings, attire, food, and more. You can read the guide in full yourself to find out more. It’s well worth a read!

So weddings are back on from this weekend, which is fabulous news, albeit with restrictions and guidance for us all to follow to ensure we remain as safe as possible in these COVID 19 times. You can read more about the new rules and what this might mean for your wedding plans here. We're still socially distancing and as part of this keeping physical contact to a minimum so we're continuing to share the stories behind the people we work with on a regular basis to help you get a feel for their businesses. We're also building a library of virtual venue tours on our IGTV channel, again with social distancing in mind. We hope these small developments are helpful to you and that you enjoy the content we are creating. Last week we caught up with lovely Lisa, owner of Down by the River Florals and an all round great person. Here's what we had a natter about. If we were meeting up for real where in the world would our ideal meeting be taking place and why? Oh, probably at the beach for a nice walk and talk, pausing at a lovely cafe or pub to catch up properly and for a rest to take in the gorgeous view. I love the walk between Durgan and the Helford passage, The Ferryboat Inn is one of my favourite places to watch the world go by, closely followed by The Pandora Inn. There’s something so special about sitting outside by the water. What would you order to drink and eat?A refreshing orange juice and lemonade and some Tyrells crisps. What job did you dream of doing when you were at school? I was always a keen artist: ever since I was very little. Then I fell in love with the magic of photography at sixth form college. My background is in lifestyle photography and I studied photography at Uni, and I still do some photography work on occasion. How did you become a florist? I was working in production and styling in the photography team for Seasalt Cornwall and started to explore floristry outside of work. I took some short courses and workshops whenever I could. I completed an online diploma too which was more theory based, and then I decided to take the leap and retrained at the renowned Tallulah Rose Flower School and began working freelance with some lovely local florists alongside my own work. I definitely think my experience in lifestyle photography, styling and my personal interest in nature and flowers came together in a very complimentary way. Have you always lived in Cornwall, if not what drew you here? What do you love most about Cornwall? I’m originally from Oxfordshire but I moved to Falmouth when I was 18 to do my art foundation course at Uni, I then stayed to do my Photography degree. I left to do a stint working in London for a few years, because we all were taught that was the thing to do really. Luckily, I found my way back to Cornwall for work and I’ve been here ever since. Cornwall is my home and where I grew into myself after leaving home, and there’s no place I'd rather be. The people are lovely, there’s such a sense of creativity and we’re in the most beautiful place. One of my favourite things is visiting St Ives out of season in the winter when it’s quiet. Cornish winters can be harsh, but I love blowing the cobwebs away and then snuggling up afterwards by a roaring fire with a hot drink. Your floristry is beautiful, where do you draw inspiration from? Thank you! I mainly draw inspiration from the hedgerows and from flowers growing in their natural habitats. Whether it’s in the woodlands or along the coastal paths. I describe my style as elegantly wild, and I always incorporate some lightness and texture to my designs with the use of grasses and British grown flowers to add that natural, rustic vibe and love working with less regimented stems. When you are working do you work in silence? Listen to a podcast or music, if so what’s on your playlist at the moment? Or do you like a chat as you work? I often listen to a mixture of things, but I definitely always have something playing. Whether it’s Ludovico Einaudi the pianist to calm, to some classics like Nina Simone and Billie Holliday or some eighties or nineties cheese to wake me up a bit with an early start. I like a bit of everything really. Podcasts wise, I’ve really been enjoying Shortcuts by Josie Long and the TOAST podcast - they are full of inspiring stories. My absolute favourite is Dispatch to a Friend, which is made by two Australian friends, Annabelle Hickson, a photographer and writer, and Gillian Bell, a baker, and the letters and moments they share. It’s incredibly soothing and inspiring. @TOAST @dispatchtoafriend If you were a bouquet of flowers what would it consist of? I think I would have to be a selection of British grown wild flowers in muted peachy tones with grasses, eucalyptus, and white larkspur, inspired by summer. Which wedding venues do you like creating wedding flowers for most and why? I absolutely love the work I do with Cosawes Barton and smaller elopement venues. It really means a lot getting to know the people who work at venues and building rapport with other suppliers especially when I work on my own a lot. I also absolutely love Trevenna Barns, Nancarrow Farm and oh, there are so many really, but countryside rural settings and barns definitely suit my aesthetic very well. What season do you enjoy creating floristry in best and why? I absolutely love the beginning and the end of the traditional wedding season. Spring flowers are such an exciting promise of what’s to come. I use locally grown flowers as much as possible, so catching the last of the dahlias come September/ October is also really exciting. As a florist you are really in tune with the seasons which is one of my favourite things about working with nature, I think. Then it’s onto Christmas and foraging for beautiful foliage and pine cones is just as lovely, it’s so hard to choose! If you weren’t a florist, what job would you do? I do miss my photography, so perhaps that. I’ve always wanted to photograph a cookery book and I love editorials. I also might expand on my photography and styling skills at some point soon to go alongside my floristry so we will see... What do you love best about wedding floristry? The sheer joy of the celebration of love, and in helping people bring their dreams to life is so wonderful. Being part of that, in even a small way, is so special! Delivering bouquets on the morning of a wedding is a window into the start of the best of days. I love the ability of flowers to make people smile, no matter what the occasion is something to be treasured. Do you have a favourite wedding creation? If so can you share it with us? Last summer I had the joy of creating a beautiful colour palette for a lovely couple getting married at Scorrier House, and I think it was one of my favourites yet! I have also set up an online shop recently, and I’m really enjoying working with dried flowers too! There’s so much waste in the flower industry, and dried flowers can be so beautiful. To me they are the perfect long lasting and ethical choice and perfect for elopements too! We’re all dying to get back to creating wonderful little weddings for our wonderful couples, are there going to be any special measures you need to take once we can re-open our businesses? I am so looking forward to get back to creating beautiful designs for my lovely couples! I will be taking all of the necessary precautions in terms of safety when things return to our new normal. This will include wearing appropriate PPE when creating and delivering, as well as setting up any installations, making sure any set-ups are minimal on site and creating as much as possible beforehand, as well as delivering from a safe distance so everyone can still achieve the beautiful look they are going for! You can see more of Lisa’s work on her website, ​www.downbytheriverflorals.co.uk​, and you can also find her on Facebook and Instagram. @downbytheriverflorals Her exciting new dried flower ETSY shop can be found here: https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/DownbytheriverCo?ref=seller-platform-mcnav

Where would we be meeting if we were really meeting up, and what would you be ordering? We would have to meet at The Old Forge, Lelant (formerly Scarletts). The two of us have spent many hours together at Scarletts historically, so it would be only right that we go and experience the new ambiance! I would order a flat white with oat milk and a slice of their sumptuous chocolate cake for sure. What made you want to become a wedding planner? I’ve always been super-organised, in fact, some people might say annoyingly so! If one of my friends has a birthday, it’ll be me organising the party. It goes right back to childhood, when we were younger, if my sister wanted her bedroom tidied and re-arranged I’d happily do it for her! Organising and planning are just parts of me, so applying my skills and passion for order to weddings filled with love and happiness seemed the perfect job for me. This is why I originally wanted to be a wedding planner. Then I organised my own wedding abroad and that’s when things got serious. I had the bug, and I knew I had to follow my dream. Tell me a bit about your own wedding I loved my wedding day. Portugal is where my husband and I first met, and we’ve always made sure we’ve returned every year. It’s a place full of special memories for both of us, and now our children as well. We wanted to have a very personal, celebrant-led wedding ceremony with friends and family in a very special place, that had true meaning for both of us. Because of this we chose to complete the legal paperwork in the UK 10 days before our actual wedding ceremony in Portugal. We only invited 21 people and had a lovely intimate ceremony and celebration at a venue I found on Air BnB of all places! They had never held a wedding before, but I soon talked them round! The owners were a godsend, they were so creative and really hands-on with everything. We wanted wedding with a bohemian/rustic vibe. Relaxed, yet beautiful. The owners made our flower arch, we used hay bales for seating and we enjoyed our wedding breakfast in the gorgeous veranda looking across the valley. In line with our unconventional, creative and relaxed approach to our wedding day we had no speeches, or any of the usual traditions as we wanted everyone to truly enjoy a big party without all the attention being on the two of us. How did you start out as a wedding planner? After planning my own wedding, I was determined that I would become a wedding planner. As soon as we got home, I emailed pretty much everyone I could find on Google who was in the wedding business in Cornwall. That’s when I met you Jane. You replied to my email, explaining a bit about your business and how there might be some work I could do for you. We met up and after talking to you, Jane you became my wedding guru. You have been alongside me through-out my journey and I wouldn’t be where I am now without you Jane. (NOTE FROM JANE: Phoebe is very modest, she is naturally gifted and driven and a brilliant wedding planner.) What’s the best place to start when planning a wedding? The style and vibe of the wedding the couples are wanting is most important, and this is where I ideally start with couples. Then a very close second is their budget. Everything else stems from this, including the right venue, choice of florist, photographer, make-up artist, food, any entertainment and décor. What are your top three wedding planning tips? I would say: - Don’t be constrained by “rules’ or other peoples’ expectations - Work out how much you want to spend on your wedding up front as costs can easily spiral out of hand if you are not making decisions along the way with your budget in mind. - Be selective with your wedding guest list. Your guests are one of the most important parts of your day. These are the people who will not only witness your promises to each other, but also bring the love, fun and happiness to your special day. Make sure you feel your guest list will deliver on these obligations! Phoebe third from left. What’s the nicest aspect of your work? I love the variety of my work. Every wedding is different and behind that every couple I work with has different priorities, tastes, style, budget and approach to their wedding. I love getting to know each couple as we plan their day and get great satisfaction from seeing a good job done on their wedding day. I feel particularly lucky to be able to work with these couples at such a special time in their lives. Who wouldn’t want to help create wedding days filled with love and happiness? What do you enjoy least about your job? I really had to think about this question as there’s nothing I don’t enjoy about my work! The only thing I can really think of is when I hear a couple say something like “we’re having to do it this way because of mother…” My heart sinks. I am a strong believer that couples should own their wedding day and those that love you will understand that it’s your day and respect the choices you make. Part of my role is to encourage and support couples to have their wedding day, their way. Which venues do you particularly like working at and why? I love all the venues I work with. Each is unique and special and has its own character. I love Pengersick Castle because it’s a tiny Tudor Castle seeped in history that couples can have exclusive use of. There is accommodation just for 2 in the castle and its set in beautiful private gardens. What’s more, it’s only a 5 minute walk from the beach. Image by Griffin Photography at Pengersick Castle Cosawes Barton is another favourite. It’s a beautifully restored 17th Century farm that combines luxury accommodation on site with beautiful gardens and its very own lime tree-lined outdoor aisle to the pagoda where couples enjoy outdoor weddings. Image by Griffin Photography at Cosawes Barton Porthpean House is so special. The grounds are beautiful and the view from every angle is spectacular. It was also used as one of the main locations for the filming of Richard Curtis’ romcom, “About Time’. It’s simply stunning. Image by Checkered Photography at Porthpean House. What do you do when you are not working? I have a 2-year old and 6-year old daughters so I am kept super-busy as a full-time mum outside of my work. They provide a fantastic balance in my life. We enjoy family time in the garden and on the beautiful local beaches. What does your perfect day look like? I love being outdoors and in particular by the sea. So, a day at the beach and in the sea with my family finished off with a BBQ on the beach is just perfect for me. Life doesn’t get much better than that! What advice would you give couples who have booked a wedding in the next 12-18 month? We’re living in such strange times right now and things are changing quickly and unexpectedly. I think the best advice I can give is to remain open-minded and be confident that all of those involved in your wedding day will be just as keen as you to make sure that your wedding day is every bit as special as it would have been before COVID-19. We’re all dying to get back to holding weddings and really hoping to have some positive news from the Government soon. You can find out more about the services offered by Phoebe's business, Piccolo weddings here.