Real wedding: Cornish cream

Esme and Nathanial chose the perfect Cornish country-house setting near Newquay to host their magical alfresco end-of-summer wedding party for family and friends

Photography: Enchanted Brides Photography

For Esme and Nathanial, the perfect location for their September wedding was Cornwall. They had been on their first holiday there eleven years earlier and then visited several times since. “It is a very special place for us,” says Esme.

The other considerations were privacy and space to party alfresco. “We love being outdoors and there was no question that we wanted our ceremony to be outside, somewhere completely private.” The final consideration was accommodation – the couple wanted to be able to host friends and family for several days without travelling between venues.

While some couples search for ages to find the perfect spot, they were lucky enough to find Tresillian House, close to Newquay in north Cornwall, quickly. “It was only the second venue we viewed but we immediately knew it was perfect for us,” says Esme. The lovely Regency country house sits in 22 acres of beautiful grounds, with space to host a large party and plenty of accommodation and party spaces spread across several lovely buildings.

“Walking down the aisle with my Dad and seeing my husband to be and all of my friends and family was just so special”

With venue in place, the rest of the planning fell into place. When it came to themes, they wanted the look to be sympathetic to this mellow setting. “We tried to keep things pretty simple as the house, gardens and Sperry tent were beautiful and didn’t need too much dressing up.” Esme also wanted muted colours that complemented her wedding dress – she had chosen the stunning soft pink Petal silk gown from modern-vintage London bridal designers Belle & Bunty. With its low back, soft cap sleeves and silk sash it was the perfect look for a summer garden party.

For flowers, they opted for lots of foliage and with beautiful dahlias to suit the late summer timing. The flowers were by Three Acre, a Cornish company that grows most of its own plants and flowers. “Beautiful blooms and gorgeous girls,” says Esme. Another seasonal touch were the hop garlands used to dress the spaces, supplied by Hukins Hops near Tenterden as a nod to Esme’s Kentish roots.

With such a stunning backdrop, the only other important element was the weather – and it was a beautiful sunny day. Guests gathered in the Sperry Tent (she and Nathanial were incredibly impressed by the professionalism of both service and tent set up). This light-filled space overlooking the formal gardens provided a major high-point of the day.

“The ceremony was mind-blowingly perfect and emotional,” says Esme. Their close friend Adam acted as celebrant as the couple had “done the legal bit” in London the week before. She adds: “Adam curated the most personal and meaningful ceremony. Walking down the aisle with my Dad to Neil Young ‘Harvest Moon’ and seeing my husband to be and all of my friends and family was just so special”.

The second high-point for the couple was the speeches – five in all, delivered by groom, father of the bride, Esme’s sister (her best woman) and the two best men during the wedding dinner. “Each one was perfectly pitched and people said they were the best wedding speeches they had heard.”

“Reggae and ska pumping, an espresso martini and negroni bar and festoon lights was a magical way to kick off the party”

With the day managed by Chef in my Home, the couple could relax and enjoy the party. Esme says: “Dean and Victoria from Chef in my Home were instrumental in planning the day and ensured it went perfectly from beginning to end. They even provided a full clear up service and catering for a BBQ and then dinner the following day”.

The third high point was walking back into the Sperry Tent after dinner to find a magical party setting. “It had been transformed from our flower-filled ceremony tent to reggae and ska pumping, an espresso martini and negroni bar and sparkling festoon lights. It was just such a magical way to kick off the party,” says Esme.

The day was captured on film by Enchanted Brides Photography – Esme and Nathanial say they barely knew photographer Jo was there. The space and luxury of being able to spread out in their Cornish hideaway contributed to the atmosphere. Their advice to other couples would be to relax so you are ready to enjoy every moment. “Get some time on the morning of the wedding to centre yourself, whether that’s going for a run, a swim, a soak in the bath or sitting quietly in the garden. One of our friends is a yoga teacher and led a class for those who wanted to join under the trees in dappled morning sunlight.” It was, says Esme, a perfect way to start a wonderful wedding day.