An intimate autumn elopement at Treseren, Cornwall with an outdoor ceremony beneath the walnut tree
We’ll never stop shouting about how much we love elopements and intimate weddings. We’re so lucky to live in Cornwall which lends itself so beautifully to running away to somewhere far flung and beautiful to wed in secrecy or perhaps a gentle and intimate gathering of just a few nearest and dearest, liberated from any stresses of extensive guest lists, big plans and the pressure of being in the spotlight. We’ve seen elopements and intimate weddings take so many shapes, from boat rides in the bay to hopping between couple’s favourite pubs and hiking spots along the coast all the way up to a day long adventure on the isles of Scilly ending up in the folksiest little pub on St Martin’s. Ruth & James’ elopement was an elegant and intimate affair; they booked the private residence that is beautiful Treseren for a few days where they had their legal wedding, witnessed by just a few key family members, outdoors beneath the Walnut tree in Treseren’s lush, rambling gardens. Treseren is a dog friendly wedding venue and so the couple’s pooch Louis was the guest of honour which meant that they got to spend the day with him too.
Ruth & James’ elopement wedding film in Cornwall
Above is their cinematic elopement film based on 4 hrs coverage as they opted for a bespoke package
Autumn Elopements in Cornwall
Autumn is one of our favourite seasons (Along with winter.) We love that muted light as the sun is lower in the sky, the leaves as they begin to change colours and that sunset are that little bit earlier. We find that the colour of sunsets are so variable too depending on the time of year, from gentle mauve gradients to light blues, rich oranges and golden ochres. We love chasing those pockets of light and editing in a way that celebrates and captures that fleeting colour of the day, the mood, the weather.
Ruth & James’ intimate September wedding was one of those soft, pearly days. Cloudy with pockets of blue and a shimmery, silvery light glowing creating the loveliest mother of pearl atmosphere to the air. Emily of 3 Acre created a joyful delicate bouquet with pops of colour - a mix of seasonal dahlias, blousy roses and my personal favourite; scabious. The couple maximised the use of Treseren’s gorgeous, airy interiors with a divine staircase floral installation and meadow boxes for the ceremony space outdoors which could be reused for their wedding reception meal.
October in Cornwall...
In our opinion, the most beautiful month of the year. The beaches are quiet, the weather is usually mild and beautiful and the light is always so dreamy. We’d really recommend October as a month for couples looking to plan an intimate wedding or elopement in Cornwall and want to maximise the use of the empty beaches and quiet cobbled streets and don’t mind a slightly cooler temperature. As you can see, it was still warm enough for the couple to enjoy an outdoor ceremony beneath the ancient walnut tree in the beautiful, rambling gardens of Treseren.
Elegant stationary details by the wonderful Scalet Paperie. We’re huge believers that just because you’re having a smaller, intimate wedding, it doesn’t mean you have to forgo those magical little details that make your day feel special.
An elegant autumn elopement
Ruth & James wanted some artful moments captured that had an ethereal quality to them. I love a chance to have some fun with my tilt shift lens. I love trying to achieve a few portraits that have an impressionist look to them; soft, pictorial, painterly.
If the weather plays ball, an outdoor ceremony is the dream. These little meadow boxes by 3 acre were so joyful, adding a touch of colour to the ceremony space around the tree. Even Louis was in attendance for the special event, of course it took a little bribery in the form of a kong filled with treats. They had a saxophonist to serenade them and provide some atmospheric music for fizz and canapés afterwards.
An Outdoor ceremony beneath the open sky
Treseren, Cornwall
Holywell Bay, Cornwall
After some fizz, canapés and a slice of cake, we headed to Holywell Bay for some couples portraits and for them to enjoy the epic dunes and wild rugged coastline that the North Coast does so well. Holywell is just a stone’s throw from Treseren and although is absolutely crowded in the peak summer months, is an empty paradise in October. Ruth & James barely had to share the beach with anybody as they trailed through the dune grass, over the top and took in the incredible views of one of Cornwall’s most dramatic beaches. It’s worth noting that this beach doesn’t permit the use of drones and as it’s run by the National Trust, they have recently cracked down on its use for photography without paying large sums to obtain permits so I’d recommend making the most of it in the off-peak season when it’s not upsetting anyone and perhaps wander the clifftops or less popular beaches in the summer months in the later hours of the day.
Back to Treseren for a quick outfit change and getting ready for dinner. As the family settled down for a beautiful three course meal, we made our goodbyes and captured that last few moments before departing and leaving them to celebrate.
Such a beautiful example of how great the autumn months are in Cornwall for planning an elopement or intimate wedding. Ruth & James’ intimate elopement at Treseren was a complete joy - serene, warm and of course, the cutest guest of honour. Thank you so much to you both for sharing your celebrations with us and trusting us to capture the magic.
