Editorial: Autumnal Countryside Intimate Wedding inspiration at the New Yard, Trelowarren with whimsical, period inspired blue wedding gowns by Ailsa Munro
Moody, autumnal tones wedding editorial with a blue wedding dress near the Helford River, Cornwall at the New Yard restaurant within the Trelowarren Estate
If you’re seeking autumn wedding inspiration but want something that is pointedly ‘unweddingy’ that is to say, eschewing some of the usual decor and ‘themes’ that float around on pinterest, then it’s possible this editorial might capture your eye and imagination.
Think mizzle-swept moors & September-soaked walled gardens, smoky candles and earthenware pots, brass candlesticks and classic art; this country Cornish wedding editorial at the unique Trelowarren Estate (more specifically in the New Yard restaurant) draws inspiration from Daphne Du Mauier novels, hedgerows and life in the depths of Cornwall a hundred or so years ago. I was so excited to team up with some of my favourites for this drizzly & deliciously moody wedding shoot back in the winter of 2022 styled by the talented Alex who was the then, events manager at the old New Yard.
Period inspired gowns by imitable & artful dressmaker, Ailsa Munro, carefully curated floristry that look as though they were foraged from the country lanes and walled gardens of the estate (but tastefully so) by Gemma of Green Rabbit florals, and some of the most divine letter press stationary sets by Tpel set the scene for this achingly delicate & dreamy autumn wedding inspiration for a Cornwall lover’s wedding in the depths of the Lizard Peninsula.
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Antique wedding rings, linen, letterpress stationary
One of my favourite things that bring such a sublime and romantic vibe to this editorial, are the complimentary textures. When it comes to wedding decor, it can be so easy to get overwhelmed by all the pinterest suggestions and ideas when really, the key is simplicity but having a few core decor features that really add a sense of harmony to the setting. For this editorial, beautiful textures associated with a life spent in the countryside form the backbone of the styling. Off-white linens that catch the light, contrasting, natural vintage wooden furniture and seasonal locally grown flowers that have been thoughtfully arranged to give structure to each vase arrangement and buttonhole by an expert eye rather than bunched tightly.
The majority of the decor is thrifted; the earthenware vases can be oft found at charity shops and flea markets for anything between 50p and £4 a pot. I myself found some beautiful brass candle sticks for my own wedding decor for a steal and I supplemented the rest with miniature earthenware pots that doubled as candle holders.
Amy Potter who runs a local antique store in Penzance provided beautiful, vintage jewellery for this shoot. If you don’t find yourself fond of diamonds, there are some real treasures to be found down cobbled backstreets in your local antique jewellery store. This shoot was created with a mind to sustainability, providing ideas for decor that avoided anything single use and using items that you could absorb back into your home or regift to the thrift store.
I adore how this fairytale taupe cake of dreams made by Oona’s Cakes gets a feature table. This bureau decorated with foraged hedgerow leaves and some figs & berries and a splash of linen creates a centre piece for the room that’s so much more than a cake placed on a small table in a corner. I feel like if you’re going to splash out for a wedding cake (or dare I say desert table) it deserves to be showed off and made a feature. Of course a wedding is more than pretty details and wedding cake but if you get once chance to create your dream scene and frolic within it, you might as well let your imagination run away with you.
It was so tricky to pick just a few photographs from this shoot. We had so much fun, riding in the back of a very rickety traditional landrover to seek out the more curious and less refined parts of the estate. We really enjoyed the marsh and forest land near the entrance to the estate. The Lizard peninsula has so much variety and unique landscape, from river country to fishing villages, heath & downs to winding woodlands that lead down to mossy creeks. It’s one of my favourite spots in the world and makes for a real adventure for those looking for a Cornwall elopement with exploration at the heart.
Since shooting this editorial, the New Yard has changed ownership so I’m no longer sure if they host weddings sadly but I do believe the Trelowarren Estate itself hosts larger weddings throughout the year. Autumn is our favourite season for shooting with the colours, the tones and the light. With last year’s weather being an exceedingly wet one and this year looking to very much be the same, I wanted to remind everyone out there feeling nervous that their day might be a wash out just how beautiful a rainy wedding day can be if you don’t mind leaning into it and getting a little damp.
Photography: Lyra & Moth | Venue & styling: The New Yard, Trelowarren with Alex Brier | Dressmaker: Ailsa Munro |
| Florist: Green Rabbit Flowers | Stationary: TPel | Cake: Oona Birch | Jewellery: Amy Potter Antiques |
