Jessica & Eivis’ fairytale Penzance town hall elopement wedding with a misty adventure at Pendeen clifftops
Whimsical fairytale elopement wedding in West Cornwall with a Juliette sleeve tulle gown by Ailsa Munro
This is such an incredibly special wedding. This is the wedding of one of my dearest and longest standing friends, Jessica. Words can’t articulate how magical and perfect her day was, her homeland of Cornwall really put on a magical display for her as when we arrived at Pendeen Clifftops for her couple photos, the mist rolled up the cliffs shrouding them in a cloud creating all of the drama and making it seem as though they were a living fairytale. The mist wasn’t the only magical touch, everything from Jess’s beautifully handmade gown by Ailsa Munro and her locally grown Bouquet by Gemma from Green Rabbit flowers to her twinkling crown, she really did look like something from a renaissance painting. She really did handpick a core team of incredible suppliers for her elopement which was so much more than just a ceremony and a couple shoot, but a true example of how you can make your wedding day anything you like.
SUPPLIERS:
| Photography: Lyra & Moth | Dressmaker: Ailsa Munro | Makeup & hair: Georgia Yates MUA | Bouquet & Buttonhole: Green Rabbits flowers | Cake: Sarah Chin | Venues: Penzance St John’s Hall, The Old Coastguard Mousehole & The Artist’s residence, Penzance | Rings: Hannah Batstone |
In recent years, St John’s Hall has become a really popular spot for elopements for couples looking for a town hall wedding in West Cornwall. It’s easily one of Cornwall’s most handsome registry offices and from a photographer’s perspective, it certainly has the best lighting. But not just its handsome Georgian granite facade, St John’s Hall is so well situated to whirl away to the plethora of offerings West Penwith has to offer. Some of Cornwall’s most remote and idyllic beaches are located around these parts and some spots are easily accessible without involving a big hike - perfect if you’re in wedding shoes. There’s also so many characterful and cosy eateries for a post wedding dinner - from historic pubs like the Tinner’s Arms, Gurnards head & Old Coastguard serving up some bougie pub grub to trendy spots like 45 Queen Street and Argo delivering some of the freshest Cornish produce. Penzance really is up and coming and it’s a bohemian town rich in history and culture, no wonder it’s becoming such a popular destination for elopement weddings. You’re also at the gateway to the Scilly isles for couples looking for a white sandy beach honeymoon just off the coast with its very own resident Puffins.
Jessica grew up in West Cornwall so it was very special for her to get married in her own hometown. It was just an added bonus that West Penwith happens to have so many magical spots to choose from. We had originally planned on exploring the dunes of Sennen but when the thick mist appeared on her morning, we thought that perhaps the dramatic cliffs of Pendeen would be a better idea, following a warming coffee & cake lunch at the Old Coastguard in Mousehole.
When it came to choosing a dress, Jess always knew she wanted a bespoke gown. She has such a whimsical and fairytale style, that having a gown created by Ailsa Munro, a specialist of couture wedding gowns inspired by fairytales and period dramas was a perfect choice. Jess opted for a variant of Ailsa’s Lowenna Gown, a Juliette sleeve dotty tulle dress with a lot of dreamy swish and paired it with a beautiful tiara that she sourced from Etsy.
If you keep an eye out, you’ll notice that Jon and I make a few cameos in the pictures. I have to say, photographing weddings for your clients is one thing but somehow being the elopement photographer for one of my best friends was somehow far more nerve wracking! You can spot me easily because the camera gives it away :p
A cosy elopement wedding reception in the Old Coastguard, Mousehole
After having a lot of fun with clouds of pastel paper confetti on the steps in front of St John’s hall (And trying to avoid all of the scaffolding and maintenance going on in the background) we jumped in the car, put on some cheesy 90’s tunes from our childhoods and headed over to Mousehole. As we arrived, the village was swathed in mist and we couldn’t resist the opportunity to hop down to the rocks by the Rockpool for some misty romantic photographs before getting warm at the beautiful pub that is the Old Coastguard.
Autumn by the sea in West Cornwall
After fuelling up on canelles & coffees, we drove to the clifftops of Pendeen. When we arrived, we were greeted with beautifully dramatic cliffs in a thin layer of sea mist but it wasn’t long before thick, atlantic clouds rolled in and up the cliffs enveloping all of us so we couldn’t see anything at all.
If you’re planning an outdoor wedding in Cornwall or an elopement that involves a little bit of adventure, it’s so important to make sure you’ve got some footwear appropriate for said adventure. Jess and Eivis planned ahead and wore matching black boots as they wanted to be comfortable no matter what the weather threw at them and able to explore some of their favourite coastal spots without worrying about slipping.
We watched as the mist and clouds of thin rain rolled up the cliffs and swallowed us all. We couldn’t even see Pendeen lighthouse so we headed back to their accommodation to freshen up before their reception dinner at The Artist’s Residence Penzance. There was a roaring log fire waiting for us all and a beautiful pastel vanilla spongecake made by the bride’s childhood best friend. She said being surprised with the cake was one of her favourite moments of the day but the bit that blew me away, was when after dinner, we all strolled in the inky darkness down the cobbled streets of Penzance to Abbey Slip where Jess & Eivis shared their first dance on the ancient flagstones overlooking the water.
Can’t wait to finish the full edit on this gorgeous Cornish elopement. It was the epitome of why I love an intimate wedding by the sea, filled with romance and adventure and great food and company. Some incredible memories were made during this fairytale wedding and I’ll hold it dear in my heart always.
Thank you so much Jess & Eivis for putting your faith in me
