When is the best time of year to Elope in Cornwall?

29 Oct

Eloping to Cornwall…

As we shift more and more into a time where traditional weddings are taking a back seat, introverted couples are looking for alternative ways to celebrate their love that doesn’t put them at the centre of attention, involve awkward family dynamics or rack up a large bill that they’d rather spend on a future home or even the holiday of a lifetime. Cue the Elopement. Once, something romantic, scandalous and daring from romance novels and errr, perhaps matches that weren’t necessarily approved of from yesteryear, Elopements have become increasingly popular to the point that it’s no longer just forbidden lovers that are opting for them. Traditionally, Scotland (Gretna Green) was the place to elope but maybe the inclement Northern weather or perhaps people’s fond attachment to this rugged, Celtic southern corner of the isle has meant that Cornwall is now in the running as one of the more popular spots in the UK to elope. It’s true, perhaps we can’t compete with the drama of the Scottish highlands or the wilderness of Skye but Cornwall boasts some of the most romantic coastline in the Country, some of the best weather (depending on what your opinion of best is) and many quaint fishing towns to hole up in and spend a quiet week together taking in all the magical moments of newly wedded life.

But when is the weather at it’s best in Cornwall for getting married?

This is such a divisive question since everyone has a different idea of what constitutes ‘the best weather’, but if you’re planning an elopement in Cornwall, the first thing you should do is forget the weather. First off, Cornwall could be 16 degrees and sunny beach weather in January, and it could be 8 degrees and freezing and stormy in August. If you’re trying to predict the weather, you’ll drive yourself mad and instead, what you should be doing, is thinking about a few other factors…

THE QUESTIONS YOU SHOULD BE ASKING:

When is it quietest in Cornwall
When is the light and landscape looking its best in Cornwall?
When can I get my pick of the suppliers I want in Cornwall for my elopement?

Cornwall is at its quietest between October and April, although you can expect it to get slightly busier during the school holidays so it’s good to keep an eye on those times. You’ll find accommodation gets more expensive then and if you’re hoping to enjoy a windswept open beach to yourselves, you’ll want to plan to elope outside of these times ideally. Especially if you’ve got your heart set on a location like St Ives. It’s worth noting, that during the summer, St Ives is nearly impossible to find parking at and you’ll be hard pushed to fit a pin between the people on the beaches and for good reason; it quite simply is one of the quaintest and most picturesque towns in Cornwall and has the best light. There’s a reason that the artists flock there. But if you were to elope to St Ives in the off-season (between October and April) you’d get the dreamiest, soft light and benefit from a bigger selection of available accommodation not to mention your run of the beaches.

Why summer is not the ideal time for an elopement in Cornwall

Having grown up in Cornwall I will always be a hard advocate for the line that Cornwall is simply not at its truest self in the summer. I think it really comes alive toward the end of September. Not just because of the swathes of crowds and inflated prices, but because the light changes. The summer time isn’t always the photographer’s dream - I find myself drawn to the light of the latter seasons, especially October - April. It becomes softer, more ethereal. Also, the Cornish landscape comes alive in that light… the harsh sun of July and August can cast a stark and sickly glow of grass onto people’s skin tones, people are often squinting and having to lather up in sun cream but once autumn rolls around, golds and burnished browns enrich the landscape, the sea becomes more dramatic and moody and sunset happens earlier in the day which means that if you want that glowy golden hour magic from your elopement photography without having to wait til 9pm, an Autumn or winter elopement could really be for you. It’s the general consensus of the artists and creatives that live here, that Cornwall is simply at its best when the clouds are big and dramatic, the seas are wild and churning and the mist is creeping in off the ocean. If you want the magic and romance that an elopement attracts, then Cornwall in its ‘off season’ will deliver without the hassle of the crowds.

An example of a Cornwall elopement film at The Cornish Place by Lyra & Moth

A less obvious insiders note…

Here’s an insider tip from the wedding industry that lots of people aren’t aware of and struggle with when trying to plan an elopement in the summer time - booking your suppliers.

Cornwall is a peak destination for weddings and the pool of suppliers books up quickly, usually around a year in advance. Saturdays between April and October are extremely popular and photographers especially can be booked for those dates sometimes 18 months ahead. People planning a summer elopement can find it difficult to lock in their desired suppliers as not only are they already booked up, but many suppliers (such as wedding photographers, florists and make up artists) will be hesitant to take on smaller bookings for key dates that will be filled with a large booking. It’s just not financially viable for their small businesses but if you’re booking October - April, you are much more likely to be able to secure your favourite suppliers, even on weekends. There are so many reasons why we recommend the autumn/winter/spring for elopements and we’ll pop a little guide below talking you through the different seasons and different places that suit them.

AUTUMN

Autumn in Cornwall is so beautiful, some days are misty with ethereal sea fog and others are warm and balmy. If you’re looking for those quintessential autumn colours and period drama romance, we recommend planning an elopement near the Cornish Rivers such as the Helford, The Roseland and the river Fowey. If you’re looking for misty coves and quaint seaside towns, we recommend The Lizard peninsula for locations like Trelowarren, Kynance Cove and Mullion as well as Church of the storms or Penzance town hall so you can venture out to the rugged West Penwith coast, the white sands of Sennen and be back to dine at spots such as Argoe in Newlyn or the cosy Old Coastguard in Mousehole.

WINTER

Not to be dramatic, but winter elopements in Cornwall are divine. Big waves, moody clouds, stormy sunsets, twinkly light. If you don’t mind a salty chill, you should absolutely consider winter for your Cornwall elopement and you can incorporate some of the counties unique Christmas features such as the Mousehole Christmas lights (Which aren’t to be missed) and St Ives for Christmas shopping and sea shanties in cosy taverns. With this in mind, here are some recommendations for spots for Winter elopements in Cornwall:

St Ives guildhall has the cosy & ornate Mayors chamber for intimate weddings or St Nicholas chapel for something really atmospheric. Pengersick castle is a candlelit castle filled with magic & (the rumour has it) ghosts where you can swing by the nearby Prussia Cove afterwards for some dramatic smuggling coastline filled with shipwrecks and tales. The Pig at Harlyn Bay would make a rugged & cosy elopement hotel to hole yourself away for a week where you could get married at a nearby church or perform a hand-fasting at a headland or secure a licensed destination spot like The Cornish Place in the heart of Cornwall where you can sit in a hot tub after exploring Cornwall’s mining country after your ceremony and watch the sunset over the rolling hills.

SPRING

Alternatively, in the spring, The woodlands surrounding The Cornish place come alive with bluebells so we’d recommend them then too! We also love Treseren in both the winter and spring, as its roaring log fires keep you cosy in the darker months and you can thaw yourself out in their private bar following a windswept trip to the Iconic Holywell Bay and alternatively, take in the scent of fresh snowdrops and tulips in their gardens in the spring. The cherry blossom appears in March and all around the Roseland you’ll find beautiful gardens as well as some National Trust places that host small and intimate weddings. Not everyone that elopes to Cornwall loves the sea, quintessential meadows filled with frothy cow parsley and thatched cottages make for some romantic period drama vibes too and you may even find some of the grander properties in Cornwall might offer special rates for very early spring weddings, even the tinier variety.

wild and romantic elopements in cornwall

There is so much more to be said about the secret of eloping in Cornwall and we will try to bring this little space alive with more of the tit-bits we’ve gleaned in the wedding industry over our 10 years of working within it. Are there any other tips you’d like to see?