Real Wedding at The Porthminster Hotel

A Wet Wedding

Helen and Paul’s relationship blossomed on a St Ives’ beach where Paul worked as a lifeguard. Hence, the Porthminster Hotel, with its panoramic views across the sandy beach and the bay, seemed a fitting wedding venue for the couple.



They chose a palette of turquoise and cream for their colour scheme; a little Cornish tartan was mixed in for good measure, with both the groom and the best man donning a kilt from Cornovi.

On the morning of the wedding, they woke to gale force winds and heavy rain, which was to last for most of the day. The ceremony took place in the atmospheric surrounds of Towednack Church, and the rain was torrential by the time the newly weds emerged as Mr and Mrs.



Luckily, the couple had anticipated the stormy conditions, “The night before we made a contingency plan, as the weather didn't look like it was going to stop for our wedding day,” comments Paul. The welcoming drinks and live music couldn’t take place outside as planned; on arrival at the Porthminster Hotel, duo Tom Quirke and Ross Williams played live jazz and classic swing music as the rain beat at the windows.



The wedding breakfast started with a choice of goat’s cheese tartlet or melon, followed by a carved buffet and white chocolate and raspberry cheesecake for dessert. The rain finally stopped at about 7.30pm so Helen and Paul took their chance to have some photographs taken on the beach. A DJ from Kernow Entertainment provided a soundtrack of upbeat party classics into the night.



After the wedding, Helen and Paul jetted off to the exotic climes of Meedhupparu Island in the Maldives – but, in an ironic twist of fate, the couple experienced bad weather there as well! On the sixth night, monsoon weather began which continued on and off for the remainder of the honeymoon.



On their departure day, the sea was so rough that the seaplane couldn’t land. Having missed their flight from the mainland, the couple encountered a number of delays and logistical issues as they attempted to arrange an alternative flight; this eventually resulted in a boat journey to another island and a flight home via Goa! It appears there’s nothing you can do about the weather – even in the Maldives.

The venue
Towednack Church followed by Porthminster Hotel, St Ives
01736 795221 www.porthminster-hotel.co.uk

The dress
Essense Gowns from Vu’s Bridal, Wadebridge
01208 815440 www.vusbridal.co.uk

The flowers
Flowers by Clowance
01209 831317 www.flowersbyclowance.co.uk

Photography
Urban Sugar Photography
07507 525747 www.urbansugarphotography.com

Copyright WED Magazine 2010