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Real Weddings in Cornwall and Devon

Wedding at Caerhays Estate, Cornwall

Wedding at Caerhays Estate, Cornwall

All Good Things


Sophie and Adam's country boho-themed wedding at Caerhays Estate



Fellow gig rowers Sophie and Adam first met in the Isles of Scilly during the World Pilot Gig Championships. "We got talking in the Mermaid Inn, which was packed with lots of other celebrating gig rowers and ended up on the same ferry home the next day - and that was it!" Sophie reveals.

The proposal took place while the couple were holidaying in South Africa. "We were having a drink on our hotel balcony looking at the beautiful view when Adam got down on one knee and proposed. He put the ring in an abalone shell we found on the beach that day!"

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Their wedding day was full of personal touches, especially when it came to the music. "I play violin in a band called 'The All Good Things' in Falmouth," says Sophie. "The boys in the band kindly played in the church ceremony for us, which was so special. They played me down the aisle, and did some really upbeat folk-style hymns. It created such a happy atmosphere."

Sophie and Adam exited the church through an archway of oars before enjoying some special downtime together. "Driving around Caerhays Estate with the top down in a vintage Beauford was a real standout moment," says Sophie. "We sipped champagne and the driver got the music going. It was so nice after the ceremony to have a bit of time to ourselves, letting the reality that we were husband and wife sink in!"

Relocating to their tipi reception, the newly-weds joined guests sipping on gin and tonics in the sunshine and had family photos taken alongside their Falmouth gig boat, 'Black Rock'. The sit-down wedding breakfast comprising sharing platters, seafood and vegetarian paella, and chocolate profiteroles went down a treat.

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Guests were also delighted by the striking teal and copper decor, and beautiful plethora of home-grown blooms that included Sophie's favourite flower feature: chandeliers made from willow, copper wire garlands, feathers, foliage and teal raffia. "They looked so great up in the tipi hats! I had a fab afternoon with my bridesmaids helping Claire (of the Cornish Cutting Garden) make the garlands using foliage and wild flowers from her gardens."

At sunset, guests joined in with The Oggymen as they sang traditional Cornish songs around the tipi fire. "It was pretty soul-stirring and made us feel like we wouldn't be anywhere else in the world at that moment!" reminisces Sophie.

To top it off, evening band True Strays kindly let Sophie join them on stage to play her violin with them. "It was great fun to surprise the guests with some fiddle playing!" she laughs.

"Don't get caught up in the details," she adds as a word of advice. "There are so many small details that can cause stress, but keep focused on the overall feel of the day. Never forget it's about having your friends and family together in a one-off event, celebrating your love for each other. If you have great food and drink, great entertainment and a good sense of humour, your day will be perfect."

Photography Olivia Whitbread-Roberts oliviawhitbread-roberts.com
Venue St. Michael's Church & Caerhays Estate caerhays.co.uk
Tipi The Cornish Tent Company thecornishtentcompany.com
Catering The Good Food Catering Company thegoodfoodcateringco.co.uk
Dress Claire Pettibone from The Bridal House of Cornwall thebridalhouseofcornwall.co.uk
Bridesmaids' dresses Show Me Your Mumu showmeyourmumu.com
Groom's outfit Trevails trevails.co.uk
Groomsmen's outfits Simpsons simpsonsofcornwall.co.uk
Hair Nina-Louise Johnson facebook.com/ninalouisehair
Flowers Cornish Cutting Garden thecuttinggardencompany.co.uk
Drone footage Steve Sykes Photography facebook.com/stevesykesphotography
Entertainment The Oggymen oggymen.co.uk
The All Good Things facebook.com/the-all-good-things-775359812533214 True Strays truestrays.com


Copyright Wed magazine 2019