Photography Thomas Hare thomasharephotography.com Venue Hotel Meudon meudon.co.uk
Clari and Tom met in the most 21st-century way – online. “While we’re both quite old-fashioned in our ideas of romance, during Covid those chance encounters just weren’t possible,” says Clari. “So, two self-confessed old-school romantics took to Hinge… and we instantly clicked.” Their shared humour and love for the ocean quickly sparked something that felt as if they’d known each other forever.
Two years later, the proposal unfolded during a safari at Rhino Sands, where Clari grew up. The day began dramatically, with Tom’s close encounter with a Mozambican spitting cobra. “A snake that can shoot venom with terrifying accuracy and kill you within 45 minutes!” says Clari. “Thankfully he was unharmed – though we joke that maybe that brush with danger inspired him not to wait any longer!” That evening, after a candlelit dinner, Tom asked her to marry him.”
The couple exclusively hired Hotel Meudon in Falmouth for a long weekend of celebrations. “It’s one of Cornwall’s best-kept secrets,” says Clari. “What made it perfect was its private beach, Bream Cove – a hidden gem that brought our dream of a beach wedding beautifully to life.”
Drawing inspiration from the natural beauty of their surroundings, the couple styled the day with a coastal, earthy palette of sea-glass green and soft neutrals, creating an elegant yet laid-back aesthetic. Pampas grass, rattan, sand-hued linens and delicate shell accents brought the look together beautifully.
Guests wove their way through the hotel’s subtropical gardens to the beach, where Clari made her entrance in a bohemian gown and floral crown.
Beneath a driftwood arch adorned with florals and pampas grass, the couple exchanged vows with the ocean as their backdrop. “It’s incredibly secluded, which made the moment feel entirely ours,” says Clari.
Their celebrant shared a bespoke narrative of their love story. “It was so personal and moving,” says Clari. The ceremony also included readings and a sand ceremony to honour their Cornish and South African roots, symbolising the blending of their lives.
After the ceremony, guests mingled over canapés and acoustic melodies on the headland, then relaxed in the gardens before a feast of Moroccan-spiced butternut squash with ricotta cheese, sirloin steak with French fries and sticky toffee pudding.
Later came a beachside barbecue, doughnuts and live music from Stone Roots Band. Their first dance was to Real Love Baby by Father John Misty. “We just swayed together, gazing into each other’s eyes. It was simple, but incredibly meaningful.”
For Clari and Tom, the highlight was having everyone they loved gathered in one place. “Friends and family from different corners of the world met for the first time,” she says. “The sense of everyone together, laughing, sharing meals and enjoying the setting made the day feel like one big extended family gathering.”
Her advice for future couples? “Don’t sweat the small stuff. The details fade, but the big things – especially capturing your day through photography – matter enormously. Focus on being present, enjoying the people around you and soaking up all the moments. It’s the most magical day of your life.”
Photography Thomas Hare thomasharephotography.com
Venue Hotel Meudon meudon.co.uk
Dress Rue De Seine ruedeseine.com
Earrings Agapée agapee.com
Hair Wendy Owen Hair instagram.com/wendyowenhair
Make-up Lash n Glow lashnglow.co.uk
Suit M&S marksandspencer.com
Wedding bands Mirri Damer mirridamer.com
Hannah Louise Lamb hannahlouiselamb.com
Celebrant Marry Us Libby instagram.com/marry.us.libby
Flowers Lowena Flowers lowenaflowers.co.uk
Doughnut towers Sasparella sasparellavegan.co.uk
Stationery Papier papier.com
Entertainment Holly Turton instagram.com/hollyturton_
Stone Roots Band instagram.com/stoneroots_band
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