Photography Matt Ebbage mattebbage.com Venue St Michael’s Resort stmichaelsresort.com
Abi and Tom first met online, but after less than 24 hours of chatting decided to meet in person – and everything clicked immediately. “Conversation felt so easy, like we’d known each other for ages,” says Abi. As they retraced their lives, they realised their paths had crossed many times before.
Based in the Midlands at the time (the couple have since relocated to Cornwall), they were regular visitors to the county. It was while walking along the beach between Godrevy and Gwithian one sunny September day that Tom asked Abi to marry him. “We made it about halfway and stopped for a rest, which is where Tom popped the question," Abi recalls. "He had set his phone up to record us on the proposal, with glorious sunshine and the sea as our backdrop. Now, everytime we walk there, we try to spot the rock we were standing next to!”
The couple chose St Michaels Resort in Falmouth for their wedding, drawn to its coastal setting. Their “wildflower seaside garden party” was brought to life through a joyful palette of bright pinks and oranges softened with blues and yellows. With a background in weddings and events, Abi planned the day herself, enjoying the chance to pour her creative energy into a deeply personal project. Handcrafted floral place cards and multicoloured candles sourced from charity shops added to the homespun, eclectic look.
The celebrations began the night before with a laid-back barbecue. On the morning of the wedding, Abi and her bridesmaids started the day with a 6.30am sea dip at Gyllyngvase Beach, before getting ready together in the spa lodges overlooking the gardens.
The ceremony took place outdoors in the gardens, with views across Falmouth Bay, and proved the emotional heart of the day. Exchanging personal vows was “a truly heartfelt moment,” while a reading from Tom’s dad – his own reworking of Ernest Hemingway's The Old Man and the Sea – provided “a really impactful moment for all three of us,” says Abi.
After stealing away for a few moments to soak it all in, the newlyweds returned for a sun-filled drinks reception. Guests later gathered indoors around a striking serpentine table and tucked into big bowls of Mexican chilli, served family-style with rice, guacamole, nachos, sweetcorn ribs, refried beans and fruit salad. "This was really important to us as this is how we always have dinner with Tom’s family and feels super special to us," says Abi.
Following speeches, Abi and Tom headed back to the beach for portraits, before changing outfits for the evening celebrations. Their first dance was a fully choreographed routine to Burning Love by Elvis Presley, greeted with delight by guests. From there, the dancefloor stayed full as the band played on, with pasties and chips on hand and a joyful, arm-in-arm energy carrying late into the night.
Looking back, it’s the clarity of intention that Abi and Tom credit most. “Set your intention for your wedding day together,” says Abi. “It helps you focus on what truly matters to you both, rather than getting caught up in all the extra ‘fluff’, which looks different for everyone. For us, it was simply to end the day married to one another – that made our ceremony feel like the most important part, and everything else felt like a great bonus.”
Photography Matt Ebbage mattebbage.com
Venue St Michael’s Resort stmichaelsresort.com
Dresses Monreal Bridal monreal-bridal.com
ASOS asos.com
Suit Moss moss.co.uk
Hair & make-up Jessica Hawkins jessicahawkinsmakeup.com
Flowers Twigs & Greens twigsandgreens.co.uk
Candles Livs livs.co.uk
Napkins Ingenue Studio ingenuestudio.etsy.com
Cake BB’s Bakery bbsbakery.com
Entertainment Switch Band switch-band.co.uk
Videography Lovio lovio.co.uk
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