The Poetry of Light

Set across 200 acres of natural beauty, The Lost Gardens of Heligan is one of Cornwall’s most enchanting estates. Lush jungle meets the Mediterranean romance of the Italian Garden, while Victorian kitchen gardens sit beside wildflower meadows and sweeping lawns – a place where every turn reveals another slice of paradise.
 
Specialising in intimate weddings, Heligan offers couples a choice of breathtaking settings immersed in nature. This styled shoot captures two of its most ethereal spaces as night falls and the gardens glow in the soft light of dusk.
 
Hugged by leafy trees, the temple-like curves and elegant pillars of the Folly create an alluring place to exchange vows by day – and, as twilight deepens, transform into an achingly romantic backdrop amidst the gentle flicker of candlelight.
 
A new setting for rustic receptions, the Gardener’s Bothy now hosts Heligan’s signature wedding feasts – central to the venue’s sustainable ethos and brimming with produce fresh from the kitchen gardens. “This is an historic area within the garden, traditionally used for seed storage and the drying of flowers and seeds,” explains Louise Eade, Heligan’s Head of Hospitality. “This beautiful space can now be used as a dining or reception space as part of your wedding.” 
 
From its slanted wooden ceiling to the timeworn red-brick walls, the Bothy is rich in character. Here, a multitude of candles illuminate beds of lush ferns and dainty blooms in shades of burgundy and pink, while platters of cured meats, fruit and cheeses complete the rustic feast – a luminous setting for a wedding woven in nature’s beauty.
 
Photography Thomas Hare thomasharephotography.com
Videography Kitty Rowe Studio kittyrosestudio.com
Venue & coordination The Lost Gardens of Heligan heligan.com
Décor St. Eval Candle Company st-eval.com