Wedding at Enys, Cornwall

Nicole had known her brother Arron’s best friend, Dan, for years but it wasn’t until the stars aligned that the couple started dating – “not without asking for Arron’s blessing first of course!”, she says. A surprise trip to Mykonos for her birthday led to a golden hour proposal overlooking the sea. “It was a total shock!” she says. “We’d been together for nearly 11 years and I didn’t think he was ever going to propose.”

 
As a wedding photographer himself, Dan knew just how he wanted the wedding to flow. Choosing Enys as their venue, the couple made a weekend of the celebrations by staying with their friends, bridesmaids and groomsmen in a holiday home in Falmouth.

 
Waking to glorious sunshine on the big day after a week of bad weather, Nicole had a wonderful surprise before she left for the venue. “My parents surprised me with a vintage Morris Minor and my stepdad Duncan drove us from Falmouth to Enys with the roof down,” reflects Nicole. “I was so happy in that moment.”

 
The gardens of Enys provided a beautiful canvas for their colourful summer wedding. “The dress code on our invitations was ‘bold and chic’ – we wanted Enys to be full of colour,” says Dan. “Everyone really got on board with the theme. Nicole’s 83-year-old grandmother wore a lilac two-piece suit – she looked sensational!”

 
Their garden ceremony was filled with beautiful moments and plenty of humour. “It wasn’t a serious ceremony; we didn’t want tears, just smiles and laughter,” he says. Guests enjoyed drinks, canapés and games alongside a live acoustic guitarist on the sun-drenched lawn before an al fresco dinner. “Dan came up with a great idea – 'no shot, no supper’,” says Nicole. “We got all our guests to line up to have a tequila shot before being seated. It made for the best photos and really got everyone lively!”

 
The brief for the wedding feast was “light, summery, colourful food served to the table”, which took the form of brown sugar smoked paprika brined pork with garlic aioli, smoked cauliflower with black olive salsa white bean purée, and pavlova with peaches, cardamon and cream. “The food was one of the most talked-about elements of the day,” says Nicole.

 
With a nice little after-dinner touch – “Dan and I served limoncello shots to our guests as a palate cleanser and to make sure we spoke to every single person” – the couple then took to the dance floor for their first dance to Beyond by Leon Bridges performed by live band Laurels. “Our friends set off confetti canons as we danced, which was beautiful,” she reminisces. 

One memory stands out in particular for Dan. “I remember looking up and down the long table with all our friends and family, outside in the glorious sunshine, just having so much fun. It was such a special moment,” he recalls. “I feel so grateful that we were able to have the wedding day that we dreamed of,” adds Nicole. When it comes to advice for other couples, she asserts: “Try to not let other people’s opinions and views on what a wedding should be like sway you. Stick to your guns and have the wedding you want. 

Photography Alan Law Photography alanlawphotography.co.uk
Videography Harrera Images harreraimages.co.uk
Venue Enys enysgardens.org.uk
On-the-day coordination Rebel & Anchor rebelandanchor.co.uk
Dress Abella by Allure Bridals from Bliss Bridal Gowns blissbridalgowns.co.uk
Shoes Loeffler Randall from Halo + Wren haloandwrenbridal.co.uk
Bridesmaids’ dresses Maids to Measure maidstomeasure.com
Hair Holly at The Hair Boutique thehairboutiquetruro.co.uk
Make-up The Blushing Barn theblushingbarn.co.uk
Suits Next next.co.uk
Catering Woodfired Weddings canteencornwall.com 
Stones Bakery stonesbakedgoods.com
Flowers The Garden Gate Flower Company thegardengateflowercompany.co.uk
Candles St Eval st-eval.com
Games Cornwall Hire cornwallhire.co.uk
Transport Perranwell Garage perranwell.co.uk
Entertainment Jack Kessell instagram.com/jackkessell 
Laurels laurels.band