A Helford River Adventure was an Absolute Delight to Photograph for Alice & Tom 

I first met Alice & Tom at an Art of Weddings Event and was immediately taken by their plans for their outdoorsy, rustic and relaxed day. I was absolutely delighted when they contacted me and asked me to be their photographer and then later down the line, went to meet the couple at their location of choice for their marriage and then their reception.

‘Bring sturdy walking boots’, Alice instructed me… a definite first for me as a request as a wedding photographer!

I met the couple and their gorgeous rescue dog Marley at the church in St Mawnan and we got chatting about life, and love and their wedding plans! They both had met at work, working for the charity Shelter Box, and after becoming flatmates for a while, realised that it was meant to be! The church itself was charming; super inviting and lots of thoughtful touches for visitors including a little Noah’s Ark treasure hunt to keep children entertained.

We talked about their hopes for their ceremony and then headed around the back of the church to the end of the churchyard where there was a link to the coast path which we ambled along while still nattering away. I had been told about the picturesque and somewhat hilly walk from St Mawnan to Durgan but I was not in the slightest bit prepared for the view that hit me as we reached the top of the point. Panoramic views, the bluest of blues where the river met the sky, with tiny little boats dotted and darting across the river. At once, I understood the need for incorporating this walk, with as many of their guests that would join them, into their wedding day. 

The day arrived and bridal prep was calm and sweet, watched intently by Best Pup, Marley, and the girls were soon ready to head to the church, chaperoned by Alice’s dad in a vintage Morris Minor. The ceremony was lovely, really heartfelt and personal and then came the time for the ‘Shoe Amnesty Box’ to make its debut as wedding guests plonked themselves down on the banks of the church gardens and switched their stilettos and brogues for wellies and walking boots.

What a picture it was to see the Bride and Groom (and Marley)rambling over the hill towards the vast blue landscape of the river ahead. The cheerful chit chat from the guests as they walked had the vibe feeling very upbeat and this only stopped momentarily for couples to quickly steal a kiss as they passed through the kissing gates!

As we walked down the steep path to Porth Saxon, the marquee in the field below Tom’s parents house, was visible as a small cluster of pointy dots in the distance. And then for the next heavenly part of the newlyweds day, where Alice & Tom climbed into a little rowing boat down on the shore line, and rowed their way, with champagne in hand, along the river bank to Durgan. What a sight! There were cheers and whopping from the guests as the couple rowed out of sight down the river and the guests continued along the path up towards the nearing marquee..

Although a fairly busy bank holiday, we managed to find a few quiet spots in Durgan for some couple shots and then headed back along the road, champagne still in hand where we found bluebells in abundance and took advantage of this for some more shots of the two of them enjoying the peace of the woodland.

The reception was everything you would expect for a couple who incorporated both a coastal path walk and a boat row into their wedding day! A view like no other, a hand decorated marquee and of course a boat filled with beer and cold drinks. Not to mention straw bales for lounging on and garden games galore, including a swing ball set which was truly bringing out the competitive nature of everyone involved, including the Bride and Groom themselves!  

The rest of the day was a relaxed affair with some of the speeches and the cutting of the cake. The food, cooked by friends of the couple was a delicious Greek mezze type affair. Another absolute highlight of the day was the Best Man’s speech. Tom’s brother, Jake, a budding musician had written a parody for the couple and sang his speech to them in the form of a personally written song. This was one of those goosebump moments which I often get at weddings; something that means so much to the couple but also each and every guest at the wedding was completely and utterly entranced by his words and song.

I love each and every wedding that I photograph. I am always so invested in the couple, their plans and the commitment that they are making to each other and you’ll often find me sobbing behind my camera during the vows and especially during the speeches. This wedding however, was one of a kind, an example of how to do it your way, to not necessarily feel the pressure to conform to the usual traditions and ideals of how a wedding ‘should’ be. And my gosh, wasn’t it just the most perfect day!