Planning Your Perfect Wedding and Elopement in Cornwall
Lara & Matt and Their Delightful Launcells Barton Wedding in Cornwall was an absolute joy to share. Not only was the celebration a flower-filled, summer-time delight, the venue was the couple’s very own farmhouse wedding venue, Launcells Barton in Cornwall. Owned by Matt’s family since 1949, the Grade II* listed manor house is now a gorgeous wedding venue, run by the couple, which fuses old world charm with modern simplicity, along with the most breathtaking views. The farm is really special to us and although sometimes there is a love hate relationship, we couldn’t imagine it being anywhere else.
Choosing Your Wedding Style: Micro, Intimate, or Elopement
Make your wedding day as unique as you are! In this guide, we talk you through the difference between micro weddings, elopements and intimate weddings, and why Cornwall might be the perfect location for your small and wonderful wedding.
- Micro weddings: These are essentially tiny traditional weddings! Normally with no more than 20 guests, they are more relaxed, shorter in length, smaller in size and can be done on a smaller budget too.
- Elopements: While elopements are normally done in secret, with no one but the couple and 2 witnesses at a registry office, and no frills or fancies, micro weddings are meticulously planned, mini wedding days.
- Intimate weddings: These have more similarities to micro weddings, but often have double or even triple the amount of guests.
Premier Cornwall Venues
Boconnion: The Manor House Experience
For decadent yet understated luxury, choose the Georgian Manor House at Boconnion for your micro wedding in Cornwall. Built in the 18th century, the grand Georgian country house is the perfect setting if you are looking for opulence. By choosing a micro wedding at Boconnion, you can often sleep all of your guests under one roof for the weekend, making the wedding exceptionally special, inclusive and fun. The estate is your blank canvas for the weekend and is the perfect place to celebrate your elopement, intimate or micro wedding in Cornwall.
Launcells Barton: A Farmhouse Adventure
The couple met when they were working in the same office building in London before moving to the farm together and transforming it into the most beautiful wedding venue. They let the house’s beauty shine, adding statement, vibrant summertime flowers and farm-inspired details for a relaxed, outdoor celebration in the sun. It was where they decided they could actually make this their home and start this crazy adventure in weddings, so they felt it was the only place they could imagine saying their vows to one another.
Wild Elopements and Outdoor Ceremonies
We believe the best wedding venues aren’t built – they’re found. Our “venues” are Cornwall’s untamed beaches, hidden sea caves, and windswept cliff tops – raw, natural places where couples can exchange vows in complete freedom. Cornwall Elopements is specialised in Celebrant-Led Eco-Friendly Adventure Elopement Weddings for Two. From windswept beaches, hidden coves, clifftops, sea caves and tidal pools, this is perfect for adventurous couples who want to have a low impact and eco-friendly boho beach elopement wedding in the unrivalled romance of nature.
Recommended Outdoor Locations:
- The Stone Circles and Ancient Sites in Cornwall
- Sea Cave Ceremonies
- Mines, Ruins and Old Cliff Castles
- Secret Beaches and Hidden Coves
- Ancient Woodlands and Forests
- Wild and Dramatic Cliff Top Locations
Practical Wedding Planning Advice
A Celebrant-led ceremony is not legally binding; the legal ceremony and signing of the register can be done before or after your celebrant led ceremony. If you are eloping and want to legalise your union, the best option is to have the “simple, no-frills ceremony” in the Registrars office itself.
| Aspect | Expert Recommendation |
|---|---|
| Best Timing | The 2-hours before sunset (the all important ‘golden hour’). |
| Decor | Forget flower arches and balloons; natural is best! |
| Legal Cost | About £60 for a simple registrar ceremony. |
| Privacy | Use less popular places like cliff tops in summer to avoid tourists. |
Just as important as the weather are the seasons, the tides (if you are having a beach wedding) and the number of daylight hours. We recommend investing in a tide book to check the tide times on your wedding day. Try and look for a date where you have low tide and sunset on the same day. Sunset weddings give you quieter locations and also the all important ‘golden hour’ for creating dreamier and more romantic couple pictures on your wedding day.