Chilled DIY Beach Front Cafe Yellow & Blue Wedding in Cornwall

We’re starting the weekend in style with this super beautiful beachfront wedding. Let the holiday seaside dreaming commence.

Kirsty and Will held their wedding back in March in glorious Cornwall. They began with brunch at the Hidden Hut followed by a Church ceremony and a reception at Kirsty’s parents’ stable and barn. Their day was a culmination of so much love and effort from loved ones. A real DIY affair, from the décor to the blooms and the cake, it was so very marvellous.

I adore the bright blue and yellow colour scheme, Kirsty donned a pale blue dress and jacket, which was custom-made by Silvia Hoya Mena, while the happy sunflowers added a pop of fun.

Many thanks today to Miss Gen Photography for sharing these delightful images with us.

THE PROPOSAL

On a Swiss mountain top, in spring.

THE VISION

Our vision was very simple – super chilled, DIY wedding, with close family and friends. Loads of food, no standing on ceremony, lots of dancing and a whole weekend of catching up with friends and family.

THE PLANNING PROCESS

We had 9 months to plan for the wedding. Once we had the big things like venue, caterer and photographer sorted, we sat back and did the rest in the 3 months leading up to the wedding. As it was a DIY wedding, we and some very generous friends and family spent the week leading up to the wedding decorating the stable, barn and church.

THE VENUE

Cornwall. Beach Brunch – The Hidden Hut, Porthcurnick Beach. The ceremony – St Rumon’s Church, Ruan Lanihorne. The reception – Kirsty’s parents stable & barn. Sunday lunch – The Hidden Hut.

THE DETAILS & DÉCOR

The details and décor are mostly down to Kirsty’s extremely talented Brother (Phil) and Mum (Elaine). The amount of time and energy they put into prepping for the day was mammoth!! Phil even made the bar in the barn from drift wood!!

The larger bits, like arranging for the barn to be lined, building the bonfire and making the stables water tight and freshly painted were all down to Kirsty’s Dad (John) and his mate ‘legend Steve’. He spent months on these and we are incredibly grateful, as they provided the perfect canvases for my Phil and Elaine to perform their magic!

THE CAKE

DIY – Will’s Gran’s crunch recipe was used, by chefs extraordinaire Tim & Nina, a.k.a. ‘Team TINA’ 🙂 Thanks guys 🙂

THE READINGS & MUSIC

The readings:- Union by Robert Fulgham, The Future by Emma Salmon and Song of Solomon, Chapter 8, vs 6&7. These were read by Will’s Mum, Kirsty’s Mum and Kirsty’s brother, respectively and were all incredibly meaningful and moving.

Kirsty walked down the aisle to ‘Going to the Chapel of Love’ McGuire Sisters. Hymns – Jerusalem, Cwm Rhondda & One More Step Along the World I go. Everyone left the church to William Tell Overture.

BEAUTIFUL BRIDESMAIDS

2 best mates from Uni – Kizzy and Vicky, My sister – Jenny and Will’s sister – Lydia. Thanks Ladies – you looked stunning!!

THE FLOWERS

DIY – Design was created by Kirsty’s very talented Mum, Elaine and the arranging was completed by Elaine, Kirsty, Will’s Mum, Vicky, Kizzy and a couple of Kirsty and Will’s aunts.

GROOM’S ATTIRE

Jacket – Oliver Sweeney, Shirt – TM Lewin, Trousers – Ralph Lauren, Shoes – Navy Boot, Belt – Gant.

THE DRESS & ACCESSORIES

Dress and Jacket – Silvia Hoya Mena (Manchester), Jewellery – RocaWood (Como), Shoes – Kurt Geiger.

I spent all of one day looking in bridal shops, and decided this approach really wasn’t for me. My Brother, Phil suggested I get my dress made as I was looking for something pretty casual that I could wear again, and realised that at the time of the wedding I would be 5 months pregnant. My brother found a designer in Manchester, Silvia Hoya Mena, who was simply ‘awesome’.

She was unbelievably flexible (we live in Switzerland, so we couldn’t have too many fittings), amazing at interpreting what I said I hoped for, and just really good ‘crack’ 🙂 I was unbelievably pleased with the result, especially the addition of the suede jacket – Thanks so much Silvia – You’re a ‘designer, sewing star!!!’

YOUR PHOTOGRAPHER

The unbelievably talented and chilled Genevieve Chapman of Miss Gen Photography. She has managed to capture the true feel of the day. We were so lucky that she was available and willing to travel all the way to Cornwall from London – thanks so so much Gen, what memories you have captured, we will always be in your debt!!

THE HONEYMOON

We are actually writing this on the second day of our honeymoon 🙂 We took 2 weeks off for the wedding, so decided to take our honeymoon later in the year. Kirsty is now 7 months pregnant, so our original plans for our honeymoon have changed to a more sedate, villa based ‘maximoon’ in Portugal – ‘luxury’.

MEMORABLE MOMENTS

We have so many memorable moments, as we really made 1.5 weeks out of our wedding. It was just perfect for us, ‘super chilled and DIY’. We particularly enjoyed the ceremony and loved the barn dance and bonfire. The food was immense, all provided by the Hidden Hut for the entire weekend!

Also, the Hidden Hut team, especially Si & Sarah were massive contributors to the entire weekend – Si and Sarah your ideas and execution were immense 🙂

ADVICE FOR OTHER COUPLES

Stick with what you want to do, and make sure you take the time to enjoy yourself and revel in each others, and all your friend’s and family’s company.

CREDIT WHERE CREDIT IS DUE |

A massive thank you to all our unique suppliers, they really helped to make the day bespoke to us and above all fun:

Ceremony | Father Doug

Photography | Genevieve of Miss Gen Photography

Jewellery | Roca Wood

Dress and Jacket | Silvia Hoya Mena

Venue | Si and his brilliant team at the Hidden Hut

Friends & Family who helped | Massive thanks to Kirsty’s Mum, Dad, Brother and Sister – the weekend would never have been possible without them :), Team Tina, Tim & Eddie for successfully hanging the Rhododendrons! Wills Mum & Brian, Auntie Val & Uncle Ian, Auntie Jackie, Kizzy, Vix, Vas & Eddie, Steve, Nic & Iain.

And a bonfire was the most fitting and memorable ending. Wow.

Further Reading

• Beautiful Boho Wedding – Cornish Camels Farm
• Colourful & Festival Wedding at Mr Molecey’s Marvellous Mill