Pengenna Manor Wedding, Cornwall | Cornish Wedding Photographer
My first visit to Pengenna Manor was a delight! A beautiful 800 year old private house, a short drive from the tiny village of Port Isaac. The venue is a 5 hour drive from home, but I love to visit different venues in different parts of the country, which is why I do not charge for travel & accommodation.
I was able to stay a 2 minute drive from the venue in some local holiday cottages the night before which made for a very easy commute as the wedding was just in the one venue all day.
The whole place is filled with so much character, from getting ready up to the dancefloor. Chloe and her bridesmaids got hair and makeup done in the drawing room, while Alex and the groomsmen were upstairs in the on site accommodation so covering morning prep for both was easily done as a solo photographer. This meant that Alex was able to have some lovely portraits of himself and with his mum before the ceremony as I wasn’t far away from Chloe and nipped back in to capture her final touches.
The weather was beautiful, not too warm, not too cold and not too windy, so an outdoor ceremony in the Summerhouse went ahead. Shout out to the registrars of Cornwall who took the time to learn a little bit about the couple and their story and wove it into the ceremony. Not something I’ve ever seen from a registrar before, it made the ceremony even more personal!
Although we probably think of the coast when we think of Cornwall, the outdoor ceremony at Pengenna Manor has a stunning backdrop of the hills and fields.
Post ceremony, the couple headed into the house for a private moment of quiet before a day full of celebrations. I arranged the guests with the help of the venue coordinator along the patio, the couple were showered with biodegradable paper confetti and the celebrations began.
I always talk to couples about my favourite part of the wedding day, immediately after confetti, your loved ones are ready to give you a big hug and say congratulations while champagne and canapés are rolling out. I stand back at this point letting the emotions happen and capture the real moments. It’s a beautiful time for candids with loved ones.
Cream teas were served (jam first) and I got underway with group portraits in front of the trees. I like to ensure we’re far away enough from the rest of the guests so the couple and anyone in the portraits don’t feel like they’re being watched, but not so far that it’s a tricky walk for any elderly relatives. In front of the trees was perfect as it allowed a bit of shade and a background that wasn’t too busy.
Ordinarily, I would encourage couples to mingle and enjoy their wedding, however Alex & Chloe were eager for coastal portraits. Having driven down the day before, I took a little drive around to scout for locations and check how easy parking was. I found a great footpath on a cliff edge with a parking spot close by so I didn’t have to ask Chloe & Alex to walk far and we got some beautiful portraits, letting them have a moment together, without too much posing and really letting the scenery do a lot of the work!
Getting back to Pengenna Manor, I took the opportunity to stop for a handful more photos between them on the long driveway. It was covered with trees giving this beautiful dappled light
Dinner and dancing was held in the barn, spilling out onto the patio. A sweetheart table was on an elevated section at one end of the barn and long tables filled the rest of the space. Lit with candles, fairy lights and decorated with bud vases and bunting, the barns rustic charm gives a romantic vibe without a lot of work.
Below are a selection of my favourite images from the day, get in touch if you’re looking for a wedding photographer at Pengenna Manor (or another location in Cornwall) and I can provide a full gallery.
