Carbis Bay Nicola and Darren

”Who needs Florida...”

Nicola and Darren had booked to get married in Florida on the beach but due to Covid everything had to be cancelled Nicola had never heard of Carbis Bay until she googled ‘Weddings in Cornwall’ as a plan B!

"I looked at a couple of locations but Carbis Bay stood out due to the beach and the choice of rooms within the hotel where you can have the Ceremony. On making contact via email, I received a rapid, friendly reply which prompted us to take a short break to Cornwall and have a look around Carbis Bay. On arriving at the hotel, we were blown away by the view and the beautiful beach, we said to each other…”who needs Florida when you have this”.

They met up with Ria, one of the hotels events team, who showed them the options and walked them around the hotel grounds

"Ria was brilliant we both thought it was perfect. The location, cost and dates fitted so we booked our wedding to take place six weeks later!"

Victoria Walker Photography

Not being local to Cornwall, Nicola googled ‘wedding photographers in the St Ives area’, and made contact with four photographers. All replied explaining their services and costs yet Victoria’s website stood out. Nicola really liked that Victoria could capture the fun in a Wedding, she did not have to make the hard sale for Nicola and Darren her pictures did enough.

"They were natural, fun and arty yet romantic and classic. I could see the beautiful stories of couples wedding days, which is what I wanted. Her prices are very reasonable and the service she offered was perfect for what we wanted."

The theme or vibe for your big day

A small relaxed beach wedding. This was the plan for their Florida wedding so Nicola and Darren wanted the same at Carbis Bay.

"We both love the ocean and thought it would be a beautiful setting for the big day."

The wedding Feast!

It has to be a BBQ Wedding Feast! And it all started with a selection of bread's, cheeses, hummus, olives and cold meats on the BBQ prawn skewers, vegetable skewers, burgers, sausages and pork. All accompanied by salads, potato salad, coleslaw and so many other salads...

"many delicious salads but I cannot remember what they were! We wanted a BBQ as it's more relaxed than a three-course sit-down meal. This should have been outside but because it started to drizzle it was cooked and served inside."

For dessert, they chose chocolate brownies, mini scones with jam and clotted cream and fresh fruit.

Wedding Flowers

Nicola gave Lizi of Wheal Sara Flowers a colour theme and explained the style she wanted...

"I absolutely loved my flowers! They were exactly how I envisaged…but better!"

The dress

Nicola found her dream dress from Just for you Bridal in Bristol a Ronald Joyce from their Harrie collection. A tulle, organza and satin fishtail gown with lace motifs, v-neckline and illusion back the colour was ivory, light gold.

Accessories...

"I wore a long vail to compliment my beautiful dress and a pair of delicate earrings in white gold"

The groom and best man

The groom and best man wore Hugo Boss

Nicola's favourite part of the day

"The whole day was amazing, I have no favourite part! There are a few things that stand out in my mind – getting ready with the girls in the cottage, walking down the aisle and seeing everyone there, catching my husband to be’s eye and looking at my son (best man), seeing the flowers for the first time in the Godrevy room,  photos on the beach, speeches, food and our first dance! There is nothing I would change.

Covid restrictions did not ruin our day, the Carbis staff made sure everything ran smoothly and made me feel extra special."

Darren's favourite part of the day

“Seeing my beautiful wife-to-be walking down the aisle”

Top Tips

Stay calm and relaxed.
Make lists and keep to the budget as it is very easy to spend spend spend!
Shop around
Communicate and get ideas from each other
Chose a location based on your wedding style

Makeup: Makeup by Verity

• Venue: Carbis Bay Hotel
• Wedding Flowers: Wheal Sara Flowers