Weddings in Cornwall - everything you need for your Cornwall wedding

Don’t let anyone tell you that Cornwall is just like Devon because it isn’t!  For sure, there are geographical similarities but the county of Devonshire is most definitely English whilst Cornwall is Celtic, spiritual and mystical, a place with unique charm that exerts a powerful influence over many people.

Situated at the far western tip of the UK, Cornwall is a Celtic nation which once had its own language.  Cornwall is the last county in the south-west of the UK, bordered to the north and west by the Atlantic Ocean and to the south by the English Channel.  Cornwall’s only neighbour is Devon to the east from which it is separated by the River Tamar marking the border between the two counties.  Cornwall is a long, narrow county with two coastlines.  In Cornwall, even inland, you are never more than twenty miles from the sea.

Cornwall is famed for its coastline, from the rugged surfing paradise of the North Coast with iconic ruined tin mines clinging to the cliff edges, to the tranquil waters of the south coast, known as the Cornish Riviera.  Large, majestic bays are interspersed with pretty coves creating the most stunning backdrop for a wedding and hidden tranquil waterways meander around rhododendron-filled gardens stretching down to the water’s edge.

Inland, Cornwall is still a rural county full of pretty villages with their hallmark whitewashed cottages, perfect for a country wedding with the added attraction of the coast never far away.  Hidden valleys offer ‘get away from it all’ locations, a respite from the bustling and popular seaside. 

For a town wedding, consider iconic ports like Falmouth, Polperro, Fowey, Boscastle and Mevagissey or stray inland a little at the top of the Lizard to Helston, an ancient granite town, pretty and very accessible.

Because of its sub-tropical climate, Cornwall often enjoys an early spring and long, warm autumn weather, an advantage to bridal parties who want to marry outside the main holiday season.  This feature has also given rise to some of the most beautiful gardens anywhere in the UK, complementing historic granite manor houses and castles.  Many of these locations are now approved as wedding venues, a unique backdrop for a special day and an alternative for those who don’t want to get married by the sea.

Cornwall is a tourist haven so there are lots of accommodation options ranging from clifftop hotels to pubs and bucket loads of self-catering properties.  Because of the holiday trade, availability is often very limited in the summer months and popular destinations book up months in advance so early planning is essential, not just for you but for your guests who may well need to book their accommodation as far ahead as you book your wedding.

There are no motorways in Cornwall but the M5 will take you as far west as Exeter after which the A30 is a fast road which runs down the spine of Cornwall all the way to Penzance, with the A38 in parallel to the south.  A mainline railway has services from London Paddington and also terminates in Penzance.  There is a small airport in Cornwall at Newquay after which the closest airport is Exeter International.