Written by Annabel Jayne, Wedding Photographer and Film Maker.
As summer is fast approaching and many of us are yearning for that feeling of sand between our toes, in our ears and sandwiches once again, some of you will be dreaming of your own destination wedding.
Imagine sharing a glass or two with your favourite girls and boys, with the backdrop of waves lapping on to the beach outside. Guests gathering, a giggle with friends before a final glance in the mirror and a top coat of lippy, walking across the sand to wed your most favourite person in the whole wide world. Your wedding day has arrived and it’s time to exchange your ‘I dos’.
I’ve just described a wedding taking place at one of the UK’s finest, award-winning beach venues Lusty Glaze, in Newquay, North Cornwall (voted Beach Of The Year – The Sunday Times, 2017).
On the day that I popped in to snap some wedding photos of Jules & Kahtobey’s wedding, the air was warm and the sky blue. I stopped at the clifftop to drink in the tropical turquoise of the ocean and to notice some of the pinks that introduced themselves to me from within the rocks, as I made my way down to the beach. Feeling compelled to glance out to sea at every opportunity, it reminded me of the excitement I felt as a child when my sisters and I would always try to be the ‘first to see the sea!’
The sand between my toes that day, was the white, soft and sandy type that you enjoy at all the best beaches. This particular sandy beach, is one of Cornwall’s finest.
Not only does the ocean, the sand, the rocks, the beach huts, the clifftops, the sky, the festoon lights, the fire pit, the sunset (did I mention the sand?) all jump out as obvious props for your photos or video, the atmosphere and the buzz that you and your guests create between you does too. Imagine yourselves stood around the fire pit at dusk, glass in hand ‘cwtching up’* to your beau under the festoon lights – a beautiful moment that would work so fantastically well as a final, large print in your wedding album.
*I’m welsh…’cwtch’ means ‘to cuddle.’
Top tips to make the most of your wedding photos:
Enjoy an engagement shoot | Often offered with the photographer’s compliments and enjoyed during your visit to the venue, the engagement shoot is a great opportunity for us to take notice of how you both move comfortably together. We won’t have met before but knowing where your comfort zone sits, will help everyone in making sure that your photos or film experience adheres to that very important brief of keeping it fun, relaxed and easy on the day itself. I personally just think it’s nice not to start the day as strangers, so I offer complimentary shoots (photos or film – it’s your choice) with all of my full day Lusty Glaze packages.
Free photos to use as you wish | If you choose a photo shoot, you will benefit from having a few pix to announce your engagement, share useful information during your planning, print as your wedding invitations, tailor as your table ‘names,’ create as a great Instagram backdrop, play as a slideshow during your evening or print as your personalised Guest Book. There are so many options but more so, it’s simply fun to start creating together earlier and you don’t necessarily have to wait a year or so, for the wedding day itself.
Pick of the bunch | Cornwall is a fab hot spot for talented wedding photographers, filmmakers and wedding suppliers of all disciplines. We really are blessed to have a superb bunch of creatives. Meet and greet a few of your shortlisted suppliers while visiting Lusty. Being able to visit your venue whenever you want, is such a great way to meet the faces behind the website and to make sure that all of your guests, your suppliers included, will fit right in.
Your family & friends benefit | Your guests may choose to extend their visit to make it their annual holiday, so may appreciate having a range of accommodation types available to them. We have great websites for family friendly and dog friendly accommodation for example. I’ve been travelling back and forth to Wales for the last 20 years and the drive to and from the South West is really not that big of a deal, as long as you avoid the peak hours. You could even arrive by aeroplane as Newquay airport is just a taxi ride from Lusty Glaze and Newquay town.
My ultimate tip: Keep one mahoosive bottle of bubbles on ice, ready for this very special moment…You’re both ‘cwtched up’ on the sofa, your finger is poised on the ‘play’ button and you are about to spend the evening, looking through hundreds of photos and replaying your wedding film…all weekend long.
You will need:
One mahoosive bottle of bubbly
Tissues, to wipe away those happy tears
What do I think of the team at Lusty? | The whole team at Lusty are friendly and laid back, yet professional and always pull out all the stops to ensure that you and your family and friends, have the most fabulous time during your time with them. They are hot on communication and always look after us photographers and filmmakers too.
What if it rains? | In over ten years of capturing hundreds of weddings, only two have been a complete wash out (which were not at Lusty). Being at the beach, it’s so very easy to hop in and out as you want and if you would prefer to stay indoors, there are lots of spaces and photography opportunities inside too.
A little point to note about the weather, just so you know | On an overcast day, the light levels are so very soft with subtle shadows which I personally, absolutely love (take a peek at Elli & Mark’s wedding on my blog here). Poldark have made a huge success out of cloudier days in Cornwall! On a tropical day, the colours are bright and beautiful but either way, if pick the finest photographer or filmmaker you won’t need to worry about the weather. If you come back to Cornwall to celebrate your wedding anniversary, year after year, you will fall in love with wet and windy Cornwall. We all do, in the end.
Thank you Lusty Glaze for making my visits to you warm and welcoming, always. You are a dream team, with a dreamy beach, at a dream wedding destination.
Annabel Jayne Wedding Photography and Film Maker’s website | Annabel Jayne on Facebook and Instagram.