CARWINION HOUSE, FALMOUTH
Christie and Tom were married on Wednesday, 6th May 2026, at Carwinion House, a beautiful hidden gem tucked away amongst the trees near Mawnan Smith, Falmouth, Cornwall. The forecast had threatened rain all week, but somehow we got away with it. Not a single drop all day. Instead, we were treated to sunshine from start to finish, and it couldn’t have worked out better.
This was my first time photographing a wedding at Carwinion House, so I was excited to explore somewhere new. The venue is tucked away down a woodland path and feels completely hidden from the outside world. At its heart is a beautiful country house surrounded by gardens, a pond and woodland, with Raj-style marquees providing the perfect space for the reception, meal and evening celebrations. Everywhere you look, there’s another great backdrop for photos.
The couple had put so much thought into the details. One of the marquees was filled with homemade garden games, including Cornish and Irish-themed beanbag challenges inspired by both sides of the family. On the top table were signs reading “Yeghes da!” and “Sláinte” – cheers in Cornish and Irish, which was a lovely nod to their heritage. Even the guest tables were named after beaches around Cornwall.
The flowers were created by Sown in Cornwall and looked stunning throughout the venue, while the ceremony arch by Emily Rose Events Hire was absolutely incredible and made a real statement in the garden. The morning preparations were full of laughter. Christie and her bridesmaids spent the morning getting ready in the house with Seija Richards Makeup and Abi Murray Makeup, while hair was looked after by Dukes and Dames. It felt more like a gathering of friends than a busy wedding morning, and there were plenty of smiles while everyone got ready.
I photographed Christie’s dress from St Ives Bridal hanging upstairs in front of one of the mirrors, along with the bridesmaids’ dresses nearby. The sunlight pouring through the windows made everything look amazing. At one point, I also captured a portrait of Christie through one of the house windows, which turned out perfectly.
My second photographer for the day, Kirsty, spent part of the morning capturing all the little details such as invitations, rings, jewellery and shoes, while I moved between rooms documenting everything else unfolding around us. Tom and the boys were getting ready in one of the cottages just outside the main house. Spirits were high from the moment I arrived, with plenty of banter while ties were being tied and jackets buttoned up. It also happened to be one of Tom’s cousins’ birthdays, something that definitely wasn’t forgotten later in the day.
One of my favourite moments from the morning wasn’t planned at all. While checking on the ceremony setup in the gardens, Tom bumped into his mum, who was still wandering around in her pyjamas, admiring the flowers. The two shared a hug and a slightly emotional moment before the day properly began. Completely unplanned, but exactly the sort of thing that makes wedding photography so special.
Once the lads were dressed in their Cornwall Suit Room suits, we headed into the snooker room inside the house. Very little actual snooker was played, but there was plenty of pretending. The resulting photos were brilliant. Afterwards, we channelled a bit of Reservoir Dogs energy as the groomsmen walked across the lawn towards the ceremony area.
Back upstairs, it was time for Christie to put on her dress. A few emotional bridesmaids were helping with the final touches, and before long, there were even more tears when her dad saw her for the first time. We also couldn’t resist taking the bridesmaids into the snooker room afterwards for a few portraits of their own. It only seemed fair since the boys can’t have all the fun!
The ceremony itself took place outside in the sunshine and couldn’t have gone more smoothly. Celebrant Lucy Goy led a fantastic ceremony filled with smiles, laughter and a few happy tears. Afterwards, everyone gathered for group photographs and a few fun moments. Tom was thrown into the air by his friends, which always makes for entertaining photos, and we also created some Vogue-inspired group shots featuring the bridesmaids, groomsmen and a few willing family members showing off their best “Blue Steel” impressions.
The front of the house made a brilliant backdrop for some portraits of Christie and Tom together, and I shot a few frames on film there before we wandered off to one of the estate’s incredible twisted old trees. There are so many different corners of Carwinion House that work beautifully for portraits, and it felt like every turn revealed another opportunity.
While guests relaxed and enjoyed the sunshine, I spent some time photographing everyone making the most of the homemade games. The Space Hoppers proved particularly popular and, as always, made for some fantastic photos.
When it was time for the wedding breakfast, Christie and Tom were announced into the marquee before cutting the cake and taking their seats. The speeches were brilliant. Both Christie and Tom spoke, alongside the Father of the Bride and the Scottish Best Men. There was plenty of laughter throughout and not many dry eyes by the end.
The birthday celebrations for Tom’s cousin also made an appearance, complete with cake and a room full of people singing Happy Birthday. He seemed more than happy to be the centre of attention for a few minutes.
The afternoon drifted by with good food, sunshine, games and lots of chatting before everyone headed back into the marquee for the first dance.
The evening entertainment came from Stone Roots, who were absolutely fantastic. Their mix of 90s and 00s classics kept the dancefloor packed, and the lead singer’s voice was incredible. The dance floor energy stayed high all night, with Tom nearly tearing his trousers attempting an enthusiastic high-kick at one point, which definitely gave everyone a laugh.
As twilight arrived, I borrowed Christie and Tom for one final wander through the woodland surrounding the house. We created a few atmospheric portraits using some creative lighting amongst the trees and shot a little more film before heading back to the party.
The evening finished spectacularly. During the band’s final song, Christie and Tom were lifted onto the shoulders of friends and family, waving glow sticks above their heads while the whole marquee sang along. For a moment, it looked like they might actually disappear through the roof!
It was the perfect ending to a brilliant day! Christie and Tom, thank you so much for having me along to capture it all. It was an absolute pleasure photographing your wedding at Carwinion House, and I wish you both every happiness for the future.
Check out the reel we made on Instagram, giving you a great behind-the-scenes insight into this special day.
Here’s to everyone involved!
Venue & food/drink: Carwinion House,
Celebrant: Lucy Goy Cornwall
Flowers: Sown in Cornwall
Arch display: Emily Rose Events Hire
Make up: Seija Richards Makeup & Abi Murray Makeup
Hair: Dukes and Dames
Rings: Walkers Jewellers Penzance
Suits: Cornwall Suit Room
Dress: St Ives Bridal
Band: Stone Roots
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