TREMENHEERE SCULPTURE GARDENS, PENZANCE & POLSTRONG MANOR, CAMBORNE

Emma and Charley tied the knot on Saturday 20th September 2025… well, sort of! Their official civil ceremony was their pre-wedding shoot that took place the day before, on Friday 19th September, at the beautiful Tremenheere Sculpture Gardens near Penzance.

Luckily, the sun was on their side, and they were able to say their vows outside, underneath the pagoda right at the top of the gardens. It was a small, intimate ceremony with their closest family there, and a couple of them even signed as witnesses.

The whole thing felt incredibly personal and relaxed. After the ceremony, we wandered through the gardens, stopping along the way to capture portraits of Emma and Charley amongst the incredible plants, flowers and sculptures. There are so many amazing spots around Tremenheere, but one of my favourites had to be “Tewlwolow Kernow”, an elliptical domed Skyspace chamber by artist James Turrell. Watching Emma and Charley stand in the beam of light that I’d cleverly created with special lighting above their heads, coming through the hole in the ceiling, was such a special moment to photograph.

Fast forward to the next day, and it was time for the big wedding celebration at Polstrong Manor, the famous Channel 4 renovation sensation. The morning brought some absolutely torrential rain while everyone was getting ready, but thankfully, Polstrong Manor is such a beautiful venue inside that it didn’t matter one bit. Every room has its own character and made the perfect backdrop for the morning preparations.

Emma got ready upstairs in the wonderfully opulent and slightly quirky wedding suite, while Charley was getting ready elsewhere. Kirsty and I started the day by photographing Emma’s gorgeous dress from Bridal Reloved Tavistock hanging in front of the mirror and by the window before she put it on. Her hair was styled by Tamsin Marie, and while Emma was being pampered, a family member arrived with a tray of fruit and chocolate, exactly what everyone needed to keep the energy levels up during the morning excitement.

When Charley arrived, I captured a few photos of him and his dad relaxing downstairs by the fireplace and window. They both looked incredibly chilled, which is always lovely to see on a wedding morning. Then it was time for Emma to step into her dress. We captured those quiet, special moments before she went to see her dad for the first time. We used the amazing silver bathtub and flamingo tree as the backdrop, which made for some really fun and unique portraits.

Next up was the ceremony, held in the main hall at Polstrong Manor. Charley did his best to hold back the tears as Emma walked down the aisle with her dad, but his face said everything. It was such a genuine, emotional moment. The ceremony was led by Michelle Parfitt Celebrant, who did a brilliant job telling the story of Emma and Charley’s relationship, from how they first met to all the little stories that make them who they are. There were plenty of laughs along the way, and it felt effortless, warm and completely personal.

After the ceremony, everyone had time to relax and catch up. The confetti tunnel was, as always, great fun, with family members enthusiastically launching handfuls of petals straight at the newlyweds! One of my favourite photos from the day came from an idea Emma and Charley had themselves: Emma lounging on a chaise longue while Charley fed her grapes. It was such a fun little moment and completely suited their personalities. We even recreated it later with the Groom and Bridesman, which was just as funny.

We grabbed some lovely group photos outside the Manor House before everyone headed inside for the wedding breakfast. The food was provided by Indulgence Catering Cornwall, who created an incredible Indian-inspired feast. The couple received a huge cheer as they walked through the conservatory and took their seats.

Then came the speeches, and they were absolutely brilliant. Charley’s dad, Emma’s dad and the Bridesman all delivered heartfelt but hilarious speeches, and there were tears… mostly from laughing!

As the sun started to set, we took Emma and Charley outside for some evening portraits around the grounds. Then we decided to go on a little adventure. We jumped in the car and headed towards Gwithian, where we spotted a field by the side of the road, pulled over, and grabbed some photos with the sunset behind them. It started raining again, so the umbrella came out, but honestly, the shots were worth it!

By the time we got back to Polstrong Manor, it was almost dark. We finished with some portraits outside the building, including a favourite shot of mine with their heart-shaped umbrella casting a brilliant shadow while they kissed. The evening celebrations then kicked off inside, starting with the cake cutting and first dance. The amazing “That Covers Band” got everyone dancing with a brilliant set full of 90s classics. The dance floor quickly filled up, and everyone was throwing some serious shapes,  especially the guest rocking a full traditional Scottish kilt and sporran!

Emma and Charley, it was an absolute pleasure to capture your special days at both Tremenheere Sculpture Gardens and Polstrong Manor. Thank you for having me. 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: Polstrong Manor Cornwall
• Dress: Bridal Reloved Tavistock
• Rings: Canary Blue Cornwall
• Hair: Tamsin Marie
• Suits: Moss Bros
• Caterers: Indulgence Catering Cornwall
• Cake: The Couple
• Band: That Covers Band
• Celebrant: Michelle Parfitt Celebrant

If you’d like to book me for your wedding photography, please see this page for a breakdown of options.