Emma and Matt at St Michael's Resort

Journal

Emma and Matt's wedding St Michael's Resort

ST MICHAEL’S RESORT, FALMOUTH

Let’s take it back to sunny Friday, 2nd May 2025, with this journal, to Emma and Matt’s wedding at St Michael’s Resort in Falmouth. It truly was a stunning day, with fantastic weather. My day started off photographing Emma and her two daughters getting ready with Emma’s mum in a lovely room in the hotel, where they had their hair and makeup done by Joy Louise. Emma’s beautiful dress came from the Bridal Studio in Helston, and to capture it perfectly before she put it on, I took it up to a different room so I could get a clear shot of it against the window with a nice view over the beach.

Emma’s two daughters were given little wedding day presents of two cameras to enjoy while everyone was getting ready. So, they busied themselves taking little black-and-white photos that were printed out and put together for everyone to enjoy. It was such a good idea and made everyone smile.

Matt arrived in style on his special day, on his Best Man’s new John Deere tractor (of which he’d only purchased the day before the wedding)! It was so new and pristine, gleaming in yellow and green shiny paint, it looked amazing! I took the opportunity to get some shots of him and his two Best Men in front of the tractor, up on a field above Gylly Beach with the sea in the background. We later moved the tractor right outside the hotel to get some shots of everyone in front of it.

By the time I returned to Emma and her bridal party, she was now ready, so I was able to get some shots of her in her gorgeous dress alongside her beautiful bouquet (by In Bloom Porthleven) before she went down to tie the knot. The ceremony itself took place in the immaculate gardens located out front of St Michael’s Resort. Since it was a stunning day, everyone was happy to sit outside enjoying the warm air and sunshine.

Emma’s daughters made amazing Flower Girls and both loved walking down the aisle together and being part of the ceremony, alongside Emma’s three Bridesmaids. This wedding really had a beachside, summer vibe with the golden sunshine and being surrounded by the palms and trees in the garden. Once the ceremony was done, it was time for a confetti tunnel, where the happy couple came down the hill on the lawn and everyone absolutely smothered them in confetti. Confetti tunnels always make for great photos, capturing the couple’s reaction and everyone laughing.

I then rounded up the entire wedding party and did a group shot of everybody with the amazing view out over Gyllyngvase Gardens which is just across the road to the hotel, followed by a fun action shot of all the men – we got all of Matt’s wedding party to pick and throw him up in the air, which went almost too well as he nearly went into orbit! I got all of the guys to pick Emma up as well, but luckily, they didn’t throw her as high.

It was now time to capture some couple shots of Emma and Matt in front of the tractor by the St Michael’s sign, which went really well, followed by some beautiful garden shots. With it being such a lovely day, everyone enjoyed chilling in the sunshine in the front gardens, enjoying a few drinks before going inside for the food.

The decor on the day inside the hotel was done by Emily Rose Event Hire, with a few of the centrepieces on the tables done by the couple themselves. These were table numbers made from beautiful little wood pieces in the shape of tractors. Stood in the hallway was a table plan alongside an old memory ladder that featured photographs of all the people who couldn’t be with us on the day, which I thought was a lovely touch.

Before the wedding party came to sit down for their meal and speeches, I made sure I whizzed around the room to capture all the table set ups and also the fantastic wedding cake done by Polly Webb Cakes. This featured a seashell theme and looked stunning with flowers on it by In Bloom Porthleven. At the end of the meal, the speeches took place and Matt seemed to get it in the neck from both Best Men, which is always a problem when you choose two on your wedding day, because you’ll always get humiliated by both!

Once the meal and speeches were complete, and people started to enjoy the setting sun back outside in the gardens, I took Emma and Matt away for some more couple shots under the shade of the palm trees there. Emma had changed into her evening attire now, so we got some more pictures showing off this different dress. I also decided to use my Hasselblad and Nikon FM2 film camera, which captured the lovely evening light perfectly. I’ve got to take this moment to give a shout out to All About Frames film lab in Truro, who do all my film processing and scanning. Thanks guys!

Returning to the hotel again, the wedding breakfast room had now been changed around, and there was a singer called Laura Kate performing a few classics on her acoustic guitar, getting everyone in the mood and dancing. The cake was also cut at this point. As the sun was now setting, we thought it would be fantastic to get some beach shots of the couple on the sand, so we whizzed them over to Gylly Beach and captured Emma and Matt looking out to Pendennis Point.

Back at the hotel, DJ Pasty had set up his DJ booth, ready for the first dance, which went really well. I got some great action/movement shots of the couple as well as the party that unfolded thereafter, with people getting loose and letting their hair down, climbing on shoulders and jumping around. Oh boy, did this party know how to party!