If you’re planning your wedding in Cornwall, it’s probably because it’s one of the most beautiful locations in the country to get hitched. With gorgeous countryside and picturesque beaches, it’s no surprise that a lot couples would choose to tie the knot here.

Kilminorth is no exception to the beauty here in Looe, Cornwall. We offer small intimate weddings, as well as large celebrations. We see many gorgeous couples wed here from all over – it really is an honour to be somebody’s chosen wedding venue.

As we have hosted some truly remarkable weddings, we thought we’d collate some tips and suggestions on how to make your wedding feel intimate. Just remember, your wedding doesn’t have to be huge to make a big impact.

If you have fallen in love with a venue that’s technically too large for your wedding party and would like it to feel a little cosier, you could consider closing off larger rooms or hiring specific parts of larger venues, such as a well-lit room or a naturally-attractive garden setting.

Lighting can help create a more intimate atmosphere with candles, candelabras, string lights, and fairy lights. Additionally, lighting can help fill an open space with purpose and warmth, creating a beautifully crafted space to relax in.

Be creative with wedding styling. Being unique can leave a huge impact on your guests, making for a memorable day for all. Consider using props and decorations, such as flower wreaths, hoop, garlands, and bunting. Using a backdrop with custom details of you and your significant other can be the perfect spot to capture a keepsake photo and the styling throughout can create perfect photographic opportunities.

Explore seating arrangements, as this can make your guests feel included and close. Get creative with your angles and use furniture and other staging to frame your ceremony and wedding breakfast. You could even go for a statement banqueting table vs sitting on a more traditional “top table”, to bring the entire party together.

A smaller wedding allows lots of room to make a wedding personal, including for your guests. It gives you the chance to add meaningful touches that represent both sides of the family, complimenting the personalities of the couple. Perhaps incorporate handwritten notes to each guest which are placed at their table setting, so as they sit, they are welcomed with a sentimental touch – that’s a tearjerker for sure!

With fewer guests to accommodate, it could be the perfect opportunity to rope in family and friends by working together to create handcrafted items for decoration, which not only adds a unique touch, but it also adds to a memory bank for all involved in the lead up to such a wonderful day – helping the wedding excitement build. These items will also provide a lovely keepsake for the couple as a memento of their special day.

Have you also considered extending your wedding over a few days? Although a full weekend wedding weekend might sound like a big deal, fear not. You can still have the intimate day of your dreams, but having a location that enables your guests to stay on-site means you can really make the most of your wedding experience – creating a truly memorable experience for everybody involved.

The weekend could include a night in relaxing, unwinding in the hot tub before the day ahead, or enjoying a drink at the on-site bar playing board and card games, escaping those pre-wedding jitters. Post-wedding day, with all your loved ones in one place, it’s the perfect opportunity to grab a small alfresco breakfast whilst reminiscing on the previous day, checking through the camera roll of the candid snaps whilst chatting about the highlights from the day – who doesn’t love to reminisce?!

With self-catering cottages, such as the ones we have at Kilminorth, it can also help to keep the costs down as you are able to bring your own food outside of your main celebration. Plus, we’re also a dog-friendly wedding venue which means your furry friends to not only enjoy your celebrations on the day, but also participate in the whole weekend if that’s what you opt for. Our aim is to make your occasion stress free as possible, and bringing your pup along might just relieve the worry (and finances) of finding a dog sitter or kennels – after all they are family, so why not get them involved?

If you are considering saying “I Do!” at Kilminorth, reach out and take a look around our stunning grounds. Our experienced Events Manager will happily showcase the perfect spots – whether you are considering an elopement, a small intimate wedding or something larger. Whatever you have dreamt of, we are here to make that a reality.