What a PARTY - Driftwood Spars Wedding
THIS IS NO GET-TOGETHER - THIS, IS A PARTY!
Brace! Brace! (This blog is HUGE!)
It’s always a challenge to whittle down full day wedding galleries into a blog.
Kirstyn & Steven married on a hot, sunny day in their favourite place in the world - Saint Agnes, Cornwall. And from the moment the ceremony ended, this wedding was instantly a PARTY! Let me take you through the day from start to finish…
Bridal Prep
Kirstyn got ready with her bridesmaids and her parents in a gorgeous Air Bnb called Chy Kel which is less than a 5 minute drive from the wedding venue, Driftwood Spars.
It was such a relaxed and homely start to the day for everyone there - including the star of the show, Kirstyn and Steven’s beautiful dog Freddie.
Freddie was under the care of Sue, a dog chaperone who lovingly looked after the little king. Freddie got to be a part of the morning prep, ceremony, family photos, and then Sue took him for walkies and cuddles somewhere quieter until the following day.
Videographer: Motion Farm Wedding Films
Dog Chaperone: A Pad 4 Paws Dog Chaperoning
Hair: Emilie’s Professional Hair and Make-up
Make Up: Kooglam
Dress: Wed2B
Groom Prep
Steven was getting ready at Driftwood Spars with his Groomsmen.
It’s not always possible for me to photograph both Bride AND Groom prep by myself when the couple are not getting ready in the same place.
In order for this to work, Kirstyn had to get fully ready in her dress and have her first look with her dad, a whole hour before the ceremony was due to start. This gave me time to pack my gear down, walk to my car (parking wasn’t great at Chy Kel) drive to the venue, park there and pop into reception to register my reg plate for free parking. Then unload my gear and find Steven for a quick groom prep (they were mainly ready by this point, but had saved a few bits for me to capture).
I then followed the Groomsmen as they went to join the guests, who had all arrived at Driftwood Spars Crib Shack (outdoor bar) and we all made our way up to the ceremony area ahead of Kirstyn’s arrival.
The ‘I do’s’
The Ceremony took place at Driftwood Spars Cliffside Garden. Whilst Freddie comfortably watched from a nice spot in the shade.
From the moment the ceremony ended - the party started. I believe the song that played straight after their walk down the aisle was ‘freed from desire’ by Gala! An absolute 90’s banger! And it set the tone immediately that this wedding was NOT formal, NOT traditional - it was pure CELEBRATION!
So picture the scene - you’ve just married the love of your life. The 90’s dance anthems are filling the space with good vibes and the wooden gazebo you married under has now become an outdoor bar!
There was so much going on at this wedding to entertain the guests!
Firstly, a set from Cornish Sea Shanty Band The Mevagissey QuayNotes
Then, a very special performance from the Groom’s father - singing crowd-pleasers such as ‘Hey Jude’ and making Steven well up (although he hid it well under his shades).
There was dancing, drinks, scones with jam and cream.
We used the slither of shade that was available for some group photos with some nice soft light. But also did some group photos in the sunshine with a bit of the view behind.
Kirstyn and Steven did want all of their group photos on the beach, but I warned them beforehand that the beach would be very busy and that it would take a fair bit of time to get all the guests down there - plus a grandparent with limited mobility.
So instead, we popped down towards the coast with just Freddie, the bridesmaids and the groomsmen. But decided against the beach as it really was packed!
Wedding Breakfast and Speeches!
To The Beach!
It was early evening, and so the beach was much quieter. Kirstyn and Steven were itching to get on the sand and really make the most of their coastal Cornish venue!
So, that gazebo you married under, turned into a bar and now… it’s a dance floor!
As Kirstyn & Steven walked back up the road from the beach to their venue, they could hear the music calling them, the party awaiting. The time had come for the THIRD musical performance of the day - Venn Smyth! Venn’s set started off on Saxophone and then moved across to acoustic guitar. He played pop classics from the likes of Queen, Tina Turner, Natasha Bedingfeild. The atmosphere was electric!
And then the celebrations continued indoors…
TURN
DOWN
FOR
WHAT?
Don’t let the first photo of this slideshow fool you - these two didn’t stay still for long!
That dancefloor was ALIVE!!
DJ: SoundONE Disco
And… Venn Smyth pulled a late shift - returning with his sax for the indoor party!!
Have a look at what Kirstyn & Steven had to say about their experience working with me…
“Leah was outstanding from start to finish. Our package included an engagement shoot as a lovely bonus, and it turned out to be invaluable. It gave us time to get to know Leah, understand how she works, and feel comfortable in front of the camera before the wedding. We came away with photos we loved and a real sense of trust going into the big day.
In the lead-up, Leah’s planning and communication were first class. She listened to what mattered to us, offered thoughtful suggestions, and kept everything clear and organised. Timelines, group photos, wet-weather ideas, little details we would never have thought of, all covered. By the time the day arrived we felt completely at ease because we knew we were in safe hands.
On the day, Leah was calm, friendly, and in control. She gave gentle direction when needed, kept group photos efficient and relaxed, and somehow managed to be everywhere without being intrusive. She also picked the perfect moments to whisk us away for couples shots so we never felt like we were missing time with our guests.
When the albums arrived, they exceeded anything we had hoped for. The collection is huge, beautifully edited, and full of variety. The majority are candid, exactly what we wanted, capturing the natural, relaxed joy of the day along with all the little in-between moments we might have missed.
Leah is talented, professional, and a genuinely lovely person to have around on such an important day. We are thrilled with our photos and will treasure them forever. Thank you Leah!”