Trevenna Barns - Cornwall Wedding Photographer.
Nestled in the heart of the Cornish countryside, Trevenna Barns is the perfect setting for a beautifully relaxed wedding. With its charming stone barns, rolling green fields, and peaceful surroundings, it feels like a little retreat from the rest of the world—a place where couples can truly soak in their wedding day without the rush of travel between venues. One of the best things about Trevenna is that everything happens in one place, with stylish onsite accommodation making it easy for couples and their guests to settle in and enjoy the celebrations from start to finish.
For this wedding, that meant I was able to capture both the bride and groom getting ready—something that isn’t always possible when morning prep happens in separate locations. It’s always lovely to document both sides of the story, and this morning was full of emotion, laughter, and a few unexpected moments that made it all the more memorable.
One of my favourite photos from the morning is of Katherine swapping her high heels for her trusty Vans trainers, with the help of a heavily pregnant bridesmaid. Getting down low to tie the laces wasn’t exactly easy for the bridesmaid, so Katherine—being her brilliantly unfiltered self—flopped back onto the bed, legs in the air, just as the registrars walked in to interview her. Their faces were a picture of surprise, but without missing a beat, Katherine broke the ice with, "This takes me back to the birth of my daughter!" Moments like this are why I love what I do—capturing the real, unfiltered personalities of the couples I work with.
Another moment that really stood out was when Katherine’s sister helped her with her necklace—a necklace that held their grandmother’s ashes. I photographed the scene from behind, capturing their reflections in the mirror as the weight of the moment settled in. There was a pause, a deep breath, and then a long, emotional hug as they held onto each other. It’s these small but powerful moments that mean the most. What made this wedding so special was how open and expressive everyone was. The bride, groom, and all their guests allowed themselves to feel the day, to be present in every moment, without worrying about the camera. That kind of trust means everything to me as a photographer—it allows me to truly document the story as it unfolds, with nothing forced or staged.
MUA - Hannah May - Make Up Artist
Hair Stylist - Toni Gogola Wedding Hair
Hair Stylist - Giselle Michel-Gendre H&MUA
Florist - Briar & Bramble
Cake - Fozzy’s Frostings
The ceremony took place in Trevenna’s indoor ceremony space, a beautiful addition to the venue that wasn’t there the last time I photographed a wedding here - it’s so lovely to return to venues and see improvements and new features!
Of course, no wedding is complete without a few unexpected moments, and this one had a couple of gems. One of my favourite shots from the ceremony was completely unplanned—the moment the bridesmaid accidentally dropped one of the wedding rings. I managed to capture it mid-air, just as the Bride, Groom, and Bridesmaid all looked down in unison, eyes locked on its descent. A perfect freeze-frame moment that tells the story in a single image.
Then there was their exit—planned with a bubble machine to create a magical backdrop as they walked back down the aisle. The idea was for the bubbles to gently float behind them, adding to the atmosphere. But the machine had been placed at the bottom of the aisle instead, and instead of filling the air, the bubbles were shooting out at speed and piling up on the wooden floor. By the time the registrars had finished their farewell speeches and quotes, there was a towering wall of bubbles waiting for them. I made sure to capture this quirky little surprise—the kids were grinning as they turned to look at the growing pile, completely fascinated. It might not have gone exactly to plan, but honestly, it made for even better photos!
After the ceremony, the newlyweds were met with warm hugs and congratulations from their guests—one of my favourite moments to capture, as the joy and emotions are so raw. Among the laughter and happy tears, there was also a special moment where the bride's brother joined in via video call all the way from Australia. I made sure to get some photos of his face on the phone screen as he shared in the celebrations from afar, a reminder of how technology can bring people together even across thousands of miles.
Following this, we moved on to a handful of group photos. As a documentary-style photographer, I don’t tend to showcase many group shots, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t important. In fact, I always encourage couples to take at least a few. Weddings are one of the rare times when so many loved ones are gathered in one place, and these images often become some of the most cherished photographs from the entire day. They’re the ones that get printed, framed, and passed down through generations—holding sentimental value not just for the couple, but for their families too.
If you’d like to read my tips on writing a group photo list, check out my blog here.
Before heading outside for the couple’s portraits, I took a quick detour into the wedding reception room. Now that all the chairs were in place and the fairy lights were glowing, the space had such a warm and inviting atmosphere. The lighting was so pretty that I couldn’t resist capturing a few shots of the couple in there, soaking in the moment before the celebrations truly got underway.
We then moved outside for their portrait session—a chance for the newlyweds to step away from the buzz of the day and just enjoy a little time together. With Trevenna’s stunning surroundings as the backdrop, we captured a mix of romantic and relaxed shots, making the most of the natural beauty around us.
As the evening continued, it was time for the speeches—always one of my favourite parts of the day to capture. The setup for this wedding was slightly different, with the tables arranged in one big rectangle, leaving no central aisle for me to move through. This meant I had to work from a little further back than usual, but I’m so happy with how the photos turned out.
With the warm glow of fairy lights overhead and the natural light fading outside, the atmosphere was perfect for some heartfelt and emotional moments. From laughter to teary-eyed reactions, the speeches brought out so much personality, and it was a joy to document it all.
As the meals were served and guests settled in around the table, the atmosphere became even more relaxed. I always try to be mindful during this part of the day—not wanting to make anyone feel uncomfortable while they’re eating—but this group was so at ease with me being there that I was able to pop in and out without it feeling intrusive.
I captured some lovely moments of friends and family chatting, laughing, and embracing, as well as a few close-up shots of the beautifully presented food. It’s not often that I take many photos during the meal (as this is usually my time to take a short break too), but with everyone so comfortable and in the moment, I was able to document more of this part of the day than usual. And I’m so glad I did—these in-between moments of connection can be just as special as the big events of the day.
As the evening set in, we took a moment to step outside for some portraits. The soft Cornish mizzle (a fine misty drizzle) was in the air, and rather than seeing it as an obstacle, we used it to our advantage. With my off-camera flash positioned behind the couple, the droplets lit up beautifully, creating an almost magical atmosphere around them.
In the background, Trevenna Barns was glowing warmly, the lights from inside making the whole setting feel even more intimate. These evening portraits are always some of my favourites and it wouldn’t be possible without a couple who are willing to get just a little bit rained on for a good cause.
The evening kicked off with a cake cutting that quickly turned into something a little more fun—instead of a traditional slice, they each grabbed a cupcake and smashed it into each other's faces! The guests were in stitches, and I loved capturing the laughter and spontaneity of the moment.
Then it was time for the first dance, made even more magical by confetti cannons bursting around them as they twirled on the dance floor. I always love the energy that confetti brings to these moments—it adds such a celebratory feel, and the photos look incredible with the colours floating through the air.
“Wow just wow... when we booked Leah to cover the entirety of our wedding back in January, for the 16/11/24, I did not expect her to be who she is.... just wait for me to finish... from the first time we met in May when we had our pre wedding photoshoot I knew Leah would be a hoot but by blooming heck, I didn’t realise just what a hoot she’d be.
So the 16th November rolled around and in she comes, does the prep photos of my husband and myself and then the fun began... when I had gotten into my dress and shoes, after 10 minutes I knew I wanted to change my shoes to my Vans, and in she comes to capture the moment... one would like it was all elegant and I’d have shown some semblance of decorum 🤣🤣 nope, with my registrar stood next to us, my heavily pregnant bridesmaid did my vans for me and Leah was there to capture EVERY SINGLE ANGLE. Including the black shorts (which has pockets) underneath, as I said “this reminds me of when I birthed my daughter”...
From then on Leah captured the romance and emotional side to the physical actions of my intrusive thought process 🤣 couldn’t recommend Leah enough because she really added to our day. She took charge while also letting her creative juices flow throughout our day making the photos that we have seen so far truly memorable. Thank you Leah, from the bottom of our hearts for all you did for our day, including singing The Addams Family Theme song for Iris (our daughter).”