Why Your ‘Destination’ Wedding Might Be Closer Than You Think

We’re all eagerly awaiting this evening’s announcement from the Prime Minister and we have everything crossed that the way forward becomes a little clearer for couples, venues and suppliers alike.

We of course want to have weddings back, in a safe and sustainable way, but we know for those planning a destination wedding this year, there are even more factors to consider over the next few months as lockdown eases. The outlook for international travel is still a little grey, and some couples have already decided to adapt and change their plans, bringing the celebrations back home.

The UK has many beautiful ‘destination’ spots and today we’re taking a trip to Treseren in Cornwall – a unique blend of a wedding venue combined with a holiday stay escape. Owner Emma talks us through why your ‘destination’ wedding might be closer than you think…

As a destination wedding venue in the UK, we are lucky with our location – Treseren is nestled in the countryside near the North coast in Cornwall, and so there are plenty of wonderful options for our couples and their guests when it comes to enjoying their wedding stay.

Adapting wedding plans in 2021

We have recently seen a huge rise in enquiries from couples looking to move their destination wedding from overseas to a UK based venue. With the outlook for International travel looking increasingly complex and uncertain, couples are trying to find an alternative solution to enable their wedding to go ahead, but still retain the dream of creating a relaxed vibe, with guests enjoying a beautiful location and time together outside of the wedding day itself.

Because we are a few minutes drive from the North Cornish Coast, and our offer is for a three day wedding and stay experience, couples have come to us to re-create that same feeling of a wedding overseas, with some holiday time for them and their guests right here in the UK.

One couple emailed us with the story of their disrupted wedding planning journey stretching back through the last year of Covid interruption:

“We were supposed to be wed last year in France and it was booked again for this year, but we have come to the realisation it’s not going to happen. I have been looking through so many places but yours really stood out to me. Our guest list was only ever 21, it always was planned to be a small, intimate wedding feel. Your place would be perfect as you’ve made it for this, when I’ve looked before in England, I always felt our wedding would be lost looking in such huge stately homes, so to find Treseren was such a joy. We are absolute foodies so the plan you offer sounds an absolute dream.”

Many people already have a connection to Cornwall, either from family holidays growing up, or in one couple’s case, a proposal on the Cornish coast:

“My fiancé and I have recently had to cancel our wedding in South Africa given Covid – I’m South African, Tom is British and we live in London. We’ve spent a lot of time in Cornwall and Tom proposed in Port Isaac. We really like the look of what you offer at Treseren (including space for the furry family member!)”

Looking at Cornwall as an option instead of factoring in the worry of travel abroad has given lots of couples renewed hope that they can have their wedding:

“Thank you soo soo much for our chat I absolutely got off the phone and had a little tear, it was so, so lovely to talk to you and gave me back that little sparkle of excitement that has well and truly been stolen by Covid. Thank you for taking the time to go through everything with me I really appreciated our chat. I know we still have a long way to go but it gave me the hope I needed.”

The Trend for UK Destination Weddings for 2022

Challenging times for couples planning their weddings are sadly continuing. Probably due to Covid still impairing confidence around travel for our couples and their guests, we are seeing a trend in those interested in creating a UK destination wedding for 2022 onwards and looking only at the UK, instead of destinations overseas. For newly engaged couples at the start of the planning journey, with the dream of creating a destination wedding, there are so many great reasons to focus a search on what is on offer right here on the doorstep, and there’s lots to be excited about!

The laid-back vibe at Treseren

Having held so many relaxed and magical weddings, we know from our couples and their guests how much they loved their wedding experience – in fact most don’t want to leave!

When we created the Treseren wedding experience, we were inspired by our Cornish location and the laidback atmosphere of Cornwall and we knew we wanted everybody coming to get the most out of our setting. Elements such as the gorgeous secluded gardens with an organic play area for kids, outdoor table tennis and garden games, as well as our proximity to the beach, have proved to be really important parts of our offer. Al fresco dining, gourmet barbecues and woodfired cooking all add to the Treseren vibe. Our fire pit terrace comes in to its own on balmy summer evenings, or on chillier nights with guests gathered toasting marshmallows as the sun goes down, and for many this is a really important part of their experience.

One of the things our couples tell us they love most about their wedding at Treseren, is the feeling that they can relax and spend time enjoying the experience.

Our mid-week Micro Weddings and Intimate Wedding Weekends take place over three days, so nothing has to be rushed, and our couples can spend quality time with those they have chosen to come away with to celebrate their wedding.

Our approach is all about bringing people together and giving our couples and their guests the opportunity to enjoy each other’s company and the space to relax. Welcomed after their journey to Cornwall with homemade cake, tea and coffee guests settle in whilst our team rustles up a delicious Welcome Feast with complimentary wine. Seated at our long table, everybody can catch up before the big day itself. It’s a unique combination of five-star service at a beautiful Country House, but with a home from home atmosphere.

The wedding is at the heart of the stay, and of course the most important day, but what is lovely is that everybody gets a ‘day three’ to relax and enjoy our very special location the day after the wedding. Time to reminisce about the wedding day over a late brunch, before heading off to explore Cornwall the beautiful beaches and make even more memories!

Cornwall as a destination

Couples celebrating here feel that Cornwall can be just as gorgeous as Lake Como and the South of France. Of course, we cannot guarantee sunshine, but we can guarantee beautiful wild landscape, stunning beaches and fabulous dining experiences.

Our couples also have the opportunity for a beach photo shoot on their wedding day; it’s a highlight for many, and so romantic to escape to the dunes together for an hour or two whilst guests are looked after at Treseren with drinks and canapés. Our nearest beach, Holywell Bay was used as one of the main locations for the BBC’s Poldark series. The beautiful dunes and iconic twin rocks make the most incredible backdrop and there’s something very special in knowing that Ross and Demelza’s love story was captured on film here!

Many of our couples want to embrace their time at the beach whatever the weather brings and as well as the picture-perfect images on blue sky days, there have been some stunning images captured on wild, windswept days amongst the rugged Cornish landscape.

Some of our couples even get out to enjoy the beaches on the morning of their wedding. We have organised early breakfasts so that couples and their friends can get out for a walk or swim in the sea  One Groom and his Groomsmen even went for an early surf, captured by their photographer as part of their wedding day – wetsuits and smart suits all in one day!

Those seeking fabulous eating experiences in Cornwall have such diverse choice from country pubs, to restaurants with great views dotted along the coastline. Cornwall has become a foodie haven with a plethora of great restaurants; from the fabulous seafood offering at Rick Stein’s famous Seafood Restaurant and great eateries in Padstow, to Michelin-starred chefs who have been drawn to the fabulous local produce and wonderful scenery for their restaurants, including Michael Caines’ new restaurant, ‘The Cove’ with panoramic views of Maenporth beach, Nathan Outlaw’s eateries in the coastal town of Port Isaac and Paul Ainsworth in Padstow.

For a more laid-back experience that really makes the most of our proximity to the Cornish coast, there is nothing better than al fresco dining on the beach. Treseren has recently partnered with the fabulous Dine With Iris who sets up stunning picnics on the beach, on the cliff top, or tucked away in the dunes. Her set ups are beautifully styled with fresh flowers, a table runner and napkins, cushions aplenty for relaxation and a complimentary Bluetooth speaker to enjoy your own music while you dine. Combined with a coastal walk, or a day out at the beach swimming and surfing, it’s a great option for a day three experience at Treseren. And as a romantic twist on the traditional wedding breakfast, one of our couples booked for an elopement wedding just for two this summer, have opted to dine with grazing boards in the sand dunes with Dine With Iris on their Wedding Day itself.

With all these gorgeous options to enjoy a wedding and stay right here in the UK, we hope we have gone some way to inspiring couples who dream of a destination wedding.

Beautiful Cornwall can be the most incredible place to start your search.