Jennifer and Matt arranged their Cornish wedding long-distance from the US, where they are based. A spring wedding in early May, Boconnoc offered the perfect Georgian English backdrop, with wisteria and azaleas in full bloom, to welcome guests who had made the long journey from overseas. Their wedding was a two-night affair that combined British and American influences.
Boconnoc’s wedding couples work with our wedding manager throughout the pre-wedding planning process; there are initial supplier recommendations and video calls at intervals of three, two and one month before a couple’s wedding day. A few days before every wedding, there is a team meeting, during which the whole Boconnoc team is briefed on the schedule for the weekend and told which suppliers the wedding couple has chosen. This is when the wedding comes together for the team; supplier choice sets the tone for the weekend. Will it be a country house classic, a decadent party, or festival-inspired? We love them all.
Jennifer and Matt chose The Buffalo Bar as their drinks supplier, which is always a treat; we love seeing their little silver airstream coming along Boconnoc’s drive, the retro glam, the way it reflects the light as a perfect counterpoint to Boconnoc’s stone walls; plus, bar service that would satisfy the most discerning cocktail connoisseur. For florals Jennifer and Matt chose another Boconnoc favourite The Garden Gate Flower Company, Rebecca knows Boconnoc well and artfully designs floral arrangements that reflect and include flowers that are blooming across the Estate when weddings take place.
We asked a few of Jennifer and Matt’s suppliers to tell us about their work with the couple during the planning process and on their wedding day.
THE DRINKS The Buffalo Bar
“Jenn and Matt’s wedding was certainly one we will never forget – not only were they the loveliest couple with a fantastic group of friends, but after two days with this wonderful party, we felt like we really were a part of the celebration too!
Over the six months before their wedding we worked with Jenn and Matt on creating two separate cocktail menus that reflected them as a couple – their mixed American and English roots, places they had spent time together and experiences they had shared. Matt’s love of tequila meant Palomas and Mezcalitas were a must, Hugos and Elderflower Collins for Jenn’s English roots, Porto Tonics for the holidays spent in Portugal and a special wine that held great significance for the family.
Friday night in the Stable Yard was a wonderfully laid-back evening of fabulous food, music, dancing and, of course, lots of cocktails – guests certainly were not saving themselves for the big day!
We served a special sparkling English wine from Kinsbrook Vineyard before the ceremony in the Dorothy Garden, then cocktails and Cornish beers on the lawn after the wedding.
The evening party was truly epic – if we thought drinking in the sun meant that guests may have peaked too early – boy, were we mistaken! Any couple who chooses to forgo a wedding cake in favour of starting the party with a five-tier Champagne tower (filled with Bollinger, of course) are our kind of people! Add to this a whole bunch of Espresso Martinis and you can imagine how much fun was had by all in the evening.
This truly was an incredible wedding, made possible by the most fabulous venue, the loveliest bunch of people and the ultimate dream team of suppliers. An unforgettable weekend for everyone involved.”
THE STAGING Out of The Ordinary Event Hire
Jennifer and Matt first got in touch after a visit with their caterer, Dish. They wanted to create a sense of understated elegance in their wedding reception that complemented the beautiful venue they had chosen. Jennifer and Matt booked a styling consultation at our showroom just outside Redruth. Our in-house styling team met with them both and talked through their plans, what they liked and what they loved to create a look that would suit them. We looked at linens, runners, and napkins, and we discussed their chosen cutlery and plates and what would complement these, from glassware to decor. They chose off-white crushed fabric table runners; antique rose hand-dyed cotton napkins, transparent glass votives and mismatching height vintage brass candlesticks to add light and warmth to the table setting. For glassware, they chose our luxury Italian crystal cut glassware to finish off their tablescapes, add more reflective light to their tablescapes and elevate the guest experience during their dining.
THE MUSIC The Cornwall Quartet
Playing for Jennifer and Matt’s wedding ceremony and drinks reception at Boconnoc, one of our favourite venues, was a delight. The initial stages of planning were done via email. Jennifer and I then arranged a video call to finalise the details closer to the wedding date. The ceremony took place in the serene setting of The Dorothy Garden, and we played a variety of light Classical music as guests mingled and took their seats. We have an extensive range of repertoire, from Classical through to covers of pop and rock songs. Jennifer chose ‘Make You Feel My Love’ by Bob Dylan for her stunning bridal entrance; the walk from the bottom of the garden to the top of the aisle is quite long, but it timed beautifully with the music.
During the register signing we played ‘Wildest Dreams’ by Taylor Swift, and then for the couple’s exit from the ceremony they asked us if we could play ‘Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us Now’ by 80’s band Starship. This was a new arrangement for us, and we were incredibly happy to prepare it for them. It was a fun choice, and we enjoyed playing it for them. Following the ceremony, we relocated to the front of the house for the drinks reception, where we played a variety of pop and rock covers to entertain the guests while they enjoyed some delicious-looking canapés and drinks.
THE FLORALS Garden Gate Flower Company
At The Garden Gate Flower Company, I grow and arrange flowers bespoke for my client’s events. Working on fields and in polytunnels surrounding Boconnoc Estate, it is a pleasure to work with their couples to embrace the field-to-table, seasonal ethos of truly locally grown flowers. Jennifer and Matt organised their wedding abroad. Having worked in the wedding industry for well over a decade, I was able to share my detailed knowledge of the industry, specifically Boconnoc Estate, with them. This helped fine-tune the elements required to make their day so special.
May sees the introduction of flowering shrubs and delicate blooms that blend effortlessly with the awakening hedgerows. With the wisteria out in full bloom, I designed footed urns to mirror the opulence of air loom varieties that adorn the Estate. Jennifer’s bridal bouquet featured scented azaleas akin to those found on the drive of the grand house. Sweetly scented stocks sat delicately amongst hellebores and ranunculus, enhancing a feminine design.
Working with Jennifer and Matt on their table designs was an absolute joy. The styling was pared back, with beautiful long wooden tables and an accent runner to unify the flowers with the design. Large Leach Pottery bowls were filled with seasonal soft tones to weave colour down the table, and the rich linen napkins provided depth, taking the element of oversweetness away. May at The Garden Gate Flower Company offers an abundance of delicate blooms that sit side-by-side in a county alive with hedgerow blooms.
www.thegardengateflowercompany.com
Other suppliers at Jennifer and Matt’s Wedding were photographer www.taylorandporter.com and for food www.dishcornwall.co.uk
To learn more about weddings at Boconnoc visit our website or email [email protected] to speak to our Weddings Manager.
Get inspired by Boconnoc couple’s wedding films here.