Hilary and Matt’s wedding at Boconnoc Estate was a heartfelt celebration of love, family, and sustainability. As cartographers with a love of geography and a commitment to sustainability, they made thoughtful choices in every aspect of their day—from their locally sourced menu to second-hand decor—ensuring a minimal carbon footprint.
Choosing a Sustainable Wedding Venue
Boconnoc Estate was the natural choice for Hilary and Matt as Boconnoc’s commitment to sustainability gave the couple a head start towards their goals. Added to that Hilary’s mother, Louise, is the Hospitality Manager at Boconnoc, and the family has a deep-rooted connection to the estate. “We did not consider anywhere else,” said Louise. “Boconnoc felt like home to all of us. I have worked here for years, and my children have too. It was a constant for our family, and I knew the incredible team here would make it special.”
The Charm of a Winter Wedding
Hilary and Matt’s choice of a winter wedding in January was intentional. “We wanted something to brighten up the winter months,” said Hilary. “After Christmas, people are just waiting for spring. It felt like the perfect time to bring everyone together for some midwinter excitement. Summer weddings are often packed and expensive for guests, whereas winter weddings feel intimate and cosy. Plus, Boconnoc House is magical in winter, with candlelight, roaring fires, and a warm atmosphere.”
Ethical and Sustainable Wedding Attire
Hilary was determined to make sustainable fashion choices. While she initially considered wearing her grandmother’s vintage wedding dress and then searched for a pre-loved gown, she ultimately chose a new dress from a bridal boutique local to her reducing the travel carbon footprint. She also made eco-conscious choices for accessories, borrowing a veil, and selecting silver heels she could wear again. The Groom’s party all wore suits that were sustainably made in the UK, and their gifts were antique pocket watches.
Eco-Friendly Wedding Decor & Floral Arrangements
Sustainability was at the heart of Hilary and Matt’s wedding decor. They sourced second-hand candlesticks from eBay and Facebook Marketplace, filled them with locally made St Eval candles, and used biodegradable confetti crafted from flowers grown in their parents’ gardens. Florist Becca Stuart of The Garden Gate Flower Co. created floral arrangements using seasonal, locally grown blooms, avoiding imported flowers with a high carbon footprint. “Before I walked down the aisle, Becca took me aside, asked me to smell my bouquet, she told me when each flower would bloom again each year…it tied me to that moment forever,” Hilary recalled.
Low-Waste and Sustainable Catering Choices
Sourcing local, seasonal ingredients was a priority for the couple. They chose Fego Food for their catering, ensuring a minimal environmental impact. Their wedding feast included slow-cooked venison with seasonal vegetables, Cornish cheeses, and handmade jams for their cream tea welcome reception. “We knew exactly how much food to order to reduce waste, and Mum made sure every catering team member got a round of applause—they truly deserved it,” Hilary said. Their selection of drinks included Looe Valley wine, locally distilled Salcombe Gin, and elderflower cordial handmade by Louise using hand-picked flowers on a family walk.
A Wedding Weekend to Remember
The festivities spanned an entire weekend, creating a relaxed and familial experience for guests.
Friday
Guests arrived for a cream tea between 2pm and 4pm, followed by a rehearsal in the church. That evening, they hosted a casual extended family dinner in the Soane Room, which is part of Stable Yard, fire pits were lit and home-cooked food was eaten.
Saturday
The wedding ceremony took place at 2pm, followed by cocktails in the Drawing Room. Instead of a traditional starter, they extended the cocktail hour with extra canapes, drinks and speeches by the fire before moving onto the wedding breakfast.
The Feast
A stunning menu featuring slow-cooked venison, seasonal vegetables, roasted potatoes, and shared platters of sticky toffee pudding and pumpkin pie. The Victoria sponge wedding cake, Matt’s favourite, was adorned with sea heather, and Hilary’s father handcrafted the cake stand.
The Party
At 8:30pm, Company B, a 1940s-inspired band, kicked off the evening, and the couple danced the night away with their loved ones.
Sunday Brunch
The celebrations ended with a relaxed family brunch in the Garden Room, all cooked by Louise!
Sustainable Choices That Made a Difference
Hilary and Matt took every opportunity to minimise their carbon footprint by…
Choosing a venue with a commitment to sustainable delivery.
Selecting suppliers that shared their approach to sustainability.
Borrowing, pre-loved wedding attire or reusable wedding attire.
Choosing locally sourced seasonal flowers, food, and refreshments.
Serving venison from the Boconnoc Estate.
Finding second-hand decor and locally made candles.
Not over-catering the evening food to prevent waste.
Taking a honeymoon in Cornwall to reduce travel emissions.
Buying B Corp company bridesmaid gifts.
Selecting Cornish cheeses.
Collecting vintage pocket watches as groomsmen’s gifts.
Printing pocket-sized order-of-service booklets locally.
Forgoing wedding favours.
Making Confetti crafted from family garden flowers.
Offering homemade foraged elderflower cordial as their alcohol-free option.
Plan Your Own Sustainable Wedding
Hilary and Matt’s wedding was a beautiful testament to how meaningful and stylish a sustainable wedding can be. Every element reflected their environmental commitment, from locally sourced decor to thoughtful food choices. Their story proves that with intentional choices, couples can celebrate love while caring for the planet.
If you want to make choices for your wedding at Boconnoc that are kinder to the planet, our team is here to guide you. We are members of the Sustainable Wedding Alliance and consider nature in all of our operational decisions.
Special Moments
“Walking into the church, knowing everyone was there, and everything was in place—that was my favourite moment,” said Louise. “It was time to relax and enjoy the day.”
“For me,” added Hilary, “one of the sweetest moments was pausing with Matt inside the house after the ceremony before we walked out together for the confetti tunnel. We had a glass of champagne, just the two of us, soaking in that special moment before stepping out to celebrate with everyone.”
To learn more about weddings at Boconnoc visit our weddings pages or email [email protected].
P.S
Kind words about the photographer Nick Walker
“Nick Walker, the photographer, was amazing and managed the day like a pro. At 1:20pm, he worried I hadn’t put on my wedding dress yet since the ceremony was at 2:00pm, he was the same as the first dance. Despite running behind, he ensured we captured all the important shots and kept things on track”said Hilary. “His knowledge of the venue helped him find the perfect lighting, making us feel confident and cared for”. Louise added, “sometimes I have to chase photographers, with Nick, that’s not the case—he’s fantastic”.