There are some wedding venues where you arrive and immediately start seeing photographs everywhere you look. Mount Edgcumbe is definitely one of them.

Set on the Rame Peninsula in South East Cornwall, overlooking Plymouth Sound, Mount Edgcumbe is an incredible setting for a wedding. Historic buildings, beautiful gardens and plenty of space to disappear for a few relaxed photographs make it a fantastic location for the kind of natural wedding photography I love.

I recently had the pleasure of photographing Alex and Georgina's wedding here, following their day from the morning preparations through to the ceremony, reception and evening celebrations.

And what a day it was.

Getting Ready at the Edgcumbe Arms

The day began at the Edgcumbe Arms, where Alex and Georgina were getting ready separately before the ceremony.

I really enjoy photographing this part of a wedding day because there is so much happening.

The excitement is starting to build, family and friends are coming and going and suddenly all of those months of planning are becoming very real.

My approach during the preparations is pretty simple. I don't want to constantly interrupt what is happening or manufacture moments that aren't there. Instead, I concentrate on capturing the atmosphere and all of those little things taking place around me.

The conversations, the laughter, the nerves and those final few moments before it is time to leave for the ceremony.

The Edgcumbe Arms also had another special part to play in Alex and Georgina's wedding story. Once all the celebrations were over, they returned there to spend their first night together as husband and wife.

The Ceremony at St Mary's & St Julian's Church

From the Edgcumbe Arms, it was only a short journey to the beautiful St Mary's & St Julian's Church for the ceremony.

Church weddings always have their own atmosphere, and this one certainly didn't disappoint.

The building provided a wonderful setting for Alex and Georgina to say their vows surrounded by their family and friends.

During a ceremony, I try to remain as unobtrusive as possible.

Of course, I'm looking for those big moments such as the bride arriving, the vows, exchanging rings and walking back down the aisle together.

But I'm also looking around the church.

A proud parent watching from the pews. Someone wiping away a tear. A smile between family members. A guest trying not to laugh at something that's been said.

Those little reactions are just as much a part of the wedding story.

Couple Portraits at Mount Edgcumbe

After the ceremony, we headed to Mount Edgcumbe for the reception and had the opportunity to make the most of the surroundings for some photographs of Alex and Georgina.

This is where Mount Edgcumbe really comes into its own.

There are so many different locations within the estate that you don't need to spend ages travelling around or disappear from your guests for hours to get some beautiful photographs.

And that's exactly how I like to work.

Couple portraits shouldn't feel like an extended photoshoot in the middle of your wedding.

I'll give you some direction when you need it, find some great locations and good light, and then give you enough space to simply enjoy being together.

I want the photographs to still look like you rather than a collection of poses you've seen somebody else doing on Instagram.

With the gardens and historic surroundings at Mount Edgcumbe, we certainly weren't short of places to explore.

You can see more examples of my natural wedding photography in my Portfolio.

Drinks in the Gardens

The celebrations continued at the Orangery, surrounded by Mount Edgcumbe's beautiful gardens.

Guests were welcomed with Pimm's and lemonade, which was a pretty perfect way to start an afternoon wedding reception.

This part of the day is always great for natural photographs.

Everyone has started to relax after the ceremony. Drinks are flowing, people are catching up and there are conversations and moments happening everywhere.

Rather than constantly asking people to look at the camera, this is where I like to step back and document the atmosphere.

The laughter, the hugs, the conversations and everything happening in between.

These are often the photographs that bring back the strongest memories when couples look through their wedding gallery afterwards.

A BBQ, Cakes and Plenty of Good Food

Alex and Georgina had chosen a relaxed BBQ for their wedding breakfast, which suited the whole feel of the day perfectly.

And instead of one traditional dessert, guests were treated to a selection of cakes.

I'm always a fan of a wedding where people aren't afraid to do things their own way.

Your wedding doesn't have to follow a particular formula. If you want a formal three-course meal, brilliant. If you'd rather have a BBQ surrounded by your friends and family in the gardens, that works just as well.

And Alex and Georgina weren't finished with the food there.

Later in the evening, out came cones of fish and chips.

Wedding photography requires a lot of energy, so naturally I felt it was important to thoroughly investigate these for quality-control purposes.

They were very yummy.

A Relaxed Mount Edgcumbe Wedding

The thing I remember most about Alex and Georgina's wedding is just how much laughter there was throughout the day.

That's exactly what I want to photograph.

I don't want couples spending their wedding worrying about where they should stand or whether they're looking at the camera.

There will always be a place for a few family photographs and some time away together for couple portraits, but my full wedding photography experience is really about telling the complete story of your day while letting you enjoy it.

Enjoy your wedding.

Talk to your guests.

Have a drink.

Laugh until your face hurts.

Eat the fish and chips.

I'll concentrate on capturing it.

Why Mount Edgcumbe Is Such a Great Wedding Venue

Having photographed a wedding at Mount Edgcumbe, I can completely understand why couples choose it.

There is so much variety within one location.

You have the historic estate, beautiful formal gardens, coastal scenery and the Orangery, all giving completely different possibilities for wedding photographs.

For Alex and Georgina, the combination of preparations at the Edgcumbe Arms, a church ceremony nearby and celebrations at the Orangery created a wedding day where everything felt connected without every part of the day looking the same.

From a photographer's perspective, that's pretty special.

More importantly, though, it gave Alex and Georgina somewhere they could simply enjoy celebrating with the people closest to them.

And ultimately, that's what the wedding day should be about.

Looking for a Mount Edgcumbe Wedding Photographer?

If you're planning your own wedding at Mount Edgcumbe and you're looking for relaxed, natural wedding photography, I'd love to hear what you've got planned.

My approach isn't about turning your wedding into an all-day photoshoot.

We'll plan the important photographs beforehand, make some time for photographs of the two of you and any family groups you'd like, and then I'll spend the rest of the day looking for the moments happening naturally around you.

The laughter.

The reactions.

The people.

And all those little moments you might not even realise happened.

Because when you look through your wedding photographs years from now, I don't just want you to remember what everything looked like.

I want you to remember what the day actually felt like.