Weddings in Portugal

Portugal Wedding Destination – Why Choose Portugal to Get Married?

What makes Portugal a favorite destination for people planning to get married?

Natural Attractions

First of all, Portugal is blessed with natural beauty. It is endowed with some of the most spellbinding scenery you will ever see anywhere in the world. Based on these two factors, why would you choose any other location for your wedding apart from this Iberian country? If in doubt, then you should check the following attractions in the country:

• Blue ocean waves

• Peaceful waters

• Untouched sands

• Breathtaking cliffs

• Sandy and sunny beaches

Awesome Weather

Who doesn’t love beautiful weather? In addition, in Portugal you’re guaranteed several months of sunshine. Consider this; you are free to choose any month during the year for your wedding with the exception of February when there is a high chance of rainfall. Where else in the world are you offered such a wide selection of months when you can have a wedding?

June and September represent the two months when weddings are at their peak.

In conclusion, Portugal has one of the highest numbers of sun hours in all of Europe.

Because flights and Accommodation are Affordable

The flights to the country – regardless of where you travel from – are some of the most affordable too. Especially relevant, the cost of accommodation is low enough to ensure that you do not run out of money during your honeymoon. You can plan a wedding based entirely on the budget that you have. What’s not to like about that?

Convinced yet?

Introducing Weddings at Pengelly Retreat

BOAT HOUSE CABIN - Pengelly Retreat photoshoot styled by Piccolo Weddings.

Taken by Olivia Moon Photography.

Throughout wedding planning, I’ve been fortunate enough to be surrounded by incredible venues around Cornwall, showcasing some of the most breathtakingly beautiful locations and views that this part of the UK has to offer. Packed full of elegance and charm, I am truly thankful for being able to call this my job, and often think back to my own wedding day, which kick started the journey of Piccolo Weddings.

Working as a wedding planner and coordinator, I dream of extra special settings for our ceremonies, which makes this blog post announcement even more exciting to us. Brimming with natural beauty and picture-perfect backdrops everywhere you turn, we have a new hidden Cornish gem that will leave an everlasting imprint in every wedding guests’ memory of your special day.

Pengelly Retreat is nestled in paradisiacal grounds, which feel far flung from the depths of South West Cornwall, never mind the UK! Leaving you completely enthralled as soon as you step out of the car on your arrival.

LILY POND - Celebrant Rebecca Morris at Pengelly Retreat photoshoot, styled by Piccolo Weddings. All flowers by Lafonia Flower Company.

Taken by Olivia Moon Photography.

Full of lily ponds dressed with bridges, secret gardens encompassing statues of ornate Buddhas, towering bamboo passageways and a lake that you can swim in, it’s a dream come true for anyone’s wedding day. We found it very hard to believe that we haven’t stepped into a Monet painting, when first setting eyes on it! 

Nestled in the countryside between the North and South coast, you are only 15 minutes from the beach and 20 from the infamous St Ives (if you can manage to tear yourself away). However, you do not have to sacrifice your peace and quiet for a prime location; with the only disturbance being the comforting sound of running water and birdsong. 

And if having the choice of your very own yurt and lakeside Boat House isn’t enough of an incentive for booking your ceremony here, the biggest selling point is the vast diversity that this one venue has on offer; with several packages available to suit any wedding party.

Whether you are wishing to elope, renew your vows, or simply have an intimate wedding day with your closest friends and family, you’re spoilt for choice; with a plethora of places for your celebrant led ceremonies.

Due to the grounds having several sections within the entire area, it’s a gift that keeps on giving; and as you walk around the retreat, you’ll quickly be taken aback by the untouched beauty that surrounds you. Every step has been carefully thought out and considered, enhanced by simply letting nature take centre stage.  

Starting with the traditional granite Mill House, you are led through walkways cut through wild flower filled meadows, with huge terracotta pots and lichen encrusted seats embellishing your pathway carved out to the Boat House cabin; complete with its own resident boat.

With a glass front balcony onto the lake, it really is a sublime view for waking up to in the morning; fringed by an outside decking area for spending your evenings relaxing as the sun goes down, or warming up in the outdoor bath post wild swim!

Morning or night, every option of experiencing Pengelly Retreat at its best is available to you, irrespective of the weather.

BOAT HOUSE CABIN - Out on the decking at Pengelly Retreat photoshoot, styled by Piccolo Weddings. Featuring Avo Catering Co, Atlantic Blankets, Zennor Made, Oona’s Cakes, St. Eval Candle Company, Lafonia Flower Company and Tegen Jewellery.

Taken by Olivia Moon Photography.

Continuing down and around the lakeside, dramatic umbrella-like leaves of the Gunnera line your entrance to the area where the Sail House is nestled at the very edge of the water, two perfectly placed seats sat awaiting their waterside companions. 

Complete with an outdoor shower, underfloor heating, ensuite bathroom and log burner, this luxury wooden yurt pulls out all the stops; and as you’ll see from the photos taken, it’s incredibly difficult to want to vacate the accommodation at the end of your stay!

SAIL HOUSE YURT - Inside the luxury yurt and its outdoor shower at Pengelly Retreat photoshoot, styled by Piccolo Weddings. Featuring Sand and Palm swimwear.

Taken by Olivia Moon Photography.

Celebrant led ceremonies and vow renewals are available, with ample space for everyone to enjoy your special day. With up to 30 people able to attend, you have the entire retreat for 3 nights; including exclusive use of the entire site, Mill, Boat and Sail House. 

Both the Sail House and Boat House sleep 2, and the four-bedroom Mill House sleeping 8, leaving the lovely couple to have first pick of which accommodation they would like; whilst providing a place to stay for 12 of their guests. 

TABLE SETTING - Stargazey Hire provided the tabes, chairs and terracotta pots for the styling at Pengelly Retreat photoshoot.

Taken by Olivia Moon Photography.

However, if you are dreaming of a smaller ceremony or elopement, the two lake side houses can be rented, with anywhere between 2 to 12 wedding guests on the day. Anyone who isn’t staying onsite can be helped with accommodation and transport to the retreat throughout our wedding planning. 

Not only is this a truly unique location for your wedding day, but it also is an incredible setting for a wonderful holiday with those dearest to you, with time to spend with everyone before and after the ceremony.

FLOWERS - Cornish Gardens Confetti Company provided the real petal confetti and Lafonia Flower Company provided all of the flowers featured throughout the photoshoot.

Taken by Olivia Moon Photography.

The entire time that you spend staying at Pengelly Retreat, you are completely transported to another world. Such an idyllic and tranquil environment, makes stepping back from overloaded schedules and basking in the joy of your day second nature; and you are completely transfixed into the present moment, all focus on enjoying the celebrations. 

It’s the perfect place to enjoy your time as a family, as well as a newlywed couple; with multiple areas to enjoy as a group and as a pair. 

With 5 acres of land, it’s immensely impressive what Ruth and Jim have managed to achieve at Pengelly Retreat, and the entire grounds are a testament to their commitment to creating a beautiful place full of outstanding wildlife and natural beauty. We are incredibly excited about the future this beautiful new venue holds, and we cannot wait to share it with you.

For more information and a breakdown of what is available within each package, please head to Pengelly Retreats website here.

To finish we have a video captured by Thomas Frost Photography, shot on the day of the photoshoot we styled.

Everyone involved in the photoshoot and across the images and film -

Photography - Olivia Moon Photography.

Film - Thomas Frost Photography.

Celebrant - Rebecca Morris.

Flowers - Lafonia Flower Company.

Confetti - Cornish Gardens Confetti Company.

Catering - Avo Catering Co.

Cake - Oona’s Cakes.

Handcrafted Bespoke Boards - Zennor Made.

Jewelley - Tegan Jewellery.

Blankets - Atlantic Blankets.

Candles - St Eval Candle Company.

Wedding Hire - Stargazey Wedding Decor Hire.

Wedding Stationary - Rocha Wedding Stationary.

Authentic Aesthetics

Brightening Up Your Day

Throughout adjusting to this very unusual time, most of us have been stuck in at home and whilst the weeks count on into months, we’ve all started to become a little stir crazy! As you’ll know by now, we have been working from home with our children; balancing work, home schooling and childcare, which has been incredibly difficult, and we’ve seen some heartwarming instances across every profession. Without endless cups of coffee (and a few espresso martinis) we wouldn’t have been able to survive! 

Staring out of the window at a very dull and grey morning drinking one of these endless cups of caffeine, we started to brainstorm the idea of a photoshoot celebrating everyone who’s been stuck in their homes with nowhere to go, and our lovely couples who have had to postpone their wedding day. 

We know how fed up and frustrated they’ve felt and although safety will always be paramount to us here at Piccolo Weddings, it cannot be helped to feel saddened by having to rearrange your wedding day. Many couples had been excitedly counting down for quite some time!

With this in mind, we wanted to make the best of the situation and bringing a little brightness to your day.

This time has brought a real change to all of our lives, and we have found new ways of connecting with our loved ones through social distancing, with a lot of help from 21st century technology. Online family quiz nights, cocktail evenings and work meetings have all been held in the comfort of our four walls. Dressing up to stay in, the new dressing up to go out! 

Over the last few weeks we have found that it is within the little corners of our everyday homes, that we have sought solace in, and appreciated our surroundings more than ever. Surrounded with outside space in a beautiful location, has made us very grateful during lockdown. Not everyone has this luxury and we really appreciate it with little ones.

Our job causes us to be constantly surrounded by beautiful places and people, and it’s what we love most about our work. Nothing fills us up more, than beautiful photos from your day landing in our inbox post ceremony. 

We get to relive the day as much as you do when looking through the moments caught by the photographer; the surprise and anticipation of those golden moments and unexpected shots caught, makes everything worth it. We’ve genuinely missed seeing these.

Sticking to strict social distancing, we organised an amazing team of people to bring a colour explosion to your screens, from our very own garden; looking to the everyday backgrounds and outdoor spaces we have been surrounded by throughout quarantine, with a splash of bold colours.

Starting with our garage door, before moving onto pebbledash, it was important to us to choose areas that were lacklustre but real, rather than your usual bridal shoot setting. We are great believers in authenticity and feel it is what makes us slightly different within the wedding industry.  

So pour yourself a cup of coffee and start scrolling to share the fun we had on the day, starting with an incredible video shot by the very talented Tom Frost Photography. 

Tom Frost Photography

FILM - This amazing film was shot by @t.frost.photography from our recent photoshoot. How incredible are the colours? We certainly love them! You still have 2 days to enter the competition before the winner is announced on Friday 3rd 🌈 . . . . . . #sneakpeak #photoshoot #bridalshoot #competition #weddingplanner #weddingcoordinator #planner #wedding #weddinginspo #ido #engaged #putaringonit #cornwallwedding #cornwallweddingplanner #intimatewedding #brideamdgroom #smallwedding #weddingideas #colour #bold #bright #brightcolours #weddingbythesea #sustainablewedding #simpleplanning #simpleweddingplanning

Jenna Jazz Make Up

MODEL & MAKE UP ARTIST - Jenna Jazz was the model for the day and provided all of the hair and make up; including using EcoStardust glitter.

Lafonia Flower Company

FLOWERS - Lafonia Flower Company provided all of the flowers on the day, including her wooden archway covered in her floristry ribbon and beautiful flower arrangements.

Little Green Vegan Bakery

CAKE - The Little Green Vegan Bakery made this delicious raspberry and lemon cake, with raspberry jam filling, raspberry buttercream, lemon icing, lemon and white chocolate shortbread, sprinkles and sweeties.

Violet Sky Jewellery

JEWELLERY - Violet Sky Jewellery specialises in leather offcuts from the footwear industry, creating these beautiful handmade earrings. However, she fashioned these vegan friendly options especially for the photoshoot.

Protea Poms

POMS - Protea Poms creates these beautiful handmade merino wool poms and garland, placed amongst Ingrid’s flowers in the bouquet and archway.

All of the images from the day were shot by Tom frost photography

We hope this brightened up your day

Feature Friday - Lafonia Flower Company

Fabulous Florals 

PHOTOSHOOT - Stennack Farm photoshoot styled by Piccolo Weddings for Petite Weddings. Flowers by Lafonia Flower Company.

Taken by Thomas Frost Photography.

The current pandemic has affected everyone in one way or another and it’s something that has united us in its worldwide effect; halting everyday life as we know it and drastically changing our day to day routines. It has been the first time in recent history where we are unable to live life as we usually would, creating huge ripples of change in our human behaviour and has given nature the opportunity to breathe and flourish.

Heartwarmingly, this has seen a hugely positive influx of going back to traditional ways of shopping; turning to local producers for our everyday needs, with a rise in farmer's delivering families food to their doorstep in neighbourhoods. Communities have grown closer together, born from implemented social-distancing measures and many of us have found ourselves reevaluating the lives we lead.

Before the virus hit, we had become a society that consumed everything quickly and immediately, moving further and further away from seasonal produce. Every area of life and industry has been affected by our mass consumerism, including floristry, and many out of season requests led to wedding guests not being the only attendees boarding a flight to the ceremony; wedding flowers as their fellow passengers.

Who would have thought that we would ever see the day that the very same planes are grounded due to a global pandemic?

SEASONAL FLORALS - Beautiful succulents and florals taken from a 60's inspired photoshoot featuring Lafonia Flower Company.

Taken by Olivia WR Fine Art Photography.

Launching our new Friday Features, we are introducing you to a woman whose own business has environmental responsibility and sustainability at its heart. We take a look at how she’s working to provide every bride and groom the possibility of beautiful flowers, that do not cost the earth (metaphorically and literally). 

Ingrid from Lafonia Flower Company is a flower farmer and florist extraordinaire, based at a farm near Praze-an-Beeble. She grows all of her flowers singlehandedly, relying solely on her yield; no air miles racked up or stamps collected in the process.

Absolutely everything is considered and thought about, ensuring all environmental impact is minimised; repurposing egg boxes as seed trays, utilising homemade compost, wrapping flowers in recycled paper and harvesting rainwater for hydrating her crops, just some of her efforts towards being more than just naturally green fingered.

NATURAL STYLING - An alternative to the bridal bouquet, made from willow by Lafonia Flower Company. Used in the Stennack Farm photoshoot styled by Piccolo Weddings for Petite Weddings.

Taken by Thomas Frost Photography.

When we first came across her beautiful arrangements, we fell in love with Ingrid’s style of floristry and approach to protecting Mother Nature. Her devotion and ethos personally, as well as a business, entwine into her work; and you cannot help but love her own natural nature. 

There have been occasions in the past, where she has gone above and beyond the normal call of any florist, including a time when a bride and groom’s copper archway went missing just hours before their ceremony. Handcrafting a wooden version, she delivered the new replacement to the venue, set it up and adorned it with her beautiful greenery and flowers effortlessly. The perfect rustic touch to their vows.

And for any couples who have a smaller wedding budget, the option of DIY bouquet buckets are also available, so that all of the flower arranging and styling can be done by the bride and groom themselves. This isn’t always an option possible from florists, and although we would invariably recommend Ingrid for her mastery in this department, it’s reflective of just how thoughtful she is of everyone, remaining as inclusive as ever.

INGRID - Ingrid from Lafonia Flower Company holding her arrangement whilst modelling for the Tregoose Farmhouse photoshoot, styled by Piccolo Weddings for Petite Weddings.

Taken by Griffin Photography.

Her dedication to both the environment and the couples she works with is evident, creating truly beautiful bouquets to every bride and groom's taste, and we have really missed working alongside Ingrid at weddings throughout lockdown. 

So with this in mind, we decided to kick off this blog entry by putting together some questions for you to have your very own virtual first-hand introduction to her work yourselves. 

So with no further ado, here’s a little bit of behind the scenes at Lafonia Flower Company - 

When did you start Lafonia Flower Company and why?

It's the only way I have ever known from my childhood and I guess it's a part of who I am.

I grew up on the Falklands Islands on small remote farms, where we had to be self-sufficient. Raised by adults who lived off the land, working alongside the seasons; their resourcefulness, resilience, adaptability and keeping in touch with nature ingrained in me that way of being.

I absolutely love it.

The most important thing to me is that I do not do any harm, and just let things happen as they should, building a great future-proof business alongside it.

I love that I'm giving more people the opportunity to buy flowers that haven't been grown in another country or imported, and I especially enjoy delivering my flowers locally; taking great satisfaction in handing over a product that I've grown from seed, nurtured and then cut and arranged into a beautiful product.

BRIDE - Marianne with her bouquet made my Lafonia Flower Company for her wedding at Porthpean House. Coordinated by Piccolo Weddings for Petite Weddings.

Taken by Salt and Sea Co.

Have you always been green fingered and drawn to florals?

Absolutely!

As a child I have very fond memories of spending time with my nan, who was a very skilled gardener. She grew the most amazing flowers, roses in particular, and did a lot of flower arranging.

I remember regularly going with her to help gather moss for wreaths and displays, and now, I use both moss and chicken wire for my own designs. It’s the most natural thing to me and I attribute that experience very much to her. 

Without her influence, I wouldn't know half of the floral knowledge I do.

DETAILS - Table layout at the Tregoose Farmhouse photoshoot styled by Piccolo Weddings for Petite Weddings. All flower arrangements provided by Lafonia Flower Company.

Taken by Griffin Photography.

What inspires you throughout your work?

The flowers and my surroundings are my biggest inspiration.

I'm very lucky to live in a beautiful part of the country and throughout the year I feel like nature shows me the way; the hedgerows, woodland and clifftops offer the most beautiful displays.

I find that just having the flowers growing and being able to pick them as I need them, is the most brilliant source of inspiration I could have. They bend and lean in certain ways that lend themselves well to a particular arrangement, or they've possibly gone to seed, and that adds the texture I'm looking for.

A cutting garden is a florist's dream!

COLOUR POP - Splashes of colour against the greenery in this beautiful wedding bouquet by Lafonia Flower Company.

Taken by Olliver Photography.

It is right that you don't use any chemicals or pesticides on your flowers? 

It is.

I strongly believe that nature should be left alone and it will reward you by naturally keeping the balance.

The area where I grow my flowers is not manicured, it's a little wild and there are a lot of weeds. 

If the ecosystem is allowed to thrive, there will always be predators for any pests I may have and I leave some things on purpose to provide habitats.

Only clearing sections as I need to plant them and trying to keep to a 'no dig' approach helps maintain really healthy soil, working towards this and keeping a closed loop.

PESTICIDE FREE - A close up of Ingrid’s beautiful flowers, free from any chemicals, start to finish.

Taken by Lafonia Flower Company.

Is it true that you let brides and grooms visit your plot to pick out their flowers from what you are growing?

It's a really lovely thing for the bride and groom to experience and I'm always happy to meet my couples at the plot to show them what's available. 

There's nothing more informative than seeing the reaction people have to the different flowers and it can be great confirmation of which varieties to include in a couple's wedding arrangements.

There’s something quite special about them picking out the flowers that will be used on their wedding day.

We are surrounded by an abundance of flora and fauna, and I love to share that with them individually.

FORAGING - Foraging and collecting greenery alongside her florals, are all part of her creative process and source of inspiration.

Taken by Lafonia Flower Company.

When you’re not at your plot, where can you be found?

I spend a lot of time with my husband and children, and you can usually find us either at the beach, walking the coastal path, or in the woodlands. Cornwall is so beautiful through every season and we make the most of our natural surroundings.

I know how much my own childhood shaped who I am today and for that reason, I like our own children to be out surrounded by nature.

We see it very much as our playground, and I love nothing more than going for a sea swim, getting out on the paddleboard, or going for a run or cycle around our local area.

FLOWER DELIVERY - During lockdown Ingrid has been using her flowers that would have been in her wedding bouquets amongst her local flower deliveries, to avoid any of the beautiful blossoms going to waste.

Taken by Lafonia Flower Company.

For anyone who has a chance to watch Ingrid in her element, her immeasurable knowledge of flowers and deep-seated love for the whole creative process is a pure delight.

There is something very special when you see a person who is a complete natural in their expertise and executing exactly what they were born to do. It’s a joy for us here at Piccolo Weddings to work alongside Ingrid.

If you are feeling inspired to buy some of her beautiful blooms, you can support Ingrid by arranging your very own bunch of Lafonia Flower Company flowers for your home, via her local flower delivery service.

She is currently offering free delivery to your doorstep in Hayle, St Ives, Penzance, Marazion, Helston, Camborne, Redruth and surrounding countryside.

Contact her on ingridstone@live.com for more information and placing your order.

Treat yourself or a loved one during quarantine. 

DOORSTEP DROP OFF - “It's essential as a florist to have lots of different varieties to work with and so as a grower I always try to include interesting textures and a broad spectrum of colour to cater for all our weddings throughout the year. With good planning we can truly stand by our ethics because we will have a fantastic selection of our own slow grown and pesticide free flowers at our disposal throughout the season”.

Taken by Lafonia Flower Company.

When the pandemic draws to a close, we hope that not everything comes to an end.

That newly formed connections strengthen, and our daily interactions remain open.

Whilst the temptation to rush back to large supermarkets is resisted and the surge of support for local businesses withstands; the hidden gems we will never take for granted again.

By stepping away from constricting work schedules and lessening time frames we can embark on adventures in our own area codes. Free to bask in the simple pleasure of sipping barista-made coffee at sun-trapped cafe corners, and to dive deep into the pages of our books that collect dust in our never-ending stacks of ‘to read’.

Finding balance in our lives and co-habitation with nature will allow us all to re-evaluate our daily lives with more purpose and fulfilment.

Behind the Scenes at Piccolo Weddings

It takes a lot to run a small business and often involves seemingly endless trials and errors, but it is how we have honed our skills in the wedding industry over the last two years. Instead of being afraid of failure, we look to it as our best friend guiding us forward and the journey of Piccolo Weddings has taught me an incredible amount; evolving through shaping the business by what has worked for us, and what hasn't. 

Doubt is often said to be the biggest killer of dreams and that wouldn’t be far from the truth when starting a business. It can be a daunting and scary place, with lots of questioning of yourself and what you are doing. It’s hard to know whether you are going in the right direction, but it's the journey of growth that's where the beauty lies in any business, and I have seen my own personal growth alongside the businesses.

Nowadays I stick to my gut and listen to my instincts; for me there’s huge worth in focusing on what you enjoy and what is true to who you are. I like to believe that this is what makes us uniquely different at Piccolo Weddings and I strive to work from a place of authenticity in everything we do. It's how we remain sustainable in our core beliefs and ethos.

PHOTOSHOOT - Phoebe styling the photoshoot at Stennack Farm for Petite Weddings. Flowers by Lafonia Flower Company.

Taken by Olivia Moon Photography.

Over the next few months we will be sharing some new and exciting behind the scenes; giving you more of an insight into what we do at Piccolo Weddings and just how we achieve the wedding you have been dreaming of. 

If you have been following us along our journey, you’ll know by now that there are key themes that run throughout our work: 

Being sustainable and environmentally conscious

Keeping things simple and stress free

And focusing on natural aesthetics, that are beautiful in their simplicity

STYLING - All of the flowers used in the photoshoot were provided by Ingrid at Lafonia Flower Company.

Taken by Olivia Moon Photography.

Today we would like to introduce you to some of our new themes that we have been working on, which will remain a constant in our blog posts every first Friday of the month.

Feature Friday 

Feature Fridays will focus on the amazing people who help us to bring your wedding to life. In Cornwall, we are incredibly lucky to be surrounded by local suppliers and creatives, who are geniuses in their individual fields. We simply couldn’t do what we do without them. 

Shining a light onto their talents, you'll get to see who we work with across our weddings, and what they get up to day to day.

There are a million and one venues and suppliers to choose from and this can, understandably, be a bit overwhelming. If you are needing assistance, we also offer a supplier search service to help you find a venue or source suppliers that perfectly compliment your wedding vision and desired style. 

REAL WEDDING - Lizzie & Earl eloped to Tremenheere Sculpture Gardens, and we coordinated the day for Petite Weddings. Hair was by Wedding Hair Cornwall and the flowers were by Gorse and Thorn.

Taken by Joey Lamb Photography

Coffee, Cake & Creativity

We all know how difficult it is to choose your sweet treat at a café’s cake counter, and it can be even harder deciding on your wedding cake. Cake sampling is one of the perks to planning your big day, whittling the options down however; not so much. 

Coffee, Cake & Creativity will continue to cover the best coffee and cake stops around Cornwall, as well as helping to narrow down the endless choices available to you by looking to the clever cake makers whipping up a storm in their kitchens.

They do however come with advice on making sure to have something waiting for you in the wings, for after reading these blog posts, as they are teasingly tempting and you might not want to wait until your wedding.

WEDDING CAKE - The Nearly Naked Cake Co made this wedding cake for a photoshoot we styled for Petite Weddings, at Stennack Farm.

Taken by Thomas Frost Photography.

Decadent Drinks 

Decadent Drinks will spark up some inspiration for your wedding day refreshments, showcasing some of the best Cornish companies in the drinks industry. As you will know, we like to support fellow local businesses and companies, celebrating the endless talent that Cornwall has to offer. 

So whether you are looking for alcoholic, non-alcoholic, or simply some clever concoctions for quenching your thirst, we will provide you with your very own step-by-step guide.  

PHOTOSHOOT - Porthpean House photoshoot we styled for Jane at Petite Weddings. Hair by Zebrafinch.

Taken by Griffin Photography.

Authentic Aesthetics

Styling is one of our biggest passions at Piccolo Weddings and Authentic Aesthetics focuses on just that. Showing you exactly what we love to share with our couples; using materials that are environmentally ethical and sustainable throughout. 

In these entries, you'll be able to see what inspires us in our styling approach, the bridal shoots, the effortless beauty of using natural materials, and how to choose the greener option for your wedding day look.

NATURAL DÉCOR - Ingrid from Lafonia Flower Company made this from her beautiful dried flowers.

Taken by Olivia Moon Photography.

Real Wedding

Real Weddings will continue to showcase the weddings that we help to plan, style and coordinate on the day. Revealing our venues in all of their glory and bringing your visualisations to reality. You’ll gain more knowledge into what each location has to offer, and how we can adapt each venue to your own wedding plans.

REAL WEDDING - Mark & Fleur married at Tremenheere Sculpture Gardens and featured in Wed Magazine. We coordinated the day for Petite Weddings.

Taken by Joey Lamb Photography.

Hopefully you are all excited as much as we are. We can’t wait to share a little bit of Piccolo Wedding life with you all. 

Coffee, Cake & Creativity

Creativity naturally flows when we take time for ourselves and enjoying time with our loved ones. We feel a sense of revitalised energy from stepping away from our busy work lives and it is very common for a wedding menu to be born out of a meal from your favourite restaurant, or recreating those dishes ordered on your weekend away. It’s how it all started here at Piccolo Weddings.

However, at the moment everything is out of our control and it isn’t possible to venture out for your favourite cuisine. Throughout this period of hunkering down, we know that some of you may have more time on your hands than usual, or aren’t able to resume your work from the comforts of your home. It’s safe to say it has left a lot of us feeling slightly out of place and turned upside down. If you are anything like us here at Piccolo Weddings, we aren’t used to being around the house so much, but that being said we are very relieved that everyone is safely tucked up at home. 

As serious coffee and cake lovers ourselves, we have pulled together a few of our favourite local cafes in Cornwall, where you can get exceptionally good coffee with a mouthwatering selection of homemade cakes. So whilst hiding away from the world, you can reach into the back of your store cupboards, pull out the ingredients for some tasty treats and create your own little oasis.

Sunday's are for Coffee, cake & reading/ looking at the pictures! 💕🌸☕️💕🌸☕️ @origincoffeeroasters photo @melonmade_ #coffeeandcake #sundaypaper #sundayvibes #sundayfunday #photoshoot #jamjarjess #bakersofinstagram #baker #barista #homegrown #flowers #edibleflowers #diaryfree #lemondrizzle #cupcakes #glutenfreecake #dairyfreecake #rudehealth #origincoffee #almondlatte

134 Likes, 0 Comments - Jam Jar Cafe / Jess Davis (@jam_jar_jess) on Instagram: "Sunday's are for Coffee, cake & reading/ looking at the pictures! 💕🌸☕️💕🌸☕️ @origincoffeeroasters..."

Whether you have had to postpone your wedding day and are in need of some serious comfort food, or some incentive for a creative distraction, this list will be sure to tantalise your tastebuds. 

Grab yourself a warm drink, cuddle up under the covers, and start your weekend reading with a little help from us here at Piccolo Weddings. 

Opening with Newquay, spoilt with a selection of cafes and food gods, we have a few of our favourites from the area.

Jam Jar Jess

Renowned for her range of handmade delicacies, Jess offers something for everyone. With everything on offer having a signature Jess seal of approval, she remains a firm favourite by the locals. No matter what your dietary needs are, you are covered with an array of vegan and gluten-free options.

And if you do not already follow her on Instagram, you are going to want to start. However we do warn you, do not start your scrolling on an empty stomach! You will be left feeling ravenous with her daily updates on what’s in the oven.

Jess has continued to remain as innovative as ever, and you can continue ordering a selection of sweet and savoury treats for a doorstep drop off. Head to her recent insta stories for more information. Limited orders will be taken Monday for Saturday delivery via JamJarDelivery@gmail.com.

Flat whites + frangipane = Friyay ☕️🍰🍓 #fridayvibes #fridayfeeling #friyay #friday #frangipane #flatwhite #coffee #cake #fika #coffebreak #cakeforbreakfast #glutenfree #glutenfreebaking #glutenfreerecipes #strawberry #cakeoftheday #cafe #coffeeshop #newquay #cornwall

204 Likes, 6 Comments - Jam Jar Cafe / Jess Davis (@jam_jar_jess) on Instagram: "Flat whites + frangipane = Friyay ☕️🍰🍓 #fridayvibes #fridayfeeling #friyay #friday #frangipane..."

Basket 

Recently opened and featuring the most dreamy Instagram worthy decor, Basket is the newcomer to Newquay. Not only are the cakes and coffee hitting the spot but everything has been thought about, including the picturesque crockery.

Jade is quite clearly clued up when it comes to knowing what makes a good cafe and you are left feeling like you’ve stepped into a boutique cafe off the streets of Paris, not Cornwall. 

So maybe it's time to dig out those dishes we keep holding out for special occasions and have a little bit of Baskets ambiance in your home? 

If you are feeling a little bit out of your depth in the kitchen, Jade is taking cake orders until reopening.

Carrot and banana cake has definitely been a winner, this one is here to stay for a while!

150 Likes, 5 Comments - Basket (@basket.newquay) on Instagram: "Carrot and banana cake has definitely been a winner, this one is here to stay for a while!"

Ladyvale Bakery

Standing out within the cake department, Ladyvale Bakery can be found on the outskirts of Newquay. This one is worth jumping in the car for, with a huge array of baked goods on arrival, all made by the wonderful Lara and team. 

Happy bank holiday monday everyone, we are open til 4 as usual, have a beautiful day 💕☀️😚

117 Likes, 8 Comments - Ladyvale bakery (@lara_ladyvale_bakery) on Instagram: "Happy bank holiday monday everyone, we are open til 4 as usual, have a beautiful day 💕☀️😚"

Passionate about the environment themselves, Lara has decided to reduce as much waste as possible, with takeaway cups ceasing to exist. Coffee and homemade drinks are served in-house and anything for take out will be provided in a reusable cup, brought in-store or provided when ordering. A new take on the BYO, and one we couldn’t agree more with. 

Head to her Instagram for some recipes she will be posting during lockdown, the best introduction to her baking when social distancing. There’s a few already added to her blog to get you started. 

It is also worth knowing that she makes incredible wedding cakes, so if you are left wanting more, you can arrange your own bakery masterpiece for your big day. 

The cutest little cake set up for a beautiful wedding @nancarrowweddings with all home grown flowers. Catching up with my instadmin from the summer, it's been a crazy one! . . Soon it will be time to start planning our edible flower beds for next year when we will have an even bigger patch with some raised beds, more roses and a few veges 🌾🍓🍒🌻 . . . . . #bohobride #thatsdarling #loveauthentic #engaged #greenweddingshoes #chasinglight #bohowedding #weddingseason #smpweddings #delish #baking #sweets #foods #nutella #eeeeeats #cakes #instalike #desserts #food #sweettooth #cornwall #explore_britain #photosofengland #explorecornwall #lovecornwall #cornishcoast #unboxyourphone #instaandroid #androidcommunity

221 Likes, 11 Comments - Ladyvale bakery (@lara_ladyvale_bakery) on Instagram: "The cutest little cake set up for a beautiful wedding @nancarrowweddings with all home grown..."

Kern 

Whilst in the Newquay area, we could not help but mention Kern of Kernow, Queens of bundts. Tripping around in their beautiful French Citroën van named Beyoncé, Maren and Kris can be found every Saturday morning at Crantock Market. 

Got my eyes on you 👀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Great shot by @jameschetwoderam #kernofkernow #bundtbus #bundtcakes #cornwall #cake #coffee #christmasmarket

108 Likes, 2 Comments - KERN (@kernofkernow) on Instagram: "Got my eyes on you 👀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Great shot by..."

Positioned throughout Cornwall during summer, these are quite possibly the most beautifully aesthetic looking bundts we have ever seen and ace it on the taste front too. 

Kern was born out of a wedding when Kris created 100 bundts for Maren’s wedding day. Little did they know that this would be the start of a true love affair, sweet, savoury, or both. You can now even order your own box of bundts for your day.

Beyoncé is also available for your events, so if you are looking for some sass, this van may just be what you are after. 

When she's not busy feeding hungry cyclists and surfers, Beyoncé is raring to bring the Bundt party to your special event or celebration. Get in touch if you fancy some Kern magic on your special day ~ hello@kernofkernow.co.uk

67 Likes, 3 Comments - KERN (@kernofkernow) on Instagram: "When she's not busy feeding hungry cyclists and surfers, Beyoncé is raring to bring the Bundt party..."

Moving further afield we have two extras to add;

Slice of Cornwall

Nestled in the backroads of Helston, Slice of Cornwall has one of the most picturesque surroundings, situated in the grounds of a sculpture garden. The cafe itself has a beautiful outside seating area perfect for summer mornings, giving anyone garden envy. 

However, if it’s feeling a bit nippy in the winter, there’s a wood-fired burner inside to keep you warm. Not only great for coffee and cake, it’s worth noting their menu too. 

With incredible breakfast and brunch options, it’s maybe worth saving room for eating prior to your tasty slice of cake. And if nothing else, you won’t be short for inspiration for all meals of the day. 

Cherry Bakewell Friand, raspberry water ice & fresh raspberries 🍒

Since the closing of the cafe's doors, they have been focusing on growing their own produce to use in the cafe next year. An incredibly exciting new adventure for them, and one that is certainly going to keep them busy. 

If you get stuck for a gift, they are also offering gift cards and a selection of cards that they can post out to your loved ones during quarantine. Email sophie@sliceofcornwall.com and a selection of available cards will be provided for you to choose from. They even cover the cost of postage.

The Warehouse 

The Warehouse in Penryn is Origin’s second baby and every bit as perfect as their first. The coffee is the main selling point here, with their roasters and head office in Helston. Their extensive knowledge keeping them head and shoulders above any competition, causing you to order your second after the first sip. 

If you had been considering investing in some brewing equipment, they currently have twenty percent off their coffee online, so maybe now's the time. You can use this time to master a new skill as a coffee connoisseur. 

El Paraíso is a vibrant coffee produced in Colombia. It has a prominent flavour of mandarin, which gives way to rounder plum and raisin notes in the cup. The team at The Warehouse are serving this exceptional coffee as espresso this week, and they've also incorporated it into the rich mixture for our chocolate tarts. Credit: Todd Studley - Chef at The Warehouse

82 Likes, 3 Comments - Origin Coffee Shops (@origincoffeeshops) on Instagram: "El Paraíso is a vibrant coffee produced in Colombia. It has a prominent flavour of mandarin, which..."

Hopefully this small introduction into our Cornish gems has whet your appetite, with more to follow at a later date. 

All of the cafes listed are currently closed, but they will reopen. Rest assured you can look forward to visiting them in the future.

In the meantime, we hope that you are all taking care of yourselves and staying safe. This isn’t the easiest of times and a lot of emotion can be present when all of the family are cooped up together, but cake is a sure way to get everyone in your household together… or at least five minutes of peace when eating the very last crumbs of your baking. 

Bon appetit.

Real Wedding - The Big Beautiful Beach House

Kit and Mariette chose the beautiful location of Porthpean House to celebrate their small and intimate wedding of 23 people on the 2nd February 2020. The entire day was planned and booked by the wonderful Jane at Petite Weddings, and coordinated by us here at Piccolo.

Famous for featuring in Richard Curtis' film About Time, their special day fell on an equally special date; the first palindrome day in over 900 years, not to occur again for another 101. This extremely rare date, which can be read both backwards and forwards; signifies good luck, new possibilities and a perfect start for Kit and Mariette to celebrate their love for one another, to become husband and wife. 

With panoramic sea views, and it’s own secret path to a private beach, what more could you want from your wedding venue? Some of the guests even had the delight of a morning sea swim before the celebrations began. 

And if the house as their setting wasn’t already magical enough, Ingrid from Lafonia Flower Company created a beautifully handmade rustic archway for the couple. A wonderful last minute addition after the original went rogue, never to be found. 

Surrounded by their closest friends and family, the entire day was full of love and intimacy between the couple, who clearly adored each other. Their handwritten vows provided an extra special touch to the proceedings. 

After the beautiful ceremony and basking in their bliss, the newlyweds ambled down the beach path to capture their first photographs as husband and wife. The tenderness between both Kit and Mariette, beautifully shot by Sarah and Jon from Salt & Sea Photography co. All of their photographs perfectly encapsulate the joy felt throughout the day. 

Corks were popped and drinks were poured in the front room, by the lovely Serve Cornwall, before lunch was served in the dining room; surrounded by the history of the beautiful bookcases. The table dressed with fresh eucalyptus, succulents and personalised name tags; a special keepsake for guests to remember the day. 

Every little detail had been so carefully thought about.

An array of delicious food was hand crafted by the wonderful Fiona Were, a private chef who’s a genius in the kitchen. Kiwis are well known for their incredible food culture, and Fiona provides a special personal twist to the flavours in her creations. 

Based on Kit and Mariette's Scottish and Italian heritage, Fiona created a bespoke four-course vegetarian menu, perfectly crafted with local ingredients. It is safe to say that the food did not disappoint and tasted as good as it looked.

The celebrations continued into the evening, where fairy lights were strung up to create a truly enchanting dance floor for the couple's first dance, before partying the night away. 

The setting really made for a breathtaking backdrop, whilst capturing such beautiful moments. 

For more information and enquiries about booking your special day at Porthpean House, please contact Jane at Petite Weddings.