Cornwall is, without a doubt, one of the most stunning parts of the UK. From the incredible ocean views at Land’s End, the most southwesterly part of the country, to the myths and legends of King Arthur and Merlin at Tintagel Castle, it’s an absolutely wonderful part of the country. Cornwall is also known as the surfing capital of the UK, and is home to plenty of famous foods, including Cornish pasties, clotted cream and fresh seafood. It was once a popular destination for pirates, but Cornwall has far less pillaging going on these days, which makes it a great place to host your wedding.
Our 2025 Wedding Report uncovered that 13% of couples get married in Cornwall and the rest of the South East region, with more than two-thirds (67%) of local couples choosing to stay in Cornwall for their big day. The average cost of a wedding in the region is £21,921, which is over £1,000 more than the overall UK average of £20,822. But, the fact that so many couples get married here shows just how highly it’s thought of as a key wedding destination.
With bags of fascinating history, great cultural spots and some of the most beautiful countryside you’ll see, it’s no wonder Cornwall is such a popular place to get married.
Cornwall’s natural beauty and relaxed coastal vibes inspire many couples’ weddings in the region. This includes coastal and beach weddings, which are becoming hugely popular with bohemian decor, wooden arches and barefoot ceremonies on the sand. But not all couples like the feeling of sand between their toes, and instead opt for a more rustic aesthetic with countryside weddings set among the rolling hills and deep woodlands. Whatever they choose to do for their wedding, this love for what Cornwall has to offer means couples make many of their decisions with the environment in mind, choosing sustainable venues, locally sourced food and other vendors that have their own eco-friendly processes.
Food-focused weddings are a big trend in Cornwall, with many couples making sure there are local delicacies on their menus, such as seafood platters, Cornish pasty canapés and a delectable cream tea. And, of course, the inclusion of a local gin or cider behind the bar!
It’s common for couples in Cornwall to choose an all-in-one venue, whether it’s a stylish boutique venue, a family-run restaurant or a walled garden. This is one of the reasons why local couples spend way less than the national average on wedding transport, which is £396 compared to the UK average of £626.
Cornwall is home to some of the UK’s most amazing wedding venues, with options ranging from beachfront manor houses and historic castles to quiet woodland barns and even iconic visitor attractions.
There’s a reason those pesky pirates and slippery smugglers chose Cornwall as their port of call – they were drawn to the area thanks to the wealth and opulence. And no more is this evident than in the county’s castles, with many of them also being outstanding venues now that they’re no longer needed to protect our shores! Pengersick Castle is a gorgeous Tudor castle just 500 metres from the sea. Caerhays Estate is totally picturesque, with unspoilt views across Veryan Bay. There’s also Pentillie Castle and Estate, which is hidden among 1,500 acres of incredible Cornish countryside.
If you’d like to have a wedding fit for a true aristocrat, there are loads of stately homes and country manors around Cornwall, too. Scorrier House, Trenython Manor and Pengenna Manor are all amazing examples of the level of luxury you can find around this fabulous county.
With so much open countryside and rolling landscapes, Cornwall is also one of the top counties if you’re keen on having an outdoor wedding, where you can be at one with everything it has to offer. You could get married in an orchard, among wild meadows or deep in the enchanting woods at Kilminorth. Or there are the picturesque lakeside locations at the beautiful Cornish Tipi Weddings. Another amazing choice is inside a timber-framed barn or grass-covered amphitheatre at Mount Pleasant Ecological Park. You really do have so much to choose from!
If you’d prefer to choose a wedding venue that’s more in keeping with your passions or personality, there are also loads of unique and interesting venues around Cornwall. Antonia’s Pearls lets you have an intimate ceremony overlooking the UNESCO harbour village of Charlestown. The stunning Eden Project is a world-famous visitor attraction, and a wedding inside the domes gives you free rein until the early hours. Or there’s Poldark Mine, which allows you to tie the knot deep underground in this one-of-a-kind location.
There are also plenty of affordable venues around Cornwall, so you can get married in the area even if you’re not looking to spend more than you’d like. Venues including St Michaels Resort, Hannafore Point Hotel and Lanhydrock Hotel & Golf Club show that you don’t need a huge budget to secure a beautiful location for your special day.
The average cost of a wedding venue in Cornwall is £6,755, which is a little pricier than the overall average paid by UK couples at £5,945. However, it is less than couples pay on average in London at £7,020, and quite a bit less than couples pay in the region with the highest average, Yorkshire and the Humber, at £7,356.
Because Cornwall is one of the UK’s most sought-after wedding destinations, the average lead time for venues is between 12 and 18 months. However, if you’d like to get married at one of the more popular venues around the county, or you have your eye on a summer or weekend date, this could jump to two or more years. In either of these cases, it’s best to book as far ahead as possible to avoid any kind of disappointment.
If you’re open to being flexible, you put yourself in a great position to find something sooner than this. For example, if you’re not quite so precious about your venue and you’re happy to get married during quieter periods, like during the winter or even midweek, then you could find something for around six months from now. And on top of that, you’re also likely to pay less than you would by booking a summer or weekend date.
Being the most southwestern part of the UK, you can usually expect some fairly decent weather in Cornwall, especially during the late spring, summer and early autumn – and definitely compared to regions in the north of the country. In fact, Cornwall gets more than 1,500 hours of sunshine every year, so there’s plenty to go around.
Spring (March – May) in Cornwall comes with mild temperatures between 10°C (50°F) and 15°C (59°F). With more than 250 miles of coast and 300 beaches, outdoor ceremonies can be something special; just make sure you have a backup plan in case it rains, which is entirely possible in the spring. But, come what may, you should at least make time to head to the beach for some amazing photographs!
Summer (June – August) is the most popular time to get married in Cornwall, with temperatures averaging 18°C (64°F) to 22°C (72°F). With so much sun, you might be in luck and get a nice, long and toasty day. Plus, stunning sunsets make it perfect for beachfront weddings and ceremonies that make the most of the countryside, like at Little Oak Cornwall and Fir Hill Estate.
Autumn (September – November) is something of a hidden gem for weddings in Cornwall, with pops of autumnal colours and cooler yet still pleasant temperatures of between 12°C (54°F) and 18°C (64°F). There are also fewer tourists, so it’s a great time of year to have the wedding of your dreams on the seafront and not have to worry as much about kids or dogs unexpectedly running into the background of your photos!
Winter (December – February) might not be quite as warm as other times of the year, with temperatures sticking around 5°C (41°F), but it’s no less amazing, with dramatic skies about the ocean and some occasional choppy waters. That’s why you might want to stick to an indoor venue for your big day, like The Atlantic Hotel or The Sands Resort.
While Cornwall might be all the way down at tip of the South East of England, it still has loads of transport options, which means you and your guests can get around the county fairly easily.
For those arriving by train, Great Western Railway (GWR) services run directly from London Paddington to Cornish towns like Truro, St Austell and Penzance, taking around four or five hours. The Night Riviera Sleeper Train from London Paddington to Penzance also offers a unique and convenient overnight journey if you want to kill two birds with one stone.
For guests driving to Cornwall, the A30 and A38 provide major road links from the rest of the UK. There are a lot of narrow country roads around some of the more remote parts of the county, so this is something to bear in mind if you know a lot of your guests will rely on public transport.
If guests are flying in from either elsewhere in the country or overseas, Newquay Airport (NQY) offers domestic and international flights, with connections to London, Manchester, Edinburgh and European cities.
Being such a popular tourist destination, Cornwall has a fantastic range of accommodation, from luxury hotels and boutique B&Bs to holiday cottages and all the big-name budget chains. There are also plenty of hotels that have their own event space, making them ideal if you want to get married, party and crash at the end of the night without even having to step outside. Hotels including The Alverton Hotel, Penventon Park Hotel and The Carlyon Bay Hotel all have lovely ceremony and reception spaces, so they should be added to your list of potential venues.
There are many forward-thinking wedding venues in Cornwall that will be able to offer you a discount if you are holding your wedding there. This is particularly beneficial to guests who are coming to join your celebrations from out of town.
Each venue will have a different policy when it comes to how much of a discount is offered to wedding guests so it's worth checking beforehand to find out and also offering guests a range of places to stay at different price points to suit different needs.
The Lands Hotel is registered for marriage ceremonies which means this famous landmark in Cornwall that can provide a great wedding for you on your special day. If you are looking for a wedding venue that takes in the beauty of the Cornish coastline, you could also look at venues like Polhawn Fort, St Ives Harbour hotel and spa or even get married barefoot on the stunning Lusty Glaze beach.
What could be more exciting than enjoying your very own fireworks display surrounded by your family and friends at the end of the fairytale wedding you have dreamed of?
Before you plan your fireworks display you will need to get permission from your local authority in Cornwall, as well as from your wedding venue. It’s good to bear in mind that it is unlikely you will get permission for a display any time after 11pm or before 7am on any given day. The good news is that any reputable fireworks company will be able to advise you on what you will need for their type of show, and help you with gaining the necessary permissions.
How long your wedding ceremony lasts depends on the type of service you are having. If it is a Catholic service, for example, a ceremony can last up to an hour and a half, whereas a civil ceremony is generally much quicker and can take into account as many or as few verses and speeches as you would like.
Be sure to speak with your wedding venue and registrar to ensure you have set aside enough time for the perfect ceremony within your package and that set up and take down of the venue space is accounted for.
It's understandable to want to check out what will be served at your wedding venue, especially when you take into account the cost so the best way to do this is to find out whether your venues offer tasting sessions.
As Cornwall is packed full of not only stunning venues but great food choices it shouldn't be a problem to make an appointment with your caterers. The best time to ask about what tasting options they offer are at the venue tour where your guide will be able to tell you all you need to know when it comes to the catering on offer there.
