There are weddings, and then there is Katie & Alex’s wedding, the kind that leaves guests reminiscing long after the last confetti has settled. Perched atop a dramatic Cornish clifftop with a panoramic sea view, their big day at Recommended Venue, Polhawn Fort, was equal parts intimate, stylish, and delightfully unconventional. The couple also found their wedding band via Recommended Supplier, Entertainment Nation.
The couple kicked things off with an 11:30 am ceremony attended only by their immediate family and two closest friends, an approach that ensured their vows were heartfelt, personal, and entirely free from stage fright. After sealing the deal, they took a moment to bask in newlywed bliss, sipping celebratory drinks and capturing dreamy beachside portraits. As their broader guest list trickled in, they made an unforgettable entrance, crossing the Fort’s drawbridge under a flurry of confetti. All of these wonderful moments were captured by Recommended Supplier, Alexa Poppe Wedding Photography.
Coastal Wedding at Polhawn Fort in Cornwall with DIY Details
Our vision was relaxed and natural, blending our shared passions for creativity, design, and the sea. We wove these elements into every detail of our day, from Katie’s dress and mermaid hair to the decorations. The venue gave us the freedom to personalise the space, making it truly our own.
Katie & Alex
Coastal Polhawn Fort
Katie & Alex weren’t about to let tradition dictate their wedding plans. Katie, looking like a sea goddess in a dress shimmering like sunlight on water, had her hair styled in effortless mermaid waves with shell accessories. Alex, ever the sentimentalist, honoured his late father by donning his dad’s velvet jacket from 1978, a nod to the past in a day all about the future. Their beloved dog, Angus, may not have made a guest appearance in the flesh, but his presence was felt in carefully crafted illustrations adorning everything from invites to banners.
Speaking of creative flair, Alex, aka the graphic designer extraordinaire, put his talents to work, crafting a beautifully cohesive coastal aesthetic for their stationery. Meanwhile, the couple and their families embraced DIY, fashioning decorations from beachcombing treasures and even designing a ‘flat-pack’ arch (which sounds like an IKEA fever dream but, in reality, was a stunning altar decoration).
Throwing Tradition Overboard
Some raised an eyebrow (or two) at Katie & Alex’s offbeat choices. The couple had no formal cake cutting, limited speeches, and an unconventional first dance, but Katie & Alex knew that their wedding wasn’t about ticking boxes. It was about celebrating their love in a way that felt completely them.
Turns out, their instincts were spot on. Everything ran seamlessly, their guests had a blast, and the day became an extension of their personalities rather than a playbook of wedding ‘must-dos.’
Their advice to future couples is to stick to what feels right for you. Don’t be afraid to break tradition, rewrite the rules, or skip the bits that don’t resonate.
After all, the best weddings aren’t necessarily the most conventional ones, they’re the ones where love, laughter, and a little bit of sea air make for memories that last a lifetime.
The thing we love most about weddings is how individual they are to each couple - Katie & Alex's day is no different!
Stay true to what you want as a couple, regardless of traditions or others' opinions. Our wedding wasn’t very traditional—an early ceremony, no cake cutting, limited speeches, non-conventional first dance—these raised a few eyebrows at first (even one photographer we initially spoke to said it wouldn’t work), but in the end, the day was a perfect reflection of us. Everything ran smoothly, everyone had an amazing time, and we couldn’t imagine it happening any other way. Most importantly, it truly embodied our personalities, relationships, and passions.
Katie & Alex
Katie & Alex’s wedding day was full of so many wonderful stand-out moments, but we loved the personal touches throughout their day the best like the illustrations of their beloved pet. You can take a look at our roundups of the best pets at weddings! Katie absolutely nailed the boho bride vibe! Here are our best boho wedding dresses.
