The ultimate small wedding venue?

My ongoing quest to seek out Cornwall’s most intimate and elegant small wedding venues took me, very happily, to the doors of the stunning rural wedding venue of Treseren.

I had been following the boutique wedding retreat on social media for some time, and must admit to being completely captivated by images of gorgeous interiors in a palette of greys and whites, offset by the punchy colours of the extensive gardens and orchards. So I was delighted when a mutual connection presented me with the perfect opportunity to visit.

As you leave the A30, heading for North Cornish coast, you take a short detour into the countryside near Trewithen. Then meander up the winding and flower-framed driveway to Treseren and you have the first inkling there’s something rather special in store.

The beautiful Georgian Shepherds House is at the centre of the 3 acre grounds, and within it, a spacious four bedroomed home available for the exclusive use of wedding parties. The décor is flawless; owners Emma and Paul have worked tirelessly during their refurbishment of Treseren to retain the period charm of the former mine captain’s house, while exploiting the natural light with a neutral colour scheme, and furnishing it with a host of vintage treasures and modern pieces.

My favourite place was the stunning winding staircase, complete with wonderful Georgian windows to let in maximum light, and the perfect location for the entrance of the bride from the exquisite master bedroom, down the stairs and through the archway to the dining area (which doubles as one of two licenced wedding rooms), French doors, terraces and gardens beyond.

The sitting room and snug exude charm and style, yet are equally the sort of spaces you could happily cosy up by the fire with a good book. All of the bedrooms are styled beautifully, with stripped floors, original fireplaces and antique furnishings. And tucked behind Shepherds House is Skye Cottage, a romantic hideaway for two, decorated and furnished in the same discerning style.

The end result is a house that feels like an elegant yet comfortable home. It’s luxurious but relaxed. It manages to be both traditional and bohemian. It is, quite simply, rather unique and in my mind, the perfect venue for a small wedding with style.

I spoke to Emma about why weddings are so popular at Treseren:

“I think there has been a real shift to couples choosing small weddings, and of course, intimate weddings are our speciality at Treseren. People are looking to minimise their stress levels and want their day to be relaxed, as well as very personal and meaningful, and for it not to be about pleasing everybody else.

And of course a small wedding should cost a lot less than a large wedding, so budget can play a part. Although that doesn’t mean a compromise on quality – in fact we hear our couples telling us that they want a really fantastic menu with locally sourced produce – good champagne and a sense of treating their guests to a fabulous day. If there are not as many guests, then really great hospitality in a beautiful setting can be affordable. What’s brilliant about doing things on a smaller scale, is that your spend per head can go up, but the overall cost go down.”

Tell me more about the food!

“Food is definitely our passion at Treseren. If our wedding parties arrive on the eve of the wedding, we offer a first night gathering feast for everyone to enjoy as they settle in. It’s relaxed, fun and informal and a wonderful scene setter for the celebration. In the summer we might offer a barbecue, and in the autumn and winter we’ll provide a heartier supper, but we tailor everything to people’s tastes, preferences and dietary requirements.

For the wedding day, we encourage use of the outside space should the weather permit, with two lovely south facing terraces, perfect for champagne and canapés, and of course the wedding breakfast. This might be a luxury picnic or a three-course meal – and as Treseren is a BYO venue with no corkage charge, guests can enjoy wines of their choice served by our in house team.”

Are celebrant ceremonies increasing in popularity?

”They certainly are, as more and more couples are looking for something more unique and original for their ceremony. We have some very picturesque spots in the garden for outdoor weddings, and of course the house provides a rather pretty backdrop. If the weather is inclement, we can provide a beautiful covered space outdoors, or couples are welcome to use the dining room or snug for their ceremony.”

And couples can have full use of Treseren? “Yes, and we positively encourage this! We want our couples and their guests to feel like this is their home for the duration of their stay with us. Treseren can accommodate up to 12 people, including the wedding couple, and then we have space for 8 additional guests for the ceremony and reception. We also host elopements and runaway weddings, where couples can choose to stay in Skye Cottage or our master suite in the main house, and we even offer ceremony only options.

Whatever the format, our goal is to deliver an experience which revolves completely around our guests and their wishes – and we manage every aspect so that all is left for couples to do is enjoy every moment of their day.”

I truly loved my visit to Treseren, and if I could do it all again, I would certainly choose to have my celebration here. So if you are looking for superb accommodation and surroundings, great food and wine, and a very personal and relaxed wedding experience, then this is the ultimate wedding venue for you.

Photographs by kind permission of Treseren and taken by Joe Burford and Paul Caddis.

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