What we've learned about love after 13 years and 1000+ elopements
After 13 years hosting tiny, intimate weddings, we have welcomed over 1000 couples to BoHo Cornwall Elopements.
We have spent many hours getting to know so many couples and it has been a true privilege.
Above all else, we have seen that, perhaps the most beautiful and powerful thing you can do for your relationship is to give it the space to be honoured in your own way - privately, wholeheartedly and away from the public gaze. That sometimes, the most beautiful wedding is the one where it’s just the two of you.
Over these years, there is one thing we hear time and time again that still touches us deeply:
“We might never have got married if we hadn’t found you.”
Every time we hear those words, we are reminded why we do what we do.
Because behind every couple who finds their way to us, there is a story. Sometimes it’s a story of two people who have always dreamed of a romantic wedding but have never felt comfortable with the idea of a traditional one. Sometimes it’s a couple who love each other wholeheartedly but dread the thought of organising a huge event, managing a guest list or spending a small fortune on a single day.
And sometimes, it’s simply two people who know exactly what they want: to marry the person they love, somewhere beautiful, without all the fuss.
Over the years, we’ve learnt that for many couples, the dream of getting married was never the problem. It was everything they thought had to come with it. You don't have to follow the rules to have a dream wedding. We think there is something rather wonderful about the moment a couple discovers that they can do things differently.
That they can have the romance, the beauty, the excitement and the feeling of a truly special wedding day without the pressure of a traditional celebration.
They can simply choose each other.
We’ve seen how liberating that realisation can be. Suddenly, a wedding that once felt overwhelming becomes possible. Something that may have seemed out of reach starts to feel wonderfully within reach.
And that is one of the most rewarding parts of what we do: helping people realise that they don't have to abandon their dream of getting married just because the traditional version of a wedding isn't right for them.
There is another way.
The magic of having a day that belongs entirely to you.
One of the things couples tell us afterwards is how completely present they felt on their wedding day.
They describe stepping into what feels like a little bubble of their own, surrounded by the beauty and atmosphere of the castle, with the world outside fading away.
No audience to perform for. No expectations to fulfil. No pressure to make the day perfect for anybody else.
Just the two of them, sharing one of the most important moments of their lives.
That’s why feeling safe and supported matters so much…
There is another lesson we have learnt over the years: creating a beautiful wedding day is about so much more than the setting.
Of course, the setting matters. The character of an old castle, the secret gardens, the Cornish coastline and the changing light all help create an atmosphere that feels a little removed from everyday life.
But the way a couple feels within that setting matters just as much.
Planning a wedding, even a very small one, can bring its own worries. Couples wonder how everything will come together, whether they have thought of everything and whether they will feel comfortable in a situation that is new and emotionally significant.
We understand that. And it is why we take such care to look after every detail.
From those first conversations to the wedding day itself, we want our couples to feel that they are in safe hands. We bring our experience, knowledge, organisation and attention to detail, but just as importantly, we bring warmth, kindness and a genuine desire to make the experience wonderful for them.
We quietly take care of the practicalities so that our couples don't have to carry the weight of them.
They don't need to spend the morning worrying about what happens next or wondering whether everything is going to plan. They can relax, breathe and allow themselves to be swept up in the experience.
And when we hear afterwards that they felt supported, cared for and completely free to be themselves, we know that the little things we do behind the scenes have made a difference.
Sometimes, the most meaningful part of creating a magical day is making sure a couple never has to think about all the work that went into it.
When you let go of the pressure, something beautiful happens.
We've seen how the experience of eloping can change the way couples feel about their wedding day.
When the pressure falls away, there is room to allow themselves to be a little vulnerable. When the expectations disappear, there is space for spontaneity. And when couples feel relaxed and supported, they can give themselves over to the moment rather than trying to manage it.
We hear how much they loved being able to focus entirely on one another. How they could laugh, cry, be silly, be sentimental and express their love without feeling self-conscious.
Some tell us that the whole experience brought them even closer, intensifying the love they already felt. Perhaps it is because they were able to experience the day so fully, without distraction, and to make their promises in a way that felt entirely their own.
Whatever the reason, it is something we never take for granted.
Alongside the planning, the practical details and the beautiful setting, we offer a little reassurance, a gentle guiding hand and the confidence that they're in safe hands.
We feel incredibly privileged to play a small part in creating those memories. Because, after 13 years, one thing we know for sure is this:
Your wedding doesn't have to be about everyone else. What really, truly matters is the two of you, your love, your journey and the beautiful adventure still to come.
In fact, that is more than enough.
With love,
Maya & Tom
BoHo Cornwall Elopements
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