As an island nation, most of us love being by the sea. As a result, many seaside destinations get super busy in the summer months and sometimes it's hard to get anywhere close to the beach.
But I know a place. It's possibly on your radar, possibly not, but if you dream of a romantic rocky coastal destination, I've got you. North Devon's Lynton has rocks and it's got rollers - or waves to non surfer types. If the idea of getting married on a stunning stretch of coastline with wooded hillsides, sunsets to die for, valley walks, not one, but two dramatic rocky beaches...
...in the most welcoming picturesque twin towns linked by a Lynton's Victorian funicular railway (Steampunks take note - Lynton & Lynmouth Cliff Railway | Things to do in Devon (cliffrailwaylynton.co.uk), then Lynton and Lynmouth could be the place for you. For a ruggedly romantic coastal wedding destination, this is the jackpot.
In this post, I'm shamelessly plugging this incredible location in the hope that I'll inspire some of you to get hitched here and book me as your photographer!
I know this place well. I've been a regular visitor since I was four. That first time, we camped a short drive away, just across the moor, close to The Doone Valley; another wildly romantic place that lends itself perfectly to nature lovers, hikers and lovers of literature.
Here, you'll find twisted, stunted trees, Exmoor ponies, waterfalls, wild swimming spots, cosy coaching inns (The Rockford Inn, Brendon for example), ancient churches and the quaintest of stone bridges nestled within this valley. This is highwayman country and teeming with wildlife. You might even catch a glimpse of the Exmoor Beast!
As you can probably tell, I love this part of the world. It not only got under my skin, it's in my bones. It always feels like home from home whenever I visit and as a photographer, every time I visit, I tell myself that I really should consider relocating.
Now, there is more than one way to marry. You can embrace tradition and marry in a church. You can also have a civil ceremony, as provided for at Lynton Town Hall.
Lynton Town Hall is a handsome Grade II listed building, offering flexibility in terms of your ceremony or celebrations and can accommodate both intimate and large weddings. The reviews are excellent. Link below. Here's a glimpse - from the family album.
But if you want something a little different, you could hire a celebrant, like Treasured Words Celebrant (pictured below) who will help you create a completely personalised ceremony. You can write your own vows, play your own music, or adopt ancient wedding traditions like a woodland handfasting ceremony or jumping the broom.
Celebrants aren't constrained by specific working hours or locations and go the extra mile to create an individual ceremony just for you. Many are happy to travel. The world really is your oyster! To all intents and purposes, this would be your real wedding. The legal part (a statutory ceremony) at your local register office can be done either before or after your wedding for less than £100.00 with a couple of witnesses.
So back to the sea. A short walk from Lynton Town Hall is the jaw droppingly beautiful Valley of the Rocks, as viewed here from the top of Hollerday Hill.
Both offer incredible views and photo opportunities...
...and the sunsets are breath taking. Check out this one from our visit in September!
Imagine yourself here.
We could do some amazing silhouette shots as per my recent bridal portrait above (taken in Worcestershire) and another from the family archives below, taken in the Valley of the Rocks back in 2021.
It's no great surprise that Lynmouth (the lower town by the sea, just moments away on the Cliff Railway) was christened "Little Switzerland" by the Victorians. Lynmouth is totally unspoilt; its dramatic, hilly terrain preventing over-development. As such, the parking is limited, so whilst it's a popular destination, if you're staying there, it has a lovely bustling holiday vibe without feeling overrun by tourists.
Whilst the sandy beaches of Woolacombe and Saunton might be renowned for surfing, Lynmouth gets its fair share too, although it is more suited to hardcore, seasoned surfers. That said, if you fancy tying the knot with surfboard in hand, I'm up for that!
As a sustainable photographer, I tend to stick close to my home in the West Midlands. However, Lynton and Lynmouth always tug at my heart strings and I need to have a fix of sea air, windswept moors and local delicacies at least once a year. I've visited in all seasons and it's always magical. So, I'm happy to make a weekend of it, provided I receive enough notice - and will even throw in a few extras to make it even more special.
Check out my packages here: https://www.winterpeach.com/copy-of-services-about-me
If you fancy booking your wedding on the North Devon coast and need a friendly, fully inclusive female photographer who loves an adventure and a hike, welcomes creatives and alternatives and offers natural, documentary style photography with a few stunning portraits, then please reach out to me. I have an ever increasing mental note of locations to please everyone and an eagle eye for detail for couples looking to stand out from the crowd.
So, whether you're a steampunk (do check out Lynmouth's Victorian Bath Hotel and its very quirky bar, The Ancient Mariner - a must for Steampunk wedding parties and the food is great), a surfer, nature loving thrill seeker or just fancy creating your own bespoke ceremony in a magical woodland or ocean view setting, I'd be happy to help you with your plans.
I'm not paid to be so complimentary and to prove my love, I'm happy to lift the lid on my own wedding. I initially wanted to get married in Oare Church, the legendary church where Lorna Doone herself was said to have married John Ridd, but decided that might be a little too ambitious as I'm not a local resident, or a church goer for that matter. We also married before outdoor wedding destinations and elopement weddings took off here in the UK. But we didn't let go of the dream completely and, after honeymooning in Italy, we extended our honeymoon, spending a blissful few days in Lynmouth at Shelley's Cottage, a self contained uber romantic whitewashed cottage with a sea view, forming part of the neighbouring Rising Sun Hotel.
In case you're wondering, yes, the cottage is named after the romantic poet, Percy Shelley, who also honeymooned in Lynmouth in 1812. But there's more. R.D. Blackmore also wrote part of his gothic novel, the aforementioned Lorna Doone, from the cosy interior or the enchanting bar. I can take you to some of the locations referenced in this book too, if yours is a gothic romance.
In fact I'll happily share with you all of my lesser known knowledge of the area and capture the emotion and action of your day. It's going to be great. I just know it! Don't forget to check out my wedding photography portfolio before you leave!
Useful links:
Wedding Ceremony Venues:-
Indoor:
Town Hall, Lynton
St. Mary's Church, Lynton.
St. John the Baptist Church, Lynmouth.
Outdoor:
Woolhanger Estate
Find a celebrant here: The Celebrant Directory
Wedding Reception Venues:
The Bath Hotel
The Ancient Mariner, Lynmouth
The Rock House Hotel, Lynmouth
The Rising Sun, Lynmouth
Accommodation
There are plenty of B&Bs, self catering choices and camping options to suit all budgets in both Lynton and Lynmouth, The Doone Valley and in the wider North Devon coast region on Airbnb, Vrbo and via:
Lynton Tourist Information
Marsdens
(Check out The Orangery and The Smithy for example. I've stayed in both!)
Camping
Lynmouth Holiday Retreat (Bell tents, lodges, glamping pods, camping)
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