Pengelly RetreatIntimate
WeddingsUnique to You
Best Glamping Business 2021/22
Pengelly Retreat - Intimate Weddings in Nature
When we found Pengelly Retreat, we knew we were on to something very special. Owners Ruth and Jim moved their family from Oxfordshire to West Cornwall in 2016 with the intention of creating a unique place for couples and their closest friends and family to escape the stresses and strains of everyday life. A place where you are invited to feel at one with nature, have time to admire the wild flowers, birdlife, amazing dragonflies and so much more. A tranquil escape where you can live gently, watching the drama of sunsets from the meadows, taking a dip in the wild water swimming lake and enjoying each-others company. A place where special things happen.
After much hard work, dedication and with much passion, they’ve returned this beautiful corner of Cornwall to its natural best, incorporating lakes, a beguiling ornamental, sub-tropical garden that melts into wild meadows beyond, home to a patchwork of wild grasses, small ponds and a woodland glade. There’s even a secret garden (with its own secret story). Explore the hidden paths and streams that weave between exotic plants and perhaps find the perfect place to exchange your wedding vows in this natural sanctuary.
They have created a dream elopement and intimate wedding utopia for couples who are seeking a beautiful celebration of their love in the most magical and private natural setting. At this beautiful re-wilded retreat you can choose to marry by a wild swimming lake, in secret gardens surrounded by sub-tropical plants, in the flower meadows or in the romantic stream-side tipi. This is perfect for couples who love nature and want a few nights away, staying in the luxurious cabin or yurt by the lake, with 2-10 guests attending their celebrant-led ceremony.
This venue is fully booked for weddings in 2022 and is open for bookings in 2023 (aside from August 2023).
The scope of intimate weddings at Pengelly Retreat
Wedding stays are a minimum of three nights, with accommodation for 2 (usually the wedding couple in double bed) in the Boat House cabin and up to three guests in the Sail House Yurt (i.e. a couple in a double bed and child on a futon single).
You can have up to 10 guests attend your intimate ceremony at this beautiful location.
To find out more please do read on and/or get in touch with owners Ruth and Jim pengellyretreat@gmail.com or call 01736 850225
Luxurious Accommodation
This enchanting 5-acres is a slice of re-wilded paradise. It’s been sensitively developed, weaving the wild natural beauty of Cornwall with luxurious eco-friendly accommodation. Set around the largest lake you’ll find two unique properties: the Boat House a lakeside architect-designed cabin sleeping two in a double bed, and a luxury double yurt known as Sail House sleeping 2 in a double bed and space for a child on a single futon. Both properties are en-suite and well equipped, beautifully thought through and providing secluded hideaways for couples to enjoy a lakeside stay. At the Sail House, you are welcome to have your dog come and stay with you too. Pengelly Retreat offers intimate elopements just for two, and small wedding ceremonies for up to 12 with minimum stays of 3 nights in the lakeside houses. For weddings for 6 or more guests, the owners offer additional accommodation in the Mill Annexe apartment for up to 3 people (a couple in a double bed plus a child on a single futon)
The Boat House and Sail House include luxurious interiors to make your stay super-relaxing. These include lovely touches such as:
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Comfortable double beds made-up with freshly laundered cotton bedding and fluffy towels provided.
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En-suite shower room in the Boat House and an en-suite bathroom at the Sail House with bathtub; both with flush toilet and basin
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An outside bath tub at the Boat House cabin and an outside hot shower at the Sail House yurt (with lake views!)
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Complimentary Bramley Shower Gel, Shampoo and Hand-wash in the bathrooms
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The boat House and Sail House have a home cinema kit with projector and roll down white screen so you can watch movies (just bring your laptop to plug in) Just perfect for a cosy evening by the log burner.
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Well-equipped indoors kitchen with microwave, hob, sink, fridge, toaster and kettle
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Welcome pack of butter, milk, jam and bread
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Complimentary tea, coffee, sugar, cooking oil, salt & pepper provided
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Underfloor heating (morning & evening), hot water on demand and electric lights
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Log burner and first basket of logs provided
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Wi-fi is available in the Boat House and Sail House as well as outdoors and in the garden
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Private outside sundecks and fire pit areas
The Boathouse and Sail House are situated lakeside and the Mill Annexe is attached to the owners' on site property, opposite the entrance gate to Pengelly Retreat, just a minute or so's walk away.
Your intimate wedding or elopement at Pengelly Retreat
Typically, you’d arrive the evening before your wedding to give you time to relax and settle in to your gorgeous accommodation. You may wish to book ahead for a Cornish Food Box to enjoy on your arrival. Also, if you fancy it, mention it in advance and you can book yourselves a blissful massage for you in your accommodation on your arrival or during your stay. Otherwise, enjoy a restful and peaceful evening strolling round the retreat and watch the sunset. We defy you not to feel totally relaxed by the time you head hits the pillow on that first night.
Everything will be taken care of for you so that you can enjoy your wedding day. Phoebe the wedding planner will be on hand from the point of booking, right up to your wedding day to ensure everything runs smoothly and you have exactly the sort of wedding day you wish.
On your wedding morning, should you wish, a bridal hair and make-up artist can be arranged to come to your accommodation for some pampering and beautification ahead of your wedding ceremony. If you’d like flowers for your ceremony and/or your accommodation, these can be delivered on the morning of your wedding as well. You may wish to arrange for a photographer or videographer to capture memories of your whole wedding day or just part of it. We work with some excellent local photographers and videographers so, we’ll be happy to make recommendation for your consideration if this helps. If you choose to marry at Tremenheere Sculpture Gardens, you can either drive yourselves, or we can recommend a good local taxi firm or wedding transfer company.
Ceremony options
Pengelly Retreat offers three wedding ceremony options to couples seeking a private, intimate wedding in outdoors natural surroundings.
Option 1: A celebrant-led exchange of vows in the grounds at Pengelly Retreat. Just pick the spot where you’d like to exchange your vows, we can arrange the rest for you. This is also just perfect for vow renewals as well.
Option 2: A celebrant-led wedding ceremony where you exchange meaningful vows to one another after completing your Statutory Appointment to complete the legal paperwork with the registrars. This can be done either in Cornwall or at a registry office convenient to your home/work.
Option 3: You can combine a legal wedding ceremony in the sub-tropical garden at close-by Tremenheere Sculpture Garden, (just over 20 minutes by car) returning to Pengelly Retreat to enjoy a blissfully relaxed celebration meal and wedding evening together by the lake.
Simply let Ruth and Jim at Pengelly Retreat know your preferred type of ceremony and they will guide you through the simple booking process. You can contact Ruth and Jim here.
Intimate wedding celebrations at Pengelly Retreat
After your ceremony, relax and enjoy a picnic on your own private sundeck or in a special spot in the meadow. Alternatively, a beautifully styled table can be set up in the gardens or, under cover, in the gorgeous stream-side 18ft tipi. The tipi makes a magical and unique setting for your wedding breakfast, whether you choose to celebrate with a luxury picnic, delicious cream tea or a silver-service meal cooked up for you by a local chef. And if you'd like to dine out, there are fabulous restaurants in close by Porthleven and St Ives to choose from.
To find out more contact Ruth and Jim here: pengellyretreat@gmail.com or call 01736 850225
Lovely ideas for your wedding stay
This beautiful retreat enclosed by streams and Cornish hedgerows planted with native trees creates a haven for wildlife, and it’s very easy to lose a few hours taking all this in from the lakeside and surrounding grounds. The private sundecks at the Boat House and Sail House provide perfect place to watch the natural theatre of the stunning sunsets often enjoyed in this part of Cornwall.
If you are a confident swimmer, we highly recommend wild water swimming in the lake, or if you can tear yourselves away, there’s good bathing and surfing to be found at nearby Gwithian & Godrevy and Praa Sands beaches.
The biggest lake is well stocked with brown trout. If you fancy trying your hand at catching these wiley fellows you are welcome to do so, respecting that the owners operate a catch and release policy and request you use barbless hooks only.
The Boat House and Sail House overlook the largest lake, lined with reeds and bulrushes, it’s a haven for birds with ducks and moorhens nesting here. You may be lucky enough to spot a grey heron or catch the flash of the brilliant blue and orange of a kingfisher.
The ponds, streams and woodland that form part of this natural wonderland are home to many wild flowers, trees, birds, butterflies and dragonflies. You can look out for wild animal tracks too – the owners have found deer, fox and badger tracks on their land.
Private yoga sessions with a local practitioner and massages with a local therapist can be arrange for you to enjoy during your stay. Booking in advance is essential.
A Cornish Food Box can be ordered for your arrival and additional catering can be added should you require.
Owners Ruth and Jim can provide lots of lovely recommendations for places to visit or activities to enjoy close-by, just let them know what you are interested in and they will be delighted to share their “little black book” of recommendations with you. If you have any questions for Ruth and Jim, drop them a line by emailing pengellyretreat@gmail.com or call 01736 850225.
Pengelly Retreat Example Packages
Here are some examples of the packages and prices Pengelly Retreat can offer. Please note they can tailor-make packages to suit your dates and requirements:
Pengelly Retreat Sample Wedding Packages for 2023
A Pengelly Retreat Petite Wedding Stay for you and your 2 guests
March 2023 = £1098 + £150 for our Wedding Co-ordinator; June 2023 = £1525 + £150 for our Wedding
Co-ordinator
3 nights at the Boat House cabin for the wedding couple (double bed)
3 nights at the Sail House yurt for your 2 guests/witnesses (double bed, plus single futon if required)
Exclusive use of the Pengelly Retreat gardens & lakes for the day of your Celebrant-led wedding ceremony
Use of the stream-side 18 ft tipi on the day of your wedding for your celebration meal and/or ceremony
The opportunity to take wedding photographs throughout the Pengelly Retreat land, gardens & lakes
Our Wedding Co-ordinator, Phoebe from Piccolo Weddings, to help you create your perfect day
Our accommodation comes complete with tea, coffee, bread, jam, butter, milk, salt & pepper, mixed herbs & cooking oil
A complimentary bottle of bubbly and fresh flowers on arrival in the Boat House
On site car parking for 3 cars during your stay and up to 6 cars (in total) on the day of your ceremony.
A Pengelly Retreat Petite Wedding Stay for you and 4 guests, plus 6 additional guests attending your ceremony
March 2023 = £1458 + £300 for our Wedding Co-ordinator; June 2023 = £1975 + £300 for our Wedding
Co-ordinator
3 nights at the Boat House cabin for the wedding couple (double bed)
3 nights at the Sail House yurt for your 2 guests/witnesses (double bed, plus single futon if required)
3 nights at the Mill Annexe apartment for 2-3 guests (double bed, plus single futon if required)
Exclusive use of the Pengelly Retreat gardens & lakes for the day of your Celebrant-led wedding ceremony
Use of the stream-side 18 ft tipi on the day of your wedding for your celebration meal and/or ceremony
The opportunity to take wedding photographs throughout the Pengelly Retreat land, gardens & lakes
Our Wedding Co-ordinator, Phoebe from Piccolo Weddings, to help you create your perfect day
Our accommodation comes complete with tea, coffee, bread, jam, butter, milk, salt & pepper, mixed herbs & cooking oil
A complimentary bottle of bubbly and fresh flowers on arrival in the Boat House
On site car parking for 4 cars during your stay and up to 6 cars (in total) on the day of your ceremony.
Please note your chosen Celebrant & your Statutory Appointment are not included, these must be booked and paid direct.
Ceremony options & costs:
Celebrant-led ceremony at Pengelly Retreat - c.£600 for your chosen Celebrant. Plus Statutory Registration of your marriage at Penzance or your local Registry Office c.£50.
Registrar-led ceremony at Tremenheere Sculpture Gardens - £675 for your ceremony for 2 aside from weekend dates from May to September where a minimum spend is £1200 and £800 for all other dates and larger groups. Plus Registrar Attendance fees which you can see here.
Notes:
Check in on your arrival day is from 4pm. Check out on your departure day is at 10am.
Our Wedding Co-ordinator Phoebe from Piccolo Weddings can advise you on the best wedding suppliers such as make up, flowers etc. and help you to create a set up here at Pengelly Retreat for a picnic or meal after your ceremony. These packages do not include for Phoebe, our Wedding Co-ordinator to be at Tremenheere for the wedding ceremony itself or for any styling there, but this can be included in your package on request.
Optional wedding day services for you to consider:
2 hours photography by - from £450
Bridal hair and make-up - from £210
Catering for 4 - from £350
Table and Chairs for 4 - from £60
Different catering options including picnics, wedding cake, wedding buffet all available on request, please just ask
Bridal bouquet and buttonhole from £175
Couples massage (60 mins for 2) from £120
Take a look at the wonderful local small wedding day service providers we work with here.
Pengelly Retreat, unique to you
Your elopement or tiny wedding at Pengelly Retreat can be tailored to your vision and personal preferences. It’s Pengelly Retreat’s wish to create the perfect day for you to celebrate your love, your way. To start your magical journey to your wedding day you can contact Ruth and Jim on 01736 850225 or email them pengellyretreat@gmail.com
