Two newlyweds from Falmouth have thanked the Meudon Hotel for providing them with a “phoenix wedding reception” after their planned venue of the Falmouth Beach Hotel was left a pile of ashes.

The family owned hotel near Mawnan Smith, which has been in the Pilgrim family for five generations, stepped in to provide Chris Gould and Michelle Harrison with their dream wedding.

This week Chris and Michelle thanked the Meudon, saying: “This last week has been extremely stressful, knowing that we did not have a venue for our wedding. At the last moment the Meudon Hotel at Mawnan Smith offered to help. We want to publicly thank the hotel and its staff for their Cornwall spirit and their extreme kindness in bending over backwards to help us achieve our special day. They have touched our hearts with their generosity.”

Not only did the hotel’s chefs match the couple’s wedding breakfast menu – of smoked salmon roulade, roast chicken filled with lemon, pimento and tarragon on a woodland mushroom sauce, and fresh fruit salad with Cornish clotted cream – the couple were allowed to bring their own wine with the same corkage value they had been promised.

After the last-minute struggle, Chris and Michelle were rewarded with beautiful sunshine and blue skies for their wedding on Saturday.

This led to many photos being taken on the hotel’s private beach Bream Cove, with some of the cheekier kilted members of Michelle and Chris's family even going for a dip in the water.

Michelle said: “After the fire and the upset we knew there would be some adjustments needed.

“The staff gave us such a wonderful day, it’s impossible to pick any one thing – the whole day was just the best, the best day of my life.”

Michelle’s sister Nicky decorated the hotel entrance and restaurant with bunting, as well as placing mirrors with starfish, pebbles and candles on each table.

Meanwhile the cake was made and given by another member of the family, Angie, which was cut with a special ceremonial army sword.

Gaye Woods, from the Meudon, said: “We love weddings at Meudon. We loved the vibrancy Michelle, Chris and their families brought to our gardens, our restaurant and the old mansion house.

“Meudon's team and hosts, Mark, Rita and Emma, would like to thank Michelle and Chris for bringing their special day to us and we wish them and their wonderful family all the best for the future.”