Charlotte & Harry: fun & fabulous tipi wedding at Belcote Farm

The moment I met Charlotte & Harry I knew we were going to get on like a house on fire, and I also knew their wedding was going to be a LOT of fun. We arranged to meet at one of my fave little coffee stops, Kimmy Loves Cake, and over drinks and snacks we talked about their vision and their plans. a relaxed tipi wedding with friends and family - great food, plenty of booze and full of good vibes.

When our second meeting was in a beer garden in the gorgeous May sunshine, I came away feeling like I had really found my people. I will never take for granted how amazing it is that this little business of mine introduces me to all of these incredible couples!

Now, I have a confession to make. Charlotte & Harry have just celebrated their second wedding anniversary. That’s how behind I am on posting to my blog. But it honestly feels like it just happened yesterday, and I have a feeling this one will stick with me for a very, very long time.
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THE LEGAL BIT

​Before we even get to the incredible tipi wedding that I was lucky enough to be part of, let me just start by explaining to you that these guys actually got legally married 6 months prior. In New York City. In December.

Like, isn’t that just the coolest, most romantic thing you’ve ever heard?!

I’ve seen photos at the top of the Empire State Building, on the subway at Rockefeller Centre, indulging in some proper new york pizza and having photoshoots with twinkly lights and Christmas trees galore. Not a bad way to do it!

If you're ever worried about having to do your legal wedding separately, perhaps because your dream wedding venue doesn't have a license, this is proof that it doesn't have to be a problem. It can be an opportunity to think outside the box and to do something that's so much more you​.

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THE TIPI

For their UK celebration, Charlotte & Harry had booked Belcote Farm, a fabulous tipi venue in worcestershire with stunning views, tonnes of outside space and offering so much potential as a dry hire wedding venue, allowing them to make it their own.

From the get go, I knew we were expecting bright colours and big impact, but underneath it all the day would centre around family, friends and celebrating with them in style. A beautiful personalised wedding ceremony, beer pong and garden games for everyone to get stuck into, relaxed street food that was a real crowd-pleaser, and a switch from day to night that would give everyone a chance to let their hair down!

here's how the day unfolded...
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I arrived at Belcote Farm in the morning for final bits of prep - we checked the music was ready for the ceremony, checked all the decor and the signs were in place, and I met with the bar team and suppliers on site. 

Harry and his gang were ready to welcome guests, looking fab in their shirts and braces, and drinks began to flow as everyone came to gather in the sunshine. From the very moment they arrived, it was beautifully laid back and full of smiles and laughter.

the ceremony looked spectacular - a long aisle leading from the main venue down to the beautiful naked tipi at the end, which had been dressed with a fabulous floral cloud by blush floristry (whose bold flowers and bright wedding bouquets were  all absolutely incredible!). THe venue's festival flags and bunting around the tipi added extra pops of colour, and the backdrop looking out over the worcestershire countryside was absolutely gorgeous. 

We asked the guests to take their seats before charlotte and her girls made their entrance.
​If you want to announce your arrival to your wedding, this is a lesson in how you do it... a bright yellow pickup truck, engine roaring, horn sounding, with your stunning bridesmaids riding in the back, cheering and waving their bouquets in the air. it's a yes from me.
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The ceremony itself was so gorgeous!
After a moment to compose themselves in the tipi following their big entrance, the bridesmaids walked down the aisle followed by Charlotte, who took the first few steps on her own before meeting not just one but two important people to walk by her side the rest of the way. I don't know if it was that or the music by london grammar (who just happen to be one of my faves...), but i was feeling all the feels.

What's more, the ceremony was led by charlotte's brother, which made the whole thing so much more personal. Friends and family all played their part, and we got to hear so much about our bride & groom. they tailored the whole ceremony to be just how they wanted it to be, full of lots of jokes and laughter (and possibly a few tears too!). 

And if your ceremony involves drinking beer together or taking shots, you know you're in for a cracking day!

They walked out hand in hand as confetti was thrown, and these may be some of the most joyful and wonderful pics i think i've seen at any wedding i've done. ever. THIS​ is how you do a confetti shot!

post-ceremony we headed straight into a drinks reception. ALl that lovely outside space and the extra mini tipi hats made the perfect spot for drinks and nibbles. and what I loved was that these guys decided to forego the formal canapes, opting instead for trays upon trays of the most incredible samosas! one of their favourite treats made by a friend of theirs, they did not want to pass up on the opportunity to share them on their big day. the food, the drinks and all the sunshine... it was just gorgeous!

while their guests got stuck in, there was a little time for group photos. as well as a few family snaps, there were some awesome spots around the venue where the bridal parties could get some extra fun ones - The caravan photobooth and the festival flags made fab backdrops, and i love that these photos show just how much fun everyone was having. I've done a couple of wedding now with Steph Butt Photography, and not only is she just a dream to work with on the day but her photos are always incredible. these relaxed, colourful weddings are right up her street and they capture the vibe perfectly!
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As for the couples photos...

i am definitely one of those people who is super awkward in front of a camera. i'm pretty awkward when there is no camera, to be honest. the second i know a picture is about to be taken, i forget how to behave like a regular human being and i just know i would barely be able to get one good photo of me on my own wedding day. but these two...

they absolutely nailed it! i mean, it helps that they are both naturally gorgeous and looked ABSOLUTELY incredible with their lovely outfits and the flower crowns. but just look at them!
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time to call everyone into the tipis, and they were looking fabulous! I love that they really leaned into the bright, colourful vibes - the bold floral bud vases, the place settings, the signage. the mini disco balls along the tables, the miss-matched pastel dining chairs, the sweets and the personalised notes that they had left for their friends. it looked amazing!

Charlotte and Harry made their own entrance into the tipi once guests were seated, and then we got straight into the speeches. AS with the ceremony, I love that amongst all of the hilarity and the amazing visuals, it always came back to what mattered most. family, sentiment and sharing the love! as well as both charlotte and harry making their own speeches, there were plenty of family and friends getting involved and it was so nice to hear all of their memories, stories and how much they both mean to everyone around them.

speeches complete, there was one more thing charlotte & harry wanted to do. on each table was a cocktail shaker, shot glasses and the instructions on how to make their absolute favourite cocktail. a quick masterclass from the couple, and everyone got to have a go at making their own cocktail to toast the happy couple!

top tip: do something interactive to get your guests participating in the day. it is always a winner!
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incredible speeches, homemade cocktails... what could be better after all of that than a classic fish & chip supper?! our plaice brought their trailer down to belcote, and everyone was invited up for a good old chippy tea. most of the guests took their food back to their tables, but it was so cute to see so many people spilling outside into the sunshine, sitting out in the field and tucking into a plate of fish & chips. there is literally nothing better on a summer evening.

this is one of the real advantages of having street food or something less formal for your wedding catering. it's nice and relaxed, it's crowd-pleasing food which leaves everyone nice and full up, and it's the perfect sort of dinner to socialise over, which suited this vibe perfectly.

dinner over, all everyone wanted to do was enjoy the evening sunshine. and there was a lot to get stuck into. beer pong tournaments, space hoppers, even a full game of cricket. not to mention the full scale tug of war contest!
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and for those who needed a little downtime, a few beers in the sunshine with friends. ideal.
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then came the costume change!
i wouldn't say this is a compulsory part of every wedding, but i'm also not going to try to put you off doing one... the switch from daytime to nighttime set the vibe perfectly and meant that we knew Charlotte was ready to party!

maybe because we were in a tipi in a field, there was limited room to get ready at the venue so one thing i vividly remember was standing out behind the tipis keeping watch as the bridesmaids rallied around to re-do hair, fix makeup, take the flower crown, sort the shoes - this is the sort of bride tribe you want to have with you on your day!

and when they were done... wow.

we got a few more photos of charlotte & harry in their evening outfits, and we invited the bridal party to light some sparklers to get some gorgeous dusky pics before the evening truly got underway. but we knew they were ready to get on the dancefloor!

i don't know what i loved more, the first dance for charlotte & harry, their guests all piling in and filling the tipi dancefloor, or the moment i turned around to see charlotte being lifted onto someone's shoulders, living her absolute best life.

after a couple of hours of dancing, the night ended with a silent disco and pizza from the awesome wedding pizza co, and i literally don't think it could have been nay better if they had tried.

I DROVE HOME THAT NIGHT WITH A BIG SMILE AND A FULL HEART, AND I REMEMBER FEELING LIKE I HAD FINALLY MADE IT IN MY BUSINESS. BECAUSE IF FABULOUS COUPLES LIKE THIS, WHO GET MARRIED IN VENUES LIKE THAT, WHO PARTY LIKE THESE GUYS DID, CHOOSE ME TO BE PART OF THEIR WEDDING THEN I CAN SAFELY SAY I AM WINNING AT LIFE.

thank you so, so much Charlotte & Harry for having me there with you. Two years on, i still think about your day all the time and I'm still buzzing from it now!

Credits:

venue:
belcote farm

photography:
stephanie butt

video:
Wandering Film Co.

florist:
blush floristry

Bar:
bayleys of bromsgrove

fish & chips:
our plaice

pizza van:
wedding pizza co.

Dj:
Audiohead Events

hair:
Tessa Rouse (bride)
Francesca Celeste (bridesmaids)

dress:
Miamore bridal
justin alexander