JAMES AND LOU'S BOHO TIPI WEDDING WITH INDIAN VIBES

May 16, 2021 Nikki Francis

Lou and James celebrated their marriage with a gorgeous bohemian tipi wedding with Indian touches at stunning Spirit Lake in Surrey.

THE PREPARATIONS

I absolutely loved all the theming around Lou and James’ wedding. Think trees hung with dream catchers made by the James’s Mum, beautifully styled boho seating areas within the tipis and a home-made ceremony tipi. Gorgeous splashes of colour and Indian vibes with tens of bright festival flags, ribbon bunting, tuk tuk photo booth and Indian drummers.

Clearly a creative couple they really took the blank canvas space of Fiesta Fields venue, Spirit Lake and Canvas & Light’s cream canvas tipis and made it their own. It was quite funny to see car after car arriving on the Friday, with friends dropping off bits of furniture, potted plants, styling accessories and soft furnishings.

The couple and their friends and family spent most of Friday afternoon and early evening adding all their personal touches to the space then Lou headed off to The Chequers Inn for a pre wedding dinner with her bridesmaids, leaving James and his ushers staying over in their bell tents.

Saturday morning and Lou had a relaxing morning at Stanhill Court Hotel getting ready with her bridesmaids, with Lou’s Dad in the same hotel. For her bridesmaids’ dresses Lou had chosen simple but elegant sage green silk slip dresses. A fashion buyer at Anthropologie, these were from made by one of Lou’s suppliers. The bridemaids’ bouquets were smaller versions of Lou’s bouquet with pink roses and eucalyptus. “One of my bridesmaids drove us in her vintage Mercedes to the venue, which was truly special”.

Over at Spirit Lake, James and his ushers were making finishing touches to the ceremony area and outside spaces, including fire pit and hay bale area. High up in the trees they managed to install a giant flower made by James Mum.

Soon guests started to arrive. Those who were glamping, located their bell tent and dropped their overnight bags. Beautiful Bells had provided 17 tents set in a sweeping arc along the lakeside, including a 7m fully furnished bridal bell tent for James and Lou, complete with four poster bed.

Guests congregated at the tipis to enjoy a welcome drink and take in the views and the beautifully styled tipis. “The vision was always to have an intimate day, where everyone feels relaxed and then a big party into the night. I have always loved tipi tents, so we knew this was a must and then we had to find a venue where we were allowed to stay after midnight.

“As every bride I started a Pinterest board and starting collecting the best bits from different weddings and my mother in law helped by sourcing little bits from her local garden centre. We also picked the flowers from there the day before the wedding and arranged the table arrangements with my bridesmaids. We also hired in some props to really give it a unique feel.”

STYLING

Anne Marie from Rhubarb and Bramley had made features of the tipi poles by wrapping foliage around them. Lou and James’ head table was a gorgeous sight. Two peacock chairs for the happy couple, big rustic Mr & Mrs letters and a fabulous floral arrangement, with eucalyptus, ferns, thistles and other foliage mixed in with pink roses. The tables were also dotted with mismatched vases with eucalyptus and foraged style wildflowers.

THE CEREMONY

James and Lou had legally married the week before but had decided on an outdoor blessing to share a symbolic moment with friends and family. James had built a ceremony tipi as a focal point for the ceremony. The poles had been wrapped with hessian and foliage along with hanging flower garlands. The aisle was laid with afghan rugs and chairs from the tipis were set either side of this aisle.

As Lou arrived out front and started to make her way her dad and bridesmaids, being driven by the venue owner, Bruce in his vintage tractor/trailer, guests made their way over from the tipis to take their seats. Lou was met with a surprise - Indian drummers, booked by James’ Mum. The drummers played as Lou, bridesmaids and dad made their way down the aisle to where James was waiting.

The ceremony was led by Gilley, a friend of Lou and James.

“Gilley has been a house mate of ours for a few years and very close friend and we had wanted it to be intimate and unique to us as a couple.

James’ dad read a reading ‘He is not perfect’ by Bob Marley (he balled his eyes out) and one of my best friends wrote a poem which was amazing.

Our little sausage doggy, Bernie, was ring bearer (with rings round his collar) and he then lay on my dress through the rest of the ceremony in his custom made suit.”

DRINKS RECEPTION

After the ceremony, Lou and James walked through a confetti aisle and lead their guests into the walled garden, where glasses of fizz and bottles of beer were ready on ice. Guests enjoyed live singing and acoustic music from Social Scene while playing the garden games dotted about.

Meanwhile, Lou and James took the opportunity for some group photos in the walled garden and some couple shots in and around the grounds.

So please tell us about finding your dress Lou. “I always had wanted something relaxed and easy to wear. I went to two bridal shops and picked the dress the first day, from a boutique in Tunbridge Well. ‘Willowby’ by Watters Hearst Gowns.

THE CATERING

After the drinks reception, guests made their way over to the tipis, led by the drummers and Lou and James entered as Mr and Mrs to cheers and applause.

“James is really into his music so spent weeks organising a playlist for everyone and sentimental songs to us that we listened to during the meal.”

THE EVENING

After the feast it was time for the speeches and soon evening guests started to arrive. Guests came out of the tipis to enjoy the early evening sun and pay a visit to the photo tuk tuk. Dub Bar opened up the evening bar and James and Lou and their photographer Maureen took advantage of the beautiful magic hour light.

A bit later Lou and James came back into the tipis to cut the cake. Lou’s Mum had made one tier and the other was by Lou’s sister in law and it was decorated at the venue. After this James and Lou took to the floor for their first dance to Sister Sledge ‘Thinking of you’.

As the light faded the indoor fire was lit and the outdoor space looked gorgeous with all the atmospheric lighting the couple had set up. Cuzzi Pizzas got their oven fired up, ready to serve evening pizzas and Platinum Fireworks put on a colourful firework display timed to music. “This really was a high light and a surprise for the guests, and this blew them away, James again came up with a very specific play list, video below.”

Lou and James fireworks

Lou popped off to slip into something more comfortable, an ivory slip dress, again made by one of her suppliers from Anthropologie. She teemed this was some awesome festival style silk wings a friend has bought her, and Lou and James and their guests partied the night away dancing to Ignite and Social Scene and later to a silent disco.

Any advice for couples planning an outdoor wedding?

“Lights really make the venue and give it that magical feel, also lots of decorations and larger items help feel the space. Get friends and family to help make bits to give the place a unique feeling.”

Any highlights for you Lou?

“The speeches were pretty great, and I loved the fireworks they were spectacular. The next day was also fantastic as we were all hungover together and the sun was shining and we had a campfire with guitars.”

“Nikki (Fiesta Fields and Canvas & Light) was always on hand throughout the process and happy to help and give advice based on previous experience. I would highly recommend her and everyone within the team were a pleasure to work with.”

SUPPLIERS

Photographer /Maureen Du Preez
Venue / Fiesta Fields
Flowers / Rhubarb and Bramley
Day time Caterer / Tempus Catering
Evening Caterer / Cuzzi Pizza
Evening Bar / Dub Bar
Bell Tents / Beautiful Bells
On the day coordination / Wildflower Wedding Planning
Bands / Ignite and Social Scene
DJ / A friend
Photo Booth / Hello Tuk Tuk
Hair and make up / A friend did our make-up and hair was by Wedding Hair Design
Dress / ‘Willowby’ by Watters Hearst Gowns
Suits / Zara
Festival Flags / Event Flag Company
Props / Locate to Create