Alice and Charlie’s – Tipi Wedding in the Cotswolds

 

Where did you meet?

We were sent on a blind date by my sister and Charlie’s housemate. We went to a little hidden bar in Earl’s Court and after laughing all evening, drinking our way through the cocktail menu and one broken chair later we both knew we had found something pretty special!

The proposal? Where? How?

Charlie’s family have a house down in Salcombe and we were there with my family for a week. Before they all arrived and with the great chaos that comes with a big family I suggested a cliff walk just the two of us and suggested we took a cider with us as refreshment! Charlie thought it was a great idea! He has told me since that he was planning to propose that week so I could celebrate with my family and was just hoping for an opportunity. As it happened I presented him with the most perfect one!

An hour into the walk we stopped on a little stone bench overlooking the sea and cracked open said cider…Charlie had supersonic hearing that day – telling me there were some children coming along the footpath when they seemed ages away. He got up to look around the corner and when I asked what he was doing he told me the the clouds look different over there – something that isn’t that strange for him to say! But he seemed on edge, I asked him if he had itchy feet and if he wanted to go.

He then came over and put his hands on my knees (I could feel them shaking and it was only then that I guess what he was up to). He got down on one knee and asked me to marry him. I typically burst into tears and just hugged him, after a few minuets he said to me “so” and I said “so what” he said “so I have had to ask you if you will marry me so you have to give me an answer, and do you want to have a look at this?” (holding out the most beautiful ring I had ever seen) “oh right” I said “well yes of course!!”

 

 

Mummy, my bridesmaids and I went wedding dress shopping in Cheltenham, I knew I wanted a dress that was full lace but I’m pretty small (in height!) we found an amazing shop called Simply Bridal where we were so looked after and where I found my dress – the only one I tried on that made me cry! It was from Allure Bridals and I loved it!

I found my shoes from Tom Ford in Miami and didn’t buy them at the time as I thought they were a little OTT (price wise!), navy suede with a gold heel perfect. I searched and searched for something else when we returned to the UK but just couldn’t get them out of my head. My wonderful Mummy and husband ended up buying one each for me! Although I don’t think anyone even saw them they made me feel very special when I wore them on the big day!

Bridesmaids shopping was unfortunately done with a hangover so was not perhaps the most efficient, however I knew I wanted something not ‘traditional bridesmaid’. I was after something navy in the summer, something shortish and something with some fun detailing. We found the dresses from Phase 8 and with a little alterations they were perfect.

There was no way Charlie was going to be getting married in anything other than morning dress – his views which in fact we share! However we were at Charlie’s cousins wedding just before we got engaged and noticed how good the Groom’s navy morning coat looked. Just that little bit different but equally smart and traditional. As my Bridesmaids were in navy Charlie decided to hire a navy morning coat for him and his best man. Charlie was looking for a “good quality” hire coat and struggled but stumbled upon TM Lewin who had just started a hire company. Brill, new jackets without the traditional tired look of hire wear. Charlie’s shoes ended up being nearly as complicated as mine too; not that we’re too similar but he should have bought them the first time he tried them on too. The rest of his outfit fell into place really easily.

Venues was a pretty easy one for us. The reception would always have been in the garden at my parents house, an outside affair with marquees and hopefully some sunshine. The church would be our village church, just about a mile from my family home where I’d grown up and my sister got married here too and its also where my nephews got christened.

What was the most memorable part of your day?

We enjoyed every second of the day, and have so many ‘best bits’ so I thought we would both answer this one:

Alice: It was from when I’d put my dress on and looked in the mirror ready to go and get married! We had a horse and carriage take us the mile and a half to the church I there with my daddy and my 4 bridesmaids, listening to the church bells and the horses hooves on the road. Finally walking up the aisle and finally seeing my husband to be waiting for me and the way he smiled at me through teary eyes – that half an hour was one of the best of the day for me I’ll never forget that feeling of excitement and joy!

Charlie: The most memorable part of my day would have been my speech. I was so nervous about it before hand and had not been able to rehearse it without crying. On the day I was presented with a giant blow-up aircraft and my Mum instigated drinking games. This took my mind away from the nerves and seeing everybody so happy was amazing. Everyone was quite when I spoke about Alice and my love for her, I meant every word I said and sharing that with friends and family is a memory I’ll treasure forever. 

 

Enjoy the planning and don’t stress about it! I loved every second of wedding planning, I loved making all of the little extra crafty bits but I know thats not everyones bag. Remember on the day no one else apart from you two know what was supposed to happen/or look like. By the time it gets to that point you will be having the best day of your lives and the small details will fall into insignificance. For example I’d spent a long time making the table plan and I was pretty happy with it. Once  we were back at my parents house after the ceremony someone said, “Oh where do you want this Alice?” I’d had all sorts of thoughts as to where to put it and how to display it. When it came to it I’d forgotten, I was so excited I just said; “Stick it on a chair, somewhere people can see it, it doesn’t matter”. And it didn’t matter, everyone found there seat and it still looked good.

Also take time to enjoy your wedding day together, don’t go through the day feeling like you have to speak to all of your guests at length, they are there to share your special day. Do make sure you create memories of that day by each others side – oh and laugh, make it fun, it really does go by in a flash.

Your suppliers, anyone you would like to big up and recommend?

Our tipis were done by Katah – the only company that line their tipis with white lining, something that we were very happy we pursued. They also sorted the lighting, did the whole set up in the pouring rain and were even perfecting the synchronisation of the lights until the early hour of the wedding day morning. They looked like a fairy tale – the perfect setting for us.

The food and staffing was done by Chopping Block  – we been told by loads of our guest that it was the best wedding food they had ever had, Chopping block had such good attention to detail and they helped our day run so smoothly.

Both of our wedding rings were made by Simon Wright – he also made my engagement ring, earrings and my ‘something blue’ necklace that Charlie designed for me and gave to me the morning of our wedding. He is a super talented jeweller and his workshop is a treasure trove! How Charlie found him I’ll never know.

Our horse and carriage from Kevin Merry  – something I’d dreamed of since being a little girl was made into reality by Kevin and his wife. Them and their horses were immaculately turned out on the day and made the short journey to church a joy each way.

Shoot it yourself  – made our wedding video, I really didn’t want to have another person whilst we were getting ready and I think wedding videos can be a little forced. They have come up with such a great idea with your friends and family taking charge of the camera and the sending the footage back to shoot it yourself for the editing it. We love our video – check them out.

The Best Men  sorted out the music after our live band had finished their set, they were great and kept everyone on the dance floor!

TM Lewin Hire Wear – really good quality and amazing service. Although it’s all online you can either go to selected stores to try on, or they’ll post you your suit for a ‘fit check’ free of charge. Delivery and collection was a doddle too.

The cake Karen Thomas – although we made our own cake we needed to find someone to decorate it – wow, Karen did such an amazing job, her attention to detail was perfect for us. I know she makes cakes too but we wanted to do our own.

And last but certainly not least your photographer is someone who becomes a really import part of your day, they are there in the morning and all through the day. We hit it off with Lucy even before our first Skype call – Lucy was so helpful, organised oh and have I said she takes AMAZING photos! She got everyone organised and reminded us to do certain photos through the day/evening that we had said we would like to try. Lucy felt like a wedding guest rather than a photographer! Hopefully we’ll be using her for a family shot in one day!