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Sam and Carys had been together for 10 years and then, suddenly, Sam proposed and they decided to plan and hold their wedding within 11 weeks! Once the news had been broken it was full steam ahead for willing family and friends to create a wedding venue in the garden of Carys’s parents.
Tipi with a view
With breathtaking panoramic views across to the beautiful Shropshire Hills it was the perfect setting for their Tipi wedding with plenty of outdoor space for guests to mingle and the children to play. So much thought and detail had gone into the preparations and layout of the day and it was no surprise to us that on our arrival, Carys was outside in her gown directing her dad, grandad and brother on where to place the finishing touches. With the tipi only arriving a couple of days beforehand, there was plenty for everyone to do to get all the elements in place. The double hat tipi looked right at home in such a stunning environment and the garden, complete with ‘stumparium’ looked stunning with the wildflowers, neatly placed flower pots, shrubs with a walkway and flower-covered arch to the field beyond for a temporary car park.
The Preparations
Eventually, once Carys was satisfied with the finished results she headed upstairs, with a glass of champagne to get her hair and make-up done. Carys & Sam’s gorgeous 16 month old daughter Delilah joined her mum with her cousin Freya on hand to keep her entertained, feeding her raisins whilst she helped Delilah step into her matching cream dress complete with a bow. It was lovely to see such a great relationship between the two young cousins.
Flying the Flag
We found Carys’s dad Nigel and brother Morgan by the flagpole carefully taking down the Welsh flag and replacing it with one specially designed for the wedding, then hoisting it quickly before heading into the house to get ready.
Meanwhile, Sam was preparing for the day a few miles away at a cute tranquil cottage with family, his 2 Best Men, Tom & Nick and not forgetting Ralph the Springer Spaniel. Once their suits were on, (smart dark blue corduroy for Sam) ties were tied, cufflinks attached and buttonholes were in place, everyone headed down to the pub (owned by Sam’s family) for a swift pint on the way to the church.
The Ceremony
Tenbury St Michael & All Angels is a large, elegant church and well known to both Sam and Carys who grew up in the area so a fitting place for their wedding ceremony to take place. Sam waited nervously for his bride to arrive with Matilda their lovely dog to keep him calm. The vicar had a great sense of humour, keeping a lovely atmosphere throughout the ceremony and the surprise singing by Beth, Carys’s twin sister was a beautiful addition to the day.
Fizz & Nibbles
After confetti and a few group photos, we all headed back to Carys’s family home for refreshments in the garden outside the tipi, in the sunshine. With a caricaturist, ‘tattoos’ for the youngsters, copious canapes and endless beers & huge bottles of fizz for the grown-ups, the afternoon was so relaxed with guests sitting on straw bales and benches enjoying the panoramic views.
Speeches and Beyond..
With such a spectacular backdrop, it was decided to host the speeches outside and with the Father of the Bride starting off the proceedings, it was laughter and embarrassment (of various family members..) all the way! Sam and then Nick, Best Man (and uncle) followed with some great anecdotes from Sam’s younger days.
In the meantime, the desserts were set up on a buffet table outside for everyone to help themselves (which they did!) and the band started to warm everyone up for the party!!
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