Tamara and George first set eyes on each other at their freshers’ bar on his first night at university. Romance blossomed and George took his opportunity to propose when the rules were relaxed during the Covid lockdown. “It was during one of the August weekends when we were allowed a small gathering,” reveals Tamara. “We held a festival-themed party with friends in my mum’s garden and George proposed with a poem in front of everyone.”
The couple set about planning their personality-packed wedding, deciding Cornish Tipi Weddings offered the perfect backdrop for their South American themed celebration.
“We travelled through South America before starting our postgraduate degrees and wanted to bring some of our favourite things to the day,” explains Tamara. Bold red was a recurring theme, from the bridesmaids’ senorita dresses to Tamara’s flamenco gown, which she changed into for the evening reception. Guests also got into the colourful spirit via a “bold, bright, fiesta” dress code.
The marquee was a carnival of colour: Tamara’s mum used Peruvian fabric to create the table runners and cushion covers; each chair was decorated by hand with multi-coloured ribbons and vibrant flowers carried from the chandeliers to the showstopping cake.
After taking their vows on the lakeside, Tamara and George stole a few moments together rowing across the lake to the sound of panpipes, which proved one of their standout moments of the day. Beneath trees strewn with dreamcatchers, guests enjoyed canapés and drinks in the company of alpacas while Mamba Rumba provided a fitting soundtrack.
Retiring to the marquee for cocktails including pisco sours, caipirinha and mojitos, guests then tucked into an Argentinian asado barbecue featuring the most flavoursome salads, chicken, beef and cheese dishes.
The first dance saw the newlyweds take to the dance floor for a special samba routine, after which a carnival show from Tropicalia, featuring Brazilian dancers and samba drums, provided the energetic entertainment.
“Watching the guests’ faces when the dancers walked in,” is a moment that Tamara cites as one of her personal highlights from the day. The rest of the evening included a DJ set by none other than George himself, along with a photo booth complete with themed props.
Tamara makes a special mention of “how amazing the staff at Cornish Tipi Weddings were from start to finish”, while also extolling the virtues of prompt planning and enlisting the professionals’ help to ease the pressure.
“Start planning early,” she advises. “Even if other people tell you that you are being too organised, it will all pay off in the end! And trust in your suppliers: the way that they all come together on the day is quite magnificent!”
Photography Toby Lowe tobylowephotography.co.uk
Venue Cornish Tipi Weddings cornishtipiweddings.co.uk
Celebrant Sue Skillings independentcornishcelebrant.co.uk
Dress Enzoani enzoani.com
Groom’s outfit Marc Darcy marcdarcy.co.uk
Hair Melody Rose Hair & Weddings instagram.com/melody_hair_weddings
Make-up Studio 3 Makeup & Beauty studio3cornwall.com
Flowers The Woodland Atelier thewoodlandatelier.com
Transport Wedding and Executive Car Hire weddingandexecutivecarhire.co.uk
Catering Sizzle Grills
Bar Kaz Bar kazbarcornwall.co.uk
Cake Craftycakehole craftycakehole.co.uk
Entertainment Mamba Rumba alivenetwork.com
Tropicalia Brazilian Music & Dance Show tropicalia.co.uk
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