Having met while surfing in Morocco, it was fitting that Chris popped the question to Pip while they were having a sunset dip in the sea at Porthminster Beach in St Ives. “He had the ring precariously tied to a bit of string attached to his boardshorts!” laughs Pip.
On searching for a venue, the couple soon fell for the natural beauty of Cornish Tipi Weddings, where their ceremony could take place within touching distance of the water. “It’s such a beautiful plot of woodland with a private lake and jetty, grassy space for games, a marquee for the reception, firepits and bell tents for guests to stay in,” explains Pip.
The day had a relaxed, boho vibe, from the arrangements of wildflowers and bridesmaids in mismatched sage green frocks to Pip’s dreamy two-piece dress. A mixture of borrowed and handmade details added further personality, with friends and family pitching in on the eve of the wedding to decorate the venue proving a highlight of the weekend’s festivities.
As the couple had legally wed a few days previously, Chris' oldest friend Andy could officiate the ceremony, which took place on the lakeside jetty with their guests surrounding them beneath the trees. “He knows us both so well and this made it amazingly personal and such a special experience for us,” she reflects. The traditional Scottish Quaich ceremony – in honour of Chris’ heritage and which symbolises two clans coming together – included a ring-warming. “Our dads poured some whisky into a two-handled drinking bowl so we could share our first dram as a married couple,” she explains. “Chris had carved the Quaich himself from a piece of Scots pine he found in the Highlands the week we booked the wedding. We took turns exchanging vows, shared a kiss and the music started.”
From there, the newlyweds and their guests went further into the woods for drinks and canapés, then to the marquee field. “It was one of my favourite moments walking from the woods to the marquee. Everyone was boogying together as we walked, then had games on the lawn to a chilled world music DJ set,” says Pip. “A really happy memory was sneaking back to the lakeside, grabbing a drink and having a quick row out on the little boat together, just the two of us."
The barbecue-style feast that followed included a mix of locally sourced meat and day-caught mackerel from nearby Port Isaac, veggie sausages and lots of tasty salads and sides before a “rather animated” Scottish ceilidh! As the evening progressed, DJ Joel of Jambada took over, as some guests danced and others chilled around the firepit, made s’mores and shared a whisky until the small hours.
The couple had a novel idea when it came to creating moving memories. “We asked our guests to each capture a 30-second clip of a moment of their choice during the day. We’ve collected all of these in, to create a 'crowd-sourced' wedding video from these moments,” says Pip.
When asked for top tips for other couples, their advice is to say yes to anyone who offers to help. “People were so happy to lend a hand, and we’re looking forward to paying it forward to the next happy couple in our lives.”
Photography Alan Law Photography alanlawphotography.co.uk
Venue Cornish Tipi Weddings cornishtipiweddings.co.uk
Dress Catherine Deane catherinedeane.co.uk
Make-up Marie-Élise
Flowers Wild Botanic Flower Farm facebook.com/NaturallyGrownFlowers
Catering The Gastropod gastropodcafe.co.uk
Cake Renaissance Cakery instagram.com/renaissancecakery
Peacock chairs, candlesticks, rugs & crocheted blankets Maeflower maeflower.co.uk
Entertainment Jambada instagram.com/jambada_music
Ceilidh Tree ceilidhtree.co.uk
