New Forest Tipi Wedding Photographs
We met Shelly & Chris back in February and were instantly taken with their enthusiasm for their dream wedding. They had ten months to organise a winter wedding from scratch whilst selling, buying and moving house. We love a bride and groom who are up for a challenge and couldn’t wait to create their New Forest tipi wedding photographs.
Bridal Preparation Photographs at New Forest Country Lodge
Our day started day at The White Buck in Burley, a stunning venue to start our New Forest tipi wedding photographs. We found a hive of activity in an upstairs bedroom where hair and make up were being styled. Shelly calmly sat right in the middle of it all. Shoes and dresses were laid out in preparation for the big day.
First to be ready was Shelly’s daughter and flower girl Mollie. An in her own words” here come the super model” as she posed for photos on the staircase. The bridesmaids were one by one were getting ready in the dark room in front of a range of mirrors. They dressed in dusty pink bridesmaids dresses with faux fur stoles to protect them from the wintery air.
Champagne was opened and the gorgeous pastel wedding flower bouquets arrived from No 17 Flowers. All the time Shelly’s stunning lace appliqué ivory wedding dress detailed with diamantés from Allure Bridal hung in the background. Before she knew it Shelly was helped into her wedding dress by her mother and bridesmaids. She looked stunning and as the girls held back the tears I could feel the anticipation in the room.
Outside groomsmen arrived in two 4×4 wedding cars for transport to the church.
Groom Preparation Photographs at New Forest Home
Meanwhile Murray met up with Chris and his groomsmen at the family house in The New Forest. The small army of groomsmen and friends were given jobs. They delivered things to the church and brought things such as flowers back after the ceremony, for instance. Chris’s mother was on hand for advice and to check that everyone’s outfit was in order.
Chris’s best man was on hand to assist him in fitting his Tiffany & Co cufflinks. Chris then took a moment with his best man to gift him a pocket watch complete with personal inscription. 
The last thing Chris had to do was to open an envelope from his bride to be. He did this outside on the drive way. As it was opened confetti popped in the air with a preloaded photo square which he impressive caught. Chris and his groomsmen gathered themselves and walked to church through the brisk December morning air.
Country Church Wedding Ceremony Photographs
Once the groomsmen arrived they busied themselves greeting guests and ensuring everything was ready before the arrival of the bride. Shelly arrived fashionably late and took a moment to gather herself outside the church.
Before any of the bridal party entered the church Mollie the flower girl rushed inside to deliver a message to Chris from Shelly. 
The four bridesmaids led the bridal party into church. Shelly’s daughter Molly followed the bridesmaids before her Uncle escorted her down the aisle. The happy couple made their wedding vows to each other, exchanged rings and were married. Guests were treated to readings from a grooms man and family friend before the newly weds came down the aisle as husband and wife.
Family and friends gathered in the low sun outside on either side of the church path. They then showered Shelly and Chris with confetti as they made their way to the waiting wedding Range Rover before heading to the New Forest tipi wedding reception.
New Forest Wedding Couple Photographs
While the wedding guests headed to the family home I joined Shelly and Chris for some couple shots as the sun set in sentimental spots in the New forest.
New Forest Tipi Wedding Photographs
Wedding guests at the family home were welcomed into the tipis with hot mulled wine and small bowls of spicy vegi or meat stew. Close up magic was performed by wedding magician Alfie while everyone waited for the newlyweds to arrive. There were great cheers as Shelly and Chris arrived. They entered the tipi to be greeted with glasses of champagne and treated to more wedding magic from Alfie. In the warm glow of fairy lights guests congratulated the happy couple before they took their places for wedding breakfast. Everyone was in an extremely jovial mood because happiness seemed to eminate from the bride and groom.
New Forest Tipi Wedding Breakfast and Speeches
To say the wedding breakfast was enjoyed would be an understatement. The wedding catering team were amazing. Nothing was too much for them as they fluidly worked the wedding. The French chef behind the moreish food helped with the fire and joked with wedding guests.
I think the best man’s speech was the most prepared we have ever seen. In a “This Is Your Life” style it was packed full of jokes, photographs and even short video and audio clips. The guests were taken on an emotional roller coaster as the best man spoke about the bride and groom and their shared experiences. Chris then followed with a heartfelt speech full of thanks and praise for everyone involved in making the day special.
New Forest Tipi Wedding Evening Reception
During the speeches the incredibly talented Charlotte Campbell singer/songwriter/busker arrived and a setup. She sang a mixture of covers and some of her own songs much to the enjoyment of the newly weds and guests. There was a pause and after the stunning wedding cake from Suephisticated Wedding Cakes was moved to the centre of the tipi it was cut. The guests then gathered around the tipi for the first dance.
As Charlotte’s ethereal voice echoed into the starry night the newly weds performed a choreographed number at the centre of the dance floor. Friends and family joined them as Charlotte continued to play this New Forest tipi wedding.
We stole Shelly and Chris away for five minutes to meet a challenge they had presented to us. They asked us to include a ‘Happily Ever After’ image in their New Forest tipi wedding photographs. Just outside the tipi we used our trusty light wand and a couple of sparklers.
The wedding day finale was a sparkler exit that had been planned with plenty of sparklers to go around. Everyone formed a guard of honour to signal the exit of the newly weds and the end of a very special New Forest tipi wedding day. 
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