Inspiration

Lovely Kate and Joe had a tipi wedding in Norfolk and it looks like a seriously good time was had by all. From the gorgeous girls getting ready together to the final throes of the evening on the dance floor - there are big smiles on peoples faces. Kate wears Rime Arodaky and OMG she looks incredible. The images and film come from York Place Studios, who are a wonderful team and just so happen to have shot some of my favourite ever weddings to grace these pages. Grab a cup of tea, sit down and enjoy this one...
{Watch The Film}

Our Wedding

Kate The Bride: Given that I am a frustrated wedding planner masquerading as a solicitor, for the nine months between our New York engagement and our wedding day, I was, appropriately for a farm wedding, a metaphorical pig in shit. However, none of it would have been possible without the army we had behind us.

The Bride & Bridesmaids

Knowing me very well, when it came to dress shopping, one of my bridesmaids, Sarah, pointed me in the direction of The Mews, Notting Hill. Whilst it wasn’t the only shop I visited, I needn’t have looked any further. Not in my wildest dreams would I have put myself in a crop top and skirt on my wedding day, but French designer Rime Arodaky’s Caplan Top and Pennington Skirt was the unanimous favourite. The girls at The Mews were wonderful, and I loved every minute of wearing my “dress” (wedding top and skirt just doesn’t have the same ring to it) which I teamed with Robot Blue Jimmy Choo’s (subbed by baby blue vans for dancing), and Anoushka starfish earrings given to me by Joe on the morning of our wedding. Instead of a veil, my florist Millie (more on her later!) made me the most beautiful flower crown to adorn my loose waves created by London based hairdressers and sister act, Clo & Flo. On the morning of our wedding, the bridal party were treated to manicures by Home Farm Beauty Room and my very brave bridesmaid Sarah did my makeup. For my six bridesmaids I chose J.Crew Ginny dresses in drapey matte crepe in a mixture of coral and cream, and my flower girl wore Robe Lucie from Les Petits Inclassables with silver Superga pumps and a gypsophila crown (when it wasn’t being used as a frisbee).

The Boys

Joe decided against a flower crown, and wore a traditional morning suit complete with a blue Favourbrook waistcoat, the Hermes “mountain goat” tie (which is his nickname for his Mum!) His best men and Dad wore Thomas Pink “fox” ties, the fox being the family crest of my Uncle and Aunt whose farm we got married on, and the remainder of the Ushers wore Hackett herringbone ties in...you guessed it...blue.

The Stationery

Sad as I am to admit this, but stationery is just about one of my favourite things, and so I was thrilled when my cousin and Maid of Honour, Rach (@rachel.bottomley), agreed to design our invitations for us. They were a masterpiece. So as not to stifle her creativity, we also had her burning the midnight oil styling our Bar Menu and Order of Play chalk boards the night before the wedding.

The Venue

Despite its best efforts to fly away on the eve of our wedding, our reception was held in four giant tipi’s from Events Under Canvas, in a stubble field on my Aunty and Uncle’s farm near Fakenham in Norfolk. Norfolk holds a special place in both our hearts, and although none of my grandparents could be there, for me, getting married in Norfolk meant that we were able to come to two of them.

The Decor

The tipis were transformed in the days leading up to our wedding, with magical lighting from Lightech, vintage furniture from Virginia’s Vintage Hire and a bespoke hay bale bar, personalised signage and retro K&J lights all made by my father in law. The bar was stocked with barrels of ale from Ampthill Brewery (the village where Joe grew up), jam jar cocktails, and Moscow mules in copper mugs courtesy of Classic Crockery Event Hire. For place settings, we collected and wrote on shells from the beaches in Norfolk, which sat atop a sprig of wheat from the field we sat on.

The Flowers

Our wedding flowers were created by Millie Richardson. Although our wedding day was a grey one, to us, it looked anything but, surrounded by Millie’s beautiful creations in our favourite hues. Her infectious enthusiasm, meticulous planning, extraordinary vision and natural flair ensured that we were spared any wedache whatsoever.

The Ceremony

The ceremony was held at St Mary’s Church, North Creake. The same church where my Aunty and Uncle were married and where my paternal grandparents are buried. Sarah (the multifunctional bridesmaid), Joe’s Dad, and my cousin Ben all read wonderfully, and our guests should be commended on belting out our favourite hymns.

The Music

We were played into the church by The Malthouse String Quartet playing Hoppipolla and left to their rendition of Elbow – One Day Like This, and they continued to play throughout the champagne reception. After dinner and speeches, The Joe Ringer Band got the party started with our first dance to Mumford & Sons – I Will Wait.

The Food

Our delicious food was prepared by independent Norfolk based caterer, Eliza Rooney, and her team. We opted for aggressive canapés, followed by an upmarket BBQ and finished with the grooms favourite, Eton Mess. Our scrumptious three tiered wedding cake, which ended up multiplying into a table of cakes, was made by Joe’s sister, Eve, who owns wedding cake and catering company The Crumble Cakery. I have never seen a wedding cake disappear so quickly.

The Photography & Videography

Last, but definitely not least, we chose York Place Studios as our wedding photographers and videographers. To us, this was a hugely important decision because not only are your photographers/videographers a huge part of your day, they provide the only thing that you are left with when the day is over and the memories fade. Whilst our wedding already seems like a lifetime ago, our photographs and film transport us back to 17 September and let us live it all over again. They captured the day perfectly, their style is effortlessly cool and you cannot fail to love them. We couldn’t recommend Dom, Liam, Matt and Alex any more highly.
Fern Godfrey

Written by Fern Godfrey

Bride: Rime Arodaky | Boutique: The Mews Notting Hill | Shoes: Jimmy Choo | Hair: Clo & Flo | Bridesmaids: J.Crew | Flower Girl: Les Petits Inclassables | Groom: Favourbrook | Stationery: Rachel Bottomley | Marquee: Events Under Canvas | Lighting: Light Tech | Decor & Hire: Virginia's Vintage Hire | Glassware: Classic Crockery | Flowers: Millie Richardson | String Quartet: Malt House String Quartet | Band: The Joe Ringer Band | Cake: The Crumble Cakery

Inspirational articles you may also find useful