Real Wedding – Becky & James’s Waterfront Tipi Wedding

...

Real Wedding Becky & James

Waterfront Wedding Venue

This week’s real wedding takes us to Cuttle Brook, in Swarkestone. A beautiful waterfront wedding venue for the celebration of Becky and James. They celebrated in two giant hats and chill-out tipi back in June and had the most wonderful day surrounded by family and friends.

They wanted to create a boho themed, super relaxed day – and with everything from Becky’s stunning lace boho styled dress, and their perfect outdoor ceremony overlooking the river, to the fun outdoor games and beautiful floral displays – they really did achieve the perfect day!

Becky talks us through their waterfront wedding in more detail here alongside gorgeous photos from the super talented Rosie Kelly Photography.

Welcome to our wedding Rustic Wedding Sign

Why a Waterfront Wedding Venue?

Cuttle Brook offered us the waterfront wedding venue that we had also wanted. It gave us the flexibility to offer our own welcome drinks without a corkage charge. This was important too. For this I purchased an old tin bath which we filled with ice and beer. The beer bath was a real hit. We had a fruit flavoured water station to0 served in large kilner jars, so guests could easily help themselves. Which as great as it turned out to be a really hot day.

In the evening we had Mambo Mobile bars take over. They were brilliant creating a bespoke drinks menu including cocktails and beers.

Cuttle Brook offered us a lot of freedom to create the day that we wanted and being a waterfront wedding venue was a real bonus to us.

Two giant hats and chill out tipi at Cuttle Brook, Swarketone

What made you decide on an outdoor / tipi wedding?

We decided to have an outdoor tipi wedding as we didnā€™t want the fuss and formalities you get with lots of wedding venues. We were also really keen to do a lot of the styling and set up ourselves.Ā 

Having the tipis was great as we could personalise them to our style and have a relaxed and fun day.

2 giant hats and chill out tipi Tipi entrance with florals and festoon walkwayCeremony flowersCuttle Brook bridge with floralsWaterfront Wedding Venue, Cuttle Brook, with ceremony area setup with chairs and benches overlooking the River TrentGroom and friend getting ready for outdoor ceremony at this Waterfront Wedding Venue in DerbyshireThe Pavillion at Swarkestone is located just down from the Waterfront wedding venue and offers accommodation perfect for the Bride and GroomBride getting readyBride and bridesmaids getting ready at homeThe Pavilion at Swarkestone rooftop viewBeer on the Rooftop of the Pavilion at SwarkestoneGroom and groomsmen getting readyBride getting ready finishing touches by makeup artistGrace Loves Lace Backless boho wedding dressGrace Loves Lace boho wedding dress and open toe shoesNatural Wedding Makeup complete

What did everybody wear?

I wore a Grace Loves Lace backless dress which had a boho feel to it. It felt really in keeping with the tipis and the venue.

The groom wore a Jacket and chinos from Paul Smith. The bridesmaids wore floor length ASOS dresses which had floral embroidery on them.

The general look was laid back, nothing too formal and that worked with our gorgeous waterfront wedding venue too.

Grace Loves Lace Boho Wedding Dress complete with oversized flowersGroomsmen at The pavilion SwarkestoneGroom wearing Paul Smith Suit ready for his outdoor ceremony. Located at Cuttle Brook, a waterfront wedding venue in DerbyshireBride & Dad arriving to their Outdoor Tipi Wedding at Cuttle Brook, a waterfront wedding venue.

Describe your ceremony for us.

Our ceremony was held at Cuttle Brook by the river, which is a stunning waterfront wedding venue. We were really lucky with the weather as it was a lovely sunny day. The guests sat on benches and we had the ceremony under a wooden arch that my dad had made, which was decorated with flowers. Jo from My Perfect Ceremony did the service, she kept it really personal to us and it was lovely.

Overview of The Pavilion at Swarkestone and view over tipi field at Cuttle brook. See the River Trent in the back ground of this water front wedding venueWaterfront Wedding Venue Ceremony Area all SetupGuests Arriving at The Two giant hats and chill-out tipi wedding celebration at Cuttle Brook. This waterfront wedding venue offers a relaxed wedding setting.Jo from My Perfect Ceremony keeping groom calm before bride arrives. view from tipis over to ceremony area and cuttle brook bridge. Cuttle Brook is a waterfront wedding venue in DerbyshireBridesmaids wearing asos dresses with gorgeous florals walking down Tipi Walkway to the outdoor ceremony. Ceremony held at Cuttle Brook, a waterfront wedding venue in DerbyshireBride Making her entrance out of the Tipis to walk down to ceremony area. Ceremony held at Cuttle Brook, a waterfront wedding venue in DerbyshireBride Arriving to their outdoor ceremony at Cuttle Brook, Swarkestone. Cuttle Brook is a waterfront wedding venue in DerbyshireBride and Groom First Look at each other at their outdoor ceremony at Cuttle Brook, Swarkestone. Cuttle Brook is a waterfront wedding venue in DerbyshireWaterfront Wedding Venue Ceremony conducted by Jo from My perfect ceremonyWaterfront Ceremony conducted by Jo from My perfect ceremony in front of Tipi Arch completed with florals. Cuttle Brook in Derbyshire is a waterfront wedding venueWaterfront Ceremony conducted by Jo from My perfect ceremony Bride and Grooms first Kissceremony setup at Cuttle Brook complete with Tipi Archconfetti cones in rustic basketconfetti throwing at Cuttle Brook with biodegradable floral petals. Cuttle Brook is a waterfront wedding venue in Derbyshire offering relaxed celebrations

How did you feed your guests?

Our food on the day was all provided by Thomas the Caterer. They were amazing and created a lovely Italian style menu for us. We had antipasti sharing boards for starters. For the mains a whole porchetta per table which the guest had to carve themselves. This was accompanied with lots of lovely different salads. The deserts were also sharing style. Including mini brownies, sticky toffee puddings, Eton mess and lemon posset. all brought out on big boards to help yourself to.

Thomas also created amazing canapƩs for the drinks reception, especially the steak wrapped chip! And in the evening we kept it simple and had cheese and biscuits and sausage rolls.

Thomas The Caterer at Cuttle Brook serving canapesThomas The Caterer Presenting Wedding Food at Cuttle BrookSausage Rolls the perfect evening food to soak up the drinks and give a boost of dancing energy by Thomas The CatererEvening Cheese and Biscuits for wedding receptionFrosted wedding cake by Emma at Hello Cake. Simple yet elegant

How would you describe your theme / styling?

The theme and styling of the day was laid back, boho, English countryside style. We didnā€™t want anything to feel too formal, we had hay bails outside for guests to sit on and giant jenga andĀ  a coconut shy for people to play with.Ā 

Jenga and outdoor games played by guests at Cuttle Brook, SwarestoneTopling Jenga and outdoor games played by guests at Cuttle Brook, Swarkestoneoutdoor gamesoutdoor games keeping children busy at weddingsoutdoor games keeping adults entertained at Tipi Wedding

Catkin Flowers provided us with amazing english flowers from her cutting garden which myself, my mum and bridesmaids arranged in little vintage cut glass vases for the tables. A family friend created beautiful arrangements in milk churns at the entrance to the tipis and on the bridge that the Cuttle Brook runs under.Ā 

Rachel from Catkin also created an incredible foliage hanging centre piece which hung inside the tipis and all our bouquets and button holes. Her flowers and styling really helped to create the wild english garden look we wanted.

welcome to our wedding sign complete with floralschampagne receptionTin beer bath Tin beer bath drinks reception and Water Drinks Station at Cuttle Brook. Cuttle Brook is a waterfront wedding venue in Derbyshire offering a no corkage drinks option. American Card Box and gift tableGiant Florals in Milk Churns at Tipi Entrance Tipi Table setup with florals, plates and menusSami Tipi Wedding at Cuttle Brook Swarkestone. A waterfront Wedding Venue in Derbyshirefestoon walkway complete with flower churnsHanging floral decoration inside a Sami Tipi Tipi Table setup complete with candles, florals and waterfall napkinsSami Tipi Table setup with dining plates and printed wedding menuFind Your Seat printed seating plan on giant easel Top Table setup in front of dance floor for a sami tipi weddingHanging floral hoop and draped to tipi poles for Sami Tipi WeddingTipi Tables setup for wedding breakfastguest book and snuggle blankets add a special touch for your outdoor tipi wedding

What are your Top Tips for planning a tipi wedding?

Our top tips for planning a tipi wedding are;

Get lots of family and friends involved to help out on the set up the day before the wedding. We really enjoyed setting it all up and everyone doing it together, it made the process really fun.Ā 

If you plan on having the ceremony outside make sure you have a plan B, just in case.Ā 

Waterfront Wedding Venue. Cuttle Brook, Swarkestone, DerbyshireCuttle Brook Bridge with Bride and GroomThe Pavilion at Swarkestone, providing back drop to wedding photosall bridal party at The pavilion, SwarkestoneTwo Giant Hats with Chill-Out Tipi at cuttle brook, swarkestone, derbyshireBecky and James, boho wedding coupleFarm Wedding Walkscake cuttingtable decorations night time showing off fairy lights in Tipi tipis at dusk. As the light changes and festoon walkway and fairy lights begin to glow

A few more Top Tips

Hire really great suppliers. Ours were all amazing and it took out a lot of the stress when planning the wedding.Ā 

Make lots of lists!Ā 

Do what you want to do and have the day that is right for you as a couple.

first dance for Becky and James, boho tipi wedding couplefirst dance on tipi dance floorevening partybandevening partyevening partytipis at night at cuttle brook. A waterfront wedding venue

Suppliers Involved

Tipis | Sami Tipi
Venue | Cuttle Brook
Photographer | Rosie Kelly Photography
Catering | Thomas The Caterer
Bar Service | Mambo Mobile Bars
Florist | Catkin Flowers
Celebrant | My Perfect Ceremony
Make Up Artist | Josephine Way
Styling Props | Tara Knott Styled Events
Wedding Dress | Grace Loves Lace
Cake | Hello Cake

It is always an honour to be able to share in a couples day having an understanding of what they want to achieve. Becky and James always said that they wanted an informal wedding with out the fuss. They wanted to be able to surround themselves with family and friends not only for the wedding day but the run up to it as they pulled together all of their styling they had created themselves. Creating something that was very personal to them and also relaxed and lots of fun. I think we can safely say they nailed it!

 

Find Out More

If you are interested in hosting your own outdoor celebration at this stunning waterfront wedding venue in Derbsyhire, get in touch. The Sami Tipi team will be only too happy to meet with you to show you the site and everything that it offers.

Cuttle Brook Swarkestone. Waterfront Wedding Venue in Derbyshire.

Farm Wedding in derbyshire

Boho wedding styling inspiration

Check availability for your date!