I'm a HUGE fan of the DIY wedding: using any and all creative or organisational skills you have to put together your dream day, knowing that every detail was lovingly chosen with specific purpose.  And even if it isn't 100% polished and perfect, at least you know that it's the embodiment of YOU! Now, if you're able to throw together your dream DIY wedding in a rad location?? Double win! Because it will never look like anyone else's wedding day, it will be so intrinsic to the hours of crafting and ordering and painstaking lettering.  It's the stuff of Pinterest dreams!

...but let's be honest here: how many of us have the actual talent and skill to pull of a blog-worthy wedding ourselves??!!

I don't doubt that those of you are out there! In fact I've been lucky enough to photograph some incredible DIY weddings! BUT wouldn't it be nice to keep the rustic charm of DIY but faithfully place it in the hands of a seasoned professional?? Someone you can have a laugh with, who actually LISTENS to your ideas and vision and who has been there and pulled off feats of wedding beauty in the most difficult of circumstances? Someone who isn't just a cut and paste event planner but understands the importance of creating a unique expereince that shows off just what an amazing couple you are?? Throw in the insta-awesome of a tipi reception and you're onto some serious wedding style!

Over the last months, I've been lucky enough to meet some amazing wedding planners and stylists and back in March I received a phone call from the fabulous Ellie of Soft Touch Events.  Ellie was holding an 'Indie Wedding Fair' at Ashton Hall Equestrian Center, the very same stables where my sister-in-law keeps our largest furry family member, the gorgeous giant that is Danny the Horse.  Now unfortunately, the upcoming fair was already capped for photographers but Ellie put to me another option of involvement: come to Ashton Hall on the Monday after the fair with my gear and she would arrange other vendors to contribute their considerable talents into creating a DIY styled shoot in the tipis by Tipi Unique that had been erected for the event.  With florals provided by Diddibox and Sassflower, gorgeous couture gowns by Erica Stacey Bridalwear, a cake from Pink Cocoa, stationary by Rodo Creative and makeup skills by Charlotte Dobson, and accessories by silver sixpence in her shoe, I was 100% sold! I wrangled two of my former coworkers and pals from Nicky Clarke Manchester, Roisin Dooley and Georgia Moran, to style the models' hair and we were in business!

Our three models, Caroline, Sasha, and Becki were absolute ROCK STARS and kept spirits up throughout the 6 hour+ shoot.  Despite chilly April temperatures and a slightly annoyed equine model (holla Wimbledon!), these ladies were total pros! A couple of weeks after the shoot, once I had sent off the final edit to Ellie, I got the surreal email confirmation that the shoot would be featured on the wedding blog Whimsical Wonderland Weddings! I was over the moon at the opportunity to be featured on one of my favourite wedding blogs (and that post can be seen HERE). 

We had a ball that day in the front paddock of Ashton Hall and hopefully the images offer up some inspiration to those of you considering the awesomeness that can be a tipi wedding (with a bit of helps from the pros!)