As the sun moves to the other side of the world and the sea loses its warmth, we celebrate the end of another season of weddings. From long days putting up tipis with the sun beating down on our backs and a thousand-mile view out to sea, followed by clear evenings twirling in the darkness surrounded by candles and music – we’ve loved every second.
Here’s to the people we met along the way…
Photo: Simon Biffen Photography
In the spring, we watched as horses thundered across an open beach on the morning of our first ‘Poldark wedding’. There were flashes of swords and corsets as guests huddled on a stormy clifftop. The air was cold, but the tipis were warm and snug. Inside, promises were made and champagne flutes clinked, and we all danced to the formidable sound of an eight-piece jazz band late into the night.
Soon after, we hosted another Poldark wedding. This time taking us to the birthplace of Poldark itself, near Port Isaac, a stone’s throw from the backdrops of those incredible cliff scenes.
The following month, we reached for lemonade and shade as we planned a special wedding for Anna and Mark in a spot overlooking the creek at Mylor Yacht Harbour. What a beautiful afternoon. Around that time, our tipis popped up at other secluded locations: In manicured gardens, stately homes with double-entrance driveways, Country Living inspired photoshoots where we sploshed around in wellington boots through muddy fields and the wildest of Cornish woodlands.
We then spent the height of summer with the sides of our tipis open and a light breeze blowing through.
Photo: Enchanted Brides Photography
There was a 21st birthday on a beautiful family farm, a party overlooking the glistening blue of Watergate Bay near Bedruthan. All this followed by several garden parties in Devon, a festival-style wedding over at Mawgan Porth where guests partied hard and were looked down upon by the quiet whirl of a drone photographer. We even tethered a coloured flag to the tipi, which fluttered in the wind and helped guide people back to their tents in the early hours.
And there’s so much more to come. We have a handful of big weddings dotted up and down the coastline over the next few months. We also have our hands full with some exciting side projects: A theatre with Kneehigh, literary festivals at Dartington Hall, creating a play space for explorers at a National Trust property, and a few other pop-ups to welcome people inside our giant tipis.
Finally, a big thank you to our wonderful family (and dogs) for all the memories and for making this season so much fun. Also to Anna, our first full-time member of the team, who has been a ray of sunshine, bringing her energy and ideas into the mix. We’re now embracing the changes in the weather – berry picking and scarfs and wood fires…and, of course, downtime. It’s been one wild summer.
Photo: Enchanted Brides Photography