Cardiff couple Tom & Katie tied the knot back in September. They chose Katie’s parents farm to host a relaxed luxury tipi wedding. All images were taken by award winning wedding photographer Maria Farrelly.
How would you describe your wedding theme?
We didn’t have a theme but it was really important to us that our wedding had a relaxed but elegant feel about it. We decided to use tipis for our reception venue and once that was decided it made it easier to plan the rest.
What was your favourite part of your wedding?
I have so many favourite parts but I was surprised how much I enjoyed the ceremony. In the run up to the wedding I was quite nervous about it, worrying about all the focus being on me. But when it actually came it was the most lovely experience.
I will also never forget when we cut our cake and our guests spontaneously started signing Calon Lan – not something you hear very often in the English countryside.
Tell us about your Wedding Dress
Shopping for your dress has to be one of the best bits about planning a wedding. I decided just to go with my mum as she is brutal but honest so I knew that once I had THE dress on it would be obvious. 
I wasn’t sure what type of dress I wanted but I thought it would probably be a lace dress. In the end I chose the plainest dress in the shop but I loved it and, my brutally honest mum told me that I looked like me when I had it on. I think looking like the best version of yourself on your wedding day is so important. It is not the day to try out a completely different look.
I chose a simple a-line, full skirt dress designed by Augusts Jones which I found at Laura May. The whole experience at Laura May was fantastic. It is a lovely boutique that is relaxed and all the staff are knowledgable and help you add the final touches. I was a bit concerned that my dress was a little plain but Tracey at Laura May suggested a beautiful nude pink belt which fitted perfectly with the dress and made it unique to me. 
Who did you pick as your bridesmaids &/or best man and why?
We chose our best friends!
Tom decided to have his two best mates Craig and Henry as his best men and my two gorgeous friends Anna and Sarah were my Bridesmaids. I also had my two little nieces, Evie and Isobel as my Flower Girls.
Sarah I met on my first day at university. We could’nt have been more different. She couldn’t wait to leave home and go to uni and I on the other hand hated the idea and had already decided I would go home at the end of the first week. I soon changed my mind after a fun filled freshers week with Sarah – a scar from which i still have proudly on my ankle.
Anna I met when i first moved to Cardiff about seven years ago. Again i found myself alone in a new city and she took me under her wing and has been doing so ever since. I think our friendship was permanently sealed after a particularly embarrassing rendition of Beyonce’s ‘Should have put a ring on it’ at a pub karaoke session. I don’t think either of us will be called on to take her place if Destiny’s Child ever reforms.
Why did you choose your venue?
Our venue was my parent’s farm. Although I have lived in Wales for more than eight years now I really wanted to get married at home in Buckinghamshire.
We were so lucky that we could use their home and it had the space to put up the tipis. It also meant that we weren’t restricted to closing times so our party was still going strong at 2.30am!
How did the proposal happen?
Tom proposed in Vegas!
We went on holiday with our friends Sarah and Pet for five days to Vegas in April 2013. After an 11 hour flight, on which I had declared to Sarah (who knew Tom was going to propose) that I wasn’t fussed on getting married, we checked into our hotel and agreed to meet up in a couple of hours to hit the town. Little did I know that this was the time Tom was planning on proposing so I decided to fall asleep, the jet lag finally catching up with me. Feeling groggy and not my best I eventually started to get ready.
Taking ages as usual Tom was pacing our room. I keep telling him to just go for a drink with Sarah’s husband Pet, something they would normally do in these situations. He kept saying no i’ll wait for you. I should have twigged at this point.
Anyway, just as we were ready to go out he got down on one knee with the panoramic views of the Vegas strip behind us and proposed. I was so shocked (and jet lagged) that I asked twice if he was serious. Not quite how he had planned it i’m sure. After finally saying yes we went out to celebrate. Vegas has to be the best place to do that if you have just gotten engaged!
Do you have any advice for future couples?
Don’t ever feel you have to do anything. There were certain traditions that we didn’t want to do so we didn’t. We didn’t have a first dance because both of us would have hated it so instead our band played a series of songs and invited our guests to get on the dance floor to get the party started.
What’s the best piece of marriage advice you received?
Tom and I have been together for 10 years so we knew what we were getting ourselves into. Two pieces of advice however have stuck with me.
Firstly, make sure you both give each other the space to have your own separate lives. While it is important to be a unit, allowing each other their own space will allow you to still keep hold of who you are individually.
Secondly, a colleague at work advised us not to plan a jam packed honeymoon with no time to relax. She said you will be so tired after the wedding that if you don’t allow some time to relax you won’t enjoy your honeymoon. She was so right. The day after our wedding I probably slept for 12 hours straight!
What was your favourite thing about planning a wedding?
I enjoyed having an excuse to meet up friends and family under the disguise of wedding planning but actually it ended up drinking prosecco in the sunshine.
I also loved choosing things that hopefully our friends and family would have immediately identified as ‘us’.
Supplier List
Photographer: Maria Farrelly Photography
Ceremony Venue: St Nicolas Church, Cuddington
Reception Venue: Kate’s parent’s farm in Haddenham, Buckinghamshire
Bride’s Dress: Augusta Jones, Laura May Bridal
Bride’s Shoes: Jimmy Choo
Bride’s Jewellery: My mum’s sapphire ring
Groom’s Outfit: Aquascutum
Bridesmaid’s Dresses: Jim Hjelm
Bridesmaid’s Accessories:
Cake: Tracey’s Cakes, Longwick
Flowers: Fullers Flowers
Hair: Amy Pomeroy
Band: The Vodka Martini’s
Stationery: Designed by my talented bridesmaid, Anna Bowler
Caterers: The Gatsby
Any Reception Decor/Props: Tipi tents provided by Papkata
Transport:Vintage Rolls Royce
Wedding Album
