The heavens opened, but it didn’t dampen spirits at Tim and Laura’s beautiful farm wedding at Casa Ciani near Crabbes Creek. This gorgeous couple totally embraced the rainy weather, with the bridal party wearing wellies, and guests supplied with umbrellas and blankets to keep them warm and dry throughout the night.
Tim and Laura met for first look photos, their photographer capturing the incredibly emotional moment the couple saw each other before they were married. Guests kept cozy beneath a couple of large Kata Tipis during the ceremony, until it was time to feast upon yummy food from local caterers Samba Catering Co, Crabbes Creek Woodfired Pizza, and Pop Taco. Meanwhile, drinks were served out of the oh so cute Olive & Co vintage caravan bar.
This stunning celebration proves that sunshine isn’t a prerequisite for a dream wedding, and if you embrace everything nature has to offer you can still have that totally unique and one-of-a-kind wedding you have always desired.
Tell us about the moment you and your partner first met? I was actually casually dating his friend (oopsie). There was an instant connection, he was wearing slippers and his chef’s uniform and I asked why on earth he was wearing slippers, he looked at me with a puzzled look and said, “because they are comfortable”, I was hooked in! We were both 20 years old at the time.
How did you know a tipi wedding was for you? We wanted our guests to experience something different to the ‘ordinary’ wedding. The tipis look incredible and provided the exact vibe we wanted for our wedding day. We knew we wanted an outdoor wedding, and the tipis topped all the other large marquee styles out there.
What styling tips are a must for the tipis? Definitely think about your own personal style, worry less about what tradition says or what others say. Come up with creative ways to save money on styling, and definitely hire a stylist if you can afford it, I didn’t and it would have helped if I had.
Did you have a budget in mind, and did you stick to it? We had a budget and we exceeded it a little. The only regrets we had were spending money on things that did not matter in the end. When you think you have enough money, something else will come up, so always have a buffer.
How would you describe your style and where did you find your inspiration? Our style was ‘casually elegant’. We wanted people to feel comfortable, but still be able to dress up a little. I found heaps of inspiration on Instagram and Pinterest.
What was one of your favourite highlights from your wedding? This is a hard question, we had THE BEST day! One of the highlights was the ceremony; it was just so casual and funny. Not like your normal ceremony! We made the ceremony fun and memorable. The ceremony is often the ‘boring’ part of a wedding and people rarely remember it. We wanted people to enjoy this part and remember it forever, safe to say we succeeded.
Is there anything you would have done different, if so what? Managed our budget better and had a hair trial (very important)!
Do you have any advice for other couples planning a tipi wedding? Planning is key, if you don’t have time, invest in a wedding planner, the savings will pay off in the long run. Plan the wedding how you and your partner want it, worry less about what other people think, because you’ll never please everyone!
Venue: Casa Ciani Tipis: Gold Coast Tipi’s Photography: The Tsudons Catering: Samba Catering Co, Pop Taco and Crabbes Creek Woodfired Pizza Bar: Olive & Co Wedding Planner/Co-ordinator: Cookie Doe Weddings Celebrant: Roxy Hotten Cake: Hey Junior Café Dress: White Lilly Couture Make-up: Emma Chen Artistry
