Over the years I have found myself in some really unique wedding spots and one of my more recent favourites is John Muir Tipis, tucked away in the East Lothian countryside.
This is such a special wee venue. The term ‘hidden gem’ is used a lot, but it really does apply here! It’s so tranquil, surrounded by woodland and not too far from the stunning Belhaven Bay.
Wedding at John Muir Tipis
If you’re from this area you may have heard of John Muir Alpacas. A fab day out where you can trek with the alpacas and learn all about these fascinating (and very cute!) creatures. A few years ago, the family behind the farm turned their hand to weddings. They’ve transformed a little copse of trees into a laid back, boho wedding space complete with a three peak tipi, wee shepherd huts and painted caravans.
Sophie and Nikki were getting ready nearby (there’s lots of accommodation in the area). They both love bright colours so we had some lovely greens in there with the zingy lime colour of Lady’s Mantle as well as pops of yellow, orange and pinks. They wanted fun but not too garish so the paler pinks and whites just toned things down a little. I used lots of summer flowers and added thistle and rose, a nod to the couple’s English and Scottish backgrounds.
As well as the bridesmaid bouquets I put together buttonholes for the male and female guests. Along with thistle I added elements to match the brides’ bouquets - little rosebuds and a touch of lady’s mantle so that the floral designs were cohesive. I bound the female buttonholes with pale, peach ribbons and the male buttonholes with a deep green ribbon.
Beautiful outdoor wedding ceremony
The venue’s outdoor ceremony space is marked by an open tipi like structure which took the place of a wedding arch at the top of the aisle. We wanted to keep the natural, wood feel of the structure but also add some wedding decor to it just to give it a lift. It was a delicate balance to not overpower the bare poles. By adding some flowing white fabric along with summer flowers and greenery we managed to keep the rustic vibes as well as adding a bit of colour.
The tipi structure also made a perfect focal point for people to hang out after the ceremony, and was a great backdrop for photos.
Guests sat on wooden benches, and we lined the aisle with gin bottles the couple had collected, filled with seasonal flowers to match the bouquets. Chunks of log were used to mark out the aisle so we placed the bottles next to them, or on top if they were the sturdier bottles. It was just a wee bit too breezy to risk standing all the bottles on top of the logs, no one wants a floral mishap during their ceremony so as is sometimes the case with outdoor ceremonies we had to adapt to suit the weather!
Post ceremony, Sophie and Nikki’s guests helped to carry the bottles over to the main reception tipi where they were placed on the rustic wooden trestles.
Summer tipi wedding with boho vibes
It was such a lovely day so everyone enjoyed mingling outside the main tipi under the trees. The alpacas made an appearance, looking very dapper in their bowties!
Tipis are real blank canvases and, with their love of all things bright, Sophie and Nikki filled the space with colour. It looked brilliant, really in keeping with the fun, laid back vibe of their day.
John Muir Tipis is such a unique venue and I absolutely loved it there. The bright colours and summer flowers worked so well in the space and there was a great atmosphere.
If you are looking for more bright, fun and colourful wedding inspiration then check out my blogs here.
Thank you to David Louden Photography for sharing these beautiful images.