Last Saturday I joined Olivia & Joe for their awesome Papakata Nordic Teepee wedding in Kippax!
After dropping my wingman with the dudes in Kippax, I joined Olivia & a bridesmaid for the final stages of hair and veiling, before heading back to Birkin
When Hamish joined the guys, Joe & his best men were enjoying a nice bacon butty before getting suited up.
Some more unsuited than others ‘
😉
I originally met Joe shooting a flash-mob spacehopper music video for his old band The Eskort Knights. He’s now drumming in an awesome band called The Dancing Years (who I saw play at The Wardrobe recently). Joe & Olivia are both brilliantly musical, and I was expecting some high-calibre musical interludes to punctuate the day! Nice to see these pics of Joe after suiting up, practicing a tune he was playing later.
Nice to see a bit of Sinatra spinning in the background!
Meanwhile, down the road from the church in Birkin, Olivia headed back to join the gang for the final wedding preparations.
The stunning Justin Alexander gown was hanging in wait and I like the heads of wheat in the bouquets and flora by Margaret Fiddes
For a moment, the sleepy village of Birkin was a hive of activity… and behind closed curtains, a bride was gowning up…
One proud father lays eyes on his daughter all ready to go to her wedding!
A quick teamshot and a glass of fizz before heading off!
The forecast for today was not pleasant in the run up to the weekend…
But as usual, a few showers passed and the day was on the whole a beautiful summers day!
Which was lucky, as the bridal party walked from home to the church!
I really like the light in this one.
The rings…
The blessing… and the kiss!
While registers were being signed, Joe’s ‘Dancing Years’ bandmates played a little number
After a few readings, two bridesmaids sang a beautiful little duet…
Then, just as they were about to head down the aisle, a little secret flash-mob plan came to fruition, to Joe’s complete surprise!
Olivia burst into singing a song and suddenly, random pals and family in the crowd popped up to join her!
Nice touch!!
😉
After a quick pic of them in front of the church, we arranged a confetti bomb at the gates!
Whoop
Then it was over to a family friend’s field in Kippax to enjoy the Nordic Teepee action!
A quick shot with the roller before it headed off…
And a few relaxed portraits of Joe & O in front of the wigwams.
They make a handsome pair eh?
Turns out they’ve known each other for 10 years. They’re genuine high-school sweethearts!
These Papakata tents always look ace inside, with fab detailing on the tables and fun musical film theming to the tableplan.
Then it was time for a little mingle.
I always like to be as quick as possible doing couple portraits and teamshots, so as to maximise time for the couple to see their pals.
It helped that we’d done a round of practice pics a month or so ago in Birkin (which you can see on the blog here)
We’d done the family lineups at the church, so we only had to do a few fun teamshots with the wedding party people here.
I love that they’d asked their fave, local curry house, The Sylhet Balti in Kippax, to do the catering!
A fun, relaxed and arguably way tastier option for mass catering than the standard wedding chicken-with-a-bone and over-boiled veg!
😉
All the speeches were lovely & amusing, but Joe’s unscripted and eloquent speech was nicely done indeed.
After a delicious tower of french patisserie, evening guests arrived, the back of the tent was opened out, and it became a bit of a wedding festival!
Marshmallows were being toasted around a fire.
Another muso I know was there, Sam Airey (who Joe also drums for), cutting a dash with his cigar.
Then after the cake was officially cut, and before the first dance was danced, Olivia & Joe treated their pals to a rendition of Taylor Swift’s ‘Best Day’!
Practice made perfect!
Then they took to the floor, to the ‘Annie’ soundtrack standard ‘I Don’t Need Anything But You!’
First time I’ve heard that one done as a first dance!
Straight after, ‘The Beat Collective’ – one of the many excellent supergroups to have come from the Leeds College Of Music – got cracking on a set of brilliant covers.
I know O&J would choose an amazing function band…
And so the party started!
While folk got down inside, the hog roast van opened up outside and the sun set through a spectacular sky!
Happy days all round! What a brilliantly fun, creative and music-filled wedding!
Here’s wishing the lovely Olivia & Joe a fantastic life together and a wonderful honeymoon in New York, Antiga & Miami!
All the very best kids,
Barnaby & Hamish
x
Ï