Laura and Brett's Wedding at The Tipis at Riley Green

From a morning gift that set the tears off early to a fire breather Brett knew nothing about, this one kept us all on our toes.

The Tipis at Riley Green · May 2026

Midway through bridal prep at Samlesbury Hall, Laura unwrapped a present from Brett: a poster designed in the style of a record, with the lyrics of their first dance, “I Guess I’m in Love” by Clinton Kane, printed across it. The letter that came with it had her in tears. Moments like that are exactly why I love filming morning prep… nobody is performing for a camera, it’s just real people having a real morning.

A morning at Samlesbury Hall

One of the bridesmaids, Lucy, is the reason I was there at all. She recommended me to Laura and Brett after I filmed her own wedding at Heaton House Farm nearly five years ago, one of the very first weddings I ever shot. We had a proper catch up and a reminisce during prep, and being recommended all this time later meant so much.

Once the makeup was done, the Spotify playlist went up, the first of many bottles of prosecco was opened, and Laura and her bridesmaids danced round the room to their favourite songs. At this point I handed my little JVC camcorder to Lucy, and she filmed some genuinely perfect footage. Knowing some of my favourite shots of the day came from a past bride of mine made them even better.

Being recommended all this time later meant so much.

Meanwhile, over at Stanley House

While all of that was happening, Alex was at Stanley House Hotel with Brett for groom prep, and the emotion wasn’t all one way that morning. Brett had a letter from Laura to read and a present of his own to open, a beautiful watch, and Alex was there to film every bit of it.

Alex is a wedding photographer who second shoots for me as and when a wedding calls for it. Laura and Brett had chosen my top wedding videography package and added a second shooter, which meant both preps were covered at the same time without anyone missing a thing.

The walk up to the tipis

After the reveals I headed straight over to the Tipis at Riley Green to meet Alex and set up for the ceremony. If you’ve never been, the walk up to the tipis sets the scene before you’ve even arrived… a long path strung with festoon lighting, lined with raised beds full of purple alliums, and the tipis standing in full view ahead of you. While I filmed inside, Alex filmed the bridesmaids making their way up that path in their sage green dresses, white bouquets in hand, which meant the ceremony and the arrival were both covered without either of us having to rush between them.

Inside, the ceremony space matched the gardens beautifully, with a foliage arch at the top of the aisle, a ring of greenery hanging overhead with a disco ball at its centre (a nod to the party coming later), light-up LOVE letters glowing behind it, and rows of white draped chairs with lanterns lining the aisle. The sage and white theme ran through everything, from the bridesmaids’ dresses to the groomsmen’s light grey suits, with Brett standing out in a black tux. Even the tables carried it on, long wooden banquet tables dressed with trailing eucalyptus, floating candles and single white stems.

The walk up to the tipis sets the scene before you’ve even arrived.

Sunshine, axe throwing and a sax player

Thankfully the sun came out for the drinks reception, so the live singer performed out in the gardens while the guests enjoyed a drink, a chat and a game of axe throwing. Peter Austin Photography and I took Laura and Brett away for a few portraits while Alex stayed with the guests, filming it all as it happened.

Mid afternoon, DFC introduced a sax player and the whole atmosphere lifted again. They had the entertainment planned to a T all day. Then came the speeches, five in total, so I made sure everyone was miced up beforehand, promptly and discreetly, and every word was recorded.

I normally use the wedding meal to sit down and back up the footage, as it’s usually the one quiet stretch where nothing needs filming. At this wedding I stayed on my toes right through the meal, half expecting another moment that just had to be filmed. Everyone was happily eating so it never came, but the whole day had that kind of buzz about it, the sort that keeps you thinking about what might happen next.

Sparkler chaos and a fire breather

The sparklers came a little later, and sparklers always bring chaos… the kind you actually want to look back on. Guests dropping them, some refusing to light, others burning out too fast, and everyone frantically trying to get them going at once. It’s golden footage and golden memories, the sort that brings everyone together. Once again the camcorder delivered, this time in the hands of a willing guest.

Straight after the sparklers, the fire breather came into action, a surprise Laura had planned without Brett having any idea it was coming.

It’s golden footage and golden memories, the sort that brings everyone together.

Five creatives, one team

There were five creatives on this wedding altogether: me, Alex, Peter Austin Photography with their own second shooter, and a content creator from Real Vows. A team that size only works if everyone pulls in the same direction, so before each key part of the day we regrouped to agree the shots we each wanted and where we’d stand, so nobody ended up in anyone else’s frame.

Halfway through the day Laura mentioned how we all had different ideas that complemented each other, which is exactly how it should feel.

Laura and Brett, thank you for having us. When you watch your first dance back and hear Clinton Kane, you’ll have the poster on the wall to match it.

If you’re planning your own day under the tipis, or anywhere else across Lancashire, I’d love to hear about it.

Terry

Planning a Tipis at Riley Green wedding?

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