Even though the summer is finally upon us, this shoot from Carla Ten Eyck Photography and Whim Events has us feeling all cozy. We love everything down to the cute stationary from Hartford Prints!, homemade glögg, glowing fires, and the abundance of plaid. There were too many good shots to pick from, so make sure to take a peek at the whole gallery for even more inspiration.
From the gals at Whim Events and Hartford Prints…When planning this photo shoot, we were inspired by the warmth that a new marriage brings to a lifetime of family traditions. Many couples are looking for ways to create simple, yet meaningful, moments at their wedding and we love working with clients to bring those moments to life. We’ve learned that it’s not the size of the wedding or lavish items that make a wedding memorable and special, but the amount of heart the couple puts into it. Set at a cozy family cabin in the woods, we imagined that our couple, Luna & Helder, see the cabin as a special and intimate place of family dinners, food & drink shared by the fire, and long and lively conversations. The vibe of the shoot is cozy, warm, intimate, simple, humble, and homey. The colors are forest green, crimson, steel blue, charcoal, and nutmeg.
Proposal…We decided the shoot should tell our couple’s love story, so we planned their proposal, as well as their wedding weekend. We imagine that Helder takes Luna on a surprise hike near the cabin, where she unexpectedly finds a sweet and simple scavenger hunt he has planned. Little paper clues are left along the trail, leading them to the engagement site – a simple, winter’s picnic! Amongst warm blankets and hot chocolate, glass ornaments hang from the trees and in one of them, the ring!
The Wedding Weekend…Naturally, the couple plans their winter wedding at the cabin, an intimate and fun weekend for their closest friends and family to enjoy. The custom letterpress invitation, wrapped in stitched burlap, cleverly functions as both a book and a map, guiding guests to the wedding day. We saw the weekend as filled with joyous winter activities – a pancake breakfast, afternoon ice skating, an outdoor ceremony by the fire, a potluck dinner of family recipes, s’mores and cozy blankets – simple and meaningful ways to spend time together.
Following a day of activities, the ceremony is held outdoors in front of a large fire. The ceremony is sweet and casual, and guests stay warm in cozy blankets while drinking homemade glogg, a recipe of spiced wine made by the couple. Behind the ceremony hangs a large rosemary wreath and buckets of herbs. Luna carries a bouquet of herbs and daffodils.
After the ceremony, the group moves indoors, to a warm and glowing potluck dinner made from family recipes, as requested on the RSVP cards, and served on a buffet of cast-iron skillets and pots. Lanterns and dried herbs hang over the table to create a rustic and homey feel, while a chalkboard menu of each family recipe is displayed near the table. The tablescape is simple, adorned with herbs, greens, wine, and good conversation. Each place setting has a linen napkin, tied together with twine, herbs, and a cinnamon stick. The wedding favor, a bouquet garni of spices and a letterpress recipe card to make the family glogg, add a warm and thoughtful touch.
Finally, guests relax by the fire for more glogg, laughter, and, of course, s’mores! A station, complete with heart-shaped marshmallows, chocolate, sticks, and graham crackers is set up, featuring lanterns and candlesticks for warmth, light, and love.
We loved working on every moment of this shoot, inspired by the familial, friendly, and fun atmosphere of it all! We owe the deepest thanks to Carla Ten Eyck and her team, our models – Darcy St Onge and Sarah Carbone, and the fabulous styling of d.d. Nickel, for their hard work and great energy! We sought to create something warm, inviting, intimate, and beautiful, and hope that the Ruffled readers feel the good vibrations too!
Photography: Carla Ten Eyck | Event Planning: Whim Events | Floral Design: Whim Events | Jewelry: La Perla Jewelers | Hair And Makeup: d.d. Nickel Makeup Studio | Antique Rentals: Diamonds And Rust | Bridal Gowns And Bridesmaid Dress: Flair Bridesmaid Boutique | Chalkboard Signs: Cut.Paste.Love | Paper And Event Design: Hartford Prints!
