A sure fire way to my heart is wine and cheese. As in, I’m THAT girl at the party hovering over the delicious cheese platter, only coming up for air when I need a sip of wine. And THAT girl is loving this shoot that’s bringing the idea of a cozy, intimate wedding and marrying it with heart-happy details that end in a little bonfire and marshmallow roasting. Photographed by Nina Mullins who collaborated with Magnolia Floral Design, Cara Dee Photography, Suzi Hjorth and be you, bisous! to create a spread worthy of pinning and favoriting, this is also worthy of a long perusal in the gallery. Your cheese loving heart will thank you.
From Nina Mullins Photography… As I snuggled up close to my husband on our couch one night, I also snuggled up to my toasted baguette and brie. It was in that moment, as I considered my extreme love of cheese, that I thought, “Wouldn’t a wine & cheese wedding be the best?!” And why not add a touch of masculinity to that wedding, with some really good bourbon. And so was born our, Wine, Cheese, & Bourbon wedding. I knew immediately that I wanted the setting of our styled shoot to have a natural backdrop, so we decided to set up all the elements of this beautiful rustic wedding down in a dried creek bed, surrounded by palisades, just as the last of the Autumn leaves had fallen.
The table was spread with an array of delicious cheeses from a local cheese shoppe here in Kentucky. To compliment the cheeses, we added a variety fruits, crackers and breads. The surrounding trees were used to hang the bride’s vintage fur coats, as it was an extremely chilly Autumn afternoon. She wore a gorgeous Jenny Yoo dress, and wore hand-crafted silver jewelry, from Savane Silver. Before the Bride got dressed, we hung the wedding gown on a leafless branch, on which we tied strips of fabric, to create a simple backdrop for the gown.The wedding favors were made up of two panes of glass, with a beautiful fall leaf pressed between them. Guests can take a memory of the wedding , as well as a small piece of Autumn, home with them, after all the wedding festivities have ended. The cake is a simple yet classic creation, adorned with all-natural elements, including fruit and lavender.
And after all the elements at the reception table have been served and consumed, we thought we’d add a touch of childhood nostalgia by having a small bonfire, where the bride and groom roasted marshmallows and baked bread on a stick. The evening ended with just the bride and groom sitting by the fire, keeping each other warm, as they stole a kiss or two as the evening light faded. The creek bed began to fill, just as our shoot ended, sealing a beautifully perfect styled wedding shoot.
From Suzi Hjorth of Magnolia Floral Design… We wanted the look to feel completely at home in our very natural setting. Herbs were used to add earthy scents, flowers were cut fresh from the garden, we went so far as to pull off to the side of the road when we saw a patch of dried Thistle and Foxtail blowing in the wind. Even the torn silk used for fastening the bouquet and boutonniere were remnants from a wedding gown which just seemed to fit with the mood of the whole day. The Bride’s bouquet is an informal gathering of Roses, Mums, Dahlias and Hypericum berry–given a decidedly organic look by adding herbs such as Rosemary, Thyme, soft silvers with Lambs Ear and Dusty Miller and wispy Willow Corn, Foxtail and Angel Vine to trail. The bouquet is fastened with bands of torn raw silk shantung. The groom’s boutonniere echoes the brides bouquet with Hypericum berries, willow corn and lambs ear and the addition of a little native plant with tiny pink blooms called Ladies Thumb. For the centerpiece a few more surprise additions–dried thistle and blooming cotton, along with pears nestled in a bed of sheet moss–because the whole thing should look good enough to eat!
Photography: Nina Mullins Photography / Venue: Private Farmland in Nicholasville, Kentucky / Photo Shoot Styling: Cara Dee Photography + Suzi Hjorth + Erica Fox of be you, bisous! + Nina Mullins Photography / Floral + Fruit Design: Suzi Hjorth of Magnolia Floral Design / Cake + Cookies: Tinkers Cake Shop / Cheese: Boone Creek Creamery / Calligraphy: Claudia Engle Lettering & Design / Maple Leaf Wedding Favors: DIY by Nina Mullins Photography / Decor: House by JSD (birds, candle holders, whiskey stones, getting ready mirror, bowl for floral centerpiece, cake table, and bark) / Black Walnut Breadboard: Greta Bean / Silverware and Utensils: Vintage from Norway / Square Plates + Wine Glasses: Walmart / Table: Christopher Michael Fine Furniture / Wedding Dress: Jenny Yoo via Twirl Boutique / Bride’s Hair Piece + Fur Coats: Privately Owned / Bride’s Jewelry: Savane Silver (ring, bracelet cuff, and necklace) / Hair + Makeup: Ana Crane / Groom’s Attire: Privately Owned