The fact that this shoot was held at a real, book it tomorrow venue is beyond. Nestled right in the Redwoods of Cali, it’s seriously something out of a movie. So when Whitney Nelson Events + The Floral Shovel got their hands on it, you better believe that magic was going to happen. And with images by A Girl and a Camera, this is inspiration that will most certainly go the wedding distance. Click here for more!
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From Whitney, of Whitney Nelson Events… Being from Northern California, we are so fortunate to have such amazing venues at our fingertips. Most importantly, venues that speak to the character and love of a couple. We wanted to feature the stunning grounds at Stones and Flowers Retreat just outside of Santa Cruz, where the giant redwood trees almost wrap themselves around you, and the serene sounds of nature transport any guest from the hustle and bustle of daily life to their own private retreat.
Mixing textures such as reclaimed wood, glass, metal and leather in an eclectic yet modern way was the overall vision, and bringing a cooler color palette into play that complimented the setting and almost gave the feel of winter blossoming into spring was the ultimate goal in my mind.
I first had to find the perfect table and chairs and I was in awe when I stepped foot into The Wooden Duck in Berkeley, CA. It was my own personal, reclaimed heaven. On top of that, they had the cabinet I used as the cake table, and the amazing metal tub chairs in a wide range of colors, so I knew I could bring a little funky color splash into the guest seating by mixing silver with bright kelly green.
For the table top, I used antique silver platters of various sizes as chargers, pressed glass plates and mis-matched antique silverware. The vintage seltzer bottles, bronze deer antlers, mercury glass and squared off stemware brought in a little masculine vibe to the design that I think worked beautifully. The Aerialist Press crafted the amazing stationary and incorporated leather by creating unique embossed leather straps that I used as escort cards. Of course, no design would be complete without breathtaking florals and foliage, and we were so fortunate to work with The Floral Shovel.
From Michelle, The Floral Shovel…The florals for this shoot were inspired by the woodland location and the colors found naturally in the redwood forests of northern California. The florals featured varying shades of green from the dark green of the ferns to the almost florescent green of the protea, to the faintest hint of green in the miniature roses.
The goal was to keep the arrangements feminine and soft to balance the wood and metals, yet keep the wild and unfussy forest inspired look. White flowering cabbage (a great alternative to traditional roses or expensive peonies) and bright green protea added drama and elegance, while moss covered twigs and various types of ferns contributed to the woodland, earthy feel. Then queen anne’s lace, poppy seed pods, and miniature light green roses provide texture and balance to the arrangements.
The organic shaped bridal bouquet was oversized and filled with bright green colors and texture for added drama. The groom’s boutonniere incorporated a deer antler to coordinate with the antlers used in the tablescape as well as the cake topper.
It was such a blast to work with everyone on this shoot, the funky rustic design came together perfectly, and it truly was due to each vendor thinking a little outside of the box and having fun! A big thank you goes to the incredibly talented Jennifer at A Girl And A Camera Photography who brought us all together, found this stunning venue and captured the amazing beauty of the day.
Photography: A Girl and A Camera Photography | Floral Design: The Floral Shovel | Wedding Dress: Haute Bride | Cake: Cake Coquette | Invitations: Aerialist Press | Reception Venue: Stones And Flowers Retreat | Event Planning/ Design: Whitney Nelson Events | Make Up / Hair: The Makeup Dolls - Airbrush Makeup and Hair Artistry | Rentals: The Wooden Duck | Video: Life In Digital