Rustic + Eco-Friendly Ranch Wedding

We can’t think of a more perfect rustic-meets-elegant venue than Sundance Resort in Utah—and Liz and Nick’s wedding at the mountain property is a little bit of both! With help from Brittany Farley of Something Blue Weddings & Events, the couple pulled off a flawless fete that incorporated organic, earthy elements and simple cream florals from Artisan Bloom, along with twinkling lights that glimmered in the snowy night. The salvaged wood beam mantel filled with hydrangeas, bark, and cream candles is our fave! Navy Nicole Miller bridesmaids dresses are lovely, while bright yellow Hunter boots add a punch of whimsy and color to the monochromatic palette. Liz’s Wtoo gown is gorgeous, and we’re absolutely in love with her brown fur shrug—elegant and practical in the snowy mountains! Enjoy these gorgeous winter wedding images from the oh-so-fabulous Rebekah Westover Photography!

When she pictured her wedding with Eric, Jodi envisioned rustic elegance—a blend of wood, lace and a touch of sparkle that would make a lasting impression on their guests. With Southern California’s elegant Walnut Grove ranch as their backdrop, the couple took on a multitude of do-it-yourself endeavors, as well as spent hours scouring Etsy for the perfect invitations, programs and favors. “I poured my heart into every little detail, and it ended up just how I had imagined it.,” the bride says. We’re head-over-heels for every detail ourselves, from the wooden centerpiece boxes etched with the couple’s initials to the pastel blooms that florist Regina Robertson arranged in each box. And those cakes! This couple had not one but three incredible, delectable whipped creations from Cindy Harber. We can only imagine they were as delicious as they look!

A rain shower on your wedding day is considered good luck, so we expect happy years ahead for Jordan and Joseph after a Southern storm cooled the air just before their outdoor ceremony at RT Lodge in Maryville, Tennessee. The casual, wildflower-style bouquets from Lisa Foster Floral Design looked as though they were plucked right from the woodsy surroundings, and the bride added a playful touch as well, sporting casual and comfortable TOMS beneath her full-skirted Watters gown. We love the laid-back elegance captured in these images shot by Dixie Pixel, as well as the personal touches like signature mojito cocktails and local honey packaged by the bride and her parents as a parting favor for guests. We just can’t imagine a sweeter, more heartfelt affair!

Surrounded by family, friends, wildflowers, and an antique Ford pick-up truck, Lindsey and Jeremy were married at the Faith, Hope, & Charity Vineyard and Event Center in Terrebonne, Oregon. It was a stunning backdrop for Michelle Cross Photography who beautifully captured all the details of the day. I am utterly in love with the fantastic flowers by Blue Daffodil Flowers that included lemons and pomegranates, so fresh and fun and just one of the many elements that made Lindsey and Jeremy’s day so beautiful!

Catherine and Nate had a laid back wedding at Catherine’s family’s vineyard, Tarara Winery. The girls got ready in a historic cabin hidden in the woods, a perfect, natural backdrop for Katelyn James to take photos. Can you believe her dress is handmade? The wildflower bouquets by Holly Chapple were wrapped in twine and hemp, complementing their relaxed feel. With rustic touches like these, a ceremony by the lake, and yummy pies, Catherine and Nate had a wedding that was beautiful and completely personal!

A “destination” wedding in Austin, TX, Erica and Josh invited friends from around the globe. Their wedding was filled with handmade details and heirlooms captured by Bonnie Berry Photography. From the veil and headpiece, the seating cards, menus, and the bridesmaids’ necklaces (made by the bride and her sister from their mother’s bead collection), the wedding was a true group project. The biggest heirloom however was Erica’s mother’s dress that she wore for the ceremony. Erica altered it herself, transforming the sleeves from leg-of-mutton to a 3/4 straight sleeve with satin trim. Their whole wedding is beautiful, unfussy, and truly personal. Congratulations Erica and Josh!

Ashley and Jamie’s wedding is subtle elegance at its best! The gorgeous 1768 Hubbell Homestead in Bennington, Vermont, provided the sophisticated backdrop for the couple’s affair. Wildflower-inspired bouquets by Mount Williams Greenhouses add vibrant color to the green landscape and a bold complement to Ashley’s classic Peter Langner gown. The black-and-white striped ribbon around menu cards and hay bale seating area are fun and playful touches we adore! Summer Street Photography did a fabulous job, catching every detail in these images—especially Ashley’s fabulous updo with fresh flowers! We’re smitten with the entire day, see it all in the gallery!

There are so many fresh details to love from Lori and Matt’s Philadelphia wedding, held at Knowlton Mansion. The yellow and white bouquets, including some tied with striped ribbon, are a fun pop against navy bridesmaids dresses by Alfred Sung. A nod to vintage decor with lace elements and a fishnet veil paired with Lori’s private label gown from Katherine’s Bridal Boutique gives a bit of a retro vibe to the rustic location. These two put their own spin on everything, from the Digby & Rose stationery to the playful bride-and-groom giraffes atop the cake from Conroy Catering. We adore this entire affair captured by Maria Mack Photography!

Just an hour north of San Francisco, Manka’s Inverness Lodge was exactly the kind of no-frills but pretty site Vicky and Rodger envisioned for their wedding—and it’s just the kind of fete that becomes a 2012 favorite. A self-described laid-back couple, the details of the day reflect that personality: Vicky carried a small calla lily bouquet to complement her sheath-style Nicole Miller gown, and navy bridesmaids dresses from The Dessy Group were understated and classic. One thing the couple knew they wanted was Bret Cole Photography to document the ceremony and reception, held beside the waters of Tomales Bay. Later in the evening, family members and the bridal party enjoyed a traditional Chinese wedding banquet and a two-tiered confection with quilted details from Have Your Cake. “Our wedding style was simple elegance,” says Vicky. That’s our favorite kind!

Katie and Erick’s Florida wedding features tons of things we adore: A pretty, natural setting at Marie Selby Botanical Gardens in Sarasota, lovely wildflower-style bouquets from FH Weddings & Events, and an adorable bride and groom who couldn’t take their eyes off of each other! Katie chose the gardens because it reminded her of days spent picking flowers with her mom, so it was a sentimental and beautiful backdrop for her Maggie Sottero gown—the rhinestone T-strap back is stunning! Her Tessa Kim hairpiece takes its cue from the surrounding flowers to tie in the outdoor theme—just like the butterfly-accented seating chart and all of the blue and yellow reception accents. We think Justin DeMutiis Photography did a phenomenal job of showing off one of his favorite affairs of 2012!

Gray and yellow are a hot trend in modern color palettes, and the combo was perfect for Elena and Andrew’s contemporary affair at Chicago’s Galleria Marchetti. The mix of sunny and stormy carried over into ceremony programs that doubled as fans for guests, as well as their elegant gray, yellow and white bouquets and arrangements by Stems. Elena’s Melissa Sweet gown—with unique dimensional flowers gracing the bodice and skirt—stood out just enough from Andrew’s gray Banana Republic suit and the J. Crew bridesmaids dresses in the same hue. Inside a draped tent dotted with yellow and white Chinese hanging lanterns, guests toasted with a signature drink—a Moscow Mule—and danced to the couple’s DIY playlist as Laura Ivanova Photography captured the entire celebration into the night.

Brooke and Bobby’s big day was a total family affair in Valley Center, California. Held at the mother of the bride’s home—bordering a vineyard—Brooke describes the atmosphere as “like a Tuscan countryside at sunset with twinkling lights and candles set in the trees.” It certainly sounds breathtaking, and the images from Color Me Rad are just that, too. Brooke’s stepfather built a bridge for her to walk across—glowing in a dress designed by her stepmother and jewelry from ArtHappens—in lieu of an aisle. The Third Coast Jazz Band played as twilight settled over this perfect day. “You could just feel the love that went into this special occasion,” says Brooke.

Even though Katie and Sam didn’t imagine a traditional ceremony for their wedding celebration, judging from these images from Daria Bishop Photographers, they still pulled off an affair that was both classic and all their own. The spring setting—Sam’s great-grandparents’ home on the Ottauquechee River in Woodstock, Vermont—meant the landscape was alive with yellows and greens. A Schoolhouse Garden pulled bouquet and centerpiece inspiration from the surroundings and sprinkled in some birch details that lent a casual vibe. There was no shortage of sweet treats for guests: Jason Merrill of The Quechee Club set up s’mores by the river, while Vermont Cake Studio delivered a textured buttercream creation topped with vibrant yellow and green flowers. Katie and Sam kept their ceremony short and sweet so they could get on with the party—dancing to music from The Grift, where everyone could catch a glimpse of Katie’s bright yellow shoes beneath her romantic Jenny Yoo gown.

The picturesque shore of Lake Leelanau in Traverse City, Michigan, was a lovely gathering ground for the wedding of Ilana and Matt, who had family flying in from both coasts as well as overseas. The couple wanted a laid-back party for their “favorite people in the world,” and this one was full of style, too—from the custom sash made of feathers, moss and bark around the waist of Ilana’s J.Crew wedding gown to the casually elegant wildflower and herb arrangements from Bloom. An outdoor ceremony at Crooked Creek Ranch took advantage of the water views, while the property’s rustic barn was a gorgeous woodland scene for the reception, including a delicious four-tier cake from Aunt B’s embellished with a cascading fondant branch and leaves. These images from Harrison Studio make it clear this was one fun event—from the spirited dancing to Lady Sunshine and the X Band to the groom grabbing the mic to serenade his bride with “(Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher and Higher.”

Elegant. Rustic. Chic. That is how Casey and Austin described their vibrant wedding at the gorgeous Vista West Ranch in beautiful Dripping Strings, TX. The bright blooms by Petal Pushers can’t help but make you smile—and we adore that the bride chose to wrap her arrangements in burlap and birch to give each an added rustic touch. Casey looked beautiful in her all-lace Enzoani gown, and her eight bridesmaids really popped in their cheery yellow dresses. Even the couple’s dog joined in on the color scheme by donning a yellow tie!  Sit back and enjoy these beautiful images from Forever Photography!

Renata and Nathan’s adoration for each other is so obvious, it’s almost palpable in these photos by Simply Bloom Photography. Dreamy, romantic, and just a touch Bohemian, every detail of their wedding was sigh-worthy from the breathtaking blooms by The Naked Florist to Renata’s gorgeous Watters gown. Not only that, but your heart is sure to flutter when you see the unbelievable, spanish moss-covered setting of Marie Selby Botanical Gardens in Sarasota, where they celebrated their big day!

I was in serious need of some color therapy and Michelle and Scott’s fabulous Arizona wedding is just what the doctor ordered! Held at the beautiful DC Ranch Country Club beneath the mountains of Scottsdale, Michelle and Scott’s wedding from Victoria Canada Weddings & Events was bold, eclectic, and romantic. I love the variety of color, styles, and textures used by Avant-Garde in the florals for the event as well as the driftwood and iron candelabras used as centerpieces. A big thank you to photographer Drew Brashler for the this fabulous eye candy today!

Jaime and Byron were married in Northern Idaho at a private residence along the Ponderay River. It was an unbelievably picturesque setting enhanced with beautiful florals by Petal Talk who mixed wildflowers with roses and calla lilies in different shades of pink, orange, and cream. After the ceremony, guests transitioned to a tent along the lake, joined shortly after by the bride and groom who made their grand entrance by boat! How cool is that? Jaime and Byron’s wedding was filled with gorgeous details, all beautifully captured on film by Erica Ann Photography.

I love coffee.  And weddings.  And did I mention coffee?  Bethany and Andrew’s charming Phoenix wedding combines both!  Held at Inside the Bungalow, an adorable coffee shop turned wedding venue, there’s a slightly Alice in Wonderland feel with coffee cups, painted murals and tea tins.  I love the intimate feel of the venue, and Bethany and Andrew created a lovely atmosphere with DIY table runners, wildflowers in pails, and lanterns to light the reception as evening fell.  All of the lovely images were captured by Photography by Verdi.

Meaghan and Zach’s Norristown wedding is full of sweet DIY details! Meaghan’s mother and her best friend arranged all of the centerpieces, boutonnieres and bouquets, and guests found their seats with the help of their escorts cards that were fashioned in small individual pots of sunflowers. Melissa and Scott of Scott Hopkins Photography traveled up to Philadelphia from their home in Savannah to capture all of the lovely images, and the beautiful outdoor pavilion of the John James Audubon Center at Mill Grove is the lovely setting – it’s so romantic with the paper lanterns and twinkle lights!