Rustic and autumn are always a perfect pair. Yet, it is also really easy to over-do it. I love today’s fall wedding from Barrie Anne Photography with all of its chic deer and antler details that give a more rustic feel, but in an elegant and unique way.
Fall is my favorite time of year hence our October 18th, 2014 wedding date. The colors are so rich and vibrant and the air is crisp and fresh. We didn’t have a set number of specific colors per say, we just told everyone “think fall colors.” Plums, reds, mustards, rusts, chocolate browns, etc. We love warm, candlelit inspired lighting and found it was easy to pick our accent color, gold. Even my dresses we both light gold.
Our “theme” was rustic chic. Swiftwater Cellars in Suncadia was the first venue we visited and we were sold; massive wood doors, giant beams, earthy surrounding, it was perfect. We are extremely outdoorsy and therefore quickly decided on an overall buck and doe theme to compliment our venue.
We are big foodies and were both fortunate to grow up in homes with parents who were (and still are) fabulous cooks so our bar was set very high. Far too often we have been to weddings or heard horror stories of tasteless meals, inadequate portions and all around disappointing dishes. We knew we wanted people to walking away talking about their mouth-watering plates and that’s exactly what happened! The number one comment we have heard to date is “that was the best steak I’ve ever had.
As part of the dining table decor we had incorporated two or three gold dipped antlers around the base of the flower centerpieces. We had around 24+ tables so you can quickly see how those added up! My mom personally hand-painted the tips of every single antler. Caramel apples and cigar kits were our party favors and while we didn’t make the products themselves, family and friends help craft the tags and packaging. My dad even made custom cigar bands for the men while my mom personalized the matches. Signage was huge and Tamara came to our rescue in a huge way, she’s so crafty! She made signs for everything our whisky and cigar bar, flip flop table, to a gold painted image of a buck silhouette on a wood plank. She even made gold glittered deer stirrers for cocktail hour. We also hired a very-talented calligrapher who crafted our seating chart as well as our ‘welcome’ sign.
Hands down my favorite part was the surprise candlelight dance we did for my parents. Gabe and I had secretly been wrapping various sizes and colors of candles with twine with tags (made by Nina of Just Milled), several weeks before the wedding. Each tag had a poem typed on it with ‘coded’ instructions for our guests and were placed at each seat after dinner. . “Shhh, it’s a surprise so don’t give it away, hold tight to this candle until the bride and groom say. Light it and follow their lead after they give a final toast, help create a candlelit circle around these special folks.” Gabe and I give our toast and ask my parents to come to the front. Their favorite song, “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” by Iz starts to play and as they dance a sea of candles surrounds them. My mom still says she felt like she had an out of body experience. The expression on their faces is almost impossible to put into words. I’ve never seen them look so happy and so in love as their closest family and friends gathered round. When the song finished Gabe and I placed fall-colored custom lei’s we had made for them around their necks. It was the most beautiful experience I’ve ever witnessed.
Photography | Barrie Anne Photography | Planner & Details | Simply by Tamara Nicole | Venue & Catering | Swiftwater Cellars | Florist | Connie Franco | Cake | Lush Desserts by Amy | Pies | A la Mode Pies | Rentals | Vintage Ambiance | Invitations | Just Milled | Calligraphy | La Happy | Signs and Menus | Simply by Tamara Nicole | Gowns | Allure from Bellevue Bridal | Veil and Headpiece | Bel Aire | Earrings | Givenchy | Shoes | Glint | Bridesmaids | BCBG | Hair & Makeup | Yessie Libby Makeup & Hair | Videography | Little Dog Multimedia | DJ and Lighting | James Nylander of Lucky 7 Mobile DJ | Music | The Side Project | Officiant | Martin Redman
