From the looks of things on Pinterest of late, there is a serious sugar craving going on for ceremony backdrops that defy traditional setups in place of the more unique, creative & awe inspiring.  Personally I adore the idea of not just unique ceremony locations but an intriguing collection of elements to craft your very own signature look.  I really feel that creativity in weddings is reaching a gorgeous design crescendo of late with seemingly nothing off limits.  Vintage doors, window frames, books, lanterns, bicycles, ribbon, garlands, pinwheels, you name it, are just a few elements that have taken to decorating the ‘I do’ spot these days.  I wish this was something that was making such waves only a few short years ago, as I certainly would have loved to have gone this route myself!

Such wonderfully creative and at times innovative ceremony backdrops are the subject of this weeks Why It Works Wednesday!  I recently spotted a gorgeous gem of a backdrop on Ruffled {Which I realize last week’s WIWW also came from Ruffled!}, photographed by the amazing One Love Photo, with a strong bohemian vibe to the set up.  There are so many absolutely terrific elements to this ceremony spot, I am super eager to jump into things and bring to life why this wondrous installation works so well!  Let’s get to it shall we!

 *Photograph by One Love Photo

Sorry for the giganto photo, but I felt it was really important to view this suspended picture frame backdrop in its full glory, as large as the site will allow, so that you can properly take in the full effect!  Upon first glance it may seem like a very busy backdrop {this is not always a negative!} in truth there really are only 3 pure elements being played with here: picture frames, floral arrangements & string.  The first that we will discuss, and most certainly the focal point of the design are the frames.  Keeping with the current trend in weddings to mix-match, each frame is uniquely its own, with none repeating.  The key here is to pick small details that relate them to each other well enough to present a harmonious aesthetic overall.  Be it a style of craving, a detail within the pattern itself you name it. While design elements are indeed a part of why each frame was chosen, if you look back at the set up again, you’ll notice that each frame’s color is a beautiful tone, which also compliments its nearest neighbor.  Last but not least, to keep the flow of the design, each frame is its own size while the shape is kept the same, again an element that ties them together in their uniqueness.  Varying the frame’s in the size department keeps it fresh and interesting, each with its own reason to be looked at.

Each frame comes with its very own slightly mix-matched floral arrangement, each pinned on a different corner of the frame.  Here again repeaters, while unavoidable all together with only 4 corners to choose from, were kept to a minimum, keeping the visual as interesting as possible.  The blooms themselves are bold colors in striking orange, loud fuchsia, & pale purple.  These color demanding focal pieces stand out strongly against the darker wood and deep green of the surrounding area.  Notice how each arrangement as well, contains leafy stringy greens which serve to make each arrangement more abstract and unusual.  This design serves to connect with a more organic feel, how one could imagine they might be found in nature, as well as supplying a lovely air of whimsy!

The last element to the design is perhaps my favorite!  I am utterly in love how the strings were treated as a piece of the design versus something to be hidden and tucked away.  The beauty of the stringing job in this case is the angle at which they were hung.  Rather then boring ol’straight up stringing, each was tied closer together then the width of the frame creating an intricate lattice work in the open air above the frames.  The overall effect is something that is playful, light and airy.

I adore this backdrop and personally feel that even though it might feel very bohemian, in my opinion it easily translates to just about every wedding genre & theme.  The basic principles of great design, organic goodness & whimsy will carry over beautifully no matter what!  I highly encourage you to head over to Ruffled to view the full post on this wedding, as there are lots of lovely little elements of this wedding to enjoy!

Wedding Location: Seattle, WA / Wedding Photographer: one love photo / Venue: Robinswood House / Wedding Flowers: Ravenna Blooms / Wedding Dress: Milly from Nordstrom Wedding Suite / Bride’s Shoes:Joan and David / Hair and Makeup: Off White / Hair Accessory: Bride’s mother / Bridesmaids’ Dresses:Nordstrom / Groom’s Apparel: Tux Shop / Wedding Caterer: 12 Baskets Catering / Cake and Desserts: The Sweet Side Cake and Pies Alamode / Music: Sonny Byers and Jazz Trio (friend of Bride) / Wedding Favors:JonBoy Caramels

Searching for the perfect intimate venue with just the right rustic undertones, Raquel Carrington & Gerard Alleyne fell in love with The Lake House at Bulow as their own special wedding spot.  Raquel & Gerard shared a very special first look moment under the weeping willows & we hear it wasn’t just the giant trees that were weeping!  Situated back in woodsy South Carolina, the Lake House offers a private island  ceremony spot just a short wooded pier walk across the waters.  Wanting to keep to an old tradition, our sweet couple sealed the deal by jumping over a broom!  The private lake atmosphere was only enhanced by the soft color palette of the beautiful blooms & the clever driftwood centerpieces on each table.   Guests were treated to a sweet tooth selection of treats & a gorgeous cake, equally as rustic & lovely as their surroundings!

Vendor Love

Venue: The Lake House at Bulow | Wedding Dress: Allure Bridals | Bridesmaid Dresses: Alfred Angelo | Hair Stylist: Paper Dolls Wedding Hair & Makeup | Makeup Artist: Finishing Touches | Florist: Frilly Bloomers Florals | Caterer: Hamby Catering & Events | Baker: Wild Flour Pastry | DJ: DJ 6’6 | Rentals: Ooh! Events | Event Planner: MOD Events |Photographer: Reese Moore Weddings

As winter is ever so slightly releasing its grip, we are finally beginning to see spring in the not so distant future!  Its almost the dawn of the spring bride, those willing to risk potentially moody weather for the opportunity to have new spring life budding in the backdrop of her wedding.  Embracing Mother Nature’s push toward redecorating, a group of member from the Independent Wedding Association, wanted to put together a styled shoot highlighting all that could be wonderful and Eco-Friendly in a wedding.  Bold bright pink florals grown in the florists backyard, the transportation of choice, Nice Ride & a lovely polka dot knee length wedding dress, this sweet wedding is the perfect spring wake up call! After the gallery, photographer Katrina of Studio Laguna Photography takes us through the many steps the team made to ensure this styled shoot would be as eco-perfect as can be!

*A Word From The Team…

So how did we stay eco-friendly?  Five Event Center is an old fire station and they used eco friendly building techniques to renovate the space.  The Cotton Bride’s gowns are made in the USA of natural fabrics. Sassafras used locally grown flowers (including some from Sarah’s own backyard!). I used antique shops to find items and repurpose them. Armato Designs had all of the paper products do double duty to minimize paper. Fabulous Catering utilized locally sourced and organic products to create their amazing menu. Another bonus with Fabulous Catering and Jessica’s Cakes is that they are only a few blocks away from Five, so we really did stay local! We also used businesses that are owner operated, which is something I hold dear…I feel it is very important to support local businesses and they in turn support the community. And I was also very proud to work with many vendors that are members of the Independent Wedding Association, a group of vendors that provides wonderful customer service and a high level of creativity and love of their craft.

We chose to feature as many eco-friendly products and ideas as possible, and decided to have Uptown as our backdrop.

Five Event Center was the location of our “reception”. The concrete floors, fun architecture, and exposed brick walls made it the perfect space. We wanted a fun and funky vibe but also wanted to keep things clean and simple. Ryan, owner of BeEvents, balanced on the edge of funky and simple perfectly with his table design featuring a blue and pewter polka dot fabric. When we found a Cotton Bride wedding dress from Posh Bridal with a polka dot pattern, we decided to embrace polka dots throughout the shoot.

Elegant gray glass vases with floating floral designs, metallic fabrics and chargers, and silver polka dot vases filled the family style table. Sassafras Floral Design brought in the bright pop of coral and a deeper tone of red to go with the bright blue, and used whites and metallics for the vase arrangements. Even with all of the layers of detail, colors, and textures, none of the elements overwhelmed each other and the overall look stayed chic.

Since the tablescape was more neutral, we brought in more color with the bridal party. A short dress and french veil were a must. It screams “city chic” to me and then you get to rock awesome shoes! Both of our models wore animal print metallic heels, and they looked great! The Maid of Honor wore a sweet Badgley Mischka coral gown and both ladies were adorned with the amazing works of JWP Jewelry Design. Sassafras’s designs for the wedding party were bright and fun, and the guys looked amazing in custom suits from Heimie’s Haberdashery!

Armato Design and Press provided custom stationery for the shoot and they were amazing! She used the coral color as the accent and utilized simple lines. There was also a subtle gray polka dot design throughout the pieces as well. It was very cohesive and fit the style perfectly.

Then came the food. Most shoots don’t include food and I feel that is such a pity since food is such an important part of the wedding day! So we brought in Fabulous Catering. They are known for their, well, FABULOUS food and creative menu. Their grilled chicken with spring sweet pea sauce and heirloom tomatoes tasted as wonderful as it looked! We also had a dessert spread created by Jessica’s Cakes. Since we were going for locally sourced, she reached into her Minnesota roots and made the most delicious bars and homemade cookies! She also made a three tier cake using our white, gray and coral color palette as well as the pattern of the bride’s gown. And she amazed us all with a sugar peony that she made, it was so detailed and beautiful! I also loved her idea of cones of mini cookies, and the variety of glass display pieces she used for her goodies. BeEvents scattered the space with polka dot metallic candle holders and Sassafras created a more playful look with gerber daisies and blue glassware. To keep up the playful vibe, Jessica made letter cookies so guests could spell out words to the couple. There were custom monogram cookies of the couple’s first names as well as other individual letters with little coral polka dots in various designs. Bottles of Izze’s Soda was the last detail we added. They are an Uptown staple and a fun addition to a dessert buffet.

Vendor Love

Venue: Five Event Center
Wedding Dress: Cotton Bride
Dress Store: Posh bridal couture
Bridesmaid Dress: Badgley Mischka
Jewelry: JWP Jewelry Design
Men’s Attire: Heimie’s Haberdashery
Invitation Designer: Armato Design and Press
Floral Designer: Sassafras Floral
Caterer: Fabulous Catering
Cake Designer: Jessica’s Cakes
Linens & Coverings: BeEvents
Photographer: Studio Laguna Photography

A little bit country and a lotta bit rock’n'roll, Nicole DeJarnatt & Fred Blythe’s gorgeous Colorado wedding really hit all the right notes!  Throwing a light hearted outdoor summer affair, Nicole & Fred utilized the spacious grounds of Planet Bluegrass Ranch, to celebrate their day!  Guests were seated among the trees while the ceremony, dusted with yellow petals, was held al fresco!  After the couple made it official, guests were invited to play in lawn games such as croquet or even give the custom made hula hoops a go!  Strong vibrant hues greeted guests at every turn, while specially made spice packets from the couple’s friend’s shop, Savory Spice Shop, were the perfect unique guest gift!  Guests celebrated the night away, dancing to live music with Nicole & Fred, really getting into that Bluegrass feel!

What Storyboard Likes…

Down Home Goodness- I am loving Planet Bluegrass Ranch as a wedding space!  This gorgeous ranch is over 20 booming acres of awesome naturalness with a touch of rustic charm.  Having the opportunity to use a space like this gives a couple a lot of opportunity to do some really fun things with their day.  Nicole & Fred really encouraged their guests to play in lawn games, even giving custom made hula hoops a go!  Inviting guests to kick off their shoes, get some grass between their toes and spend the evening dancing away as they harnessed the essence that is Planet Bluegrass!

Bring It Color!- I love a couple that isn’t afraid of strong bold attention grabbing colors!  Nicole & Fred, under the stellar design eye of Cori Cook Floral Design, toyed with some very vibrant hues that rivaled their surroundings!  Nicole’s bouquet in particular is a work of art from the Cabernet & orange creamsicle dahlias to the perfectly muted white gooseneck and wax flowers, this bouquet is a bluegrass girl’s dream!  The Pièce de résistance for me are the stunning red poppies placed in an almost  trail like manner, leading your eye down to the beautifully wrapped lace handle.  Utilizing a piece of lace florish like that is utterly divine!

Just A Country Girl, In Some Country Boots- Let’s face it, Nicole is one stunning Bluegrass bride!  The choice of the fit & flare lace Watters gown was not only beautifully fitted to Nicole’s personality but spot on for the ranch affair!  Complimenting the lace frock were Nicole’s textured locks which were pinned into an updo, from which a simple yet impactful long veil tumbled from!  To finish her country look, Nicole choose a covet worth pair of Lucchese Boots, 1883 Precious Metal Python Print, to be exact!  These boots are stunning, much like our bride!

Novella of the Bride…

*A spot about the couple…

Fred and I met in summer 2008 at one of the first “Grateful Dead Tuesday’s” at Zio Romolo’s Alley Bar in Denver. Neither of us had ever been there before, so we like to say it was a fateful Grateful Dead night.  Vegetarians since the early part of our relationship, we like to say we’re each others’ “soy mate,” although we shared a hamburger on our very first date at a Colorado Rockies baseball game.

“Frecole” (pronounced freckle) is our celebrity name and pretty much what everyone calls us.

We love to travel both abroad and domestic, and our hobbies include skiing, camping, hiking, biking, attending music festivals, cooking and running an occasional 7K. We climbed Mt. Fuji together and plan to run a ½ marathon next fall.

Fred grew up in Enid, Oklahoma and earned his undergraduate degree from Oklahoma State University in Stillwater. After graduation he headed out west to try his luck as a ski bum in Aspen, Colo. He realized he wasn’t cut out for couch surfing and decided to pursue his graduate degree at the University of Colorado at Boulder. He graduated with a master’s degree in business administration with an emphasis in accounting (MSBA). He spent 11 years in Vermont before the mountains of Colorado called him back home. In fact, the night we met, Fred had just closed on his new loft in Denver. He jokes that he got a girlfriend and a condo in the same week. Fred currently works as a Sr. Project Manager/Business Analyst for the Colorado Community College Systems by day and occasionally plays fiddle in a local bluegrass band, Modern Whiskey Market, by night.

Nicole is a Colorado native and grew up in Grand Junction, Colo. She attended Cottey College (an all-women’s school) in Nevada, Mo. and received her degrees in journalism and anthropology from the University of Colorado at Boulder. She currently works as a senior editor in the Denver newsroom at Business Wire.

*Theme & Venue Selection…

Unbridled glee! Our whimsical, festival-themed wedding (a.k.a. FRECOLE FEST 2012) at Planet Bluegrass Ranch was a picture-perfect day along the North St. Vrain River filled with bikes, lawn games, homemade hula hoops, fruit pie, a silo and live music. The overall tone of the wedding was completely relaxed allowing guests to enjoy the 20-acre ranch and all its natural beauty.

We have attended a handful of festivals at PBR (Rocky Grass, Folks Festival, Mabon, Kinfolk Fest) and wanted our wedding to have the same carefree tone, where our friends/family could enjoy each other’s company while listening to amazing music and dancing (and hooping) in the Colorado sunshine.

Planet Bluegrass holds a special place in our heart and has been the site of many of our relationship “firsts.” I introduced Fred to Planet Bluegrass on one of our first dates (Folks Festival 2008), and it’s also where we got engaged (Folks Festival 2011). And this summer, Fred’s bluegrass band has been accepted into the band competition during Rocky Grass Fest. He will be playing in the Wildflower Pavilion on the same stage where our wedding band performed just one year prior, which is a really cool way to celebrate around our one-year anniversary.

We looked at numerous venues in Colorado (always with PBR in the back of our minds) and in the end, we both felt strongly about giving our (and our families) hard-earned money to a place that we loved and believed in, and where we knew we’d return year after year. We take pride in knowing that our wedding helped support Planet Bluegrass, which brings amazing music to Colorado and helps nurture talented artists–big and small. Moreover, we introduced 175 guests from around the world and a handful of new vendors to the venue, which we hope will encourage a new generation of festival-goers.

Planet Bluegrass strives to “re-use, recycle, and compost whenever possible.” That “green” philosophy fit nicely with what we envisioned would be a sustainable event. Planet Bluegrass’ preferred caterer, A Spice of Life, also kept true to that vision. Not only did we have a 100% vegetarian menu, but A Spice of Life is also a Zero Waste facility, working with PBR to be as kind to the planet as possible.

Cori Cook Floral created an assortment of wildflower centerpiece arrangements and designed bold, colorful, loose and textured bridal party bouquets, which perfectly matched the happy and free-spirited feel of the celebration. The men’s boutonnieres incorporated sprigs of wheat in honor of the groom’s Oklahoma roots.

We worked closely with A Spice of Life catering to create a unique, completely vegetarian menu that even the most die-hard meat-and-potato-eating guests LOVED. (We have been vegetarians for 4.5 years and weren’t willing to compromise our beliefs by serving meat at our own wedding). The dessert table was an assortment of in-season fruit pies handmade by Shamane’s Bake Shoppe.

*A little help from their friends…

Our friend Sarah Gagne and her son, Rye Gray, helped us make all the hula hoops. We bought the tubing at Home Depot and using a YouTube tutorial, we filled them with water, marbles and beans; sealed them with a hairdryer; and wrapped them in colorful electric/duct tape with wild colors and patterns. At the end of the wedding, we happily gave the hula hoops away to our nieces/nephews and other children to enjoy.

Our dear friend and Savory Spice Shop–Boulder owner, Dan Hayward, donated hand-crafted seasonings to spice up guests’ night and served as the official party favors. The spice packets, which were hand-tied with twine and featured the couple’s name and wedding date, boasted landmark Colorado names like Wash Park and Colorado Plateau.

The bride’s family (step-dad and great uncle) made vintage signs using lumber from an old school house that paired nicely with the rustic ranch details, and complemented the bride and groom’s western footwear.

The matron of honor’s mom, Gayle Gerson, is a Grand Junction, Colo.-based artist who created a one-of-a-kind concert-like poster to serve as the official wedding invitations. The posters were hand-rolled and placed inside self-sealing poster tubes for delivery. Gayle has known Nicole since she was in 4^th grade and was also her high school English teacher.

Bridesmaid and childhood friend Jennifer Schmidt of Jen’s Hems in Grand Junction, Colo. designed and created the colorful flower girl dresses, which included a touch of vintage French Alsace lace along the neck line. The lace was taken from a passed-down wedding dress that belonged in the bride’s family. The lace was also incorporated in the bridal bouquets and in Nicole’s wedding bracelet, which was also handmade by friend and Kansas City-based jewelry designer Laura J. Timmons of Vintage Moon Creations.

Nicole’s former boss and friend, Laura J. Holloway, received her online certification/ordination and served as the couple’s officiant for the wedding celebration.

*Memories for a lifetime…

We were fortunate to have so many friends and family actively involved in the wedding. Fred’s favorite moment was dancing with his nieces and nephews and introducing them to his passion for bluegrass. My favorite memory was the toasts that our MOH/best man gave; they were outstanding and very personal. I have been friends with the MOH since 4^th grade and Fred met his best man in 5^th grade so they truly know us and love us and support our marriage 100%, which was very apparent in their touching tributes, which I have printed and plan to frame for the house.

Vendor Love

Venue: Planet Bluegrass Ranch/Wedding Dress: WTOO Waters Bridal Lycette Gown/Alterations: Nadine Hooper of Boulder Bridal/Bridal Shoes: Lucchese Boots – 1883 Precious Metal Python Print/Veil: Nadine Hooper of Boulder Bridal/Bridal Jewelry: Vintage Moon Creations/Bridesmaid Dresses: Alfred Angelo #7143/Flower Girl Dresses: Jennifer Schmidt of Jen’s Hems/Hair & Makeup Stylist: Jen Murphy/Groom’s Suit: Perry Ellis/Groom’s Hat: Goorin Bros./Groom’s Boots: Ariat via High Country Western Wear/Invitation-Poster Designer: Gayle Gerson/Transportation: CU Buffs Bus via the University of Colorado/Photo Booth: The ModPod (Elevate Photography)/Music Ceremony: Eamon Alger/Music Reception: PKB – Pete Kartsounes Band /Lighting-Sound: PBR Sound Engineer/Rentals: Flex Rentals/Florist: Cori Cook Floral Design/Caterer: A Spice of Life /Party Favors: Savory Spice Shop/Microbrews: Palisade Brewing Company/Baker: Shamane’s Bake Shoppe /Signs: Our Hobby to Your Home/Officiant: Laura J. Holloway-Pivot Communications/Photographer: Elevate Photography

Sometimes the mini story a photographer puts together when submitting is far too cute not to include, such is the case with what Kerri from Bleu In Love Photography sent along with Elizabeth & Jonathan’s cozy outdoor engagement session…

“Elizabeth and Jonathan, who are getting married in August of 2013, packed some hot chocolate and fixings for s’mores which included fuschia colored heart shaped Peeps. She made these adorable heart shaped marshmallows for the hot chocolate! Jonathan is a developer and Elizabeth has lived in Peru, working at an orphanage and currently works at her church.”

“We walked at a park near the Maumee River in quaint Waterville, OH, and then had a bonfire at a friend’s house. Elizabeth has a sweet smile that she has a hard time hiding. (Not a bad thing, if you ask me.) At one point while cuddled under their color block quilt, the couple started tickling each other, and I found out that Jonathan is the more ticklish of the two. I had a great time with this couple, and the shoot was warm, snuggly and a perfect day for a winter photo shoot!”