Paint may just be the greatest thing to ever happen to the traditional glass bottle. With a pastel color palette and a paintbrush in hand, this wedding was transformed into a whimsical outdoor affair where the Bridesmaids matched the centerpieces. We think that’s kind of fabulous. Also on the fabulous list? Aaron Courter’s gorgeous images. See them all right here.
From the Photographer…Emily & David’s wedding at Mt Pisgah Arboretum in Springfield, Oregon was beautiful and personal, rich with details that Emily herself had crafted and hand-made. With the beautiful setting, Emily & David both were so excited to get lost in the love of their friends and family.
From the Bride…From the time I started planning my wedding when I was young, I knew I wanted it to be outside. David and I took a hike up Mount Pisgah soon after getting engaged and when we approached the pavilion and the beautiful oak trees surrounding it, we knew we had to get married there. Even in the dead of winter, with no leaves, we knew instantly that we had found “our tree”. Being an arboretum, there are trees everywhere in every direction with tall grasses and moss hanging from all of the branches and it felt so ethereal, we just had to share it with all of our friends and family. Once we picked the venue, I completely immersed myself in the planning. I wanted to focus on the small details, like the monograms on the napkins and the burlap “belts” around the invitations, because I knew the details were going to make everything come together like I wanted. I had my hand in everything, from the centerpieces, to the drapes on the trusses in the pavilion, to the calligraphy on the invitation envelopes, to the invitations themselves. Making most of the decorations not only helped our budget, it is also what I love to do, so I had a blast creating my dream wedding with my own hands.
I wanted to walk the fine lines between rustic and elegance, and nontraditional and classic, so I chose elements like burlap for the table runners and wooden boxes for the centerpieces (handmade by the groom!), but added vintage picture frames for old family wedding portraits and apothecary jars doubling as terrariums. I chose a very muted, timeless color palette of cream, taupe and petal pink, with accents of grey and sage to look soft against the rustic background. I wore my mom’s lace veil which matched everything perfectly and gave it a little extra charm.
Our main goal (besides getting on Style Me Pretty) was for our guests to have a ton of fun. We had a big dance floor on the patio under some market lights and everyone partied the night away. Our friends and family came from all over, Washington, Colorado, New York, Texas, Idaho, The Philippines, Alaska, South Carolina, (to name a few!) and one thing they have in common is that they love to dance! It was the time of our lives and I know we will continue to reminisce about it for decades to come. I couldn’t have asked for a more perfect evening.
Wedding Photography: Aaron Courter Photography / Wedding Venue: Mt Pisgah Arboretum in Eugene-Springfield, Oregon / Wedding Coordinator: Wendi Jones Events / Floral Design: Passionflower Design / Wedding Catering: Cornucopia / Wedding Invitations: Hand-Stenciled by Emily Collins Howell / Wedding Dress: Essense of Australia / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Various