‘Written in the Stars’ Elopement Inspiration Shoot

Michelle Hoover
July 22, 2016
Categories: Photo Shoot, Wedding Style
Tags: Inspiration Shoot, Photo Shoot, Rustic Elegance, Styled Photo Shoot, Styled Shoot, Wedding Inspiration

A love that was written in the stars – sound familiar? Well it should if you’ve perused this gallery. Complete with celestial details and a few out of this world design moments, Rebekah Emily Photography captured it all to share in The Vault!

From Rebekah Emily Photography…This celestial elopement celebrates the story of a young couple who met in an astronomy class in college and drew closer to one another over a mutual love of stars. Set on top of a hill at the historic Rixey Manor in rural Virginia, this occasion is beautifully highlighted by both classic elegance and modern, artisanal touches. Swedish himmeli by Handmade Sam*Made are tastefully featured throughout the scenes, an abstract representation of the intricacies and splendor of constellations in the night sky.

Part of the charm of this beautifully curated event lies in the hand-crafted details, created especially for this occasion. The invitation suite, designed by Caitlin of Wouldn’t It Be Lovely, drew off of the himmeli for inspiration in the design of its border. The blind embossing alongside sweeping hand-lettering is the perfect introduction into the contemporary, artistic essence of the day.

The table runner, hand-painted by Sara Kate Couture, features an array of eloquent colors from peacock greens to midnight blues and moody purples, and is strewn with clusters of golden stars which come together to form whimsical constellations. Paired with handsomely designed menus and acrylic place cards bearing names of the couple’s favorite constellations, the runner adds striking continuity to the tabletop.

Echoes of the tabletop decor can be found in the enchanting cake-cutting tableau. A hand-painted backdrop, inspired by the magical transition of day into the midnight sky, hangs in striking contrast to the minimalist cake. Together these masterpieces create a scene that transforms the tradition of cake-cutting from merely a sweet vignette into a celestial vision of a dream-come-true.

Kari of Lark Florals thoughtfully selected her stems with the night sky in mind – bursts of purple astrantia, white astilbe, and thistle remind us of the glisten of starlight. Using soft, warm hues such as “Garden Spirit” roses and peach ranunculus, as well as the cool, silvery greens of dusty miller and silver leaf elaeagnus, Kari’s arrangements expertly touch on every facet of the extraordinary color scheme. Her florals are designed to feel not only luxurious, but also natural and approachable, to reflect the character and charm of the Manor itself. Special details such as the Groom’s pocket flowers (a refreshing spin on the traditional boutonniere) and exquisite garlands delight the eyes and inspire playfulness and creativity.

Set aside in a private room, the romantic sweetheart table offers the couple a quiet escape from the excitement of their wedding day. Soft white linens, rustic chairs original to the Manor, and a slight glisten of gold softly invite the couple in to enjoy their first dinner as husband and wife. The setting is intimate, allowing the couple to fully appreciate those special first moments of their new life together, side-by-side.

The guest sign, also by Sarah Kate Couture, doubles as a treasured keepsake for the couple. A painted canvas features the couple’s family initial, ‘P’, and a myriad golden stars. The artwork is set for guests to mark their names, symbolizing their own place in this new union’s constellation of family and friends – a sweet and simple detail that the couple can hang in their home, forever reminding them of the love and support they were and forever will be surrounded by.

And finally, the night ends with the newly married couple stepping outside to enjoy one of their favorite pastimes together: stargazing. Here we can see the heart behind this entire celebration – two people coming together and fashioning an event true to their own unique relationship. All of the vendors involved in this day seamlessly collaborated to weave together a darling juxtaposition of timeless romance and stylish trends, while carefully infusing the couple’s own love story into every detail for an endearing personal touch.