woodland – Sweet Violet Bride

Rustic California Mountain Wedding at Hidden Creek Lodge

Naomi — Thu, 14 May 2015 13:48:07 +0000

Carissa and David, who met through a mutual friend, had their wedding at the beautiful Hidden Creek Lodge in the mountains of Twin Peaks, California (near Lake Arrowhead). With 20 cabins on-site for guests to stay in, everyone was able to enjoy the rustic venue surrounded by trees, streams, and ponds. Both sets of parents have been married 39 years and so they have a very tight group of lifelong friends, many of whom were in the wedding party – 11 groomsmen and 10 bridesmaids! Carissa’s best friend made the fun wedding sneakers for her (nothing wrong with being comfy!), and we just love the beautiful woodland archway leading to the ceremony site! Gilmore Studios was there to capture their day.

From the Bride…

Before the Ring:
Dave and I met 10 years ago at Yard House. I was having dinner with a girlfriend and we ran into a couple friends of hers, one of which was Dave. We ended up talking for hours that night and just clicked. But when he asked for my number I said no. I wasn’t interested in pursuing anything. But we ran into each other again and the chemistry was just undeniable. We’ve been inseparable ever since.

The Proposal:
Dave and I went on a 7-day vacation to Cabo in May of 2012. I was hoping he was going to propose. I felt that 7 1/2 years was plenty enough time to make up his mind! Haha. By day 7 I was convinced that he wasn’t going to ask. We went to a beautiful resort called Esperanza for dinner on our last night. While enjoying a cocktail and waiting for our reservation he asked a server to take a picture. So we stood on the terrace overlooking the ocean, the view was incredible. Next thing I knew he was down on one knee. Even though we’d been together for so long it was still so surreal and overwhelming. It was beautiful.

Photographer: Gilmore Studios / DJ: Arrowhead DJ / Event Venue: Arrowhead Pine Rose Cabins / Bridesmaid Dresses: Bill Levkoff / Caterer: Graystone Catering / Floral Designer: La Jarden Florals / Cake Designer: Niki’s Custom Cakes / Makeup Artist: Prive Beauty Group / Submitted via Two Bright Lights

Moss Décor Ideas for a Nature Inspired Wedding

Naomi — Tue, 03 Feb 2015 13:42:05 +0000

Moss. You can never have enough moss in my opinion and today I’ve collected more than a dozen mossy decor ideas and details that will have you feeling like a woodland faerie planning a forest fête! I hope you find some inspiring and useful ideas here for your nature inspired wedding. Enjoy!

Vintage moss-filled ring box. Evan Hunt Photography via Style Me Pretty.

DIY Moss Hearts Project by Victoria Hudgins via Project Wedding

Moss covered signs + frames. Left: Rebecca K Photography / Right: via Style Me Pretty

Moss Seating Card Display. Design by XOXO Bride, photo by Allyson Magda Photography

Left: Cover an old chair with moss for an enchanting photo op, Retrospect Images / Right: Moss Table Numbers, photo by A Brit & A Blonde

Moss covered tea lights (paint glass with glue then roll in loose moss), via Pinterest

Moss as base of the dessert table display, photo by Anneli Marinovich

Moss as table runner, photo by Anneli Marinovich

Left: Moss favor jars, Gideon Photo / Right: A more contained approach – moss terrarium centerpiece, Jen Huang

Mossy Cake Stand, Crystal Stokes Photography

Left: Moss bow ring pillow alternative, via Pinterest / Right: Moss covered lamp shade chandeliers, via Sandra Oster Interiors

Moss Covered Table for a truly woodland fantasy experience, via ZsaZsa Bellagio

Moss Plate Chargers, Jeremiah and Rachel Photography

Rustic Luxe Winter Wedding Inspiration {Lis Photography}

Naomi — Tue, 13 Jan 2015 14:36:23 +0000

So excited to share this chic winter styled shoot from Vermont with you today! Creative Muse and Just Weddings created the gorgeous florals which are brimming with natural beauty and elegant yet rustic style. On a snowy afternoon, The Ponds at Bolton Valley (part of The Essex Resort) was the perfect place for a mix of luxury and nature inspired details. A cool mix of green, chartreuse, ivory and silver pair beautifully with the neutral knits the bride wears upon her shoulders. Simply magical! Thank you Lis Photography for photographing and sharing with us!

Photographer: Lis Photography / Floral Designer (round bouquet + tablescape): Creative Muse Floral Design (violet vendor) / Makeup Artist: Finishing Touch / Hair Stylist: Finishing Touch / Dress Designer: Fiori Bridal Boutique / Floral Designer (cascade bouquet + hair wreath + boutonniere): Just Weddings / Event Venue: The Essex Resort and Spa / Bakery: The Little Purple Cake Shoppe / Equipment Rentals: Vermont Tent Company / Submitted via Two Bright Lights

Sweet Violet Bride’s Best of the Year

Naomi — Wed, 31 Dec 2014 17:07:41 +0000

Hello, Violets! I hope you’ve all been having a lovely holiday season. Hard to believe it is the last day of the year…and what a busy one it’s been! In 2014 we gave you the first two issues of our namesake magazine, published 238 posts on the blog, and received close to half a million views. Here are some of my favorite real weddings and styled shoots…and it was not easy narrowing these down to a dozen each! I am in awe of all the beauty we had the pleasure of sharing with you this year from talented photographers and wedding artists around the globe.

Top 12 Real Weddings
(in order of date published)

Top 12 Inspiration Shoots
(in order of date published)

I wish you all the very best heading the new year and hope you’ll join us next year for more wedding inspiration. We have some exciting things lined up for January, including the upcoming 3rd issue of the magazine, and a new look for our site so be sure to stay connected. If you haven’t already, visit us on Facebook, Pinterest, and Twitter. You can also sign up for the weekly newsletter, which I send out most Fridays.

xoxo – Naomi

Mori Girl Bridal Inspiration

Naomi — Thu, 04 Dec 2014 15:54:50 +0000

You may have heard of the increasingly popular “Mori Girl” style, also known as Mori Kei (Japanese for forest style), which emerged from Japan in the mid 2000s. I’ve only just recently discovered it (via a recent article in Faerie Magazine) and instantly fell in love with not only the clothing, but the lifestyle that surrounds it. A Mori Girl, is essentially a girl of the forest, who loves wearing many loose, organic colored layers, and whimsical things like lockets, pocket watches, wreaths of flowers and scarves. She wears her hair naturally, loves being warm, cozy, and comfortable, but also loves adventure. She is creative and often takes walks in the woods with her camera – the forest and its animals are close to her heart. And as Faerie Magazine pointed out, “she loves fairy tales, and dreams of becoming part of one.” I see a lot of myself in this description and thought perhaps many of you would be interested also. So, I’ve put together some inspiration for a Mori Girl bridal look. Enjoy!

1) Armour Sans Anguish 2) Tiny Toadstool 3) Become Gorgeous 4) Armour Sans Anguish 5) photo by Paul de Luna 6) Pinterest 7) Little Forest Girls 8) This Then That 9) Threadsense 10) Ashley Yording 11-12) Cutrag

23 Beautiful Twig Engagement Rings

Naomi — Thu, 16 Oct 2014 15:18:07 +0000

For the bride who is earthy and elegant and dreams of a ring more organic in style than the typical jewelry store offers, consider a twig engagement ring. I’ve rounded up 23 stunners from 13 talented jewelry designers – consider this your ultimate guide to twig engagement rings! Know of another designer that makes engagement-worthy twig rings? Let us know in the comments below!

In order of appearance: Anne Sportun, Bittersweets NY, Efrat Deutsch, es designs, bandscapes, Kristin Coffin, Olivia Ewing, Opal Wing, Point No Point Studio, Sofia Kaman, Ken and Dana Design, Beth Cyr (violet vendor), Micky Roof

Florida Glamping Styled Wedding {Heather Rice Photography}

Naomi — Fri, 01 Aug 2014 14:45:39 +0000

Happy August! It’s a great month for camping, which is why we thought it would be fun to feature this “glamping” styled shoot today! For those of you unfamiliar with the term it is short for glamorous camping, or luxury camping. Sarah and Chase, the models for this shoot, are an actual couple and it was a great chance for them to have a redo of sorts since she was so sick with the flu on their real wedding day that it was hard for her to participate. A woodsy table decorated with moss, pebbles, succulents, and beautiful china set the scene. Lanterns, vintage games, a rustic cake, beautiful lace “tented” ceremony area under a majestic tree, and a vintage truck added fun camp-worthy details.

Photographer: Heather Rice Photography / Equipment Rentals: All Things Vintage / Event Designer: Atmospheres Floral and Decor / Cake Designer: Bliss Pastry / Makeup Artist: Kristy’s Makeup Artistry & Hair Design Team / Transportation: Marbais Enterprises / Event Venue: Mission Inn Resort / Invitation Designer: Pretty Peacock Paperie / Event Planner: Weddings in the City / Submitted via Two Bright Lights

Bohemian Gypsy Bridal Inspiration {Pure Sugar Studios}

Naomi — Wed, 16 Jul 2014 14:37:59 +0000

We immediately fell in love with this styled shoot which took place at a fern garden in beautiful St. Augustine, Florida. It is full of gypsy soul and depicts the bohemian bride in an effortless, gorgeous way. With a rustic table set with organically styled blooms, bowls of wild berries, and crochet settings adorned with chunks of amethyst and quartz we feel right at home. The cake was suspended from a tree for a fresh spin on a dessert display and the bouquet…oh that bouquet…with tones of peach, pink, ivory, gold and mint and a mix of wild textures. It’s botanical love at first sight. Thanks to the lovely Pure Sugar Studios for sharing these inspiring images.

“We are all wanderers on this Earth. Our hearts are full of wonder, and our souls are deep with dreams.” -Gypsy Proverb

Photographer: Pure Sugar Studios / Paper Props: Olivia Grace Paperie / Dresses: vintage, The White Magnolia / Jewelry: Sailors Omen / Event Planner: Dairing Events / Floral Designer: Shea Hopely Flowers Inc. / Submitted via Two Bright Lights

DIY Tutorial: Dried Flower Crown

Naomi — Mon, 07 Jul 2014 14:43:29 +0000

We’re obsessed with floral crowns! So much so that I made a tutorial on how to make this simple dried flower crown in the latest issue of the magazine. These are fun and easy to make and perfect for you, your bridesmaids and flower girls, and of course just for fun. They’re great to wear to summer festivals! See the full tutorial on page 112 here.

Forest Dreams Styled Shoot {Brilliant Imagery}

Naomi — Fri, 13 Jun 2014 14:02:03 +0000

The forest at Silver Falls State Park within the foothills of Oregon’s Cascade Mountains has a fairy tale atmosphere. It was perfect for this styled wedding shoot featuring Jillian and Dawson, a real couple who are set to be married next month. The inspiration for this enchanted shoot is the story of a girl falling asleep while reading in the forest and waking up to find her dream man had arranged a fairyland dinner for her. Details of moss entwined books and boutonnieres, a lush woodland bouquet, and a vintage gown made for some fantastic photos by Brilliant Imagery that seem to be from another time, another world…

And this one might be one of my favorites…

Photographer: Brilliant Imagery / Equipment Rentals: For the Love of Pete Event Rental / Floral Designer: Bohemian Bouquets / Hair Stylist: Kelsey Glassow / Event Designer: Salem Events / Dress Store: The Shabby Chic Bride Consignment Shop / Submitted via Two Bright Lights