Looking to add some traditional cultural details to your wedding in a way that isn’t so…traditional? Totally do-able! For example: Mikyla and Kyston approached Rachael Ellen Events with a desire to plan + design a wedding around their deeply rooted heritage and bohemian style. What emerged was a day rich with tropical notes, refined details, and muted colors – all highlighting the couple’s culture with the upmost elegance. We’ll let Mikyla share the inspiration:
Kyston was born and raised in New Zealand. His Māori heritage is something that is really important to us and we wanted to make sure it was highlighted in the wedding details. His wedding lei, the use of tropical flowers from the South Pacific region as well as using Māori phrases such as “Kia Ora” (meaning welcome) in our paper goods were a few ways we made the wedding unique to us. I have always been drawn to modern design and luxe details so we incorporated velvet, rich textures, and colors to create the modern boho vibe.
Eden Strader photographed the beautiful day – let’s have a look!
The invitation suite and wedding day stationary were actually created by the bride herself who is the talented designer from Ink & Press Co.
How cute is this place?! The ring ceremony and reception took place at White Shanty, a barn venue in Provo, Utah.
Rachael Ellen Events did triple duty, designing the dreamy florals in addition to designing and planning the day! The floral details included tropicals such as cobra lilies, dendrobium, and baby pineapples to counter the romantic boho florals like peonies, chocolate cosmos and garden roses.
How good is that velvet tie?!
LOVE this DIY backdrop! Mikyla’s father built and stained the hexagon arch and Rachael adorned it with asymmetric flowers for a modern boho feel.
Instead of a boutonniere, Kyston wore a lei after the ceremony as per Māori tradition.
Our wedding vows! Like most men, Kyston does not wear his emotions on his sleeve. Yet he has the biggest heart! Hearing Kyston express to me how deeply he loved me brought me to tears. I look back on our wedding day and that is a moment that brings back so many emotions of love, joy, commitment, and devotion.
SO pretty!! Rachael told us a little about the design details: The tablescape was more mod and refined, pulling in soft blues, pinks, greys, and golds into the scheme. These colors balanced the deep jewel tones of the florals and created a very vintage mod feel.
Refined Vintage Events provided the furniture rentals and, fun note, they call these Victorian lounge chairs “Kate + William” – perfect, right?
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The place card holders were created by Mikyla’s father from his rock collection!
This absolute showstopper is another gem by Rachael Ellen Events: The floral instillation was my way of balancing the industrial feel of the building and keeping the feminine edge that we drew on in so many of the details. It perfectly framed the head table, balanced the wood, and pulled together the vintage velvet chairs.
And that marble cake by Flour & Flourish looks simply stunning on blush linens from La Tavola Linen!
We have to rewind a bit to the first look because it’s *perfection*
So dreamy!!
Hire a wedding planner! I know a lot of brides who were extremely stressed the entire time they were engaged. I truly loved my experience being a bride because I had help. Rachael was there to help guide me, keep me thinking ahead so that nothing got left behind or forgotten about. Being a bride should be fun and enjoyable. If you let others help you, whether thats your maid of honor, mom, or a wedding planner; you can avoid any breakdowns.
Another piece of advice: When looking through Pinterest, wedding magazines, etc. use what you see as inspiration but not imitation. I truly loved our wedding because it felt so unique to us. We pulled inspiration from so many different places but changed everything to reflect us. Your love is unique, and your wedding should reflect that!
What a gorgeous blend of culture, tradition, and modern design – all wrapped up in love! Congrats to K + M!
photography: Eden Strader // venue name: White Shanty, Provo, Utah, USA // event design: Rachael Ellen Events // planning: Rachael Ellen Events // florals: Rachael Ellen Events // wedding dress: Bride's old pageant dress remade for wedding day // bride's ring: Wilson Diamonds // bridesmaid dresses: ASOS // makeup artist: Marisa Rose // groom attire: Express // groom's ring: Wilson Diamond // paper goods: Ink & Press Co. // catering: Cubbys // cake: Flour & Flourish // tabletop rentals: Diamond Rentals // furniture rentals: Refined Vintage Events // linen rentals: La Tavola // music: House of Melk
Where is this first look? So pretty
i want get marry like this