Who says the best day of your life needs to be trimmed down to, well…just a day? Nathalie and Eddie reached out to the team at Mae & Co to make their ambitious dream of a multi-day wedding celebration come to life.
The Vision: An intimate, nature-centered affair held over the course of four spectacular days. For the color palette, moody jewel tones took center stage. No trendy neutrals in sight! Finally, on the decor front, a retro, boho-chic vibe was the couple’s preference. Perfect for a cozy, well-curated wedding.
The Crew: Oregon is home to tons of natural beauty. It’s no surprise that Loloma Lodge was bound to be the perfect fit for Nathalie and Eddie. On the photography front, the couple hired Corrie Mahr for their expertise in capturing nature-centric weddings. Finally, Mae & Co seamlessly styled and executed every aspect of the weekend.
The Result: Perfection. Want proof? Take a look for yourself!
Weekend in the Woods
Let’s talk contrast! This invitation flat lay has a lot going on, and is a perfect example of how sometimes, more really can be more! Complementary purple and yellow work in tandem to create something that really pops. A pop of green from a fern frond memorializes the wedding’s nature theme. As for the acrylic invitation? A beautifully unexpected modern touch! Finally, classic pearl touches round out the look with a fun bit of texture.
Rehearsal time! Guests were treated to this delightful sight as they ventured into the forest on Friday.
The ’70s were known for bringing the funk – and this macrame installation delivered! It’s an incredibly unique and fun way to wow your guests, all without using traditional floral arrangements.
Our tablescape featured unique and quirky materials including amber-colored glassware, oatmeal velvet napkins, and orange dried palm leaves atop each place setting.
Can we talk about how stunning these wedding shoes are??!!
Nathalie and her bridesmaids looked beautiful beyond words in their perfectly tailored dresses.
A First Look at Love
What an amazing reaction! Eddie was stunned to see his beautiful bride standing before him on their wedding day during their first look.
Looking sharp, gentlemen!
Let’s chat about this AMAZING Zuhair Murad wedding gown! Here’s what Nathalie had to say when describing the wedding dress shopping process:
I saw the Zuhair dress in a photo the week that followed our engagement. As a plus-size bride, my typical bridal experience encompassed pinning small sample gowns to my bra and awkwardly imagining what I would look like in a dress that fit. It was far from the idea that every girl dreams their bridal experience would be. Finally, I found a store that carried Zuhair [Murad] and marched in with one mission: Find. That. Dress.
Unfortunately, the dress was not available in the store and, in the pre-vaccine COVID era, it wasn’t feasible to drop everything and fly to a larger Zuhair retailer. I decided to order it sight unseen. I did not see the dress until two weeks before the wedding. It was the best risky decision I had ever made. The dress was beautiful beyond words and fit perfectly. Putting the intricately detailed veil on, I finally felt like a bride. Shout out to the few ladies who did everything they could to actually get me into gowns, even if it meant cutting open the back of the sample.
The Main Event
One of the main goals for Nathalie and Eddy’s wedding was to play with nature – not against it! Every element was perfectly thought out to feel like a magical oasis tucked away in the forest. We are truly OBSESSING over the grassy aisle!
As if the ceremony setup didn’t look spectacular already, things got even better. Above the guests floated a hanging floral installation. If we didn’t know better, we would think it was raining petals!
Wisteria was the inspiration for this extravagant ceremony arch. We love how it simultaneously looks naturally overgrown, yet manicured to perfection. The team behind Color Theory Design are true artists in the floral industry!
Processional: April 14th by Aphex Twin (played on the harp)
Recessional: Jurassic Park theme (played on the harp)
First Dance: I Can’t Love by Dawes
The bride and groom shared a special kiss after becoming officially married!
Let’s Get Boujie
Thought the custom installations were done with? Think again! This champagne seating chart was the perfect way to guide guests to their allotted seats. Cheers!
[We built] a structure to go over the dinner tables, complete with hanging, candlelit glass globes to create an ethereal and romantic vibe.
Say hello to bold colors! Vibrant teal napkins brought life into the table’s setup and were perfectly rounded out with iridescent acrylic menus and table numbers.
Sweets for everyone! Not only were these delectable treats to die for, but the floral arrangement accompanying it was just a dream. The florals were color-matched to perfection, making the florals look as they were growing out directly from the forest floor.
Surround yourself with talented people you vibe with. We were extraordinarily lucky to have a wedding planner that we gelled with. We established a great rapport off the bat, but then dug into the collaborative dynamic and were able to put our trust in her and her team completely. That approach carried through to every vendor: find good people who are talented and passionate and let them do their thing. The results speak for themselves.
We Bid You Farewell
The morning after the wedding, guests were treated to a sunny and cheery brunch as a farewell treat. Jewel tones stayed at the forefront of the decor and were complemented by pops of yellow.
You hear a lot about how quickly the day goes, and it turns out that making it a three-day event does little to change that. In the whirlwind of hair, eating, makeup, eating, wardrobe, eating, pictures, and eating, what stands out the most is the feeling of the weekend. We were surrounded by incredible people, be they guests or any one of our amazing vendors, and the warmth and generosity exceeded any expectations we had going into the weekend.
Huge congratulations to Eddie and Nathalie from the whole team here at GWS! We wish you endless years of joy and happiness to come!
photography: Corrie Mahr Photography // venue name: Loloma Lodge, McKenzie River, Oregon, USA // event design: Mae&Co Creative // planning: Mae&Co Creative // florals: Color Theory Design // makeup artist: Make Me Up Cyn // videography: Films x Stanton // tabletop rentals: The Party Place
