Luxe Northwoods Wedding Inspiration

I genuinely just don’t know where to begin with this styled shoot from Meg Cooper Photography, Fox & Fern Floral, and denae brennan weddings & events. The lush bouquet with pops of red peonies? The gold chandelier hanging above the reception table in the woods? The impeccable Tara Keely gown? They’re all great starting points, but just wait until you take everything in for the full picture of perfection.

From the event designer, denae brennan weddings & events: When Meg Cooper approached me with the desire to put together a winter-themed styled shoot, I immediately contacted Brianna at Fox & Fern Floral to get her on board as well. The three of us did two weddings together in 2015 and I was excited to get these talented vendors on the same project again. Brianna and I had worked at a very special private ranch property on a 2014 wedding, and the owners were gracious enough to not only let us set up our shoot there, but also take out one of their gorgeous horses for a few shots!

Using a palette of marsala, black and gold with pops of emerald, we created a lush tablescape contrasting the rustic backdrop of the ranch. We don’t get to have many outdoor events in the winter in Minnesota, so it was fun to set up the dinner table outside with gorgeous fresh flowers and luxe touches against the bare and brown winter scenery. The metallic geometric shapes with hand-lettered leather strips as place cards added an unexpected element to the place settings – the leather a nod to the ruggedness of the ranch. The vintage gold chandelier hanging from the tree and abundant candlelight gave the table warmth despite the cold December temperatures.

Pomegranates, a perfect winter fruit, were incorporated in the centerpiece and were the star of the pomegranate and champagne signature cocktail. Our bride (who got to cozy up to her real-life boyfriend as the groom) donned a stunning Tara Keely dress and an antique emerald ring that belonged to Meg’s grandmother. The overall idea of the inspiration shoot was to step outside the typical wedding box, yet create a look that’s approachable to inspire Midwest winter brides.