Tranquil Bohemian Beach Wedding Inspiration

A gorgeous bohemian event on the beach, complete with a hanging tassel backdrop, stylish bar, and incredible floral design? Say no more. This shoot from the wonderful team of Alexandra Wallace, Lovelyfest Events, and Precious and Blooming utilizes paper goods from Wedding Paper Divas to create a simple and relaxed day that’s just as exciting as it is tranquil and peaceful.

From the event designers, Lovelyfest Events: Growing up in Southern California has been influential in shaping our overall style and aesthetic as designers, and never having lived more than 10 minutes from the beach, the ocean is a major source of that inspiration. For this shoot, we wanted to reflect the casual and simple nature of true ‘California style’, with a non-traditional beach wedding. Living in a town with countless seaside wedding venues, we sought out to design a wedding that could encompass a beach feel without cookie-cutter “beach” items ( i.e. seashells and sand). This shoot took place on one of our favorite cliffs by the sea in Shell Beach with one of our favorite wedding photographers, Alexandra Wallace. She really encapsulates a modern and unique vibe in her photos, and we knew she could showcase this one perfectly. With this setting came various scenes of natural beauty; a gaping view of the ocean and a naturally marbled cliff wall on the sand. The cliff rivaled any backdrop we could create ourselves! The ocean and sky provided a simple backdrop for our table, with it’s blue hues juxtaposing the focal colors of our shoot: rose quartz, mustard yellow, crisp white, and pale gray.

As with all of our weddings, our design of this shoot began with the overall look, theme and vibe, followed closely by the choosing of an invitation suite. Paper products may seem like a trivial detail, but for us, these little details can help keep the design focused and cohesive. After scouting our venue and finding unique aspects of it that inspired us, we chose the Gilded Marble Invitation suite from Wedding Paper Divas. The deep Dijon hue of this invitation reflected the color and marbling of the cliff walls where our shoot was to take place, and the white geometric details and bold lettering spoke to that simple and modern California style we were seeking out. We set up an exposed wood dining table from Embellish Vintage rentals high on the cliff where only the ocean could be seen behind it. This in turn helped keep the focus on the table itself, with the backdrop of the sea being a complement to our design. On each place setting sat a menu from the same Gilded Marble invitation suite. Because of it’s detailed design, we kept the table decor very simple. We accessorized with modern gold flatware, stark white plates, gray stoneware and modern brass napkin rings. Our vintage champagne coupes sat on geometric rose quartz coasters, giving the table a more modern feel. The cool gray napkins lent a sophisticated yet understated feeling to each place setting, and driftwood knife rests brought the beach setting into play.

We worked closely with florist Kellye from Precious and Blooming to come up with a floral design that didn’t feel too contrived, something very California chic. She designed a stunning centerpiece that was looked as though it was laying on the table, to create a more at-home, foraged feel. We accented the table with real pink Himalayan salt blocks, pink hued taper candles and vintage salt cellars filled with pink salt. Finally, we added in modern white chairs around the rustic table to really bring together that laid-back, modern California feel. Since the cliff wall was a major source of inspiration for our design and our choosing of paper products, we knew it had to be the focal point of the ceremony. The natural marbling on the wall is a stunning feat of nature and we couldn’t keep our eyes off it! We hand-crafted tassels and created a ceremony backdrop against the wall complete with foraged wood and florals from Kellye. The modern white chairs served as the perfect modern accent and were a stark contrast to the soft hues of the beach.

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We left our cake designer, Papercake Events, creative freedom to come up with a cake design inspired by the sea and our Wedding Paper Divas invitations. On the bottom tier of the cake, Whitnie mimicked the marbling of the Gilded Marble invite, and on the top used geometric accents keeping with the modern theme. Instead of placing flowers on the cake, we had Precious and Blooming come in with leftover florals, creating a loose and unique look at the bottom of the cake table. We’re always looking for new ways to show off floral arrangements, and it doesn’t always have to be in a vase! Embellish Vintage rentals is always expanding their inventory, and although most of it is classic and antique, we easily weaved it into our modern, eclectic design. With their vintage bar cart we added in custom cocktails, more geodes and pink salt blocks, and extra cards from the invitation suite. You never know when you’ll need extra paper goods, and escort displays are always a great way to tie in those fun details! Overall, the marbled invitation suite tied in perfectly with the ocean and cliffs of Shell Beach. We worked with all local vendors to make this styled shoot come to life, as we really wanted to encapsulate what a local beach wedding could be. We hope we can inspire brides to think outside the box when designing their own wedding, and that what is typically done in your venue doesn’t have to be the same for you!

From Wedding Paper Divas: Sometimes the soul yearns for something simple. No heels or fancy frills. Our idea for a relaxed wedding happened as we were driving along the coast. A venue really sets the tone for a wedding, and we knew we wanted to dream up some tranquil inspiration, on one of our favorite shorelines. A beach wedding isn’t for everyone. But if you think it may work for you and your beau, get ready to sink your toes into the sand. There is something so idyllic about a Bohemian wedding theme. It beckons the flower child within you. From the muted flowers, rosy Himalayan rocks, worn wooden table, and old fashioned bar cart, these vintage pieces showcase the heart of what some whimsical free spirits may choose to have on their special day. We made sure to add warmth to the décor, as California winters don’t always have an abundance of color. The stylist and I used shades of pink, gold, and blue for this styled shoot. From the cocktail drinks, to the reception seating area, we made sure to take this theme full circle. From softly rolling waves, to endlessly romantic sunsets, is there a more perfect way to exchange I Dos?