A Rustic Woodland Anniversary Style Shoot

Anniversary style shoots are a fantastic way to relive all the love and romance you felt on your wedding day. Needless to say, they make for a lovely anniversary gift, too! We think you will easily see why this both sweet and rustic style shoot, envisioned by Meg of Meg Day Photography, stole our hearts! Backed by a very talented team of vendors, including Michelle Allen, the owner and designer behind 95 Designs & Co., this style shoot is a creative collaboration that successfully captured the real love of a charming couple just a year after they said "I do."
 

 

“Courtney wanted to recreate her wedding day for her and her husband, Craig’s, one year anniversary,” Michelle explains. “She was not in love with her original wedding photos, so she wanted these photos to feel similar to her wedding day.”
 

 

Wishing to reflect the same rustic feel the couple’s actual nuptials embodied, while aligning with Craig’s passion for waterfowl hunting, Meg Day chose the perfect spot to center the shoot around—the Byer's Homestead and the beautiful marsh that exists on its property.

Being set in an actual marsh, the team did have to contend with some unusual elements. “The bed had to be set up on wood blocks so it wouldn’t sink down into the mud,” Michelle recalls. "Near the end of the shoot, a block did end up breaking and the bed started to sink further down. We also had to be super careful getting the bride and groom around without getting them super muddy.” Of course, we think this team did a great job making even mud look dreamy!

The romantic aesthetic was partly due to the natural colors and beautiful contrast between the clean and white iron framed bed and surrounding woods. The lace bed skirt, soft, pink quilt and other whimsical touches like candlesticks, a bird cage, lace tablecloth, and antique wooden screen door, provided by Deb Doyle of Joyfully Redesigned Spaces, added contrast and warmth to the natural forest bedroom.

Other extra special touches of decor included decorative hoops, wooden signs, a seltzer bottle, antique Georgian Tankard Mug, cake stand, pallets and antique books, provided by Michelle.

The lovely bouquet was the bride’s own original wedding bouquet. Michelle says, “We added pops of greenery to brighten up the brown surrounding space while still seeming natural to the area. Succulents were added to the cake for a pop of greenery against the white frosting and brown stained cake stand.”

 

Courtney’s elegant gown was also her own. Its touches of lace and beautiful beading added gorgeous contrast to the woodsy, outdoor space. Desiring an elevated, natural look, Courtney did her own hair and makeup, creating a soft, relaxed feel.

 

Michelle made the classic white cake herself. “Moss and succulents were added for touches of green and to keep the dreamy wooded setting very apparent,” she says. Near the end of the shoot, Courtney and Craig shared cupcakes from their actual wedding day that they had froze and saved for their one year anniversary.”

 

Old rustic wood is certainly a hot trend right now. According to Michelle, adding greenery to embroidery hoops is also a big home decor trend. She incorporated both, making the hoops white for contrast. Two additional trends the team knocked out of the park were weddings in woods and greenery! Michelle says, “This was not the reason why we chose to do the shoot in the marsh, but we did hope that it would appeal to many to see this styled shoot.”
 

 

What We Love

Another special element Craig & Courtney provided for the shoot was a Mason jar from their wedding, featuring a wooden tag labled “one.” Guests put advice and stories about this couple in the jar for the couple to read on their one year anniversary. Now we think that's a lovely idea!
 

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