Easy, Breezy Chic: A Cover Shoot at The Inn at Harbor Shores

Photos ByCarrie House Photography

Written By

Date

August 3, 2017

The Vision

There are truly many different takes on nautical themed weddings these days. From beachy and relaxed to seaside soirees, the sky (or the ocean) is the limit! Here in the Midwest, oceans might be lacking but we have the magnificent Great Lakes in our backyard, and we are happy we do! The beautiful lakeside communities offer some fantastic options for absolutely stunning nuptials. For us, we dreamt of something beach-inspired yet glowingly elegant. The inspirational elements that served to anchor our theme? Hues of blues, watercolor, beachy leaves, a nautical feel and a bit of whimsy.

Melissa Mathis of Forever and A Day Events and Design was our talented go-to planner and designer for our light and airy vision. Like the allure of a beachside breeze, we wanted the look to be beautiful yet inviting and looked to the Inn at Harbor Shores to house our perfectly elegant and nautical nuptials.

The Venue

“The Inn At Harbor Shores was a great blank slate for us to add our own design to,” says Melissa. “The outside backdrop was beautiful with the water! The walls were gray and white, so it really allowed the design details to pop!” Other airy elements included the space’s French doors and large, breezy balcony overlooking the harbor.

The DÉcor

Key to the elegance and design of our shoot were the lovely rentals from The Rental Company, the beautiful, voluminous florals and all of the extra special touches—including the sweet, sea glass-inspired rock candy party favors and bright escort cards. “We wanted the beach theme and were in love with the dusty blue color,” says Melissa. “The turquoise and pink complemented the blue wonderfully.” A textured blue linen and white table runner added a whimsical touch to our tablescape, while pops of gold and romantic candles graced the place settings. What could be more romantic than a harpist playing seaside? Our couple danced their first dance to the lovely notes of Meg Rodgers.

The Floral

Tracy Park of Park Place Design used southern smilax, Monstera leaves, Phalaenopsis orchids, White Lilacs, garden roses, tulips, Clematis vine, White Anthuriums, and a mix of green foliage to create a bold, overstated design for the space. She says, “I love a bold statement—flowers you don’t always see in today’s trends. I feel the look was one that went with the feel of the venue, inside and out.”

The Look

Our model wore a stunning gown, shoes and jewelry from Ali Nicole Bridal. The gown’s full, yet sleek skirt added just the right amount of volume and movement, while the delicate, blue lace top added romance, color and visual interest. A loose and wavy, yet pulled back hairstyle, designed by Krystle Waivio Hair, aligned with the light and airy theme perfectly. True Beauty by Dana used brown and coral hues in the bride’s makeup, adding to the bride’s relaxed elegance and providing a beautiful contrast to the dusty blue color. A gorgeously bold floral crown completed the look. Our groom wore a handsome gray suit from Dunhill Tuxedos.

The Cake & Desserts

The gold-inspired Froehlich’s cake was as beautiful as it was savory. Melissa says, “The cake artist did a beautiful job to create a whimsical brush stroke pattern!” Placed among the colorful escort cards on a vintage turquoise vignette, you can’t help but feel inspired looking at the gorgeous spread.

The Stationery & Signage

Jamie Lynne Creative met our vision for a gorgeous watercolor-inspired suite complete with beachy leaves. These elements were combined to create the gorgeous blue backdrop for the stationery, menus and signage. The turquoise envelopes were the final touch and tied the design to the blue hues seen throughout the wedding decor.