Heather + Ian | Rustic Elegance

Sept 19th, 2011:

[Guest Post by Felicia because Rob is busy editing like a maniac]

Ian and Heather. So many wonderful things we can say about these two, who booked us a solid 18 months before their wedding day. Their engagement shoot was one of the most memorable ones we’ve ever done, and lots of people that we meet make reference to “that photo in a bar” even just from glancing at our website.

Their wedding was no less memorable: While a lot of our brides have “DIY” aspects of their wedding, Heather had some “GIY” – “Grow It Yourself”: She carefully grew the succulents for the centerpieces and arrangements in her backyard for over a year until the wedding. Ditto the birch table number thingys: a birch tree was felled in her yard, so the branches were cut to size, and Heather used woodburning tools to engrave the numbers / words by hand. Very impressive (And sustainable too: she intended to replant these drought-hardy succulents, which is a great choice for Southern Californian gardens).

These nature-inspired elements were the perfect complement to their laidback, rustic-elegant wedding at the Pinerose Cabins in Lake Arrowhead.

Midway through the ceremony, I spotted a wedding crasher: A raccoon! According to the venue coordinator, there’s not one, but a whole family of raccoons living under the floorboards.

Their wedding day was beautiful not just aesthetically, but in spirit too: It was a day full of raw emotion, with tears of unbridled joy, as well as tears of remembrance (the photo above was from when Ian made a moving tribute to Heather’s late father. I couldn’t do anything else but keep shooting even as my eyes brimmed up with tears, memories of the loss of my own father fresh in my mind).

Congratulations, Heather & Ian, and thank you for having us be part of your beautiful day. You guys made it so easy for us, and we’re so happy for you both. See you soon!