This intimate forest wedding was an amazing experience, and I got to work alongside some pretty cool vendors. Being a photographer, I get a lot of questions about weddings, and intimate weddings in particular. What is an intimate wedding, anyway? Is it the same as an elopement?
Why choose an intimate (aka small) wedding day over a traditional wedding?
Intimate: familiar, close, private, personal, a friendly atmosphere, involving very close connection
Having a smaller wedding or ceremony doesn’t mean you don’t value your close relationships. It doesn’t mean you don’t want people around. It simply means that you desire an intentional day, with people you care about, whether that’s 2 or 20.
An elopement used to mean running far away and leaving your loved ones behind. If that sounds great to you, then do it! It’s your wedding day and it shouldn’t be about pleasing anyone else.
If you love the idea of having an offbeat, non-traditional ceremony, and want to include a small group of close friends and family, then you absolutely can.
Check out this small beach wedding or this tipi wedding.
There are no rules about what a wedding should be. The only thing that matters is that it means something to you as a couple. If you want to check out this small forest wedding in Ontario, and all of the lovely ladies who made it happen, then keep scrolling. 😉
I’ve been dying to shoot an intimate forest wedding for so long, and these two babes made it happen! They met 4 years ago while Amy was working at her then-job in a store. Steph went in with a friend, and even though Amy was openly flirting, Steph was oblivious.
She left with her friend, and they got on to the topic of her “type”. Steph said, “well, that girl in the store”. Steph’s friend said, “SHE WAS FLIRTING WITH YOU!!” It took some convincing, but Steph finally got up the courage, and, after waiting a full 4 days, went back into the store to ask her out. Amy said watching her come back in all nervous and flustered was the sweetest thing ever.
They were such an incredible delight to shoot. Obviously Amy + Steph are gorgeous and so SO sweet together, and the entire setup was a boho lovers dream.
STYLING + DECOR
aka how to create the boho forest wedding of your dreams. Enter, Sarah.
We started out the day setting up decor in the forest. Sarah from Wild Ivy Styled Events created an eclectic, boho paradise in three different set ups. Her stately rattan double peacock chair (which is the only one in Canada, btw), is next level and so so gorgeous, and made for a beautiful seating area.
She created the ceremony site out of rugs, small side tables, candles and lanterns. The table for two was an authentic Mexican table covered in genuine orange leather, with black plates and gold goblets sitting on top.
WEDDING FLORALS + BOUQUET
aka using florals to elevate the vibe of your small wedding
Jenna from Amethyst Floral had everything from palm leaves to fall florals up her sleeves. She made an earthy, fall-inspired bouquet with aloe and cacti. The centrepiece on the table was a mix of oranges, yellows, greens, and browns, and was a beautiful pop of warm colour.
She added dried palms to her wooden triangle arch, and fresh green palms and touches of pink to the peacock chair.
WEDDING MAKEUP, HAIR, AND HEADPIECES
aka how to look like a queen
Jacquie K took the theme to another level and made the ladies boho glam. With heavy lashes, winged black liner, and matte lips, Amy + Steph looked freaking gorgeous. She spent the summer converting an old school bus into a mobile beauty lounge named Billie the Bluebird. Billie is spacious, cute, and you can read all about Jacquie’s new baby in an upcoming post!
Steph is not only stunning but is also an incredible hairstylist – she did Amy’s beachy waves and her own boho braided updo. Amy is a fashion designer and created her own lace bridal headpiece, which is such a cool alternative to a veil or crown.
WEDDING STATIONARY + HAND LETTERED SIGNS
aka bringing in the personality
Avi from Avi Scribbles hand lettered the beautiful wooden sign, the wooden dinner menus, and also created the stationary suites. She used dark teal, wood, pale pink, and even clear vellum paper to add an airy but woodsy touch to her creations.
WEDDING DRESSES
aka your dreams come true
Stacey and Meghan from Sinders Bridal House brought the best of the best! Their gowns were vintage-inspired, lace, and so unique without being over the top. Amy wore one of their new designs with gorgeous boho bell sleeves. Steph wore two different dresses – one a deep-cut, 1920’s inspired gown, and the other a strappy, iridescent, low back stunner.
WHY YOU SHOULD HAVE A SMALL FOREST WEDDING IN ONTARIO
We collectively bounced from ceremony site to table for two to badass peacock chair in a flurry of excitement and laughter.
The entire day was amazing, and this is it in a recap:
- from magical light peeking through the trees,
- a surprise troupe of school-age campers crashing our party,
- Iced Capps getting accidentally dumped on laps,
- trucking through narrow forest trails with gowns in bodybags,
- almost forgetting to move the A&W cup off the table in our hilarious attempt to copy GOT,
- and bringing babies, kids and dogs along for the ride…
This was seriously a dream day.
Every single vendor who worked on this shoot is the definition of a badass babe. From decor to florals to hair and makeup, to gowns and signage and calligraphy… the amount of creativity and careful thought that went into every aspect of this shoot warms my heart.
If you’re trying to plan something cool, put together a team. If you want to plan something magical, put together a team of fun, badass babes.
Planning your own Ontario wedding? Check these babes out!
The talented vendor team:
Photography: Danielle Aisling
Styling + Decor: Wild Ivy Styled Events
Stationary + Signage: Avi Scribbles
Gowns: Sinders Bridal House
Florals + Bouquets: Amethyst Floral
Makeup: Jacquie K
Hair: Stevie Bleach
Headpiece: Amy Scarlett
If you love this small forest wedding, you may also love this cliffside elopement in Hawaii!
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