Glam Woodsy Engagement Shoot

While you’re getting all glammed up for your next holiday party, check out this dapper couple on our wedding blog today! They took the forest by storm in this woodsy engagement shoot complete with a striped and sparkly table for two. They pulled this shoot together as an upscale -but still down to earth (literally)- engagement celebration to capture their love before their wedding next Spring! Their photographer, Mikkel Paige Photography, offered up their inspiration behind the shoot:

Umstead State Park was the perfect location. It allowed us to incorporate the beauty of the native flora of North Carolina’s landscape close to home. Dried pine needles crunched under Zach and Hope’s feet as evergreen trees reached hundreds of feet into the air. The team loved the idea of colors that contrasted with the forest backdrop, like a black and white striped tablecloth and plates, and mercury glass vase and candle holders. A desire to have trendy elements that tied in the outdoors came into play, like a fun white faux deer head with gold antlers, metallic fox salt and pepper shakers, and little model trees to hold escort tags. Arrows were tied throughout from the s’mores platter, to framed art by a forest tree, to cake decoration and arrow-skewered beignets.

The finishing touch for Zach’s grey suit was a boutonniere with florals that mimicked textures of the forest, including lavender spiky eryngo, accented with an arrow pin. This military man’s black and white checkered shirt complemented Hope’s sequin mini dress. (What’s a celebration without some sparkle?) The surrounding area allowed her green eyes to shine and her cute faux fur vest was purposely sleeveless so Zach could do the rest of the cuddling when the fall air got too chilly! A simple bouquet of all white snapdragons popped against her statement dress.

They sipped fall cider punch and enjoyed bacon and pomegranate seed topped salads, munched on crispy mushrooms, and snacked on delicious pretzel rolls. Of course shrimp n grits with a sprig of thyme were on the menu; what’s a southern soiree without this classic, delicious dish? Dessert was plentiful! Cranberry oatmeal cookies with glasses of milk (North Carolina’s official state beverage), pumpkin cinnamon-sugar coated beignets, s’mores and French macarons were available for sweet indulgence. The wedding cake helped the fete come full circle: it tied in the table’s black and white striped motif on its top tier and had a gold-leaf coated bottom tier with rosemary at its base, as was at each place setting. The entire scene glistened in the fall sun’s golden hour as the sun set on an incredible shoot!