1. Real Weddings

A Natural, Rustic Wedding at Forest House Lodge in Foresthill, California

Accents of lace, burlap and wood, combined with the natural surroundings of greenery, tall trees and mountains, served as a strong foundation for this

Accents of lace, burlap and wood, combined with the natural surroundings of greenery, tall trees and mountains, served as a strong foundation for this country-chic wedding theme. With an amazing backdrop and a charming vibe, Raquel Rodriguez (28 and a sales accountant executive) and Sean Gruver (34 and a consultant) fell in love with the Forest House Lodge in Foresthill, California, for their outdoor ceremony and indoor reception. Details throughout the wedding day followed the muted pastels color palette of pink, mint, lavender and white, ranging from the variety of bridesmaid dress hues to the rose bouquets accented with dusty miller and the traditional wedding cake accented with flowers. The couple added no decor to the outdoor ceremony besides the hanging-ivory hydrangea arrangements lining the aisle, focusing on the natural elements with a gorgeous backdrop of the Sierras that was captured by BluElla Photography. The reception was held inside the three-level lodge on the property: The middle floor was the dining hall, the top floor served as the game room and dance floor, and the bottom floor reserved for the after-party. Dining tables were dressed in plum-colored linens and set with gold plates, which surrounded the centerpieces of carnations, roses, peonies and veronica placed on wooden slabs and arranged by Galeazi's Floral Designs. We got to see a fun side of the couple through their wedding favors, which were neon-colored sunglasses that guests could use throughout the night filled with drinks, dancing and laughter. "Our wedding favor was neon sunglasses, so our guests were definitely ready to party and have a good time," Raquel says. "The lodge also provided funny hats for all the guests to wear and we provided other costume accessories such as boas, masks, glow bracelets and necklaces. Sean and I really wanted to make sure our guests had fun, most of all."

Princess-Cut Diamond Silver Engagement Ring
Sweetheart Neckline Ivory Lace Wedding Dress
The ring bearers walked down the aisle wearing matching khaki pants with brown suspenders, and a white button-up shirt complemented by a green bow tie. They each wore an ivory rose boutonniere pinned to their suspender strap and held a wooden wedding sign that read "Hey, Uncle Sean, Here Comes Your Bride."
The couple had their wedding ceremony outside at Forest House Lodge in Foresthill, California, with a gorgeous backdrop of the Sierras. On the day of the wedding, the bridesmaids wore a variety of pastel-colored dresses while the groomsmen wore tan suits that matched the groom.
Raquel chose a pastel-colored lush bouquet arranged with a mix of roses, peonies and dusty miller, which was wrapped in white ribbon and lace. "Since it was springtime, the flowers were all in perfect season, and the colors were all in the muted pastels as well," Raquel says.
Raquel and Sean stood together with their wedding party, with bridesmaids dressed in pastel-colored dresses and groomsmen wearing tan suits with sage green ties. "I chose tan linen suits for the men with mint green ties," Raquel says. "The bridesmaids picked their own dresses in muted pastels of cream, pink and lavender."
White hydrangeas were arranged in glass jars and hung from metal hooks, lining the ceremonial aisle outside at Forest House Lodge in Foresthill, California. Little to no decor was added to the outdoor ceremony space, which brought focus to the natural elements.
Inside the three-story reception lodge, a black-and-white wooden sign pointed guests in the right direction for the evening's festivities. "The reception was held on the middle level and then the third level was the party floor," Raquel says. "After the reception was over, everyone headed downstairs for the after-party."
Traditional Ivory Tulle Veil
The reception took place on the middle floor inside the lodge, where dining tables were decorated in plum-colored linens and set with gold plates. The middle of the table was decorated with carnation, peony, rose and veronica flowers arranged inside glass vases, which were wrapped with burlap and lace. The centerpieces were positioned on top of wooden slabs and surrounded by candle votives.
At the reception, plum-colored dining tables were set with gold plates and white napkins. The couple gave out neon sunglasses as wedding favors at each seat, which were used throughout the evening's festivities.
The two-tiered ivory wedding cake topped with pink and white flowers was positioned on an elegant silver stand at the reception. "Dessert was my favorite part, and we did a small traditional cake with strawberry filling," Raquel says. "We also did a s'mores bar, where guests could roast their own marshmallows, and also a cheesecake bar, since I love cheesecake."