{"id":40339,"date":"2016-09-22T05:50:44","date_gmt":"2016-09-21T19:50:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.easyweddings.com\/au\/articles\/beautiful-woodland-wedding\/"},"modified":"2021-11-10T05:14:18","modified_gmt":"2021-11-09T18:14:18","slug":"beautiful-woodland-wedding","status":"publish","type":"au-article","link":"https:\/\/www.easyweddings.com.au\/articles\/beautiful-woodland-wedding\/","title":{"rendered":"How to tap into Mother Nature to create a beautiful woodland wedding"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Tatra<\/a><\/p>\n

The Dandenong Ranges are a natural slice of paradise, found only an hour from the bustling Melbourne CBD. With beautiful forest environs to explore, fresh country air to breathe and nature to enjoy by way of waterways, wildlife and everything in between, it\u2019s a stunning environment that lends itself perfectly to a woodland wedding. And that\u2019s something Claire Watson knows only too well.<\/p>\n

As the senior wedding coordinator at Tatra Receptions<\/a>, a premier wedding reception venue<\/a> set on 10 acres of established gardens, Claire has the privilege of a first-hand view as couples plan their dream day in partnership with Mother Nature.<\/p>\n

Building on great partnerships with everyone from florists to event stylists, it\u2019s given her a wealth of great ideas on how to create a gorgeous woodland\u00a0wedding. Here are some inspirations you can tap into, perhaps following the lead of the couples pictured, who brought in some of the featured props to capitalise on the woodland setting.<\/p>\n

\"Tatra<\/a>
See more from Tatra Receptions here.<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Think timber talls<\/h2>\n

A big part of tying the knot in a forest-themed setting is tapping into that beautiful earthy connection to Mother Nature, and weaving elements of it into your ceremony. With the current popularity of wedding arches and canopies, you have the perfect opportunity to do just that, through creation of a signature style element. By drawing on the warmth of timber for the frame, you effectively create a kind of natural grove for your ceremony that almost looks to have evolved organically, while the pared back use of greenery drawn straight from native surrounds helps to underscore a mood that is both rustic and elegant.<\/p>\n

\"Tatra<\/a><\/p>\n

Take the fall<\/h2>\n

For many people, an outdoor wedding<\/a> is all about a blazing blue sky sharing its warmth and sunshine. But when you turn your thoughts to the other seasons, a forest theme can really come into its own. And yes, we are talking specifically about autumn. Not too hot and not too cold, this season\u2019s ace up the sleeve is a kaleidoscope of rustic tones you just don\u2019t get at other times of year. Think burnished shades of chocolate, muted yellow accents and dappled copper tones, set off perfectly by the vibrant green of forest perennials. Then there\u2019s the crunch of fallen leaves underfoot, something that might be a nuisance on your driveway, but at a wedding becomes an alluring natural alternative to the red carpet. Or, if you\u2019ve always dreamed of a rugged-up ceremony, consider a magical winter celebration as the mercury plunges south. It may be a little chilly on the side, but that\u2019s easily offset by all the advantages.<\/p>\n

Prop up your photographer<\/h2>\n

Mother nature is a photographer\u2019s dream, with a profusion of lush greenery that offers the perfect backdrop and framing. But to really enhance your woodland wedding<\/a>\u00a0it\u2019s worth digging a little deeper and looking for the unexpected, both in moments and in settings. Take the photo below. To the untrained eye it was probably just a log pile whose sole purpose was to keep a fireplace blazing. But in the hands of an artful snapper, it became a photo you just won\u2019t find in other albums \u2013 one that offers a moment of spontaneity and contrast among the day\u2019s more posed and glamorous poses. The motto is \u2013 look down, look up and look around. From moss on a tree to a bird\u2019s nest and beyond, we guarantee myriad photographic opportunities you just won\u2019t find anywhere else.<\/p>\n

\"Tatra<\/a>
See more from Tatra Receptions here.<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Explore the night<\/h2>\n

There\u2019s nothing quite like the absolute stillness that settles on a forest as twilight bids goodnight. As the moon and stars come into focus and the sky turns an inky black, you can capture a silence and a mood like no other. It all adds up to the perfect photographic backdrop. As Tatra<\/a> owner Andrew Lazaroy explains, many couples do grab their snapper and head outside. \u201cBeing in the mountains, the sky is not as polluted, you\u2019re surrounded by lush greenery and, depending on the time of year, you might be able to incorporate fallen foliage or, if you\u2019re incredibly lucky, a dusting of snow,\u201d he says. Throw in a few sparklers, and you have the perfect recipe for a memorable night-time image \u2013 one that is equal parts mysterious and memorable. And the best bit? You\u2019ve then got a great excuse to head back inside, hit the dance floor and warm up. As the song so memorably reveals: \u201cBaby it\u2019s cold outside.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Tatra<\/a>
See more from Tatra Receptions here.<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Bring the inside out<\/h2>\n

The very virtue of marrying in a forest setting means that indoor elements can enjoy extra appeal just by way of a change of backdrop. Take this mantelpiece above. Indoors, you probably wouldn\u2019t look at it twice, but outdoors it immediately captures the eye, creating a ceremony backdrop that is as memorable as it is magnificent. The same goes for lounge room furniture. In fact, one of the most stunning ways you can capitalise on a spacious sculpted lawn or wrought-iron cupola, such as those found at Tatra Receptions<\/a>, is to set them up as a meeting place, complete with comfortable seating such as Americana chairs and places for guests to linger in between topping up their glasses at the venue\u2019s specially designed garden bar. It\u2019s a sensory sensation that is rarely found but adds that extra touch of class to a woodland celebration. \u201cTatra was designed<\/a> to take advantage of its gorgeous surrounds, so we encourage couples to showcase them as much as possible,\u201d says Andrew, who explains they are pretty flexible with allowing people to bring in their own styling elements to decorate the spaces. \u201cThe ceremony area, for one, overlooks the forest and is surrounded by a tree canopy, so it\u2019s like you have this natural stage where couples can say their vows against a beautiful backdrop. It really is an incredibly special way to tie the knot.\u201d It\u2019s all about bringing together that fusion of elements that will both captivate, and comfort, your guests. The overall mood is spellbound by nature.<\/p>\n

\"Tatra<\/a><\/p>\n

Play with unexpected design and texture<\/h2>\n

Mother Nature is a gorgeous extravaganza of tones and textures, so a forest wedding <\/a>offers carte blanche to follow suit in a way that looks and feels incredibly authentic. So throw away the rule book in favour of what you love. Think deconstructed and cascading floral designs rather than precision-arranged flowers, materials such as lace in an unexpected combination with ferns, or even something as simple as a tree branch coming into focus as a canvas for beautiful style. Other ideas for gorgeous texture contrasts include picnic blankets set on a forest floor or a canopy of vines interwoven with soft lanterns. It\u2019s all about tapping into the beautiful yet blank canvas that is the world around us.<\/p>\n

\"Tatra<\/a>
See more from Tatra Receptions here.<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Embrace small touches<\/h2>\n

The experts will always tell you that small statements can make a big impact, and nowhere is this more true than at a woodland wedding<\/a>. Even for the indoors portion of the celebration, it\u2019s still possible to flow through a sense of earthy elegance, as shown in the above photo by the use of a hewn piece of timber on a table. Not only is it beautifully rustic, it also captures a sense of the forest surrounds, looking stunning when paired with vibrant flowers. But more than just looks, it\u2019s also incredibly practical, whether you use it to showcase a cake, hold shared platters or even simply act as a centerpiece.<\/p>\n

Claire, a highly experienced and long-term member of the Tatra Receptions<\/a> team who has helped myriad couples plan their dream day, says a growing number are embracing the beauty of nature. And the evolution ties perfectly into the venue\u2019s extensive renovations this year, geared towards the forest theme suggested by its surrounds.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur aim with the renovation was to create that really romantic atmosphere, with interiors and furnishings that showcase and reflect our breath-taking forest setting,\u201d Claire says.<\/p>\n

With couples enjoying exclusive use of Tatra\u2019s grounds<\/a>, the seamless integration between the great outdoors and spaces such as the ballroom and pre-dinner drinks area allows for the creation of dream days.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe beauty of Tatra<\/a> is that it very much comes down to each couple\u2019s individual vision,\u201d says Claire, who delights in the fact they will soon be able to make use of gorgeous Napoleon chairs.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey have the convenience of showcasing Tatra\u2019s beautiful tailor-made setting <\/a>as is, or they can really personalise it to create the look they have in mind. Whatever mood and ambience they want to evoke, we can help them fulfill it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ultimately, it all comes down to the focus on location, building on the fact Tatra<\/a> can cater for between 80 and 250 wedding guests and boasts onsite accommodation across 28 studio rooms catering for two to eights guests each.<\/p>\n

\u201cFor us, it\u2019s about the woodland theme being perfect for where we are and what we do,\u201d says Claire. And ultimately, that\u2019s the beauty of saying \u201cI do\u201d in the Dandenongs.<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n
* Some of these photos were in collaboration with:<\/div>\n
Photography: Gus Reyes Photography<\/div>\n
Styling: Miss Mooi<\/div>\n
Floral Design: Floretta<\/div>\n
Floral Design Assistant: Lauren Henderson<\/div>\n
Bride dressed by: Bonita Bridal Couture<\/div>\n
Venue: Tatra<\/div>\n
Hair and Makeup: Ally Jenkins Makeup<\/div>\n
Bride: Gabby Grech<\/div>\n
Groom: Jamie Fairbanks<\/div>\n\n\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":40340,"template":"","au_article_tag":[977,750,1464],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.easyweddings.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/au-article\/40339"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.easyweddings.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/au-article"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.easyweddings.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/au-article"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.easyweddings.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.easyweddings.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/au-article\/40339\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.easyweddings.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/40340"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.easyweddings.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=40339"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"au_article_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.easyweddings.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/au_article_tag?post=40339"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}