We could stay here all day in this romantic, coastal wonderland, styled and captured by Callie Manion Photography! The deliberate contrast between hard and soft textures infuses this vision with a distinct, compelling beauty and we are positively swooning over the gorgeous florals, oceanic hues and ethereal fabrics weaved throughout. An ombré wedding cake by Andrea Saunders and elegant calligraphy by Lemontree Calligraphy & Illustration add to the range of stunning details!
View all images in the gallery
From Callie Manion Photography: I love the romanticism and intimacy of an elopement; dashing away to celebrate your commitment to each other in such an intimate setting is one of the most romantic things I can imagine. I also love the amazing details that come from planning a wedding; spending months picking out the best pieces and showing your personality and relationship in minute details is beautiful and shows how much love and thought went into wedding planning. I wanted to create an inspiration shoot that would marry these two ideas and show brides that they can have an elopement be just as well planned out as a big wedding, and that they don’t have to sacrifice all the amazing little details that can make a wedding unique.
I was inspired by this idea of marrying two opposites together and continued this theme by playing with the union of hard and soft. The biggest example of this converse relationship is seen in my choice of location. I knew I wanted the shoot to take place ocean-side to portray a sense of escape from the world. But I chose this specific location because of the beautiful juxtaposition of the hard and ragged rocks against the soft and calming waters. Positioning the bride standing on the rocks, facing the open waters further exaggerated this relationship and made for some truly striking images.
This pairing of hard and soft can also be seen in the small details of the floral arrangements. Jakkelyn from Jakkelyn Iris Florals paired soft whites together with spiky browns to create beautiful and textured pieces.
One more example of how I incorporated this theme into the shoot is seen in the table setting and other details. I took care to always have the soft and flowing fabric mixed with the hardness of the shells and rocks found on the beach. I love the rough beauty of the shells as they mirror the giant rocks, and the gentleness of the fabric, as it mirrors the calming waters.
It was important to me to carry this theme throughout the shoot, even down to the bride and groom’s place settings. Betsy from Lemontree Calligraphy gracefully penned their names in gorgeous, delicate calligraphy on a hard, but smooth shell.
My goal was for this shoot to feel easy, carefree, and intimate. Placing the bride and groom out on the rocks, with nothing but open water behind them, I wanted to symbolize that on their wedding day, nothing is more important than the union of the bride and groom. I also placed their table low to the ground, taking away the need for chairs, to further show the intimacy of an elopement. After the vows have been read and the rings have been exchanged, the couple can cuddle up close and dine while they watch the sun set on their beautiful day.
Above all, I wanted this shoot to inspire brides and show that a small, intimate elopement can be just as beautiful and just as well thought out, as a big wedding. So if celebrating their marriage with a traditional wedding doesn’t fit a bride and groom’s personalities, then there are plenty of other ways they can choose to celebrate!
Photography and Styling: Callie Manion Photography | Film Lab: PhotoVision | Florals: Jakkelyn Iris | Dress: Gossamer | Ring Box: Mrs Box | Calligraphy and Invitations: Lemontree Calligraphy & Illustration | Cake: Andrea Saunders
