GUEST POST BY LIZ PULLIAM OWNER OF EVENTS AT HEMLOCK SPRINGS

“Our love is the thrill of adventurous exploration with no fear of being lost because I will always have your hand to hold.” ~ Leo Christopher

Kentucky’s own Red River Gorge is a mecca for outdoor enthusiasts from around the world who venture into the Appalachian backcountry for hiking, camping, rock climbing, kayaking, and canoeing just to name a few. For many couples, their adventures brought them together and play an integral part in their relationship. The “thrill of adventurous exploration” bonds them in a very special way…trust me on this one, I know from experience. Skip and I met while rock climbing in the Red River Gorge and adventuring together in the outdoors is something we regularly enjoy.

With this thought in mind, we wondered what inspiration might be created for outdoorsy couples to incorporate their love of the outdoors and thirst for adventure in their wedding at our venue, while still keeping things luxurious and inviting for guests that may not be quite as adventurous.

We teamed up with Kevin and Anna Photography, who just so happen to be some of our favorite people, amazing photographers, and fellow rock climbers, to build a group of creatives to turn this idea into a reality. We designed unique elements with bold and bright colors and blended in touches of outdoor gear to reflect the interests of so many couples who live for adventure and love the outdoors. We are excited to share with you this wedding inspiration and hope you find it helpful.

Danielle Braden created a flawless look with makeup and hair that perfectly complimented our theme. A whimsical boho hairstyle set the perfect stage for peacock feather earrings to make a statement, and the gold toned and sparkly eyeshadow reflected the gold shimmer in the dress.

Simply Done Invites carried the bold color theme through in every aspect of the stationery from the floral envelope to the RSVP card and laser engraved menu disks. With a nod to climbing gear on the invitation, we couldn’t think of a better way for a climbing couple to include their favorite pastime to personalize their invitations and pay homage to the Red River Gorge.

We fell in love with the stunningly crafted wooden names from The Crazy Bunny Lady that serve a double purpose as both a name card and a personalized gift for your guests! What a fantastic way to incorporate an organic element of the outdoors that your guests can truly enjoy.

For the florals, we partnered with Three Toads Farm for bright, bold and over-the-top creations that lend a luxurious touch to the tablespace without being overwhelming. The greenery over the chairs and on the cake table, were just enough to dress things up and give you a bit more color. Anna and Kalyn styled the table with vintage china, antique blue goblets, and gold candlesticks to reflect the look of the high-end flowers. The bridal bouquet and boutonniere provided gorgeous pops of color amidst the neon green of the newly budded leaves on the trees.

A geode cake is a great way to make a statement while at the same time incorporating a love of nature and the outdoors. Batter And Buttercream Custom Cakes created a work of art with this stunning cake and whether you’re a rock climber, a nature lover or a spelunker, you’ll appreciate the look (and taste) of this masterpiece!

One of our models was none other than Jared Ravenscraft with New Frontier Outfitters. Jared is the ultimate outdoorsy dude and was gracious enough to not only model for us, but to bring along some of his clothing line for us to style as wedding favors for guests. To add a little pizazz to the bar, we used a bit of climbing gear that not only looks fun but serves a double purpose to allow for hanging items your guests can take with them.

Adventurous couples shouldn’t feel that their wedding day is a juxtaposition with their interests. You can tastefully incorporate your outdoor activities to personalize your wedding and have fun in the process. Feel free to pose with your gear on, use a canoe or kayak for drinks, a basket of tissues, or to store your wedding favors. Here at Events at Hemlock Springs, we encourage you to be yourselves, have fun, and express your sense of adventure. After all, isn’t adventure the spice of life?

BIG SHOUT OUT TO ALL OF THE AMAZING WEDDING VENDORS WHO TEAMED UP TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN. BE SURE AND GO CHECK OUT EVERYBODY’S WEBSITES LISTED ABOVE. IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR A BREATHTAKING OUTDOOR WEDDING VENUE BE SURE AND SCHEDULE A TOUR OF EVENTS AT HEMLOCK SPRINGS TODAY! YOU DEFINITELY WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED.

http://eventsathemlocksprings.com