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Oakleaf Cottage | Nicole & Ben’s Antiquecore Wedding Day

Filed in Wedding Days — September 5, 2024

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Welcome to The L.Morgan Photography Blog- you're place to get helpful ideas and tips for planning the wedding of your dreams from a photographer's perspective. And a whole lot of inspo along the way!
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Hi! I'm Lara

groom has arms around bride as they smile excitedly at each other on their wedding day at Oakleaf Cottage

They are both really outdoorsy and enjoy visiting National Parks; Ben popped the question on a cave tour during a trip to Bowling Green National Park. Their venue was the perfect compromise to actually getting married in a National Park. Oakleaf Cottage is an eco-friendly venue set just outside of Cloudland Canyon State Park and offers the same topography, but with the elegance and ease of a professionally managed venue. Nicole fell in love with Oakleaf Cottage for the handsomely rugged nature around the venue.

groomsmen wearing tan suits pick up the groom, who is wearing a blue suit, on wedding day in the woods

bride sips on a cup of tea inside the cottage at Oakleaf Cottage on her wedding morning

detail photo putting on the brides shoe, someone is tying a pearled ankle strap on the left foot while the right foot is bare

Nicole’s inspiration for her’s and Ben’s wedding day was stained glass windows; she envisioned simple antique whimsy for their special day. Her antiquecore wedding day vision was right up my ally! They even decorated the arbor with three vintage stained glass panels instead of traditional floral arrangements. The wooded ceremony space at Oakleaf Cottage was the perfect backdrop, incorporating earthy browns and mossy greens into the color palette.

I was most impressed by the commitment to sustainability and conservation of the landscape that make Oakleaf Cottage a unique option to leave a small footprint without sacrificing your vision. The most notable thing to my eye, is that they do not use any disposable cups, plates or silverware, which really elevates the guest experience. As a photographer, I was impressed by the attention to detail they committed to the whole of the venue, while prioritizing the land.

Grooms reaction to seeing his bride for the first time during first look

bride and groom laugh together in the woods at Oakleaf Cottage

groom grabs brides hip as he tilts her into a beautiful dip amongst the trees at Oakleaf Cottage

bride and groom steal a kiss while sitting on a green couch on the deck of Oakleaf Cottage

The ceremony was a time of celebration; gentle acoustic guitar music filled the air as guests arrived and were welcomed with a glass of champagne. They mingled and snapped photos for the polaroid guest book as the ceremony approached.

Once Nicole and Ben came together under the oak trees at the arbor, their nerves eased as their officiant, a close friend, made loving jokes. The ceremony was short and sweet, but full of love and emotion. They shared their own vows, which were both funny and heartwarming- a hard balance to strike! Nicole said her favorite part of their wedding day was saying yes to forever with Ben.

Oakleaf cottage encourages all their couples to to enjoy a private dinner together during cocktail hour and I love it. It does require doing a first look and being prepared/running on time, but it is such a nice time to carve out with your love on your wedding day.

bride walking down the aisle surrounded by loved ones and trees on father's arm with the cottage at Oakleaf Cottage in the background

wide shot from the side of a wedding ceremony amongst the pines at Oakleaf Cottage

Bride laughs at a joke made in the groom's vows at a wedding at Oakleaf Cottage set in the woods in front of an arbor featuring stained glass panels

epic dip kiss as newlyweds come back down the aisle together with their guests cheering and trees in the background

Upon entering the reception site guests were greeted by an intimate space with long tables set with eclectic glassware and mismatched, but cohesive, plates. The space was showered in golden light that reflected off the greenery and bistro lighting hanging from exposed trusses. The newlyweds shared their first dance together in the sunbathed entrance as Velvet City Sound played ‘All My Love’ by George Ezra. Afterwards they were able to mingle with their guests as dinner was served by Simply Southern Catering.

bride and groom make grand entrance into reception hand in hand

bride twirls during first dance at Oakleaf Cottage with their guests behind them and Edison lights hanging from the ceiling

Velvet City Sound absolutely crushed it and kept the dance floor so fun and active. Integrating classics like I Wanna Dance With Somebody with alt-rock favorites from the late 90s and early aughts, they ensured there was something exciting for everybody. I just want to say that I love DJs and truly admire their ability to work a crowd, but the energy that a live band brings is simply next level.