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Woodland Wedding Magic: Mary and Nate’s Intentional Day

March 13, 2025

Wedding

I stepped out of my car on Nate and Mary’s wedding day and immediately felt as though I had been transported into a fairytale. I swear, I wouldn’t have even been surprised if a squirrel had run up to me and started chatting. Juliane James Place is the perfect venue if you want a cozy and intimate wooded wedding. Nestled in the trees were the cutest little cabins, an alter with beautiful black church benches, and the sweetest tent warmly lit by string lights. And of course the overcast and slightly rainy day only made it feel all that much cozier. That’s what we call, pure woodland wedding magic.

Now, I have set the scene and it was obviously perfect… But when I say that Mary and Nate could have gotten married wearing paper bags in a Walmart parking lot and it still would have been so dang cool… I mean it. Because at the heart of it all, it wasn’t just about the dreamy setting—it was about the way they intentionally shaped their day to reflect what mattered most to them.

A close-up photograph of a set of wedding rings in a dark green velvet ring box, nestled among vibrant green ferns with glistening raindrops on their leaves, creating a natural and romantic woodland setting.
A black and white photograph of the bride carrying her wedding dress through the cabin door as she peaks back and smiles at the camera.
A close-up photograph of a set of wedding rings in a dark green velvet ring box, placed on top of an open book displaying images of the waterfalls and Gooseberry Park in Northern Minnesota.
A photograph captures a bride from behind as she gets ready for her wedding day in a cozy, rustic wooden cabin. She wears a stunning long-sleeved lace wedding gown with intricate patterns and a low-cut back. Hands belonging to her mother and sister are seen fastening the delicate buttons of her dress. Natural light filters through large windows, illuminating the room with a warm, golden glow.
A detail shot of the brides reflection in a mirror from mouth down and she get's ready for her wedding day.
The groom waiting for his bride at their alter as she walks down the aisle for their private first look.
A black and white image the groom spinning his bride around so he can take in all of her dress.
The bride making an excited face a the groom as he smiles at her during their first look, surrounded by a lush green forest and a pond in the background.
The bride and groom just before they embrace, surrounded by amber ferns. A still pond is to their left and the forest trees tower over them.
An up close image of the bride and groom's hands intertwined against the delicate and funky lace of the bride's dress.
A close-up photograph captures an emotional moment as a bearded man, dressed in a suit, gently kisses a hand adorned with an engagement ring. The image focuses on their clasped hands, emphasizing love and intimacy. The blurred background showcases lush greenery.
A candid moment between a bride and groom grinning just before a kiss. The bride, wearing a delicate lace wedding dress, leans in close to her groom, who is dressed in a sharp dark suit.
A black and white motion blur image of the bride and groom in each others arms, swaying in front of a rustic cabin.
The bride and groom standing hand in hand in the middle of a lush forest, surrounded by tall trees with green foliage. The bride's elegant lace gown cascades onto the ground with a long train, while the groom, dressed in a dark suit, gazes into the distance.



First Looks, Sweet Moments, and Why You Should Steal Their Idea

Listen, I will always be the photographer who tells you to do whatever the heck YOU want on your wedding day. If that means saving the first look for when you’re walking down the aisle in front of all your guests—yes, yes, a thousand times YES. However, let me tell you why I was totally obsessed with how Mary and Nate did things.

These two were all about soaking up every moment together and making sure they never had to dip out of their own party. The plan, you ask? A first look before the ceremony, followed by knocking out all their “formal” photos in advance. (And when I say “formal,” I don’t mean stiff or boring—trust me, we had a blast!) Once the ceremony music started, my only job was to capture the magic in front of me. And folks, it was so sweet.

Now, let’s talk about my favorite part: After their grand “just married” exit down the aisle, they kept on walking. And no, not to take more photos or to be swarmed by guests—these two went straight to the venue’s cabin for a little post-ceremony celebration. No planners, no bridal party, no cameras. Just the two of them, taking it all in.

Weddings are beautiful and wild and full of people—but at the end of the day, the whole reason you’re there is to marry your person. So, do yourselves a favor: steal this move. Build in a little time just for you and your new spouse. You’ll thank me later.

The groom carrying the bride's train as they make their way up to family at the main cabin.
A black and white image of the bride and her sister sitting on a bench as her sister helps her fix her heel.
Image of the groom smiling and tearing up as his bride walks down the aisle. He is surrounded by a lush green forest making the image feel very woodsy and cozy. You can also see the groomsmen in the background watching her as well.
The bride and her mom, hand in hand, coming down the stone aisle as all the guests surround them. Their reception tent softly glowing in the background.
The groom giving the bride a hand up onto the platform at their outdoor ceremony surrounded by green forest.
The bride laughing at something the groom said in his vows as all their guests take in the ceremony.
The bride and groom sharing their first kiss as husband and wife while their guests cheer them on.
The newlyweds celebrating and they make their way down the stone path surrounded by all their cheering guests standing amongst black church pews and eucalyptus.
A sneaky shot of the newlyweds as they make their way to the main cabin for a private celebration just the two of them.

The Trusty Camcorder: A Love Story

Okay, my friends, I would be remiss if I didn’t bring up wedding videography at least once in my collection of blogs. I love video. Photos are amazing (obviously), but video has this incredible ability to transport you right back into the moment—something a still frame just can’t do.

So, yes. If you can, hire a videographer. They are amazing, they work hard, and they will hand you the sweetest memories. Buuuut… I also know that budgets are real and wedding dollars disappear quick. Enter: Mary and her trusty camcorder.

Y’all, there is nothing more nostalgic than camcorder footage. We’re talking peak ‘90s home-movie goodness. Mary, absolute legend that she is, carried a camcorder around during cocktail hour, capturing candid, hilarious, joy-filled moments herself. And let me tell you—her friends and fam were living for it. People are way more likely to react and have fun with a camera when it’s in the hands of someone they love. (No shade to videographers—I, too, am just a stranger with a camera to most wedding guests!)

Bonus: You can pass that bad boy around for guests to record messages for you. Hand it off to your cousins, let your friends take over for a bit, and leave it out during the reception for guests to record messages for you. Even more woodland wedding magic captured from a totally unique perspective.

The bride and groom making their debut to cocktail hour as brand new husband and wife. Hands clasped together in the air, a slight dance move frozen in time.
The bride and groom waving to some of their on watching guests as the enter into cocktail hour under the trees.
A black and white image of the bride recording friends on her handheld camcorder as they cheer for her!
The groom and a few guests making faces at the bride as she records them with a handheld camcorder at cocktail hour.
A photo of the groom, his brothers, and both of their grandmas with arms around each other at cocktail hour.

The One Photo You Should Definitely Get

I am all about keeping the wedding-day shot list short and sweet—no need to pile on extra to-dos when you’ve already got a packed schedule. However, if there’s one shot I think every couple should consider, it’s the big group photo.

Why?

  1. It’s an epic keepsake—you, surrounded by all your favorite people.
  2. It’s a sneaky way to transition your guests from one part of the night to the next.

Nate and Mary knew what was up. They used this trick to smoothly move their guests from cocktail hour to the reception. We set them up right in the path everyone would be walking, made a quick announcement to gather the crew, snapped the shot, and boom—suddenly, guests were on the move to dinner.

This move also works wonders for filling your dance floor. Just after your first dance, have the DJ or band invite everyone in for a big group photo. The second it’s done, hit ‘em with an absolute banger—and just like that, the party has officially begun. I promise, 60% of the time, it works every time. 😉

The newlyweds surrounded by ALL of their guests. Many have hands raised and cheering. Per the couples request, everyone is dressed in black adding a very clean cut look to the photo.
A black and white image of the bride fist pumping as she and her groom enter the reception tent.
The bride and groom smiling at each other as they sit at the end of their head table and react to her mother's speech. Everyone at the table is clapping and cheering.
A flash photo of the bride and groom sitting on the church benches with their reception tent warmly lit in the background. They are making duck faces and flipping the camera off with their ring fingers to show off their wedding bands.
A flash photo of the bride and groom sitting on the church benches with their reception tent warmly lit in the background. The bride has her groom's face in her ring hand as she kisses him. Both of their expressions are squinty and playful.
A flash photo of the bride and groom sitting on the church benches with their reception tent warmly lit in the background. They are smiling at the camera. His arm is around her and her hand is on his knee.
The bride and groom belting it out to each other on the dance floor.


And there you have it. Mary and Nate’s big day was a perfect blend of intentional moments and being fully present, all wrapped up in cozy woodland wedding magic.

So, take notes. Steal ideas. And, above all, make sure your day feels 100% like YOU.

Now, who’s bringing the camcorder?

The Team of Wedding Superheros:

Venue: Juliane James Place

Dress: Vow’d Weddings

Groom’s Suit: Milbern Clothing Co.

DJ: Instant Request DJ

Caterer: Unique Dining Catering

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