Surrounded by forest and sweeping mountain views, HOUSE BOHEME in Rutherfordton offered Hana and Gavin exactly the sense of intimacy they had imagined for their wedding. A. THOMAS PHOTOGRAPHY documented the celebration with its romantic spring florals, moodier autumnal palette and deeply personal details, while KATIE BROOKS EVENT CO. brought the vision together and THE FLOWER YARD transformed the secluded setting with an abundance of flowers.
A Meaningful Mountain Setting
The North Carolina mountains were always going to play a part in Hana and Gavin’s wedding. Having grown up close to the mountains and spent so much time there throughout their lives, the landscape felt like a natural place to begin their married life.
HOUSE BOHEME immediately stood out, not only for its beautiful mountain views but for the feeling of being completely immersed in nature. For Hana, the forest surrounding the ceremony site was particularly meaningful, reminding her of the trees around her childhood home. As sunlight filtered through the canopy, the secluded setting took on the peaceful, almost ethereal quality they had hoped to create for their thirty guests.
Spring Meets Autumn
While Gavin had always pictured a spring wedding, Hana was drawn to the rich colours and cosiness of fall. Rather than choosing between the two, they found a way to bring both together. Spring provided the natural backdrop, while deeper, moodier tones introduced warmth and romance. Pearls, a nod to Hana’s birthstone, appeared throughout the details, while candles scented with one of the couple’s favourite fragrances added another sensory layer to the celebration.
Even their beloved pets, Peach and Momo, made an appearance through illustrations on custom matchbooks. Vintage swan cake toppers gifted by Gavin’s parents added another sentimental detail.
Made By Hand
The stationery became one of Hana’s most personal projects. After finding an invitation design by CIERRA DESIGN STUDIO, she had custom letterpress plates created and hand-pressed every invitation and detail card herself. The floral artwork introduced the romantic garden aesthetic that would appear throughout the wedding, while the handmade matchbooks carried the moodier colour palette into the smaller details. Their designs referenced the day’s hydrangeas and vintage swan cake toppers alongside Peach and Momo.
The Fashion
For her wedding gown, Hana chose the Hazel Grace by Maggie Jean from HITCHED BOUTIQUE in Statesville. Its satin fabric, delicate floral detailing and pearl accents felt timeless and romantic, but the most meaningful element was hidden inside. A heart-shaped patch created from her mother’s wedding gown was sewn into the dress, allowing Hana to carry a piece of family history with her throughout the day.
Gavin wore the dark green suit he had always envisioned, eventually finding the perfect shade at J.Crew. Against the mountain landscape, the rich green felt both classic and completely at home within the couple’s nature-inspired palette.
A Garden Beneath the Trees
Florals were one of Hana’s highest priorities, and THE FLOWER YARD created designs that felt abundant, romantic and slightly dramatic. Meadow-style florals surrounded the ceremony and flowed naturally into the arch, making the flowers appear almost as though they were growing within the landscape.
Hydrangeas, Hana’s favourite flower, appeared throughout, while lily of the valley in Gavin’s boutonniere offered a particularly delicate touch. There was also one very special addition to the processional: Hana’s grandmother took on the role of “flower granny,” scattering petals ahead of the bride and bringing plenty of laughter and emotion to the ceremony.
Hana and Gavin had decided against a first look, wanting the moment she walked down the aisle to be the first time they saw one another that day. After spending the morning apart, seeing each other beneath the trees with their closest family and friends gathered around them made the moment all the more meaningful.
An Intimate Dinner Party
Rather than building their reception around speeches, dancing and a long schedule of traditional wedding moments, Hana and Gavin envisioned something closer to an intimate dinner party. Their sweetheart table sat amongst their guests rather than removed from them, allowing the newlyweds to join conversations and take in the sight of their favourite people gathered together. The ceremony flowers were repurposed for the reception, with the arch moved behind their table to create a floral backdrop against the North Carolina mountains.
Beautiful linens, candlelight and abundant flowers created a warm atmosphere as the sun disappeared behind the mountains. Dinner by CRACKERJACK CHEF featured some of the couple’s favourite foods, and later Hana and Gavin slipped away for a quiet moment to cut their heart-shaped cake and enjoy custom heart-shaped cookies made by Gavin’s mother. There was no need for a packed dance floor or endless formalities. For Hana and Gavin, having the time to share a beautiful meal and genuinely connect with each of their thirty guests was exactly the celebration they wanted.
Romantic without feeling overly formal and intimate without sacrificing a sense of occasion, their day at HOUSE BOHEME was ultimately about slowing down and being present. Against the mountains, beneath the trees and surrounded by flowers, A. THOMAS PHOTOGRAPHY preserved a celebration that felt entirely their own.
