If you go down to the woods today, you're sure for a big surprise... this little tune has been playing in my head since I first saw today's amazing real wedding. Allyson and Nate went back to nature, and to the heart of the forests of the Santa Cruz mountains for their wedding au naturel. […]

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If you go down to the woods today, you're sure for a big surprise... this little tune has been playing in my head since I first saw today's amazing real wedding. Allyson and Nate went back to nature, and to the heart of the forests of the Santa Cruz mountains for their wedding au naturel. This woodland wonder is a handmade feast for the senses and sure to inspire those on small budgets with big dreams. It's a darling wedding shot by Cara Mia Photography and we're delighted to share it with you this miserable Friday afternoon, to bring a smile to your face...

Nate and I met in college and dated for four years. After college, we broke up but stayed in touch for over ten years. I lived in Maine and he lived in New York City. Any time I was in town, I would meet him for a drink or dinner. In 2005, I married another man. Nate even came to our wedding! After my marriage dissolved on good terms, we rekindled our romance and moved to California together. We felt like we were escaping our old lives and the harsh weather on the east coast. We rented a small redwood cabin built in 1840 in the Santa Cruz Mountains. Nate did not have a job yet. Our cabin was unheated. It was hard, but looking back those were some of the best times we've had together. Shortly after we got back together I think we both knew we would get married.

Reflecting on those times, Allyson and Nate chose the most idyllic setting for their wedding - it takes my breath away just typing it: a redwood grove on their neighbor's property deep in the Santa Cruz mountains."We looked at various state parks and private venues in the Santa Cruz mountains. Most of the venues were too expensive or had restrictions (no dogs, etc.) We wanted a picnic/BBQ vibe to our wedding and nothing we found fit the bill. Then one day during a casual conversation with my landlord he mentioned that his Grandpa used to rent out his camp for weddings. The camp was just down the road. Actually, the plot of land connected to our backyard by trails. We asked his Grandfather if we could use the camp and invited him to the wedding. Although he was over 80 years old, he had just gotten married there himself."

I told you this was idyllic - could their be anything more magical?

This style of wedding wouldn't be for everyone, but when it comes so natural to a couple it works beautifully. The rustic camp site was previously used as a boy scout camp, had running water, bathrooms, and a basic kitchen, so as it was pretty far away from any hotels, most of their friends pitched their tents and went back to nature complete with a campfire to sing around in the wee hours.

The entire look and feel of the celebration was woven through with the couple's personalities and tastes, given such a special venue it evolved in the most natural direction... "We both love the outdoors, nature, plants, and hiking. We tried to weave that into our ceremony, decorations, and invitations. That said, we didn't want to make the wedding too formal or traditional. We wanted the event to feel like a party or BBQ (with dogs, kids, and people playing their instruments as they pleased). I guess our theme could be described as forest/woodland. We used the tree motif in our invitations, chose poetry that reflected our love of hiking and the outdoors, and gave each guest a handmade mushroom (we had recently been enjoying the new hobby of collecting mushrooms). The Owl was also a prominent theme - who knew we would name our son Owl the following year?"

We hung hundreds of cardboard/glitters stars and moons all over the site and in the trees. We also hung globe lights and owl shaped posters directing guests to the cocktail hour, bathrooms, etc. Our guest book was covered with moss. Guests were directed to their seats by a giant owl sign. Their names were placed inside cross sections of small branches (bought on etsy). Tables were named after plants and animals native to the Santa Cruz Mountains (i.e. sequoia sempervirens, banana slug, mountain lion, thistle).

We collected vintage plates, silverware, and mugs from thrift shops rather than rent from caterers. I made all of the napkins and linen using cut-up vintage pillow cases and sheets and all of the tables were adorned with vintage owl figurines that I had collected as a child, with doilies and lace to the center of each table and table names mounted on tree stumps.

As favours guests were given felt mushroom ornaments that we made during the long rainy season in California and a pot of homemade strawberry jam. The truth was, we really wanted to have a wedding under $6,000. We ended up spending a bit more but it was worth it!

What was your favourite moment? "I loved our ceremony but I was very nervous. At dinner, we set up a small table for the two of us under a redwood tree. We sat there together, with our dog Nanuk for about 30 minutes. It was good to connect with my new husband before we went back to socializing with friends and family. The impromptu cake cutting was also fun. I think Nate would say he liked playing frisbee with his shoes off too."

What advice would you give to brides and grooms planning their day? "Doing all of my own flower buying and arranging was pretty stressful. I spent two days working on that project when I could have been relaxing or visiting with friends. I also wish that we had hired a caterer with more staff since most people expect that sort of thing when they go to a wedding. Perhaps our meal was a little too casual for some people!

Then again, I think the best advice is to let go of what others think about your event and do it the way you and your fiance want to. Lastly, I am so glad that I spent a long time researching photographers. The moment we met Cara we knew she was perfect for the task. She is a beautiful person and also loves the outdoors. Thanks to her we have an amazing record of our crazy outdoor wedding! I recommend that brides find the right photographer and allot a good portion of their budget towards photos.

Completely agree with that advice from Allyson. Investment in good photography is essential in order to preserve those precious memories in glorious technicolour. And this really was a wedding to remember - thanks so much to Allyson and Nate for sharing their day with us. And of course to Cara Mia Photography - we're delighted to share her work.

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