Woodland Inspired Cake by Indie Cakes

Nature loving couples don’t have to stray too far from the hustle and bustle of the city to get married underneath the redwood groves! This past Saturday, I had the pleasure of coordinating a beautiful DIY wedding at Stern Grove. The Trocadero House at Stern Grove is such a lovely rustic setting for a reception. However, it only holds 140 people and since the couple had 200 guests, we had to be a little creative in using the many spaces Stern Grove has to offer.

Trocadero House at Stern Grove

The ceremony took place under the canopy of redwood trees in the grove just below the Trocadero. We set up chairs on a diagonal facing the pond so that the lone redwood in the corner served as an “altar.” Cocktail hour took place on the porch at the House and then a mariachi band, Trio Sol de Americas led guests to the East Meadow for the reception, where 20 8-foot banquets were set up. Cat Head’s BBQ served up authentic and fresh southern food with flair.

Trio Sol de America - Mariachi Band

Indie Cakes made delicious and beautiful woodland-inspired cakes — carrot cake for the wedding cake and chocolate with fresh peach and buttercream filling for the groom’s cake. They sat upon log-cakestands the groom had made.

Gorgeous and Green produced bold red and orange bouquets of dahlias, calla lilies and accents of ecchevaria. Very lush!

The bride and groom had enlisted family members for major DIY work: nearly a hundred mason jars served as lanterns or vases for wildflowers. Another family member handpainted greetings on river rocks in different languages and glued magnets to the backs. Twigs became flag poles for the table numbers.

DIY vintage table runner, twig table number

It was such a lovely affair and down-to-earth, plus the couple saved a lot of money on the venue!

{All photos above by Vera Devera, but the pro pics were taken by Michele Beckwith!}