This romantic Viking-inspired elopement took inspiration from the beauty of the Nordic regions & culture and brought it to Southern California! Due to snow, their initial destination became closed so in a true elopement theme, they hosted this in a clearing off the side of the road with tall, old-growth pine trees and patches of snow here and there to give us a diversity of backdrops. They did an amazing job alluding to Viking times while keeping the vibe romantic and modern, by combining a modern suit & dress with soft fur wraps and glamorous Nordic make-up. They also wanted to steer clear of traditional florals and give a more mystical look to the shoot, so the florist incorporated items like dried artichokes and curly, cotton willow branches. This, of course, is in addition to skull and antler features dotted throughout the florals & décor which is also present on their alternative style cake! We hope this shoot helps show alternative or Viking-loving couples how to combine an iconic culture with a modern, romantic vibe!
What was your design inspiration?
We took inspiration from the Viking/Nordic culture. The culture to us represents a blend of strength, magic, and nature. That said, we didn’t want it to feel too dark or costumey so decided to blend a bit of modern, romantic wedding design to the overall day. We blended furs and swords with a modern suit, tasteful warrior makeup with glamorous dresses, and a traditional wedding table with a skull centerpiece.
Describe your flowers.
Herb + Ritual created magic with her floral arrangements. We wanted to steer away from ‘traditional’ flowers so she pulled an array of unusual flowers including artichoke and curly willow! We also used her cow skull adorned with a bursting arrangement of flowers for our dark centerpiece.
Tell us about your attire choices.
The Vikings would have used natural elements to dye their clothing which is why we opted for a dark green suit with black features so that he blends in with the background. For our bride, we went for an intricate, almost snowflake pattern to represent the snow. Lorien Bridal accented it with a floral clip and sheer cape. Both shared a fur cape to hark back to ancient times and add a bit more magic.
Describe the tablescape elements.
For the tablescape, we went rustic. We paired a simple, boho table with plain porcelain and pewter silverware with steak knives. And, if you look closely – you might spot the horn mugs – Skal! For decor, we added some dried oranges for color, our magical floral cow skull centerpiece, and fur with pinecones for added fun!