Red, white, and blue, and a whole lot of love! I recently had the privilege of working with some of my favorite vendors in order to create a patriotic inspired wedding photoshoot at, The Inn at Rancho Santa Fe. This styled photoshoot is bound to give you lots of ideas on how to incorporate your military service or love for your country into your special day. Let me walk you through the day and show you some of my favorite details that will be perfect for your military or patriotic inspired wedding!

My good friend, Beata, of BZM Photography, was there to capture the whole day from start to finish. We started our day off at Nicole Miller, which has a beautiful selection chic and classy wedding dresses. Our bride Meghan, was fitted into a form fitting wedding gown, with simple details and a high neckline.

Her classic and preppy wedding dress went perfectly with the rich and lush grounds of, The Inn at Rancho Santa Fe, and pops of colors seen throughout the shoot.  Our groom, Nathaniel, wore a tailored suit with a bright red-bow tie. The groom’s fitted navy blue suit, crisp white shirt, and vibrant red bow-tie paid tribute to his career as a Marine in a trendy way.

The rustic props and florals were styled by, Floral Design by Ari. The bridal bouquet featured a hint of burlap, full white peonies, and tiny hints of red and blue, to complement the patriotic themed wedding. The simple bouquet played well with the natural textures of the surroundings, and would be perfect for a bride or bridal party any season.

Over by the cake (which we will talk about next), were pieces of antique furniture and accents that tied together the photoshoot. The sturdy details were complemented by fresh flowers. My favorite part of this photoshoot was the sign that read, “always & forever”, surrounded by fresh tulips and a lace accent. Using signs is a way to incorporate sweet sayings into your wedding, and can be easily used to accent a variety of themes.

Now onto the cake! The cake created by, Sweet Cheeks Bakery, was a masterpiece! The four-tiered cake had subdued red and blue hints, with bold red dahlias cascading down the cake. The sweet treat sat atop a cake stand adorned with flowers with lush greens under it. The wine barrel was an addition that added to the rustic and patriotic charm of the shoot.

Finally, we can’t forget about a man’s best friend! It would be hard not to include this cute not-so-little fur ball in our photoshoot, completing his wedding look with an American flag bandanna tied around his neck. Incorporating your pet in your special day is another way to add a personal touch to your special day, and include your four legged family member(s).

I loved working with the different vendors on this creative shoot! It is a reminder that there are chic and trendy ways to incorporate the most important elements of your life into your wedding, and also display the things and details that are the closest to your heart.

Location: – The Inn at Rancho Santa Fe – Coordinator: Events by Gisele –  Photographer:  BZM Photography – Cake: Sweet Cheeks Bakery – Flowers & Props: Floral Design by Ari – Linen: APR Boutique Event Rentals – Wedding Dress: Nicole Miller – Makeup: Liz Margin – Hair: Victoria Sexsmith of Studio Savvy – Menswear: A Better Deal Tuxedos and Suits