Intimate elopement with architectural brilliance in the Ozarks

using ceremony flowers for portraits

Colleen and Cole grew up across the street from each other in their hometown of McPherson, Kansas. They were childhood friends who started dating after college. They ended up eloping in northwest Arkansas with a ceremony at Thorncrown Chapel and a reception at Cedar Lodge, surrounded by their closest friends and family. They celebrated there all weekend, as the lodge offered on-site accommodations for both the couple and guests. This gave everyone the ability to stay together in a comfortable and convenient setting, enhancing the overall experience and making it easier for family and friends to celebrate and enjoy the festivities, all captured by Stori Photos!

lakeside wedding dress

deep red fall bridal bouquet feather-trimmed two piece pajama set

burgundy flowers

classic black tuxedo mother of the groom dress

funny wedding portraits

A chapel made entirely of windows

Thorncrown Chapel is a stunning architectural gem that is often sought after for elopements and intimate ceremonies. It's a masterpiece of contemporary architecture featuring a combination of modern simplicity and natural elements, with large glass windows that allow natural light to flood the interior. The chapel has a small seating capacity, allowing couples to have only their closest family and friends present and creating a cozy, personal atmosphere. The chapel's acoustics are also remarkable, ensuring that every word spoken during the ceremony will be heard with spectacular clarity. Nestled amongst beautiful woods and on a serene hillside, the chapel’s surroundings create a sense of tranquility.

lakeside first look

spaghetti strap wedding dress

low ponytail wedding hairstyle

Autumn tones as a neutral color palette

The couple’s floral designer, Althea Wiles with Rose of Sharon Floral Design Studio, filled us in on the wedding design inspiration: “The colors of autumn leaves and harvest have transitioned into neutrals for me. Although they draw inspiration from golden leaves, round pumpkins and auburn skies, I believe these colors can suit any season or wedding style! Colleen and Cole, who had an autumn wedding, provided us with photos of stunning blooms in rust, burgundy, and blush shades. With that inspiration in mind, we created a dreamy arrangement of deep berries and cream, perfectly suited for this beautiful autumn day."

chapel in the woods

modern wedding chapel Fall floral arrangements

all glass ceremony chapel

architectural wedding ceremony

cathedral length veil

Shades of red: The perfect fall pop of color

Althea continued, "Colleen's bouquet featured a dramatic cascade of burgundy cymbidium orchids, eggplant scabiosa, and three different hues of roses: red, blush, and orange. To infuse a touch of fall harvest, we incorporated red kangaroo paw, blue eryngium and chocolate queen Anne's lace. To complement the bridesmaids’ taupe dresses, we designed circular versions of the bridal bouquet filled with abundant foliage. The boutonnieres showcased budding red spray roses with accents of leucadendron. For the ceremony, we crafted six arrangements that embodied the abundance of the fall season! Golden mums, red spray roses, blush carnations, and blue eryngium were enhanced by agonis, dollar eucalyptus, and decorative faux leaves. These arrangements lined the aisles and framed the couple after the ceremony, resulting in absolutely breathtaking photos.”

large autumn floral arrangements

Styling a rustic lodge reception

Cedar Lodge - a picturesque venue offering a remarkable setting for elopements - served as the reception location. The lodge is surrounded by breathtaking natural beauty, including lush greenery, towering trees, and serene lakes. For the reception, Althea Wiles created several low and compact centerpieces in gold compotes. These arrangements included orange mums, white roses, and purple scabiosa. Along the main long table, they artfully arranged agonis, dollar eucalyptus, grevillea, and the faux leaves, intertwining them with tall pillar candles.

rustic lakeside reception

custom name placesetting lakeside reception

lakeside cocktail hour

DIY decor featuring thrift store finds

Bride Colleen collected almost all of the decor they used for their wedding from thrift stores and estate sales which helped them save money, but it also meant they were able to have unique items, too! It all came together perfectly as the couple, their families, and their friends spent the evening dining courtesy of catering and cake by High South Catering and Rick’s Bakery, as well as enjoying each other’s company in a peaceful setting. Toasts were made, conversations flowed, and everyone was at ease. Colleen and Cole’s wedding serves as wonderful inspiration for anyone seeking a relaxed, intimate wedding amongst stunning surroundings, architectural brilliance, and unforgettable moments with those you love most.

wedding toasts

Pro tip from a wedding photographer!

Use your aisle arrangements as photo props after the ceremony to create couple portraits surrounded in florals like Colleen and Cole. The bride raved, "Althea and her team at Rose of Sharon Floral Design Studio were so wonderful to work with and did an amazing job bringing our ideas to life so that they could be used throughout the day this way!”

View All Images