The Romance of the Woodland Wedding

Written by Beth Kelley

One of the big bridal trends this year is the Woodland Wedding. According to Anja Winikka, site director of The Knot, we will see more wedding gowns with a dreamy, ethereal air. Look for lace and floral and lots of whimsical designs. And why not? Former Facebook president Sean Parker’s wedding was right out of Lord of the Rings, complete with woodsy details and greenery. Think Wood Nymph, an Enchanted Forest and pre-Raphaelite paintings. Or just plain Rustic Chic is a great way to define an outdoor wedding look with style.

Ophelia by John William Waterhouse (1889)

The designer Watters has four very special gowns that embody this look. The first two are from their new line called Love Marley. Penelope is a gorgeous creation! It’s an easy, breezy A-line gown, with soft netting and lace, featuring hand-placed lace motifs on the bodice and a plunging back neckline. Penelope is available in ivory, off-white and bronze. We just love it!

Next by Love Marley is the airy gown called Sarabi. This A-line style is made of a silk mousseline chiffon and features beaded details on the bodice and down the back of the neckline. This is a new, chic take on the classic Goddess gown and is a perfect look for the outdoor bride. Sarabi is available in ivory and the color Athena.

Jacinda by Watters is another one of our favorite gowns. It features a hand-beaded bodice with a bateau illusion neckline made of netting. This soft netting continues down the paneled skirt with a satin ribbon around the waist. There is a stretch silk charmeuse slip dress underneath. The top dress is available in both white and ivory and the charmeuse slip is available in white, ivory, amaretto and bronze. We prefer the amaretto because it makes the beadwork on the bodice really stand out.

We can’t decide which side of the gown we like more – the front or the back! You decide!

Our last featured gown by Watters that embodies that ethereal spirit is Farah. Similar to Jacinda, this gown features a lace and tulle combination with a bateau neckline and cap sleeves. There’s an illusion bodice with lace appliques cascading down into the skirt. And it also has the stretch silk charmeuse slip dress underneath. It’s available in the same color choices as Jacinda.

If you’ve always dreamed of an outdoor wedding with a woodsy, rustic chic theme, these four gowns are perfect for you. Carefree, whimsical, soft and romantic, these dresses will make you realize how easy buying a wedding gown can be. And you can find them all at Mimi’s!