Winter is not often the setting for details and wonders inspired by flowers, but the dream team behind today’s botanical winter elopement inspiration concept brought flowers to life in a shoot that honoured all there is to love about the winter season.

Set against a stormy forest backdrop at the Sunshine Coast’s Homegrown, our team, led by Cat of Woods & Bloom (assisted by Genevieve Rattle) , with photographer Anita Elliston Photography wanted to create a warm, intimate vibe to reflect this unloved season.

Cat tells, “The original plan was to shoot in a nearby field of wild grass which looks especially beautiful when sunlit with golden light. However, a storm moved through and we had to adapt and found a tree-lined country lane. This change felt very much in the spirit of an elopement. It’s so small and intimate a wedding, that with a loved-up couple it’s a lot easier to embrace a spontaneous relocation!”

With a bouquet of dried blooms (including the lush dried hydrangea) and foliage styled by Cat, the botanical elements were carried through each moment of the day. The handcrafted and hand-calligraphied stationery by Lindqvist Ink set the scene and the vegan wedding cake (with its decadent caramel sauce drizzle) was encircled with organic blooms, sat next to bloom-topped, caramel-centred sugar cookies by SweetP Cakes and Cookies.

“Botanical details, such the rawness of the dried flowers we used, combined well with the earthy colours in the couple’s outfits,” tells Cat. “The warmth of the baked goods with organic blooms baked-in and even the paper with dried blooms surrounding the calligraphy all contributed to creating beautiful imagery to inspire couples that would like to elope.”

Our bride and groom (Yani Rae Cormick and Matt Allman) have been together for seven years as cherished high school sweethearts. They were suitably relaxed in their attire styled by Kimber Creative, wearing pieces from Etsy, Asos, Lovisa, General Pants Co and Roger David (with hair by House of Hair) as they set about celebrating their “marriage”. The finishing touch? A decadent, beautiful ring from Mclean + Co placed atop an emerald green velvet ring box from Amonie.