Driftwood and Crimson Coastal Wedding Inspiration

I have made no secret for my love of the beach and my home state of California – there was the sun drenched California Christmas board, the Coastal Fog board and shoot, and this romantic misty beach shoot – but today’s coastal wedding inspiration celebrates the gorgeous, wild stretches of fog swept beaches to the north of us. It calls to mind the less populous but utterly enchanting shoes of Oregon and Washington, and there’s more than a little New England and Ireland in there as well.

I wanted to bring in the raw textures of driftwood, the subtle gleam of water under the sun, and exuberantly blooming flowers in wild abandon. The palette of crimson, dusk blue, and warm brown caught the rough but romantic look that I was going for – a ceremony in front of a driftwood fireplace in a seaside chapel, salt-kissed locks in a low chignon, rambling roses and bougainvillea vines loosely tied into a half-tamed bouquet – all brought to mind little beach towns nestled into the dunes along the coast road. I love the idea of using rustic, natural elements to bring the wild sea into wherever your wedding may be – hunks of driftwood make perfect escort cards, and lacy, paper cut table numbers bring to mind the whorls and cavities of shells hollowed by the waves.

PHOTO GALLERY –

Photo Credits –

Natural Coastal Bride – Photography by Erich McVey Photography, Hair & Makeup by Amy McVey via OnceWed | Crimson Bougainvillea Wedding Cake – Photography by Anna Delores Photography, Cake designed by MJB Cakes via 100 Layer Cake | Driftwood Escort Cards – Photography by Brooke Boling Photography, Calligraphy by Maureen Koo via OnceWed | Water Inspired Wedding Invitation – Photography by Caroline Joy Photography, Invitation designed by The Stationery Bakery via Ruffled | Driftwood Fireplace Ceremony Altar – Photography by Thayer Allyson Gowdy Photography, Located at  Mankas | Crimson and Blue Bridal Bouquet – Photography by Joel Serrato Photography, Florals by Flowerwild via Style Me Pretty