No sign of status quo here within Rachel and Bill’s whimsical forest elopement. The couple had browsed some traditional venues, but when they found this private, calm, holiday hideaway, it just felt right. Embracing the surrounds, their wedding-day styling was grounded in nature with pops of bold, unexpected decor—the two juxtaposing elements teaming up to create something that felt truly Rachel and Bill to a tee.
It was an intimate occasion with just a handful of special people present, as well as talented pros that felt more like celebration participates than wedding vendors. Together culminating in an energy that was “incredibly sweet, natural, and collaborative”. Even Mother Nature jumped in to contribute—“during a speech, when our friend mentioned staying together through life’s calm and stormy days, it suddenly started to rain for about a minute. It felt quietly symbolic and beautiful.”
Artfully captured by ISO25 photography, immerse yourself in Rachel and Bill’s day below.
STYLING A FOREST WEDDING | INCORPORATING BALLOONS & BOLD TONES
“I’ve always loved nature, especially forests, and we both lean towards a minimal but slightly unconventional aesthetic. The forest itself was already enough, but we introduced balloons as a contrast – something slightly artificial within nature, creating a dreamlike tension. Our planner [Pearl Bloom Studio], suggested adding red to a white base, which strengthened that contrast, and I was completely obsessed with it.”
SWEET, UNIQUE DETAILS | DAISY FLORAL RINGS
“Our vow cards and floral rings were some of our favourite details. The vow cards were customised, a painterly texture background with red text and ribbon. The rings were made of red and white daisies. They felt very personal, not just visually consistent but truly speaks for us.”
INTENTIONAL, CHIC FRUIT’N’VEG WEDDING TABLE STYLING
“We selected some red fruits and vegetables as part of the dining table setup. For example, I chose chilli because I come from a place where we love spicy food.”
FINDING THE DRESS | ANTI-BRIDAL BRIDAL
“It took about two months. I went through different ideas from traditional bridal to something more unconventional. Eventually, I let go of what a “bride” is supposed to look like. I chose a ShushuTong piece with a veil found from a small studio. They felt playful, not overly sweet, but had a quiet rebelliousness that felt more like me.”
A FRESH, FASHION FORWARD APPROACH TO GROOMS-WEAR
“I wanted to go with a grey suit, but not in a conventional way – something that still felt considered and slightly unexpected. The jacket is from Prada 23AW, featuring a distinctive blue-green contrast collar that almost replaces the need for a shirt. It can also be worn unbuttoned, which brings a more relaxed, effortless attitude to the look. The trousers are from Fax Copy Express, which help balance the overall silhouette – slightly structured but not rigid. For the inner layer, I chose a short-sleeve piece from my own brand, Loom Forma, to soften the formality and make the whole outfit feel lighter and more natural. It actually took quite a long time to find a grey that felt right – something with enough depth and balance. But once everything came together, it felt very aligned with how I wanted to present myself: controlled, but still effortless.”
A PERSONAL TWIST ON TRADITION
“In our culture, a legal registration doesn’t usually come with a ceremony, so we treated it as something fun for us, a private turning point. And we’ll have another, more traditional ceremony in China later for our families.”
ON OPTING FOR A DESTINATION WEDDING & DITCHING (CONVENTIONAL) WEDDING RINGS
“One thing I’m really glad we did was step away from the city, and from anything that felt like we should be doing I’m also glad we exchanged rings, even if they were floral. We actually never found engagement or wedding rings that felt right, and didn’t want to force it. But the act of exchanging something still mattered. The flower rings ended up being unexpectedly perfect.”
ELOPEMENT INSPO & PLANNING A QUIRKY WEDDING
Hope you’ve got your Pinterest board open. Browse more intimate, intentional elopements here or get inspired by these couples who pushed the envelope, proudly rethinking what a wedding can look like.
CONTRIBUTING VENDORS Photographer JJ & Ian – ISO25 Event Planner, Stylist & Floral Rings Pearl Bloom Studio Florist Love Blooms Venue Forest Retreat via Airbnb Cake Maker Le Yeahllow Celebrant Siwen Wang THE BRIDE Bridal Gown Designer SHUSHU/TONG Veil Prochaine Shoes Dries Van Noten Accessories Vivienne Westwood THE GROOM Jacket & Shoes Prada Shirt Loom Forma Pants Fax Copy Express Tie Louis Vuitton Watch Rolex
