A Modern Rustic Wedding at a California Cabin Resort

In the summer of 2012, Carle Peterson was enjoying one of those perfect beach days when the sun is shining and it stays warm well past dark. “I was with a good friend, and a friend of hers invited us back to his house for dinner," she recalls. "That’s where I first met Kurt.” The friend, Travis, was roommates with Kurt Blasman, and he introduced him to Carle once she got to the house. “I’d changed into sweatpants and was completely unprepared to meet a tall, dark, and handsome stranger that night,” Carle says with a laugh. But when you know, you know. “By the end of the night, we were all dancing in the kitchen, and Kurt and I haven’t stopped dancing since,” Carle says.

Four years later, Carle and Kurt were exchanging gifts on Christmas in 2016 when Carle surprised Kurt with a pair of Carhartt overalls he’d been asking for. “I insisted he try them on right away,” she says. As they finished exchanging gifts, Kurt told Carle he had one more gift that was too big to wrap, so he asked her to turn around and close her eyes. “He walked outside, then came in a few moments later and told me I could turn around and open my eyes,” she recalls. “When I did, he was down on one knee in his new Carhartts (and no shirt!) asking me to marry him!”

The pair did a lot of searching for the perfect venue, considering a number of states and even an elopement in Europe before going to visit Pine Rose Cabins in Lake Arrowhead, California—a relatively short drive east of L.A. “We loved that it still felt like a destination wedding but was accessible for our 130 guests, and the property is incredibly charming,” says Carle. There, Kurt and Carle embraced the natural setting for their September 22, 2018, wedding, while also bringing a bit of modern L.A. cool to the rustic venue in a combination that looked as incredible as it sounds. Check out the photos by Heirlume Photography, below, to see their rustic California wedding below.

The couple’s wedding invitations were printed on handmade cotton paper and featured a deckled edge. “At the time I was working as an event planner, and choosing these little details was the most enjoyable part of the process!” says Carle.

The bride wanted a classic, timeless dress with a "bit of funk" and found just that in a Alexandra Grecco dress-and-gown pairing. The silk crepe dress had a body-skimming silhouette, while the hand-embroidered tulle cape was an amazing upgrade to the traditional veil. She added white satin block heel pumps, a perfect choice for the venue’s rocky paths.

Carle carried a bouquet of white roses, lush olive branches, eucalyptus, and fall leaves, all tied with her grandmother’s handkerchief.

Kurt wore a brown Todd Snyder suit, which was a perfect match for the venue's natural surroundings. “We exchanged our personal vows privately during our first look,” says Carle. “Kurt wanted it to be an intimate moment just between us, and I absolutely loved that idea!”

Carle’s bridesmaids wore black floor-length dresses from BHLDN in a V-neck silhouette.

The boutonnieres and bridesmaids’ bouquets took a cue from Carle’s bouquet, pairing white roses with eucalyptus, fall leaves, and velvet ribbon.

Guests were welcomed with a vintage wooden cart draped with dried blooms, inspired by a flower cart that the couple saw while on vacation in Europe.

Carle’s father walked her down the aisle beneath arches overgrown with ivy to the elevated ceremony space, where he and Kurt shared a moment before the ceremony began.

The canopy of lush trees created an intimate feeling for the proceedings. “The sun seeped through the branches, and all I could feel was warmth and happiness,” says Carle. “All I could think of was how lucky I was to be in our favorite place, on the most beautiful day, marrying my favorite person.”

“Our friend Travis, who introduced us that very first night, officiated,” Carle says. “He really made it as personal as possible, including reciting a poem I’d written for the occasion.”

Guests enjoyed whiskey and mezcal cocktails named after the couple’s cat, Rodeo, and dog, Olive, while the newlyweds snuck away for a few more photos.

The simple escort card display was inspired by an herb-drying rack, and even featured herbs and flowers hanging from miniature clothespins.

Dinner took place on a log deck, beneath strands of café lights. “We opted for greenery over flowers, and the garlands of eucalyptus, olive branches, and ferns looked so pretty against the white linens,” says Carle. The bride tied calligraphy place cards to individual nosegays for each guest, which she set atop the dinner menus.

“Kurt and I danced to ‘Fruits of my Labor’ by Lucinda Williams, then our friend Josh Desure did a live acoustic performance of his song ‘Stranded Son’ while Kurt danced with his mother,” Carle says. Then, once the dancing was over, she and Kurt joined their guests for dinner. “We are both fairly reserved and try to avoid being the center of attention, so sitting with our guests instead of at a sweetheart table made us feel like part of the party and truly surrounded by love.”

The couple’s vanilla wedding cake was covered with lush greenery that matched the centerpieces.

Looking back, the bride-turned-planner offered this piece of advice: “Don’t let anyone make this day about anything or anyone other than you and your fiancé,” says Carle. “That should be your number one priority!”