Rustic Treehouse Wedding in Northern Ohio with Fall Aesthetic
It is not every day that I am invited to photograph an intimate wedding hidden in the woods of Northern Ohio. Lauren and Mark chose to host their intimate wedding at a treehouse village near Toledo. This gem of a wedding venue was a rustic choice for an October wedding nestled in the woods. Temperatures in the Midwest were getting lower and the fall sun was shining through the majestic oaks, creating a perfect hygge atmosphere for outdoors lovers that like to cuddle up in a warm blanket and drink hot toddies.
Cannaley Treehouse Village: The Ultimate Treehouse Wedding Venue
Lauren and Mark are from Kansas, but their families are sprinkled around the Midwest, so Cannaley Treehouse Village near seemed like an ideal location for this intimate micro wedding. The couple wanted to spend the bigger part of the day on their own, getting ready in their cozy treehouse – the Nest and then wander off to the woods to enjoy a charcuterie picnic. They really cared about having a low-key experience, without having to follow strict timelines and a shot list. After having a bite of our delicious charcuterie takeout, we ventured out to a lake and explored a beautiful fall field with tall grass.
Porch Treehouse Wedding Ceremony Nestled in the Forest
Lauren and Mark got married on a porch of one of the treehouses surrounded by their closest families. The vows were emotional and beautifully meaningful. Since they only invited a handful of guests, the whole day felt unique and intimate. The day was well planned and structured, but we went with the flow whenever we needed to. The wedding party celebrated well into the night at a bonfire, with s’mores for a dessert.
How to host an intimate micro wedding in the Midwest
Midwest is a little bit underrated compared to the PNW and the West in general, but there are so many wonderful hidden gems in the area. I mostly specialize in destination weddings and weddings in Michigan and the Upper Peninsula, with landscapes ranging from woods, lakes, beaches, dunes, dramatic cliffs, waterfalls and even mountains. But I recently discovered, that Ohio also has some fantastic landscapes to offer! From the beautiful Hocking Hills State Park with caves and dramatic rocks, to Cuyahoga Valley National Park with forests and waterfalls. Toledo Zoo also hosts intimate weddings and apparently the giraffe section is very popular!
1. Envision the vibe of your ideal wedding, the activities you’d like to incorporate and the overall flow of the day.
2. Envision the landscape or the style of the venue you’re gravitating towards.
3. Think about what is the most important to you and base your wedding decisions on that.
4. Remember that even if you want to elope, you can invite your family to share your day!
5. Lastly, the sky is the limit! The beauty of intimate weddings and elopements really is having the opportunity to run your imagination wild and really execute on your dreams for what your wedding or elopement can look like.
Incorporating a personalized wedding adventure session
Lauren and Mark wanted to do an adventure session before their wedding ceremony. It was late October, so e did have a few sprinkles, but as they say – rain on a wedding day is good luck, because it means it will last. We explored a woodsy area with a little teepee, a field location with tall grass that looked like a savannah and a trail next to a lake with a charming bridge. Fall colors were peaking, so the locations looked like a romantic painting. I loved adventuring with the two, talking about life and getting to know them through their intimate wedding experience.
Favorite Elements at Cannaley Treehouse Village
This venue is a hidden gem, a well kept secret of Northern Ohio. Couples looking for a unique rustic venue that consists of several treehouses will find their soul feeling at home. It is ideal for Midwest locals that love the outdoors looking for a micro wedding venue. There are several houses that can accommodate guests in one general area, but the houses are far enough to make the experience feels secluded and intimate.
While Lauren and Mark chose to marry on a deck of one of the treehouses decorated in a minimalist manner, there are so many other spots to host a ceremony. Couples can add a bohemian macrame arch to the wooden pathways, or have a fun bouncy ceremony on a hanging bridge. Cannaley Treehouse Village is a wedding venue without full service, so it is advised to find a wedding planner in the area to help secure a caterer, bar service, music, chair rentals, etc. Lauren and Mark chose a DIY route, and while they had an amazing caterer on site for their wedding, they did everything else themselves.
Hi lovely, I am Yana, a Michigan based wedding and elopement photographer. When you book me as your Midwest wedding photographer, you’re also booking my knowledge of stunning locations in the area. But that’s not all. I spend hours scouting new locations, researching activities and vetting vendors to be able to provide my expertise for a unique experience. I will also become your sounding board to consult ideas about your dream elopement adventure. Through all of this, we will most likely become friends and I will silently shed a tear hiding behind my camera when I witness you exchange your vows with your one and only. To book your complimentary consultation and chat about your plans, fill out the form below.
