Intimate Vintage Nautical Nuptials

Inspired by the grand nautical traditions of Lake Tahoe, this intimate styled celebration takes place and on a stunning Chris Craft wooden boat, the Wild Goose II, on Tahoe’s crystal-clear waters. A summery, lace-topped gown with a flowing, champagne underlined train and tied with a blue satin bow perfectly complements the soft curls and vintage inspired makeup worn by the bride. Sapphires, diamonds and aquamarine jewels for the perfect alternative bride dangle from her ears and flash from her ring finger. A lush bouquet with pastel colored roses and blue thistle, overflows with eucalyptus, while a eucalyptus garland garnishes the back of the Wild Goose II, and eventually adorns the base of the sweetheart table at the end of a private estate pier. Custom plates from a local potter grace the table along with antique flatware, crystal chandelier candelabras, crystal glasses and a stunning floral centerpiece. A delicate white cake with a simple blue and gold leaf accent topped with blue thistle sweetened the end of the day.

 

 

Vendor Credits:

Photographer – Someplace Images  |  Location – Wild Goose II  |  Dress Designer – J&L Designs Boutique  |  Floral Designer – Love and Lupines  |  Handmade Goods Designer – Blue Wolf Studios  |  Jewelry – Kimberly Collins Colored Gems  |  Hair Stylist – Gabriella Kramer  |  Makeup Artist – Angelina Inez  |  Cake Designer – Confection

 




Southern Barbecue Meets the North Shore

Moe’s Original Bar B Que, known for its Southern victuals, is an amazing spot in Tahoe City for a rehearsal dinner, engagement party or other wedding event.

Ginger Karl, Catering Manager at Moe’s, handles all of their special events and group gatherings. Although she has a busy schedule, Ginger recently chatted with Tahoe Engaged about her life and her work.

Moe’s Grows in Tahoe City

First, some background about how Moe’s made its way to Tahoe City. Owners Joshua Wallick and Eric Pilcher studied under the founders of Moe’s BBQ for five years to perfect their “pit master” Southern Barbecue skills. Then in 2013, they moved Westward to North Lake Tahoe.

The next year, Moe’s opened its first lakefront location, at 120 Grove Street. Then in 2018, they moved next door into the Tahoe City Marina building. This facility, at 700 North Lake Boulevard, has four times the seating capacity of their previous space, as well as additional catering capacity for larger groups. Patrons of Moe’s can arrive by car, boat or bicycle.

“Moe’s is a great option for casual lakefront catering in the dining room,” says Karl, noting that the dining room seats 70 people, the front porch accommodates 60, and the outdoor patio can host 80 guests.

Dining area inside Moe's Bar B QuePhoto: Julie Stanley
Group Dinner at Moe's Bar B Que Lake Tahoe wedding rehearsalPhoto: Jacqueline Robbins

Moe’s also caters off-site events with a BBQ trailer that can be incorporated for smoking ribs and chicken at outdoor locations.

Recently Moe’s released their first brewed beer, the “Moe’s-aic IPA.” The restaurant also has a full bar.  Their next project is a brewery bar which will open in a new space within the 700 North Lake Boulevard location.

“We focus on a fun, casual experience for the group,” Karl says, explaining that groups can choose from paper plates and plastic-ware or upgrade to porcelain plates, cloth napkins and silverware. 

 

Meet Ginger

Ginger Karl enjoys live music, camping, biking and anything in the great outdoors.  She loves spending lots of time with her new black lab puppy, Roxxy.

Ginger Karl with Joshua Wallick, Moe's Bar B Que Lake Tahoe
Ginger Karl with Joshua Wallick, Moe’s Bar B Que

A native of Columbus, Mississippi, Karl graduated from Mississippi State University and moved to Vail, Colorado, where she handled catering at a high-end bowling alley. Later she moved to North Lake Tahoe, where she became Membership Director for the North Lake Tahoe Chamber. In 2018, she became Moe’s Catering Manager.

Karl comes from a long background of restaurant and catering/event experience. She says Moe’s serves the style of BBQ she grew up on in the South. She says it’s the perfect venue and food for laid back couples who want to have a good time with their friends and family. Think red and white checkered table cloths, casual fun and great food!

Here’s how it works: for a standard catering menu, couples would typically pick one meat: Chicken, Pork or Turkey; and then choose two sides, such as Mac & Cheese, Marinated Slaw, Baked Beans or Potato Salad. Top off the meal with desserts like Banana Pudding, Mud Pie and Chocolate Icebox Pie.

 

“We’re experts in portioning meat for parties,” says Karl. “You’re never going to run out of food with Moe’s.” Aside from meats, Moe’s also offers items for guests with dietary restrictions, including a gluten free, dairy free, or egg free menu. Many of the sides at the restaurant are vegetarian – they even offer a smoked tofu called “SMOFU”.

Karl’s advice to couples planning their rehearsal dinner?  “The wedding day is such a whirlwind, it’s nice to incorporate something that’s going to be memorable,” she says, noting that some couples have added lighting or special decorations to their rehearsal dinner.

Flower arrangement on table at Moe's Bar B QuePhoto: Julie Stanley
Moe's Bar B Que Lake Tahoe wedding rehearsal - table decor

 

The mood at Moe’s? “Laid back, fun, not stressful, with great music playing,” says Karl.  And best of all, “You’re right on the Lake.”

 

Contact Moe’s Original Bar B Que:

Ginger Karl, Catering Manager

Website: moesbbqtahoe.com

Phone: 530-580-8770

Email:  ginger@moesoriginalbbq.com




Showered with Love

On a Spring Saturday in Squaw Valley, the skies were overcast and showers were in the forecast.  For Lauren and Mikael, this gray day was a great day for their wedding.

Photographer Tim Halberg captured all the precious moments and delicious details of this beautiful celebration.

 

The Engagement

The couple, who met online on Match.com, dated for two years before getting engaged in a very romantic moment. They spent the day at the beach in Half Moon Bay with their puppy.  On the way home, they stopped for dinner and drinks at the Moss Beach Distillery. Before dinner, they enjoyed the fire pits and snuggled in blankets on the dog-friendly patio, overlooking the Pacific Ocean.

Then right before sunset, Mikael, a firefighter, suggested taking a photo out on the picturesque cliff. He popped the question on a path overlooking the beach.  “The whole outside of the restaurant exploded in cheers and applause,” says Lauren, who works in medical device sales. “It was amazing.”

 

The Venue

The couple wanted a destination style wedding that their guests could drive to, spend the weekend and all enjoy time together. Lauren and Mikael fell in love with the Resort at Squaw Creek during their venue tour.

“It is a magical place where beautiful meadows are surrounded by snowcapped mountains,” gushes Lauren. “The outside was perfect and we loved that our guests could stay at the hotel, walk to the ceremony, cocktail hour, reception. And the bonus was Sandy’s Pub, where we could host an after-party. Truly a romantic location.”

 

The Color Palette

A gray, white and green color scheme provided a perfect match for the couple’s Tahoe nuptials.  “We wanted to use natural colors that would enhance the beauty of Tahoe and not take away from it,” says Lauren.  These color choices blended harmoniously with the cloud cover, the majestic mountains and the verdant valley that surrounded the couple.

 

The Ceremony

The ceremony was held on the resort’s spa deck. “The ceremony was simple and romantic, with the outdoor fireplace overlooking the meadow and snowcapped mountains,” says the bride.

Lauren looked stunning in a lacy gown with a low beaded back from Enzoani, along with impeccable hair & makeup from Love is in the Hair. Mikael wore a charcoal grey suit, with a grey and silver paisley tie, white pocket square, watch and cuff links, a gift from his bride.

Seeing each other for the first time at the wedding was emotional for the bride and groom.  “He looked so handsome and he was so happy. I knew he was the man I was meant to marry and I just couldn’t wait to hold his hands and be there with him, as we said ‘I do,’” recalls Lauren.  Mikael remarks, “There was the most amazing and beautiful woman in the world and she was coming down the stairs to marry me. I was fighting tears her whole way down the aisle.”

The couple wrote their own vows. As soon as Mikael slid the wedding band on Lauren’s finger, it started to rain. Lauren says that moment felt magical.  (In some cultures, rain on your wedding day is considered auspicious, as it symbolizes cleansing and fertility.)

Guests opened their umbrellas and savored the moment. The bride says it made for some laughs and amazing pictures.  “There is a picture of us walking down the aisle after we were married and my brother hands me an umbrella,” says Mikael. “I’m holding Lauren’s hand and so the umbrella is actually over me and not her. I caught a lot of flak for not covering her with it, but it makes for a great picture.”

 

The Reception

The reception was also held at the resort in the ballroom. “The reception was gorgeous with champagne drapes, elegant lighting and beautiful flowers,” says Lauren.  The ballroom had two big windows and a patio which the couple and their guests used for a cigar and whiskey bar, which Lauren says, “was a big hit.”

The menu included hors d’oeuvres, salad and an entrée choice of grilled NY sirloin, stuffed chicken with chevre fondue or cauliflower steak with smoked tomato, grilled Portobello, roasted shallots and pine nuts. For dessert, everyone enjoyed vanilla sponge cake, strawberry filling, vanilla buttercream frosting and chocolate covered strawberries, as well as treats like mini cake bites, mini strawberry shortcake and chocolate, caramel pistachio bites.

 

The Photographer’s View

Photographer Tim Halberg loved shooting Lauren and Mikael’s wedding. Here he shares a few teachable moments from this wedding:

“Getting ready on property makes things way more relaxing and saves time on the wedding day,” he says. “Making time for portraits when the light is best was a win. Having a coordinator to run the day and ensure all of the details were in place.”

He also appreciated how much the couple embraced Mother Nature. He says Lauren and Mikael were OK with the rain coming down a little bit and not letting it ruin the day. It only added to the experience and made things special. “It’s Tahoe/the Sierra Nevada…rain happens, and it’s a beautiful thing.”

 

Comments from the Couple

“Give yourself enough time and hire a wedding planner,” advises Lauren.

“Support your wife and don’t forget to have fun,” says Mikael.

“It truly was the best day getting to marry Mikael and having so many of our loved ones celebrate with us,” says Lauren. “No other time in our lives will all our loved ones be at the same place with us. It was definitely a weekend we’ll never forget.”

 

Vendor Credits

Photographer: Tim Halberg  |  Venue and Catering: The Resort at Squaw Creek  |  Wedding Planner: Audere Events  |  Hair and Makeup: Love Is In The Hair  |  Florist: Stems by Diana  |  Rental Items: Celebrations! Party Rentals  |  Music: DJ Eli FreshMode




Visiting Three Sides of Lake Tahoe

Three perfect days on three shores

This article originally appeared in Marin Magazine’s print edition with the headline: “Tahoe Trifecta”

Author: Kirsten Jones Neff

Whether you explore Lake Tahoe by boat, hike to the highest peak, paddle into a secret cove or mountain-bike down a sandy incline, the views will surely take your breath away. Of course, there are those wonderful lazy Tahoe days when it is enough to relax on the deck, sipping ice tea and staring out into the deep blue bliss of the lake, but it is hard to stay put for long when natural wonders and adventures await in every direction. Tahoe is a land of possibility; whatever your age or preferred activities, there are beaches and boat rides, massages and mountaintops, trails and treasures to be found. Below are three suggested itineraries — Tahoe summer days tailored to your heart’s desire, depending on whether you are searching for restorative quiet, vigorous activity or playful family time. On the northern beach at Sand Harbor you will find several rental outfits. You can rent SUPs and kayaks at Sand Harbor Rentals, Jet Skis at Sand Harbor Water Sports, and even jet boots at Tahoe Jetovator. Bring your goggles and swim and boulder along the shore, exploring sandy coves north and south of the park.

Stand Up Paddle Boarding Lake Tahoe wedding group activities

For dinner, make a reservation and enjoy lakeside views at the Lone Eagle Grill at the Hyatt or head up the mountainside for stunning panoramas from the Big Water Grille. Or if you just want to grab some grub on your way home from the beach, stop by T’s Mesquite Rotisserie in Incline or the Char Pit in King’s Beach, a classic old-time joint serving burgers, fries and shakes.

 

East Shore: Outdoor Adventure

Hoping for one of those days where you leave it all on the trail? Whether you prefer to hike or bike, Nevada’s Incline Village and East Shore offer excellent opportunities to utterly exhaust yourself as you soak up the sights. If you’re a mountain biker, Flume Trail Bikes is the place to start. Bring your own bike or let the staff set you up with a bike and all the gear you’ll need. The shop offers shuttles for two exhilarating rides — the Flume Trail from Spooner Lake or, on even-number days of the month, the Tahoe Rim Trail from Tahoe Meadows.

Both are one-way rides, and you’ll get your climbing in on either one, as well as some technical downhill. Both routes bring you back to Flume Trail Bikes at the base of the mountain. If you prefer to travel on foot, you can head straight up Tunnel Creek Trail. It’s steep, which is exactly why you’ll be rewarded with some of the most dramatic views of Lake Tahoe available. Whether you’ve biked or hiked, when you finish you’ll be hungry, so stop by Tunnel Creek Cafe next door to the bike shop, where delicious salads and grilled sandwiches are the order of the day, along with an array of craft beer on tap.

After lunch, cool down with some lake time at nearby Sand Harbor. It is best to take the East Shore Express shuttle, which runs every 20 minutes from Incline, so you can skip the challenge of parking in the popular state park.

 

North Shore: Peace and Pleasure

Daybreak is Tahoe’s most serene time of day, and there is nothing quite as calming as an early morning kayak or stand-up paddleboard ride, silently breaking the smooth surface of the crystal-clear water, then peering down to see massive boulders resting on the sandy lake floor below. Several North Lake spots rent both kayaks and SUPs, and Waterman’s Landing in Carnelian Bay also rents outrigger canoes. There you will find the Waterman’s Landing Cafe for those who want to caffeinate before heading out. Tahoe Adventure Company in Tahoe Vista also offers rentals, as does Tahoe Paddle and Oar, in Kings Beach.

If you prefer to start your day on land, get your vinyasa fix at The Yoga Room in Tahoe City. Or to bring your yoga practice to the water, try paddleboard yoga through Mountain Lotus Yoga.

For brunch or lunch, Tahoe House Bakery and Cafe in Tahoe City makes sandwiches with fresh-baked bread and has a reputation for the best European-style coffee in the area. For lunch to go, swing by the tucked-away local favorite Sugar Pine Cakery and Cafe in Lake Forest — a great place for gluten-free treats — and take your feast and good vibes into the woods.

At the nearby North Tahoe Cross Country Center you can hike or rent mountain bikes to explore the woods on some of the 45 miles of Tahoe’s most popular trails, including several dog-friendly routes. The rental center provides maps of the well-marked trails. After hiking or biking, get back on track with your rest and recovery regimen at Massage on the Lake in Tahoe City, where the bodywork therapists are “amazing,” according to locals in the know.

Mountain Biking Lake Tahoe wedding group activities

For a perfect finale to a peaceful day, book an evening cruise with Stellar Tahoe out of Carnelian Bay. Owners and charter hosts Matt and Bethany Lund, who offer a variety of set and custom tours, know every nook and cranny of the lake, as well as the most majestic views. Chambers Landing Bar, home of the famous Chambers Punch, is a favorite sunset stop to make before heading home under the rising moon.

 

West Shore: Family Fun

The West Shore is a giant playground for family fun. Start your day just two miles south of Tahoe City at the Fire Sign Cafe, a longtime local favorite for breakfast scrambles and omelets.

After breakfast, you may need a round of roshambo to decide where to go next: rent rubber boats and tubes at Truckee River Raft Company or Truckee River Rafting, to float down the Truckee River? Visit the Granlibakken Resort treetop adventure ropes course? Or head to High Sierra Waterski School, with locations in both Sunnyside and Homewood, where the family can rent an array of waterborne vehicles, or sign up for waterski, wakeboard or wake surf lessons?

If you are a hiking family, try the Stanford Rock Trail, which starts in Sunnyside, a recently reworked route with abundant wildflowers and waterfalls (depending on the time of year) and lake views from the top. This is a rigorous climb (11.4 miles and 1,900 feet of elevation gain) if you do the whole loop, but is easy to adjust for an out-and-back.

For lunch the West Shore Cafe in Homewood has lovely lakeside tables. Another option is to stop by Obexer’s General Store, grab deli sandwiches and head to D.L. Bliss State Park. There you can swim and explore coves or hike south on the Rubicon Trail toward Emerald Bay. This trail, which takes you along the cliffs above the lake and offers some of the best hiking views of Tahoe, is long (6 miles each way) but can also be adjusted for a shorter out-and-back.

Wrap up the fun at Sunnyside, a West Shore lodge with two restaurants — the Mountain Grill (where the music never disappoints) or the Lakeside Dining Room. The lodge is popular with visitors and locals, so reservations are a must.




The River of Love

Camie and Eric met in a very Tahoe way – skiing at Squaw Valley!  Three years later, they got engaged while on a river rafting trip on the Middle Fork of the Salmon River with Western Rivers Conservancy.

Camie fondly recalls Eric’s proposal.  “He’d arranged for us to go out one morning to Big Creek where we were planning to hike and fish. On my first cast I caught a fish, which never happens.  I was asking Eric to help me bring in the line and he was scrambling in his backpack getting the ring.  After we let go of the fish, he proposed! I was shocked and very, very excited.”

The following August, Camie and Eric were married at their own estate, the Bullshead Lodge near Squaw Valley. Monique Sady with Photography by Monique captured these spectacular images of their special day.  

 

“From the moment we got engaged, we knew we wanted to get married in Tahoe,” says Camie. “We looked around at a few locations but quickly realized that the property we have would provide a perfect venue as it sits right on the Truckee River. We had a lot of work to do to get it into shape to be the venue.”

Chelsea Grabham with Blue Sky Events, who was the full service Lead Planner and Designer for this wedding, recalls first visiting the venue during winter when it was covered in several feet of snow. “Upon seeing the property for the first time, it was hard to determine the scope of work needed to develop the site for a wedding with over 100 guests,” she says. “With so much snow at the first meeting, and a willow glen in the area where they envisioned the reception, it was clear that it would take a lot of work once the snow melted to get everything in order.”

Grabham continues, “Come Spring, there were only a few short months to design the site, landscape and build the ceremony and reception spaces. It took a lot of coordination between all the partners (landscaper, wedding planner, rental company and owners) to come to final decisions.  In the end, the property was completely transformed, much of the hard work done by the clients themselves! It made for a very special venue that was extra personal to them.”

It was also a hectic time for the couple – Eric had just started his own company and Camie had started a new job.  But with their friends, parents and Eric’s brothers, all the hard work paid off. Camie was delighted, as she remarked, “seeing the property transform was remarkable after working hard many weekends.”

 

The Stationery

Designer Paul Waters helped Camie and Eric create a custom wedding image for their Save the Date and invitations.  The green and white color scheme coordinated perfectly with the natural beauty of the private estate. A pop of coral (the bride’s favorite hue) added some summer spirit to the design.

“It was a perfect representation of us in a canoe (which is my nickname) on a river (given their importance to our relationship) with Squaw Valley’s mountains in the background,” Camie explains.

 

The Ceremony

Camie looked stunning in a Sarah Seven gown, which featured a beaded top and ivory skirt with a slit in the front. She wore gold drop earrings and a gold bracelet (a family heirloom) that her mother had given her. Eric wore a tan tuxedo with a bowtie.

As 130 guests looked on, the bride entered the ceremony area down a large stone stairway, which was built just for the wedding. “It was a special entrance to witness. The bride walked down the stone steps to meet her father at the bottom who took her the rest of the way to the river front ceremony.” says Grabham.  The couple’s friend Drew Dougherty (who also helped transform the property) officiated the ceremony, recounting the couple’s courtship and adding humor.

Since Eric had torn his Achilles tendon just one month before the big day and wasn’t able to stand during the ceremony, the bride and groom sat in chairs facing the guests. “It was really nice to hear the ceremony for the first time while facing our guests and each other,” says Camie, noting that she and Eric wrote their own vows. “Exchanging our vows was so much fun. They represented our personalities and humor. They were heartfelt, personal and represented our commitment to each other.”

 

The Reception

Following the ceremony, guests followed a short trail through the forest for a cocktail hour at the river’s edge.  In addition to savoring tasty treats from Butter + Salt Catering, guests had an opportunity to fish and play games by the river.

Grabham enjoyed seeing the guests having so much fun. “One guest picked up one of the fly fishing rods that were placed by the groom and started fishing while others were playing bocce ball on the river-stone beach. The groom is an avid fisherman and wanted the river to be a big part of the wedding. It all happened so organically and was exactly how the clients imagined it!”

While guests were reveling by the river, the ceremony space was turned into a delightful site for dining and dancing.  A sumptuous family-style meal was served, featuring Grilled Peach & Shishito Salad, Sumac Roasted Salmon and Grilled Tri-Tip.  To top off the meal, Paris Cakes in Reno created a beautiful two-tiered wedding cake. The top tier was diary-free since Camie could not have dairy.

The couple asked their respective parents and Eric’s brothers to give toasts during the reception.  Then, a top Tahoe band, the Dead Winter Carpenters, revved up the music and guests danced the night away.  Camie recalls, “The band was so much fun and such a special treat to have them play in the woods with us.”

In the end, the wedding day was a dream come true for the couple.  “Getting married at our house in our backyard and see it transform to an enchanted forest with the river, live music and all of my favorite people was overwhelming,” says Camie. “We had so much fun and it felt very intimate and romantic.”

 

Teachable Moments

“Some may imagine that it is easier to have a wedding at a private estate and believe there are cost savings, however it takes much more time, resources and planning than if you were to get married at an event center or ‘turnkey’ venue,” says Grabham, noting that being flexible and hiring reputable professionals are the most important things a couple can do to assure a successful wedding.

Before signing any contracts for a “private estate wedding,” you should ask lots of questions.  For example, you should not rent a wedding venue that is not permitted or zoned by the county to be a wedding site.  You also need to be sure there is adequate electricity for additional property lighting, tent heaters, music equipment, etc.  In addition, you should consider things like parking, bathrooms, water supply, and all the other logistics of building an event venue from scratch, while ensuring it’s a comfortable and safe space for you and your guests.

 

Vendor Credits

Wedding Planning & Design: Blue Sky Events  |  Photographer: Photography by Monique  |  Cake: Paris Custom Cakes  |  Caterer: Butter + Salt  |  Flowers:  Martha Bernyk Floral Design  |  Hair and Makeup: The Decorated Bride  |  Music: Dead Winter Carpenters  |  Rental Items and Tenting: Celebrations! Party Rentals and Tents  |  Transportation: Reno Tahoe Transportation  |  Videographer: Distinctive Video Productions




The Height of Nuptial Bliss

Adrian and Nate met through mutual friends at Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo when she was on the women’s lacrosse team and he was on the men’s team. They dated for five years before getting engaged at the summit of Mount Tallac on the South Shore of Tahoe during a morning hike on the 4th of July weekend.

A little over a year later, they were married outside the Zephyr Lodge at Northstar California, in a fall wedding.  “I always knew I wanted to get married in Tahoe,” says Adrian, who spent her childhood summers at her parent’s cabin at Fallen Leaf Lake.

Their photographer, Ciprian Photography, captured all of the magical moments, while their Wedding Planner, Stephanie Marie & Co. made sure their special day flowed smoothly. “Establishing a rapport with my clients is paramount to having successful working relationships,” says Ciprian. “Adrian and Nate were just that, easy to get to know, talk to and communicate with. Wonderful couple.”

Most of the 115 guests were from the Bay Area, as well as out-of-town guests, including some from England, Switzerland, Austria, New York, Maine, Colorado, Washington and Oregon.  Since many guests were traveling a long distance, Adrian and Nate valued having a venue that could host both the ceremony and reception. “The reason we picked this location was honestly the gondola/ski lift ride on the way up,” says Adrian. “We thought, ‘what a cool way to get to a wedding?!’”

The couple had a First Look photo session in Northstar Village.  Adrian remembers feeling overwhelmed and excited when she first saw her groom.  “I would not label myself as a ‘crier’ but immediately burst into tears when I saw Nate,” she says. “After all the wedding build up for 14 months, I was so comforted to see him that I burst into tears.”  Nate recalls that he grew “increasingly happy as I saw how happy Adrian was.”

Then the wedding party took the gondola and chairlift up to the fields surrounding the Zephyr Lodge.  Adrian loved her wedding flowers from Love & Lupines, especially the bouquets and the ceremony “altar piece” from Manzanita Glow.  She wanted the décor to be natural as possible, so she chose earth tones including greens, maroons, oranges, dark yellows, wood and bronze. Their coordinating invitations were on brown recycled paper with a rose gold tree ring print.

The ceremony was very personal, with all of the content created by the bride, the groom or their officiant Graham, who is Adrian’s brother-in-law.  “We wrote our own vows, had a couple of readings by family members and walked down the aisle to acoustic guitar,” says Adrian, who wore a V-neck, floor length dress, with a key hole on the back in a large laser print lace. “It was very special.”

The couple loved their reception at Zephyr Lodge.  Guests dined on Mexican food followed by individual pies, instead of cake.  Then it was time for dancing.  Nate remarked, “All of our friends and family let loose and you got to see everyone’s personality as we all danced together.”

Adrian recalls her favorite wedding day memory: “Right after our ceremony, after we had just walked back into Zephyr, and we were by ourselves for like three seconds and both of us realizing we were married!”

Nate was surprised by how quickly the wedding day went.  “Luckily, the pictures were a great way to remember each moment afterwards,” he says.

 

Teachable Moment:

The newlyweds advise other couples to plan some alone time during the big day to reflect on everything that is going on. “There is only one day of your wedding, so take a minute to soak it in and recharge for the next event and interactions,” says Nate.

 

Vendor Credits:

Ceremony & Reception Site: Northstar California  | Photographer: Ciprian Photography  |  Wedding Planner: Stephanie Marie & Co.  |  Ceremony Décor Rentals: Manzanita Glow  |  Hair & Makeup: Art of Beauty  |  Flowers: Love & Lupines  |  Desserts: Flour Girl Wedding Cakes  |  Music: Brian Hess Music