Sep 27, 2011
Sweet dreams started with Alison & Jeremy’s wedding full of a little romance, fabulousness and the sophisticated rustic touch (which we love to do…) and ended with the showering love given today by Style Me Pretty. Please check out the Style Me Pretty main feature on their always stylish blog right here!
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Mutual friends tried to set Alison and Jeremy up but Alison wouldn’t have anything to do with it for two years. Then they actually started talking and a bi-coastal relationship began. Fast forward to living as a couple in San Francisco when Jeremy proposed to Alison on a San Francisco rooftop surrounded by 10,000 lights – literally, and the lighted Golden Gate Bridge as a backdrop. They didn’t have a dream of how to finish their fairytale love story… Little did they know it would end up on a magnificent sprawling lawn on the shores of Lake Tahoe with the help of us at Merrily Wed.
The ceremony was held at Corpus Christi Catholic Church (seen in the Godfather II) and the reception site was kept a well hidden secret from their 165 guests. Upon arriving at the palatial, luminous lakefront estate, guests were treated to a champagne cocktail and twinkling music by a string quartet. Wine barrels doubled as cocktail tables and this look was carried over to the majestic main bar overflowing with soft, white flowers.
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Alison wanted a vintage, romantic look but with a twist of sophistication. The color palette was neutral with ivories, creams and natural tones but with a fresh punch of color from the flowers. To add a bit of glamour to her wedding day, we wove touches of gold throughout: from Alison’s couture French Chantilly lace dress with gold metallic accents, to her intricately detailed place setting to the gold rimmed glassware to the gold lace on the hanging mason jar lanterns.
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Her place card table was an old farm table with layers of antique lace wrapped around it. The place cards were woven into the lace. Two giant floral arrangements on wine barrels framed the entrance into her dreamy summer night tent – a clear top canopy with sheer ivory swagging which allowed the just right amount of light, towering trees and twinkling stars to peek through. The antique rustic chandeliers created a dramatic focal point at each end of the tent and a natural spot to gather the draped swagging.
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Napa French-slotted wooden chairs complimented the natural style of the eggshell Tuscany linen on the dining tables. Alison used colorful gold rimmed china reminiscent of her Grandma’s on top of a rustic embossed charger. The details were in the rich patterns of each. Gold rimmed glassware picked up the gold in the ornate floral band of the Diana china. Tables were named after locations that had sentimental meaning to Alison & Jeremy as well as the guests matched at each. These were attached to twigs and incorporated in the loosely arranged centerpieces.
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The wedding cake cannot go unmentioned – it was a very special family recipe by Aunt Allie. Served in her memory, Aunt Allie is Alison’s namesake and July 31st is not only their wedding date but Aunt Allie’s birthday. Pride & Joy, a 10 piece band, kicked off the dancing under the summer night’s dream of a reception tent. Their energy and costume changes kept the guests dancing.
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The dancing didn’t stop 3 hours later either. Three large buses transported the guests to the after party and the celebration stayed alive with music and drinks en route. Their story doesn’t end here but starts their new chapter on a picture perfect day on the shores of Lake Tahoe – every bit the quintessential summer night Alison always dreamed of and will never forget….
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Photography by Kate Webber Photography.
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Sep 14, 2011
The Tahoe Quarterly, a local magazine known for it’s glossy pages and high style features, decided to debut an inaugural wedding section this summer to showcase the high-end weddings around Lake Tahoe. They searched high and low for the perfect weddings to capture the true essence of Tahoe. We were elated to have them pick one of ours at the Thunderbird Lodge – the wedding of Kate and Kevin.
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Kate Dietrich and Kevin Davis met in Lake Tahoe when they lived there several years ago. It was only natural that they chose this breathtaking area for their wedding. Top choice for a location was the historical lakefront Thunderbird Lodge on the East Shore. This magical stone castle was the playground of 1930’s notoriously eccentric millionaire George Whittell – famous for his all-night parties (with Bill, his pet lion), colorful celebrity guests and high stake card games.
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Wedding guests were shuttled to this lakefront location and, before the wedding ceremony, treated to a tour of the unforgettable property including the quintessential rock gazebo and secret underground tunnels. The ceremony was set lakeside on the lawn and beneath the stone walls of the Thunderbird Lodge.
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Soft, feminine accents contrasted by natural, organic elements delighted guests in all the details from the first glimpse Save the Date complete to Kate’s lace embroidered wedding cake. Tahoe tradition was included in the ceremony by tossing flowers in remembrance of late family into Lake Tahoe. The ceremony and dinner were both held on the lakeside lawn maximizing the unforgettable views of Lake Tahoe and surrounding Sierra Mountains.
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The color scheme of salmon, gold, chocolate brown and cream complimented the stone castle and granite boulders perfectly. The famous, crystal clear Lake Tahoe blue water was echoed in the wedding favor – a nest with robin blue soap eggs at each place setting. Lake Tahoe’s alpenglow sunset was captured in their signature drink – a pear-melba martini, a stunning salmon color.
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Not a single guest will leave Lake Tahoe without feeling as if they had been a part of something truly special and magical – the meaningful, loving marriage of their friends in an unforgettable setting. Kate and Kevin could not have been more radiant and in love throughout special day.
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Aug 2, 2011 |
When the opportunity arose to design a dream wedding from a Style Me Pretty member’s inspiration board, we jumped at the chance. Earlier this year for over five months, we brainstormed all sorts of details and ideas. Slowly we assembled an all-star wedding pro line up to pull off this photo shoot. Today our creation is featured on the top wedding blog Style Me Pretty and we couldn’t be more tickled!
The Inspiration…
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Bold yet intricate, sophisticated yet understated along with the stunning colors of steel blue, blue-greens, violet, black, white and pewter – this inspiration board was the catalyst for our mystical, glamorous, romantic fairytale wedding. The dramatic spiraling staircase with its intricate floral scroll ironwork was one of our key muses. Not to mention crystal embellishments, white feathers, succulents, pewter highlights – these elements were woven through-out the many, many details of the day…
For the whole feature on Style Me Pretty, please click!
We hope you have as much fun browsing our favorite photos from the day as we had pulling all these details together!
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Our Wonderful Team – many thanks, for who without, none of this would have been possible:
Wedding Design – Merrily Wed
Photography – Annie X Photographie
Floral Design – Bellissima Floral
Venue – The Ritz-Carlton, Lake Tahoe
Wedding Cake – D’Lish Catering
Linens – Wildflower Linen
Rentals – Celebrations Party Rentals
Wedding Gown – Pronovias, courtesy of Swoon Bridal
Invitations/Paper Items – Angela Dal Bon Custom Invitations
Hair/Make-Up Stylist – Bettina Riffo
Model – Beth Hill and Koda the pug…
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Jul 11, 2011
What is more classic Tahoe than the infamous Lake Tahoe location at Fleur du Lac seen by millions in Godfather II? Well, not much. Courtney and Andrew were certainly lucky to have this stunning setting for their wedding day. And now you can share in their breathtaking and elegant soiree for 150…
Courtney and Andrew were married on September 18th on the West Shore of Lake Tahoe at Courtney’s family home located in Fleur du Lac. Courtney wanted to incorporate certain elements in her wedding day – chalkboards (since she is a teacher), candles, lanterns, a slight nautical nod and a strong sense of family.
She wanted to keep it elegant without losing the natural, outdoor touch of Tahoe. Must have colors were kelly green and navy with pops of orange and pink. How to bring it all together? Check out the gorgeous end result below!
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Andrew arrived for the ceremony in a vintage Hacker Craft woodie boat. Keeping with a New England tradition since his family hailed from the East Coast, the bridesmaids carried lightship baskets as their bouquets. A chocolate fern curl coordinated Andrew’s boutonierre with Courtney’s beautiful and natural bouquet of ferns, twigs, berries, pods, chocolate fern curls and soft ivory florals.
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With views of the runs of Homewood Ski Resort in the background, they exchanged their vows. Putting a twist on the plain chalkboard, we used wooden trivets instead for the bar menus. The father of the bride and father of the groom had fun naming the signature drinks and battling for the tastiest one. Guests found their escort cards in mini-rounds of angled wood. Tables were named after locations meaningful to the couple.
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Cocktail hour was held on the Yacht Club patio. Two different styles of gorgeous blue-green linen reminiscent of the glorious color of Lake Tahoe graced the tall and short cocktail tables for the pre-dinner festivities. Guests were treated to passed hors d’oeuvres and two appetizer stations while a string quartet played.
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Guests’ tables in the giant reception tent were adorned with kelly green linen and natural accents ranging from birch logs and vases to wooden trivets softened by the glamorous touch of mercury votives hanging in the tall centerpieces and on the tables. A 7-piece band switched the mood to dancing as the evening progressed.
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The sprawling dessert bar focused on the ivy-wrapped wedding cake and family wedding photos of multi-generations. A surprise awaited each guest under their color coordinated napkin tied with berries and ribbon. Courtney donned a cute kelly green cardigan for the second half of the night – staying in true style to her colors!
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Weddings are far and few in between at Fleur du Lac. With this rare opportunity, we were elated and honored to design and plan Courtney and Andrew’s wedding. When all was said and done, Courtney summed it up for us – “Thank you for making our day truly perfect!”
Photography by Angie Silvy Photography and Florals by Bellissima Floral.
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Apr 27, 2011
Caroline and Simon married lakeside last September at Storybook Cottage with 90 of their closest friends present. We shouldn’t forget to mention Darcy either, their beautiful and loyal Bernese mountain dog who proudly walked down the aisle and appropriately joined her parents in the recessional too!
Shades of pink and purple contrasted by darker shades of wine, plum and berry dressed the ceremony and reception. Moss green, light and dark, accented the juicy color palette aesthetically and literally. Discreet touches were found in moss lined votives, cake stand and cake topper, table numbers and playful moss balls decorated the tables. Floral stringers graced the trees around the bar area.
This stunning wedding was a treat to enjoy from the pre-ceremony champagne toast, the ice oyster bar, the authentic bagpiper and the details go on and on…
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Photography by Jay Reilly Photography. Florals by Bellissima Floral.
Mar 23, 2011 |
On the cover of Style Me Pretty today, is the sophisticated yet naturally elegant wedding of Natasha and Ali. The complete feature can be viewed here – Lake Tahoe Wedding by Merrily Wed. Natasha wanted a garden wedding and Ali wanted to be married on the shores of Lake Tahoe – both received their wish!
The wedding of Natasha and Ali was captivating to witness in person – a marriage of different cultures (Persian and Western), traditions and families. The love was palpable on their day and here are some of the mesmerizing photos taken by Dave Getzschman that we have been eagerly waiting to share.
Soft yet structured, refined yet rustic and shimmery yet natural details abound! Style Me Beautiful!
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