Gatsby-esque Lake Tahoe Wedding | Merrily Wed Lake Tahoe Wedding Design

Dapper black tuxes, gilded gold touches, an endless pier with a beckoning light, a big band… details echoing a definite Gatsby style made this wedding a timeless classic.

Karen and Cyrus wed last September at a private lakefront estate on the West Shore of Lake Tahoe.  As leaves turn and kids head back to school, Tahoe becomes a quiet playground and there is no doubt why this is the most popular time of year to marry here.  Cyrus and his groomsmen arrived for the ceremony aboard an Italian water taxi to the delight of their unsuspecting guests.

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Peony pink, ivory, gold and touches of champagne comprised the color palette of this classically elegant wedding.  Heavy draping reminiscent of Karen’s stunning gown graced the main arch that guests walked through.  Gold detailed embellishments could be found through-out the reception including the vintage lounge.

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Crystal chandeliers and clear tents allowed the towering pines overhead to not be forgotten and blended their classic indoor styling with the Tahoe outdoors.

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A tenor and string quartet set the stage for the ceremony and later on an 8 piece big band from Los Angeles entertained for the reception – all true to the vibe of the day.  The black and white checkerboard dance floor was the perfect touch to the stylish Gatsby feel complete with simple string lighting overhead.

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After sunset, the lighting on the endless pier beckoned guests to come closer to the best vantage point for soaking up the surrounding Jewel of the Sierra.  Truly a timeless and unforgettable soiree’!

Jonathan of Jonathan Young Weddings captured this beautiful wedding and the talented Hattie of Art In Bloom designed the stunning florals.

Tahoe Signature of Style,

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Awarded “Best of Weddings” for 2013 by the Knot! | Merrily Wed Lake Tahoe Wedding Planning

When we first heard last December of being awarded ” Best of Weddings for 2013″ by the Knot, we were so excited (blush, blush!).  Then the second thought hit – How are we going to keep this under wraps until their announcement in January?

Well we did!  It is an honor to be recognized but we could not be where we are today without our utterly fabulous brides and grooms as well as our fellow wedding pros.

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Thank you everyone for your support!

Tahoe Signature of Style,

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Sweet, Sweeter & the Sweetest Gifts by Glamour Mash | Merrily Wed Weddings

Holly Foxen Wells here from GlamourMash, a blog focused on fashion, food and design. I am beyond thrilled to be guest posting on Merrily Wed’s beautiful wedding blog today!

I’d like to give you my “two cents” on a small, but important detail of your wedding. The wedding favors!

Wedding favors are a fairly new tradition in the wedding world and I think it is often overlooked.  Wedding favors are a special way to say thank you to your guests for their love and support!  The key to a great wedding favor is to make it personal and thoughtful.  Here is my list of the Top Five sweetest wedding favors for your guests.

1. Something Green: Succulent Plant

Succulents are a great gift to send home with your wedding guests.  They are small and easily transportable and double as a great way to decorate dinner tables or the cake table.

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2. Something Sweet: Candies

This is a very cost effective take-away that almost everyone will be a fan of.  Who doesn’t swoon for a little something sweet?

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3. Something Lasting: Seed Pouchling

A small package of seeds labeled with your name and wedding date seems to be a big trend right now and you can easily see why!  It’s such a simple idea but is so meaningful.  Knowing that all of your friends and family will have a flower or plant growing in their garden symbolizing you and your mate’s love for each other is a wonderful gift for both you and them.

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4. Something Warming: Hot Cocoa To-Go

A glass jar filled with the makings for hot cocoa is the perfect gift for a winter wedding.  These takeaways are easy to make and have such an impact.  Add a small note or your wedding date tied on the bottle with twine and you’ve mastered the DIY wedding favor!

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5. Something Homemade: Strawberry jam

This is one of my favorite wedding favor ideas.  Do you or your husband-to-be have a special recipe or talented thing to make?  Maybe it’s jam or a spice rub you use for meat.  Whatever it is, bottle it and share it with your guests.

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‘Til next time,

Purple Panache | Merrily Wed Lake Tahoe Wedding Design & Planning

I love color.  I love every single color for different reasons and how certain color combos resonate with each other.  Thanks to Amanda I met purple again and in the full regal form that it deserves.

With a sense of royalty, purple is a color often well liked by very creative personalities.  Purple is uplifting, calms nerves, as well as encourages creativity.  If purple is your favorite color, you desire respect, power and often tend to be sentimental.

For Amanda, there couldn’t be enough purple (a lady after my own four year old’s heart) and so here was the design challenge to bring in purple, purple, purple without being TOO much.

Mix in a little whimsical sophistication and we had Amanda’s dream Lake Tahoe wedding: Purple M&Ms – check.  Purple pillars – check.  Purple linen – check.  Purple lights – check.  Purple lounge – check.

 

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Married last September with the Lake as their very close backdrop, Amanda and Jeff’s guests were treated to a spectacular twilight ceremony just inches from the water.

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Silver and spring green played a supporting role to purple in the little details: beaded clear chargers (which allowed the oh-so-fun purple leafed linen to peep through), dangling crystals, metallic balls in the vases, pin cushions on the cake, mercury vases randomly placed, the candy station…

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Amanda and Jeff’s black tie wedding began with a sundown ceremony and quickly moved from the lakeside vows to the sprawling reception tent that was complete with multiple vignettes for the guests to enjoy.  Playful glowing cubes in the centerpieces to up lights on trees to a beautiful light-patterned dance floor made the most of the evening reception.

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A night that ended with endless dancing, lost shoes (?!) and grins from ear to ear…  Congratulations to the beautiful couple, Amanda & Jeff!

Florals by Art In Bloom.

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Tahoe Signature of Style,

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What Are Little ‘Tahoe’ Grooms Made Of? | Merrily Wed Wedding Design & Planning

If there was a nursery rhyme that summed up Erin and Shawn’s Lake Tahoe wedding, it might go something like this:

What are little grooms made of?
What are little grooms made of?

Flasks and skulls
And skateboard wheels,
That’s what little grooms are made of.

What are little brides made of?
What are little brides made of?

Lavender and white
And dresses so nice,
That’s what little brides are made of.

Only the best lakefront wedding site could draw them from their tropical Hawaiian home in Maui to wed on the mainland and that is what they had.  Maybe the little fact that they also met in Lake Tahoe might have had something to do with it!

From all things sweet and feminine – white orchids, sprigs of lavender, blushing bridesmaids to all things masculine and daring – ring bearer skateboard, personalized flasks (filled of course), a skull groom’s cake and cake toppers; the contrasting details really made their wedding uniquely them!  But isn’t that what a wedding is all about?  The blending and union of two separate personalities to become one.  Aaaww, yes a little sappy and sentimental but must be the mood I am in!

Congratulations to our Maui Ohana, Erin and Shawn!Tahoe August Lakefront Wedding

Tahoe August Lakefront Wedding

Tahoe August Lakefront Wedding

Tahoe August Lakefront Wedding

Floral artistry by Bellissima Floral.

Tahoe Signature of Style,

 

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