A Dreamy Lake Tahoe Wedding

Words by Kate Darnell
Photos courtesy of Zorn Photography

The devil is in the details…

This was anything but the case for the fairytale destination wedding of Cameron and Matt. From a vintage wedding gown her mother had worn 32 years prior, to the guests’ own wedding photos framed and on display in place of traditional escort cards, this couple’s unique wedding getaway was full of thoughtful touches.

Deciding to have the wedding in Lake Tahoe was a thoughtful touch to begin with. “We wanted our wedding to be somewhere everyone would have a great vacation and just relax. Most of our East Coast guests had never been to Tahoe before,” recalls Cameron. “It’s one of those places you always hear about but don’t get the full effect until you experience it yourself,” says Matt.

With 175 enthusiastic loved ones in attendance, the couple said their “I do’s” at a private estate on the shores of Lake Tahoe. Even their labrador, Duke, made an appearance complete with a bowtie matching the ring bearers’. A very personal (and gorgeous) ceremony involved several loved ones giving readings or sharing words of wisdom with the couple.

To take advantage of the beautiful destination, the couple selected a clear tent to house their stunning reception.

Surrounded by candlelight, their custom-made monogram (created by a professional designer) was woven throughout to give the event a streamlined look. The dinner took center stage as her uncle’s restaurant, Jake's on the Lake, catered the event. From the sushi bar and filet mignon, to the late evening snack of buffalo blue cheese mini burgers, truffle fries and Coca-Cola in old -fashioned bottles with straws, all the guests were satisfied.

All this couldn’t have been accomplished without her wedding planner/designer, Merrily Rocco (Owner of Merrily Wed).

“Planning a wedding is a lot of work. We had our obstacles, but having a wedding coordinator helped tremendously,” recalls Cameron.

Between the food, the ambiance and the little personalized touches – Cameron and Matt’s destination wedding was filled with thoughtfully planned details. But, nothing took more focus than the guests…and that always makes for a great event.

Vendors: Photographer: Zorn Photography, zornphoto.com, Ceremony & Reception Site: Private estate in Lake Tahoe, Wedding Planning & Design: Merrily Wed, merrilywed.com, Bride’s Attire: Vintage Priscilla of Boston (Ceremony), Reem Acra (Reception,) reemacra.com, Groom’s Attire: Brooks Brothers & Hermes, brooksbrothers.com & hermes.com, Bridesmaids Attire: Siri, siriinc.com, Cake: The Pastry Bakery at the El Dorado in Reno, eldoradoreno.com, Florist: Diana’s Floral Design, dianasfloraldesigns.com