If you told a couple of first graders in Kokomo, Indiana that one day they’d grow up to get married on the shores of Lake Tahoe, they probably would’ve giggled, wiped their noses, and gone back to trading Lunchables. But that’s exactly what happened to Ris and Seth, whose love story spans decades, time zones, and multiple awkward adolescent rejections. (More on that in a second.)

Their August 10th wedding was equal parts heartfelt, hilarious, and high-altitude. Hosted in the backyard of Seth’s mom’s private estate in Glenbrook, Nevada, the celebration embraced a “formal garden party” vibe with their lakeside ceremony.

Let’s rewind.

From Crayons to Commitment

“We met in first grade when we were both still losing teeth, Santa was real, and we were learning how to spell,” Ris says. Their friendship blossomed through childhood—Seth wrote love poems on math homework, Ris wrote about Seth in her diary, and yet she kept saying no every time he asked her out. (“I like to think I was thinking about the bigger picture,” she jokes.)

Years passed, colleges happened, states changed, and eventually, Seth invited Ris to “do nothing” with him in San Diego for her birthday. “After four days of the crazzzzzziest tension in the air… Seth finally kissed me and that was the start of us,” Ris says. “And here we are now.”

Why Lake Tahoe?

Ris and Seth live in Missoula, Montana, but with family all over, they wanted the wedding to feel like a getaway for everyone. “It made the whole thing feel like an experience,” says Ris. “From boat tours hosted by Seth’s aunt and uncle to lake days and the rehearsal dinner—we just got so much quality time with everyone.”

They chose Lake Tahoe not just for its natural beauty but because it holds sentimental value. “Seth proposed there. His mom had a house in the area. It felt like our place,” says Ris.

Let’s Talk Logistics

Planning a wedding from afar wasn’t without its curveballs. “It’s tough when you don’t live in the area full-time,” Ris admits. Enter: Amanda from Reno Tahoe Enchanted Events, who Ris credits as an absolute lifesaver. “We really could not have done it without her.”

The couple stayed at the estate the month before the wedding, planting flowers, finalizing details, and turning the house into a lakefront love nest. “Getting to wake up there on my wedding day? Dream.”

The Ceremony: Tears, Time Capsules, and Throwback Poetry

If you thought a lakeside ceremony couldn’t get more personal, think again. Instead of hiring an officiant, Ris and Seth asked their Maid of Honor (Phoebe) and Best Man (Grey, Seth’s brother) to officiate.

“They read excerpts from old poems Seth wrote me on math homework in 2008 and some of my dramatic diary entries,” says Ris. One of those poems? “When you are with me I feel happiness in my heart. It is a bright glow and when you leave it dims to a small light…” Big feelings for a fifth grader.

The ceremony included a poem read by Seth’s Nonnie, custom-written vows, and a time capsule filled with cards from loved ones to open on future anniversaries. They sealed the moment with the traditional smashing of the glass and a recessional to Natalie Cole’s This Will Be.

DIY and Decor: Mojitos, Canva, and All the Color

The couple leaned into a vibrant garden-party aesthetic with florals by Create With T in full bloom. “There were flowers everywhere and lots of color,” says Ris. She designed their bar signage on Canva, ordered custom blue drink stirrers, and—though she didn’t go full Pinterest bride—made every little detail feel personal.

Lessons Learned

“Working with a wedding planner in the area was a HUGE help!” she says. The couple spent the month before the wedding at the Tahoe house handling last-minute prep, from planting flowers to finalizing details, but it was Amanda from Reno Tahoe Enchanted Events who made the whole operation feel smooth. “I really don’t know how we could have done it without her.”

In fact, Ris admits the destination element made it all better. “If we’d gotten married at home, I probably wouldn’t have hired a planner and would’ve been completely stressed out trying to do everything myself.” So yes—delegate, decompress, and maybe choose a wedding location where you’re forced to stop and admire the view.

Vendors: Photographer: Cade and Lauren; Wedding Planner & Designer: Reno Tahoe Enchanted Events; Florist: Create With T; Cake: Flour Girl Wedding Cakes; Hair & Makeup: Rockwood Beauty; Gown Designer: Kleinfeld Bridal; Men’s Attire: Generation Tux; DJ/Production: Music in Tahoe; Videographer: Abby Bostian Visuals; Catering: The Hidden Table; Rentals: Celebrations Event Rentals & Mountain Vibes; Custom Signage: Soli Decor; Linens: Creative Coverings; Lighting: Sierra Lighting; Transportation: Tahoe Elite