The following quote is subtly placed in gold foil on the back of Shannon and Jay’s guest book: “Let’s go to Valhalla with the sun on our faces.” And after scrolling through their wedding album, you’ll see that’s exactly what they did!
The duo met six years ago in San Diego. “Just two twenty-somethings on a dating app who swiped right,” Shannon reminisced. Jay was in the military at the time, and she was in her grad program, both looking to find someone special outside of their circles. “When we met for our first date, we spent a dinner with non-stop conversation and realized we had a lot in common. We lived in the same neighborhood in the big city of San Diego, have birthdays one day apart, and both had connections to the water.” (Shannon is a college swimmer, and Jay is a rescue swimmer for those who don’t know.) Jay texted her immediately after their first date and said, “That was hands down the best first date I have ever had.” And the rest is, as they say, history. Fast forward a few years, and the couple ended up back in Reno, where Shannon grew up. Luckily, Jay grew to love the area, and they both are happy to call it home.
The couple decided to tie the knot at Valhalla Tahoe because they experienced its magic first hand. “We both immediately fell in love with the charm and the history. It truly is a ‘heavenly place’ to us. It also has special meaning as I used to camp at Camp Richardson next door with my family and grandparents who were at the wedding in spirit.”
They knew they wanted an intimate and meaningful wedding that was simple and highlighted their love and their families. Seeing that they both love fall and are big Halloween fans, there couldn’t be a better date for their big day than October 30th. Also, the moody vibe of the lush jewel-toned florals, black and gold accents, and the crisp Tahoe air was just dreamy. “Our floral, music, and photography vendors were outstanding and some of the kindest people we have ever met. Aside from our incredible vendor team, I took a lot of pride in selecting handmade items for our wedding from small businesses, such as our custom neon sign above the bar, black macrame chair backs, cake toppers, and handmade soap favors by the mother of the bride.”
Visit the full gallery below to indulge in all the prettiness of this Valhalla Tahoe wedding, masterfully captured by Calvin Hobson Photography.
Wedding Vendors
Photographer Calvin Hobson Photography / Venue Valhalla Tahoe / Videographer Chair7 Films / Planner Blue Sky Events / Dress Swoon Bridal / Florist Helianthus Floral Design / Cake Lake Tahoe Cakes / Band Milton Merlos Productions / Hair + Makeup RAH Hair Studio / Catering Roundabout Catering & Rentals
