Truckee River Wedding by Catherine Hall Studios

Lizzie and Keith’s Lake Tahoe wedding is one of those weddings that pairs classic styling with a breathtaking setting and a seasonal, locally inspired menu (from D’lish Catering). A combination for the perfect destination wedding. Set along the Truckee River near Lake Tahoe, the couple’s celebration is completely gorgeous and incorporates so many Tahoe wedding elements that we love: a pole tent, cross back chairs (similar chairs found at Camelot Party Rentals) , and green garland. The fiercely talented Catherine Hall captured the day beautifully in the gallery below and tells the couple’s story. Be sure to scroll through to see the heartfelt wedding video by Elysium Productions at the end of the post.

How They Met As Lizzie and Keith will recall with a laugh, they met in the most unlikely of places: a Nantucket themed Mexican restaurant in San Francisco. Keith couldn’t help but notice Lizzie–partly because she happened to cut in line in front of him. Soon after, he made an excuse to go over to her table. “Keith had the guts to strike up a conversation with me,” Lizzie says. “Four hours later, we closed the place down and met the next night for a real date.”

The Proposal A little over two years later, Keith took matters into his own hands once again. During a weekend trip to Carmel-by-the-Sea, he slipped away to go on a coffee run. Little did Lizzie know, he was staking out the perfect proposal spot. As they picnicked on the beach later that day, he surprised Lizzie with a cleverly hidden ring, designed by Edmund Weber Jewelers. Happily, Lizzie accepted.

Wedding Inspiration With the rich, natural beauty of Lake Tahoe as their backdrop, inspiration quickly took off. Working with Melissa Panico of MAP Events and Tracy Radeff from Radeff Design Studio, a beautiful, rustic setting was created for the sunny outdoor wedding. White flowers stood bright against a palette of forest greens and deep browns. Tall trees were adorned with string lights, and verdant, leafy garlands were hung along doorways and beneath the canopy tent.

Wedding Style The two coupled the rustic scene with timeless looks. Keith donned a J. Crew suit and a Shinola watch, and Lizzie wore a stunning Vera Wang gown. Her bridesmaids wore soft creams, plus Ippolita teardrop earrings gifted by Lizzie to match her own pair.

The Venue When it came to choosing a venue, one special place soon came to mind: Lizzie’s family estate, nestled in the lush Lake Tahoe setting. “It has become a place where we can get out of the city, and it has become very special to us both,” says Lizzie, a Bay Area native. She and Keith fell in love with the idea of being able to share it with his family, who hail from Massachusetts.

The Details Lizzie and Keith also infused the day with personal touches. The couple made sure to have an oyster bar–one of Keith’s favorite foods. For a hint of funkiness, they chose Aretha Franklin’s “Baby, I Love You” for their first dance. For favors, guests left on a sweet note: miniature mason jars, filled with M&Ms personalized with the bride and groom’s initials and their wedding date. The thing that made their day even sweeter? Sharing their wedding day with the mother of the groom’s birthday, and surprising her with a birthday cake and song.

To brides-to-be, Lizzie shared a thoughtful piece of advice: “I realized what was really important on my wedding day,” she says. “It wasn’t what my hair looked like, what flowers were on what tables, or what drinks were served when. It was about making the commitment to Keith, and getting to marry the most wonderful man.”