Destination I Do Magazine features stunning real life destination weddings from around the world in their glossy, beautiful publication.  In their Spring 2012 issue, they couldn’t pass up the chic, yet classically tailored, Lake Tahoe wedding of Cameron & Matthew.  This wedding at a private Lake Tahoe lakefront wedding estate flirted with the preppy side, spell bounded the guests, rocked the night away and was unquestionably unforgettable to all.

Cameron & Matthew’s spring green, navy and white color palette complimented the Tahoe setting perfectly, but also kept a fresh feel to the tailored wedding style.  Not only did she wear her mother’s vintage wedding gown (32 years waiting) but Cameron also carried the family bible down the aisle adorned with flowers.

Cameron also loves monograms, so we echoed theirs from the napkins, to the menus, to the invitations to their wedding cake to even the dance floor.  Fun elements were not limited to decor and included their gyrating band, retro neon sunglasses, vintage coke bottles and blue cheese late night sliders.  As DIDO so eloquently put it, the devil is in the details…

Thanks to Zorn Photography for doing what they do so well!  If you were a wedding crasher at this wedding, here’s a glance of what you might have seen:

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Tahoe Signature of Style,

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Romance – it never goes out of style.  Jessica and Spencer proclaimed their adoration and love for each other last fall at their Lake Tahoe wedding site, Madden Creek Estate.  A gurgling creek right down the property, a wooden footbridge, tall pines – what more could a bride ask for??  If the usually trickling Madden Creek had any indication of the strength of their love, the rising creek only bid wonderful things to come.

Jessica was awestruck when she saw the venue for the first time.  Believe it or not, she had never seen the lakefront property until the day before her wedding.  Thank goodness her groom Spencer got this right!  Living on the East Coast but growing up coming to Lake Tahoe, Spencer had a feeling this was the place for them.

Talented photographer Allyson Wiley worked her magic capturing the charming ceremony and celebration to follow.  Rich, succulent fall colors played to the season and beauty of the property.  The singing and dancing into the night with their closest of close friends and family, was the beginning of their fairytale…

Tall pines loomed over their lakeside ceremony area with cheerfully colored blooms lining the aisle.  One of my favorite moments was when Jessica crossed the footbridge with her dad and Spencer saw her for the first time.  You could feel the energy between the two!  A large white classic tent with crystal chandeliers set the mood for the party to follow…   And as always, the silent guest known as Lake Tahoe spun its magic and did its part!

Tahoe Signature of Style,

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With so much wedding inspiration on the world wide web these days, it is very easy for a bride to become overwhelmed with all the design choices and styles.  And I am just talking about the dining tables!  Having a beautifully set table at your wedding can be something to look forward to or a daunting task.  The great joy of designing a stylish table-scape is to have fun with it.  Start small in your own home with your own dining table and engage in a little table-’E'scape.

A few simple tips can make your own cupboards a bin of inspiration.  An organized pantry will allow you to access items easily and you will be more likely to remember these settings and use them.  Stack collections of similar colors on open shelves.  Baskets can store table linens, napkins, napkin rings and candles.

First rule is there are no rules but just a few simple guidelines to observe…

1. Begin with stocking your pantry with basic white dishes.  More the better with oversize bowls and platters…  Food pops off white plates but don’t be afraid to accessorize with colorful accents.
2. Silverware can vary from your grandmother’s antiques to flea market finds.  Mix and match is a ‘do’ as well if you don’t have complete sets.
3. Collect place mats and napkins in different colors to compliment your china.  Napkins can match or contrast.  They can be folded a million ways, be placed on top, next to or under the plate.  Napkin rings are further embellishment and come in a variety of styles and materials.
4. Runners are great on a bare wooden table top or placed on a linen tablecloth.  A tablecloth creates a sense of formality and helps define the mood.
5. Candles.  Lots and lots of candles – votives and pillars – create a warm and welcoming atmosphere.
6. Use color as your organizing principle.  A single color can have a terrific impact too.

Add your own personal style to your table by looking around your home for inspiration.  After a few nights of reenacting Top Chef with your favorite friends and breaking in different place settings, your own dining table will be a breeding ground of ideas.  Start to play with china shapes, complimentary color families, different textures – the sky is your limit!

Now it is time to tackle the table-scape for your wedding reception!

Tahoe Signature of Style,

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The Knot Northern California hand picked this Lake Tahoe lakeside wedding as one of the 11 perfect real weddings in their 2012 Spring/Summer issue.  The setting, one of Hollywood’s most famous lakefront locations, spoke for itself.  I remember during set-up one of the band members whispered to me, “This reminds me of the Godfather and sure looks like the place from it.”  I whispered back, “It is…”.  He pretty much ran out of the tent right then and there to start taking photos!

This wedding had it all – from the gorgeous woodie boat that delivered Andrew and his entourage to the ceremony to the infinite number of rustic, yet nautical, charming details to Courtney’s adorable kelly green cardigan she ‘donned’ as the fall air grew cool…  So many details, impressive on their own, were but the supporting cast to the main show itself:  the unforgettable wedding and following celebration for Courtney and Andrew.

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Looking for more?  Check out our earlier blog post – Classic Lake Tahoe Wedding - full of fabulous photo boards from Courtney & Andrew’s wedding day.

Tahoe Signature of Style,

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If you are a self-proclaimed “foodie” or own a catering company, you have heard of Catering Magazine.  Their latest issue was dedicated to all delectable things – edible and not - in the wedding world.  They also chose to highlight four detail packed, color inspiring and just plain sensational weddings from coast to coast.  Abby and Nic’s lakefront Lake Tahoe wedding joins this select group and just pops out of their beautiful publication with glorious color.

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When the details of a wedding surpass expectations, leave guests smiling and don’t forget the food and drink, you will find it here.  Our vibrant and personality loaded wedding of Abby and Nic took center stage showing off their clever Tahoe Tessie orange signature drink all the way to their ORANGE velvet wedding cake.  The cake toppers were even exact replicas of hers and his wedding attire…

We could go on and on about the details but experience their day for yourself!

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This wedding definitely wowed, not only telling the story of their two lives but that day was also the beginning of Abby and Nic’s new story of their life as one!

Tahoe Signature of Style,

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We all know that color is a lot of fun and can invoke a range of moods but what if you are drawn to fresh, pure, perfect white?  White instills a feeling of innocence, purity and perfection.  A calming feel that is simplistic in nature.

If you tend to favor the “uncolor” over splashes of vibrancy, how do you keep your wedding fresh, memorable and maybe with a little wow factor?  Let’s be honest, using all white can be slightly yawn-inspiring.  By adding a little (or a lot) of texture, you can make a visual impact and a lingering impression.  Lace and floral rosettes are a couple of options that are making a strong statement today in the world of white. 

Lace is delicate, imparting an unique elegancy since the softness of lace is always romantic.  From vintage lace to modern, think beyond the wedding dress to create a unique wedding style with this fabric from intricate and delicate to bold and solid.

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From invitation accents to hidden antique garters to wrapped votives and mason jars, lace can show up in unexpected places and add a little spice.

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Then there is The Cake!  Oh, how do we love lace touches on the wedding cake and especially when it emulates the wedding dress!

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Floral rosettes literally bring added layers of texture to a white wedding style.  Rosettes can be used everywhere from back-drops to the table decor to your hair.  Rosettes also can be made out of a multitude of materials (fabric, fondant, paper) which is great since they can be used in a range of budgets.

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And we can’t forget The Cake!

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These are just two ideas to provide a little White Inspiration for you!

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Looking for a little refreshing eye-candy in the world of weddings?  You found it here!  Destination I Do Mag.com swooned over Courtney & Ian’s colorfully scintillating Lake Tahoe wedding and treats you to it today on their always inspiring fab blog.  Steadfast to Courtney’s vision throughout conceptualization and realization, our work resulted in pure magic…

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Courtney wanted a lot of color for her wedding – color, color, color…  Indian weddings proved to be a major source of  inspiration for the vibrant dining tables and reception décor.  No white here -  this fair color was minimized as much as possible, besides the wedding dress! 

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Courtney wanted an overall bright, fun style with a sophisticated whimsy for her wedding day.  Her vibrant blue heels adorned with jewels and a peacock feather added personality and partnered perfectly to her gorgeous Pronovias gown.

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Jewel tones of raspberry, plum, burnt orange and lime green were dominant while touches of succulents, moss balls and moss table numbers brought the slight organic feel to her day that she desired.

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We created an escort display that dazzled with breezy strings of mirrors and moss balls complimenting the reception color and  feel perfectly.  Orchids adorned the escort cards and the colors and light were caught in the reflection of the mirrors.

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The color didn’t stop at the edible either – raspberries garnished the signature bellinis, eye-catching pods, succulents and orchids cascaded down the wedding cake and the lovingly made (twice thanks to bears!) vibrant cupcakes by Courtney’s mom completed the look.
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Photography by Courtney Aaron.

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We have been busy, busy this summer designing, planning and executing some wedding gems and here is a brilliant teaser of one for you to sink your eyes into…  More weddings and priceless details to come but for now, enjoy this quick sneak peek of what we have been up to lately!

Abby and Nic were married in July and here is a snippet of the oh-so-charming details that were abundantly everywhere at their colorful Lake Tahoe wedding.

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Photography and Photo Collage by Courtney Aaron Photography.  Floral Design by Bellissima Floral.

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