Weddings

If you know me pretty well, you know that I scaled back my weddings before the times of Covid for several reasons. One of those reasons is just the time involved to edit these bad boys! However, I will occasionally shoot weddings as long as my schedule allows…and sometimes you JUST HAVE TO for your very good friends! That was the case with this amazing Idle Hour wedding in Lake Tahoe.

My friends Alex and Devon were supposed to get married in 2020, but you know what I’m about to say. Due to the pandemic, their wedding was rescheduled for August of 2021.

What no one could predict, on top of a pandemic still raging on, was that there would be a horrific forest fire gobbling up parts of Lake Tahoe during their new wedding date.

Luckily, their wedding was set BEFORE the mass evactuations in Lake Tahoe began. So we squeezed their wedding in pretty much at the last minute! Can you beleive it?!

As much as the wildfire smoke was horrendous, I am glad that their wedding didn’t have to be rescheduled AGAIN.

I had the BEST TIME celebrating my two friends and capturing the special moments of their wedding day. Below are just my top favorites from their Idle Hour wedding in Lake Tahoe, which I had an impossible time narrowing down for a blog post!

Please join me in saying CHEERS, Alex & Devon! Congrats a million times!!!

Lake Tahoe Wedding Vendors:

Photographers: Jentry Dryden (Fifth and Chestnut Photo Co) & Talia Ybarra Neckels
Venue: The Idle Hour Lake Tahoe
Dj: Joe Metzgar Mobile DJ
Officiant: JP Harrison
Hair and makeup: RAH Hair Studio
Dress: David’s Bridal
Menswear: Men’s Wearhouse
Florist: Enchanted Florist
Catering: Exquisite Grill Catering
Cake: Lake Tahoe Cakes
Rentals: Tahoe Elevated Events

Jessica & Jonathan’s romantic Disney wedding in at Serenity on the Rocks will have you smiling ear to ear!

Serenity on the Rocks

Their wedding was the first official wedding at Serenity on the Rocks in Glenshire, CA (as a new wedding venue available for bookings) and I feel so lucky to have been a part of that!

Serenity on the Rocks was the perfect mountain setting for Jessica and Jonathan’s end-of-summer Disney themed wedding day. This wedding site has it all – waterfalls, paths weaving throughout the property, a beautifully landscaped ceremony area and amazing views of the surrounding Sierra Mountains.

Romantic Disney Wedding

I absolutely adored the meticulously executed Disney details! When you walked into the reception area, it felt romantic – red roses and green garlands…gold mercury glass. But when you looked closer, you realize the very detailed, yet subtle, touches of Disney magic.

I was so blown away by the table naming & decor. And the signature drinks? Seriously…just SERIOUSLY.

Can You Feel the Love Tonight?

I love chatting wedding decor & details, but what makes every wedding special are the connections that the couple shares with the people who arrive to celebrate their special day. From the very moment I began capturing moments alongside my second photographer, I felt the love – bigtime!

This couple truly cares about their people. And it really shows. It was amazing to capture special moments between Jessica and Jonathan, and also with their friends and family.

Capturing Once-in-a-lifetime Moments

During dinner time, the sun was setting FAST and lighting up Mt. Rose in a LITERAL shade of Rose. We set up one light off-camera, brought J & J in and BOOM – I got the shot. Several, actually – but I got THE ONE. And that always makes my day as a wedding photographer.

The reception toasts were hilarious and heartwarming. One of the toasts especially had a TON of entertainment value as the MOH and the bride’s sisters serenaded the entire reception with Disney songs with the lyrics changed to tell J & J’s love story. It was amazing. AMAZING.

Oh, and did I mention the bounce house for the kids? SO FUN. Their day was filled with fun touches like that – that made it special for everyone.

I could honestly talk on and on about this incredible wedding, but I should really let the pictures do most of the talking – so enjoy just a few from J & J’s day…it was incredibly hard to narrow down my favorites for a blog post!

CONGRATS, Jessica & Jonathan, and thank you from the bottom of my heart for including me in your unforgettable wedding day!

Wedding Vendors

Venue: Serenity on the Rocks
Photographers: Fifth and Chestnut Photo Co. (Main: Jentry Dryden | 2nd: Kendall Price)
Day Of Coordination: A Beautiful Events Planning
Ceremony Arch: Manzanita Glow
Tent & Party Rentals: Eventmasters
Floral: Blake’s Floral Design
Catering: The Grille at Sawtooth Ridge
Hair: Aimee K Makeup
Makeup: Jennifer Ergut Kiss & Makeup, Makeup Studio Tahoe
Band: Bay Music – Wine Country
DJ: D. B. Weddings
Videography: BlackOpal Rose Photography
Dessert Bar: Unrefined Reno

I am SO excited to share Alexis and Tyler’s absolutely stunning fall Twenty Mile House wedding! It was especially lovely to end my 2018 wedding season with such a fantastic couple & such an awesome wedding.

I was also THRILLED to be back at the Twenty Mile House. I could probably shoot every future wedding there and be completely stoked each time. It’s just an incredible place, period.

Twenty Mile House Wedding

I love the brick, and old wood. The towering trees, the sound of the train rushing by. It’s so, so wonderful. But to photograph a couple there that is laid back, adorable and so completely in love? Well that is the BEST!!

Alexis and Tyler’s Twenty Mile House wedding was on a warm and sunny October day. As they prepared on the property, family could be seen walking back from their fishing trips, and the ring bearer and flower girl were running around being adorable (as kids are).

I was sooo happy that these two opted for a first look (my favorite!!) and seeing Tyler’s face as he saw Alexis for the first time that afternoon was a huge highlight of the day for me.

As the sun got lower in the sky, Alexis and Tyler exchanged vows, and walked across the train tracks for portraits by the river. It was the PERFECT time of day and I am in LOVE with their portraits during this time.

Soon it was time for dinner, toasts and dancing! Followed by cake cutting and the bouquet toss. Guests kept warm by visiting the hot chocolate bar (which is SUCH A GOOD IDEA). All you couples out there planning weddings – take note!

By  the time the evening came to an end, my cheeks hurt from smiling so much behind my camera. It was such a perfect day – and a perfect way to close my wedding season of 2018. Congratulations Alexis and Tyler – you two planned an AMAZING wedding day that your guests (and I!!) will always remember!

Below is just a snippet of my faves from their day <3

Graeagle Wedding Vendors:

Venue: Twenty Mile House
Hair & Makeup: Holly O’Brien
Floral: Gray’s Flower Garden
Dress: Blue Garter Bridal & Tux
Groomswear: Men’s Wearhouse
Bridesmaid Dresses: David’s Bridal
Catering: Southern Accent Catering
Dessert: Grandma Jane’s Place
DJ: Todd Reasor
Wedding Invites & Paperie: Shutterfly

Kirsten and Mark’s beautiful Zephyr Cove wedding in Lake Tahoe was AMAZING! They picked Zephyr Cove Resort for the beautiful views and beachfront setting. And their wedding date fell on a spectacularly sunny and warm spring day in Tahoe. It was truly one for the books!

Nevada Beach Engagement with Their Pup, Zoe

I photographed Kirsten and Mark’s engagement last year at Nevada Beach. There, I learned how important their newly adopted dog, Zoe, was to them and I was excited to hear that she would be in the wedding! You’ll see quite a bit of her in this post! It was there that I saw what a sweet and loving couple Kirsten and Mark are, too. They are great for and to each other – and are simply two of the most gracious and awesome people you could ever meet!

Preparations and First Look for Kirsten and Mark’s Zephyr Cove Wedding

We started the day at the cabins at Zephyr Cove Resort. While my second photographer, Kevin, was having a blast with Mark and his groomsmen, I was oohing and awwing over Kirsten’s amazing lace wedding dress and all of her other beautiful details of the day. My favorite part of the preparations was when I captured Kirsten opening gifts from her sister and her groom…I am SO glad I was there for those moments!

One of my favorite parts of any wedding day is the first look – and Kirsten and Mark’s first look was priceless – as you’ll see from the look on Mark’s face when he turned around and saw Kirsten in her beautiful dress. I loved capturing these first private moments for them.

After the first look, it was time for the wedding party to join us! Kirsten’s bridesmaids wore beautiful dusty/sky blue dresses, while the guys were dressed to impress in gray and white with custom embroidered belts. And of course, Zoe was adorned with the sweetest floral doggie collar. We also took care of all of their family formals before the ceremony so that Kirsten and Mark could enjoy their cocktail hour.

A Lake Tahoe Wedding Ceremony to Remember

Their ceremony was hands-down the most entertaining one I have witnessed as a wedding photographer. High five to their officiant, Bren Jimenez. I learned so much about Kirsten and Mark through their ceremony and the stories Bren told. It became even more apparent to me how perfect they are for each other. It was absolutely wonderful – especially with the gorgeous blue water of Lake Tahoe behind them the entire time.

Reception, Lake Tahoe Sunset and Familiar Faces

Their reception was filled with laughter and happy tears – from the entrances to the toasts – all the way to the cake cutting, dancing and epic lip sync performances. It was a lively and fun evening. A favorite moment was stepping down to the beach for some sunset photos where we got some cool shots of Kirsten and Mark with that vibrant Tahoe sky!

This wedding was incredibly special for me because I had previously photographed Mark’s brother’s wedding at the Gatekeeper’s Museum in Tahoe – you can check out Matt and Claire’s wedding here  (I am so grateful that they recommended me…that’s the absolute highest compliment)! There were so many friendly familiar faces to catch up with – and it was the BEST to see them again. It was especially fun to see all the babies that have been born in the last three years between family and friends.

Kirsten and Mark’s wedding day was simply the greatest way to start off my wedding season. I’m excited to show you just some of my favorites from their gorgeous Tahoe blue wedding in Zephyr Cove. Congratulations, Kirsten and Mark – I wish you the happiest of moments from now until forever!

Lake Tahoe Wedding Vendors:
Venue / Caterer: Zephyr Cove Resort
Coordinators: Lesley Goldwater and Juraj Sojka
Officiant: Bren Jimenez
Hair & Makeup: Greco Rose
DJ: Lake Tahoe DJ
Florist: Twine and Dandy
Desserts: Crazy Good Doughnuts and Pies
Second Photographer: Kevin Sawyer

This beautiful and bright fall wedding at The Grove in Reno was one of my last weddings of the 2017 season. It was also one of the most gorgeous fall days, ever.

Holly and Mike truly had a spectacular day full of so much love and laughter. And the thought they poured into their wedding definitely shows. There were so many sweet unique aspects to this wedding. You’ll see in the photos below how their wedding was so beautifully orchestrated!

Perfection during a bright fall wedding at The Grove

The Grove in the fall is absolutely amazing. I don’t think Holly and Mike could have chosen a more perfect day to say “I do.”

It was so special with the lovely fall foliage surrounding them, along with the crispness in the fall air.

I LOVED shooting this wedding and working with Holly and Mike from our original conversations, through their engagement and now their wedding.

Enjoy my favorites from their incredible day below!

Reno Wedding Vendors for this Bright Fall Wedding at The Grove:

Venue & Caterer: The Grove
Officiant: Carol Criddle
Hair & Makeup: La Di Da Beauty
DJ: Thunder and Lightning Mobile DJ
Florist: Serendipity Floral and Garden
Cake: Dee’s Bakery
Wedding Dress: Alfred Angelo
Groomswear: Men’s Wearhouse
Invitations: Basic Invite
Second Photographer: Kevin Sawyer
Photo Assistant: Colin Nicolai

Angie and Kyle chose to get married on the beautiful shore of South Lake Tahoe at Edgewood Tahoe this summer. And their Edgewood wedding was such an amazing day full of love, laughter and happy tears!

Their day started at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino where they prepped with their wedding parties, anticipating the celebration ahead! It was then that I found out from her mom that Angie and her twin sister’s original due date was February 14th. Same as my twin babies! It was a fun little way to start the day for me personally 🙂

At Edgewood, the guys did fun portraits on the beach and pier. The gals were photographed in front of the clubhouse and in a pretty little garden on the side of the golf course. My team and I had so much fun getting to know this wedding party and taking all the fun portraits before the gorgeous ceremony on the beach.

Edgewood Wedding on the Beach at Sunset

As the sun started to set, Angie and Kyle said their “I Do’s” in front of their very best friends and families. It was such a sweet and emotional ceremony. And I loved how the sun created a warm glow surrounding them.

After their beautiful ceremony, Angie and Kyle had a chance to bask in that late afternoon sun as we walked the beach for post-ceremony portraits. And not to toot my own horn, but I got my most epic sunset photo EVER during this time with Angie and Kyle.

Sidenote: It seems like most of my Tahoe weddings have lacked “good” cloudy sunsets that light up the sky. So thanks, Angie & Kyle for making all my sunset photography dreams come true on your wedding day 🙂

Rockin’ Edgewood Reception

When it was time to party…it was REALLY time to party! Angie and Kyle’s grand entrance included their first dance on a cloud (provided by Justincredible DJ), which was SO COOL. And after the toasts, dinner, dances, garter and bouquet tosses, the laughs continued on through the rest of the night as guests danced and enjoyed the photobooth.

It was SUCH a good time and I had an absolute blast photographing this amazing Edgewood wedding with my team. Congrats, Angie & Kyle – you two are an incredible couple and I wish you both and your families all the very best!

Wedding Vendors for this gorgeous Lake Tahoe Wedding:
Venue & Catering: Edgewood Tahoe
Officiant: Sue Carey
Hair & Makeup: Audrey Gravenstein
Dress: Lovely Bride
Groomswear: Michael Kors
DJ: Justincredible DJ
Photobooth: Incredible Party Booth by Justincredible DJ
Florist: Rose Petals
Cake: The Cork and More
2nd Photographer: Talia Neckels
Photo Assistant: Colin Nicolai

Paris and Andy’s beautiful Greenhorn Creek Guest Ranch Wedding was SUCH a pleasure to photograph this September. It happened to be one of the hottest days of the summer, but that didn’t stop anyone from having the time of their lives!

I love finding out how people met – especially in the age of online dating. These two actually met on a ski lift in Salt Lake City…can you believe that? What are the odds that the love of your life might hop on a ski life beside you? Andy then proposed 7.5 years later at the Conservatory of Flowers at Golden Gate Park. It must have been so romantic. If you’ve ever been there, you know how beautiful it is! The rest, as they say, is history 🙂

Paris and Andy’s Summer Greenhorn Creek Guest Ranch Wedding

The day started as Paris and Andy prepared in their cabins at Greenhorn Creek Guest Ranch. After “icing” her bridesmaids (such a funny new tradition and I love it), Paris and Andy shared their first look. I’m always a fan of the first look, and theirs was held in a gorgeous corner of the ranch. I love their portraits from this part of the day.

Then, we brought their whole wedding party out for portraits and did family portraits before the ceremony as well. Speaking of their ceremony, you can see by the tears and smiles that Paris and Andy had amazing vows for each other. I have to admit I shed a tear or two during the ceremony.

The coolest part of their Greenhorn Creek Guest Ranch wedding ceremony was how the horses were released to run behind the pond during the kiss. It sounded like thunder and it was more amazing than I could have imagined.

A gorgeous Greenhorn Creek Guest Ranch Wedding Reception

After the ceremony, it was time for dances, toasts and wild moments. I had a TON of fun capturing fun photos of the festivities. We also took a few moments to take some cool post-sunset portraits in the most beautiful soft light of the day.

This was a wedding day to remember and I am so excited to share just a snippet of my favorites from Paris and Andy’s amazing Greenhorn Creek Guest Ranch wedding below! Enjoy – and cheers to Paris and Andy!

Greenhorn Creek Guest Ranch Wedding Vendors:

Venue: Greenhorn Creek Guest Ranch
Wedding Coordinator: Cynthia Carreon at Greenhorn Creek Guest Ranch
Officiant: Russell Latham
Makeup Artist & Hairstylist: Christina Bowers at Sacred Salon
DJ and/or Live Musicians: Zeb Early
Florist: Ratanak Uch
Caterer: Greenhorn Creek Guest Ranch
Cake/Dessert Maker: Angela Sandlin at Angela’s Bakery
Wedding Rentals/Linens/Tablewear: Greenhorn Creek Guest Ranch
Wedding Gown Designer: Tara Keely
Bridal store: Bitsy Bridal
Groomswear Designer: J Crew
Bolo Ties: Rocky Mountain Western Bolo Ties
Wedding Paperie Designer: Aisha Steger
Thank you to my 2nd Photographer: Sara Bingham
And thank you to my Assistant: Colin Nicolai

Where do I begin with Tom & Tony’s amazing PJ’s at Gray’s Crossing wedding in Truckee? I first spoke with Tony over the phone months and months before their wedding day. He told me how he and Tom had met, and directed me to their amazingly adorable wedding website. There, I learned even more about them as a couple – and what their wedding meant to them.

When Tony told me that his wedding with Tom was less of an affirmation of their relationship and more of a celebration of the time they had already spent together and their future, I was totally in love with them!!

About a month before Tom & Tony’s wedding, I found out that I was pregnant and then found out that I was having twins. Yep, twins, you guys! Unfortunately, only a couple of days before Tom & Tony’s wedding, I started bleeding – heavily. I won’t scare you with the details, but I assumed that I had already lost my babies by the time we reached the ER. Luckily, ultrasounds showed that the babies were alive. Since the doctors weren’t sure WHY it happened, they told me to take every precaution and prescribed bed rest for weeks. I won’t totally overtake this blog post with my personal story. However, that meant I could not physically photograph Tom & Tony’s wedding…which I had been sooooo excited to do!!

Like the incredible people they are, Tom & Tony were so patient and gracious with me while I enacted my backup plan for them.

Talia, who was already slated as my 2nd photographer, took my place as Tom & Tony’s main shooter. The assistant I had in place for the day, Colin (who is also a fabulous wedding photographer who happened to be only assisting me that day) stepped in as her 2nd photographer. They’ve worked together so many times already, and I’m so glad they were Tom & Tony’s team for the day.

Summer wedding at PJ’s at Gray’s Crossing with Live Band

Although I was incredibly sad not to be there myself, I knew that Tom & Tony’s wedding day was in great hands. And when I got the images back from Talia and Colin, I cried serious tears of joy. From the fun wedding party portraits, to their ceremony (which made me ugly cry for real), to their beautifully designed decor & wedding details, all the way to guests seriously rocking out to their live band, Wonder Bread 5…their images tell the story of an absolutely INCREDIBLE wedding day.

I mean, seriously, check out the effort that Tom poured into his wedding vows to Tony – not to mention all the planning that had to take. And the joy on the guests’ faces as they danced?? Epic. And I’m totally in love with all of their wedding paperie. It makes my graphic-designing heart happy to see the consistent design between their table names, guest book and menus etc.

This was one heck of a celebration!! And it was so obviously a happy and meaningful day for Tom, Tony and all of their guests.

Below is just a small sampling of Tom & Tony’s wedding day…between the many awesome wedding party pics and epic moves on the dance floor, it was hard to narrow it down!

Congrats, Tom & Tony…I wish you two nothing but happiness & joy forever and ever! And always carpe the fuck out of every diem!

Wedding Vendors for this Truckee Wedding:
Photographers: Fifth and Chestnut Photo Co. Team – Talia & Colin (thank you guys so much!!)
Venue & Catering: PJ’s at Gray’s Crossing
Wedding Planner/Coordinator: Akilah Cadet
Officiant: Mark McDonald
Band: Wonderbread 5
Florist: Suzu’s Petals
Groomswear: Banana Republic
Wedding Paperie: Elli

Catherine and Diego planned their entire wedding while living in Ecuador – can you believe it?! They moved back to the states shortly before their wedding and made magic happen in record time to complete all of their wedding tasks. We even fit their adorable beach engagement session in just a few days before their North Lake Tahoe wedding!

After preparing for their wedding day in separate homes on the West shore, they shared a super sweet first look in the forest. We also knocked out most of their family formals at this time, and their families were total sports about tromping through the woods to do it! I loved photographing Catherine and Diego in that perfect little spot in the woods on the West shore. And I also just have to point out that Catherine’s gorgeous and unique wedding gown was made in Ecuador by designer Daniela Dueñas. I always love seeing new bridal fashion and I was just blown away by Catherine’s amazing wedding gown.

Then they traveled to King’s Beach for their wedding ceremony and reception at the North Lake Tahoe Event Center.

Sunny & Bright North Lake Tahoe Wedding Day

The sun was shining bright and there was hardly a cloud in the sky when we arrived in North Lake Tahoe. Really, we couldn’t have asked for a more beautiful day for their North Lake Tahoe wedding. It was simply a perfect day in Lake Tahoe.

It’s clear that many friends and family members came together to make this the best day ever for Catherine and Diego, as well as their awesome wedding vendors. It was an honor to capture this wedding day for this incredibly sweet couple. Enjoy a small selection of my favorites from their day!

North Lake Tahoe Wedding Vendors:
Wedding Venue: North Tahoe Event Center
Wedding Planner/Coordinator: Liane McCombs Wedding and Event Planning
Officiant: Reverend Ronald Z. Sayed
Makeup Artist & Hairstylist: Janessa Loftin
DJ and/or Live Musicians: Justincredible DJ Entertainment
Florist: Kathie Lostan
Caterer: Mountain Magic Catering
Cake/Dessert: Flour Girl Wedding Cakes
Wedding Rentals: Camelot Party Rentals
Wedding Dress Designer: Daniela Dueñas
Special thanks to my Second Photographer Kevin Sawyer and Photo Assistant Colin Nicolai!