Most of you are fully aware of my not so secret obsession with Jose Villa’s photographs. They instantly send me into a tailspin of giddiness and all out squealing. Of course that is a totally normal day at SMP but believe me, Jose gets extra squeals because his imagery is always perfect. Perfectly romantic, perfectly dreamy, perfectly gorgeous. So much so, that we are devoting an entire day to one undeniably stunning wedding. And the only thing better than a Jose wedding is a Jose wedding that captures the marrying of another fabulous photographer. That’s right, we’re flipping the camera around on another SMP favorite, KT Merry who’s work we positively adore around these parts (remember this gem?). So get nice and cozy because we have a whole day of devouring to conquer with this beauty. And if you positively can’t wait for Part II, we’ll let you cheat just a wee bit . See the full wedding here. And click here to see Part II, and here to see our Buying Guide.
Click here to see the entire image gallery!
After getting engaged in Thailand, Chad and I took our time planning our wedding and making it everything we hoped. We wanted an outdoor event in a unique location with lots of personal touches. As a photographer, the visual aspect of every detail was the most important thing for me. Every decision was based on how it would photograph, the light and ambience. We were lucky enough to have one of my best friends and bridesmaid, Ashlee, offer her ranch as the location for our reception. It was exactly what we were looking for, and set the perfect mood for the event. Being a wedding photographer, finding the perfect photographer to capture our day was extremely important. Jose Villa couldn’t have been a better fir for the type of wedding we wanted to have and how we wanted to remember it.
Since most of our guest traveled long distances for our wedding, we wanted to make sure it was a wedding weekend, rather than a single day. The events kicked off with a bridal shower at Harrah’s Lake Tahoe where the ladies gathered for wine, appetizers and gifts. I had previously taken my mother’s wedding gown and had it altered to a cocktail dress that I wore for the occasion. The next day, guests headed down the mountain for a golf scramble on the golf course where my father lived. Later that night, guests dressed up and boarded the Tahoe Queen for a welcome cruise hosted by Chad’s parents. They enjoyed the scenic cruise on Lake Tahoe to Emerald Bay while enjoying dinner, toasts and live music.
Sit tight. There’s so much more to come!
Wedding Photography: Jose Villa / Wedding Ceremony Venue: Regan Beach, South Lake Tahoe / Wedding Reception Venue: Willow Stay Ranch, Private Residence / Wedding Dress: Vera Wang via Ever After / Bride’s Shoes: Christian Louboutin / Jewelry: Maria Elena via Ever After / Bridal Kimono: Custom by Plum Pretty Sugar / Garter: Custom by Florrie Mitton Couture / Bridesmaid Dresses: Vera Wang via Boca Raton Bridal / Groom’s Suit: Ermenegildo Zegna / Catering: Bella Vita Catering / Wedding Cake: The Cork & More / Cupcakes: Russell’s Mercantile / Wine: Ironstone Vineyards / Rentals: Classic Party Rentals Sacramento + The Entertainer + Genoa Tree Farm / Flowers: Art in Bloom / Wedding Ceremony Music: Avalanche Music / Wedding Reception Music: Jeff Campbell Music / Linens: Custom by Sewin’ Oats / Wedding Invitations: Kari Dyas / Invitation Calligraphy: Hilary Williams / Seating Chart Calligraphy: Sally Jose (brownhorse.1@netzero.net) / Hair: Acqua Hair Design / Welcome Bags: Proforma Albrecht & Co. / Parasols: Luna Bazaar / Welcome Cruise: The Tahoe Queen via Zephyr Cove Resort & Lake Tahoe Cruises