I urge you to read the Bride’s beautifully written story first, before experiencing Joel Serrato‘s stunning images. She brings us along their journey from proposal to I do and makes you truly feel as if you were a guest in their mountainside celebration. Elise Events guided the duo in crafting a day that was bursting with blooms by Natasha Kolenko. Lovespun documented it all on film and I highly recommended pressing play before signing off!
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From the Bride… Love at first sight was always a lofty, imaginary platitude that plagued love songs and poetry, that never seemed to exist in my reality. On a wintery, blustery day with zero visibility and waist-deep powder on the top of Mt. Bachelor, instantaneous love struck me with such a force that my world was forever changed. Wearing snow gear from head to toe, I couldn’t even see the love of my life or fall head over heels for his brilliant blue eyes. There was only an unmistakable energy, an electric pulse that coursed through my body, and I knew that he was the one. That day sparked a whirlwind love adventure, traveling across the world and changing our lives’ trajectories so that we would never be apart. I had been living in Spain for 10 years and love’s plan was for me to finally come home.
Two years after we met, and fully ensconced in our new lives in Lake Tahoe, we took a snowy walk among the rosy pink slopes of Squaw Valley on Valentine’s Day and Michael made me his bride. Overwhelmed with excitement and eager to celebrate, we decided to plan our wedding for the end of the summer. Snowboarding has always been our passion and we believe that the mountains brought us together. A mountain ceremony was a must for us and after trying a few local ski resorts, my Mom suggested that we try the Ritz-Carlton Highlands in Lake Tahoe. We were overjoyed and couldn’t believe her generosity in choosing such a wonderful venue.
At such a special place, I started to realize that this wasn’t going to be the small, intimate mountaintop ceremony that I had imagined. I knew we had to find the perfect team to make our wildest dreams come true. Danielle Tolleson at Elise Events was recommended to me by the lovely ladies at Swoon Bridal Salon and from the first phone conversation I knew we were in good hands. Her professionalism, experience, style, and grace was exactly what we needed for our biggest day. Our enchanting, romantic celebration of love blossomed into a dream wedding thanks to Danielle and her marvelous team and vendors, my Mom, the Ritz- Carlton staff, and our memories were made that much more beautiful by Joel Serrato’s vision and expertise.
The day approached so quickly and Danielle was ever so patient and responsive with last minute changes. Before I knew it, I was sitting in the hair and make up chair (writing my vows) and I was so grateful at that moment for the wonderful celebration that we were about to embark upon. At that moment, someone pressed the fast forward button. I remember standing with Michael as his father officiated, tripping on my words (with this ring, I thee red), watching my friend, Almudena Romero dance Flamenco, leading everyone in a Greek dance, trying to talk to as many people possible ( didn’t get to half of them), dancing again to Yotto until the wee hours of the morning. It was the best day of my life and the greatest gift was marrying my other half.
Currently I am in Zermatt with my family and my brother just proposed to his wonderful girlfriend with the Matterhorn as a backdrop. Love in the mountains is a lovely theme and I can’t wait to do it all again!!!
Photography: Joel Serrato Film Photographer | Floral Design : Natasha Kolenko | Stationery : The Idea Emporium | Shoes : Jimmy Choo | Bridesmaids' Dresses: JLM Couture | Venue : test | Beauty : Amy Clarke | Bride's Dress : JLM Couture | Music : Sounds Elevated | Wedding Production & Design : Elise Events | additional rentals : Celebrations Party Rentals | linens : BBJ La Tavola | rentals : Theoni Collection | video : Lovespun Films