Most Love Dogs!  That is the pretty much the heart & soul, (& secret match makers) to this adorable couple, and stunning Tahoe wedding at the perfect place, Lake Forest Retreat!  Mandy Sun & Adrian Brown’s love of their dogs planted the perfect seed to  make their relationship bloom, while their enjoyment of the gorgeous California terrain gave them ample activities to bond over!  When the time came to plan their wedding they knew without a doubt it was the picturesque back drop of Lake Tahoe for them.  The overall feel to the wedding is sophisticated modern with DIY touches with their respective pups most certainly having a place at the alter!  Our couple’s wedding style beautifully embraced the nature around them, putting together an affair with just the right amount of design & style!

What Storyboard Likes…

The Pups- As you know I have a pup and am a huge dog lover!  Show me a wedding with cute pups & you naturally have my attention!  While the lab is without a doubt adorable, tell me that Yorky isnt stealing the canine show! I really appreciate that it was important to Mandy & Adrian to include their companions and I am sure that having them there made the day that much more special!

Little Touches- Knowing the stunning palette that nature was already offering our couple, Mandy & Adrian cleverly knew that overkill in the decor department was not only unnecessary, that playing it cool would be the perfect way to style up their lake side retreat!  From the bunting to the signage, the little decisions, done well, speak volumes, adding the perfect amount of style without over taking things.  Remember ladies, not all weddings call for the same amount of design & decor!  Know when to pull back!  By pulling back, our couple created a lovely fete, injecting sophistication in what could have been The Great Outdoors, John Candy style!

Our Couple-  I dont know if it sounds silly but I just love them!  Leafing through their gorgeous photos, its a true pleasure for me to see how happy they are, how happy they make each other & they clearly love to laugh.  There is a freeness that I get from them, something that I think each brings out in the other.  They are just one of those couples who’s ease at love jumps off the page at you!

Novella Of The Bride…

Adrian and I met in San Francisco just over 2 years ago and quickly bonded over the love we both have for dogs and the great outdoors!  We like to spend our spare time with our dogs enjoying the trail running/hiking around the SF Bay Area, and also getting away for weekend escapes at our cabin in Truckee, CA.

Our wedding theme was rustic and romatic!  The venue itself was already so breathtaking, we were able to capitalize on the beautiful backdrop of Lake Tahoe as well as Lake Forest Retreat.  There were many DIY projects that started months before the wedding such as the bunting flags, wedding programs and menu cards, my bridal pearl necklace and bracelet that my mom strung together, as well as my sister’s maid-of-honor dress that was custom made!  Another special touch was our wedding desserts, (cupcakes and macarons) made fresh from our favorite bakeries in San Francisco and hand carried up to Tahoe by one of our good friends!

My sister, Irene, also my MOH was pivotal in brainstorming, planning, and executing the wedding!  Irene not only designed and created all of our wedding stationary, she put in endless hours helping to pick out favors, fabrics, and colors to pull our big day together.  We couldn’t have had the wedding of our dreams without my sister Irene, she is our un-official wedding/event planner!

We got engaged last Christmas Eve on a mid-day hike with our dogs in Lake Tahoe.  We love the beauty of Lake Tahoe and wanted to share it with our family and friends!  Since we spend much of our spare time in Tahoe, it was an obvious choice for our destination wedding.

Bride’s Favorite Wedding Moment: “Exchanging our vows with each other! We had each selected our own vows and waited to share them until our wedding ceremony. We were both very overwhelmed with emotion and tears of happiness came pouring out!”

Vendor Love 

Ceremony Venue: Skylandia Park
Reception Venue: Lake Forest Retreat
Wedding Dress Designer: San Patrick
Bridesmaid Dress Designer: Custom Made
Shoe Designer: Toms
Hair & Makeup Stylist: Urban Angels
Music: Disc Jockeys Now
Florist: Suzus Petals
Caterer:  As You Wish Catering
Baker: That Takes The Cake & Chantal Guillon
Photographer: Eric Asistin Photography

Forrest Graham & Matthew Kazee’s Lake Lure wedding was an intimate family affair from the start.  Forrest’s parents graciously headed to the house a month early to prepare, while Matthew’s 2 children from a previous marriage hand drew the drawing on their ceremony programs!  Photos of loved ones since passed were framed & used as decor to honor them.  The lake side wedding had elements of country to it with non-matching vintage cake plates, the bridesmaids in cowboy boots, wildflower feel bouquets.  The groom and groomsmen arrived via a pontoon boat, driving up from Chimney Rock where they were getting ready.  Granted I am a big dog lover as most of you know, but I think my favorite part has to be Samson, the couple’s mega cute pup who ultimately found a comfy spot on Forrest’s dress while she was getting ready!  Our good natured bride took it all in strand!  Of course no lake side North Carolina wedding would be complete without some amazing BBQ & Tea with a kick of Beam!  We’re loving the laid back feel & gorgeous calming water views!

Vendor Love

Venue: Family Home
Floral Designer: The Farmer’s Market,Ingles
Baker: Ingles Bakery
Photographer: Jen Yuson Photography, Second Shooter: Shawn Bauguess

When it came time for Claire Inskeep & Joe Saphire to plan their perfect wedding day,  a lake side wedding in the gorgeous New England fall was the perfect setting.  Wanting something  more unique, and true to their style, our couple opted for a lake side wedding where our bride arrived on a canoe!  This Vermont gem featured burlap runners, pine needle aisle, & dried herb escort cards just to name a few of the key elements that came together to highlight this gorgeous organic delight of a wedding day!

What Storyboard Likes…

The Transportation- How can you not love a bride that foregoes conventional transportation for a self manned canoe that lands softly to shore!  We love how our couple truly embraced all aspects that is the stunning Vermont wilderness, injecting a sense of calm as our bride gliding along the water!

The Food- I know know, you dont see any food in the feature, so hum whaa?  Its OK, I am completely playing favorites here and I am good with that!  Catering by Dale was actually our carter for our wedding, so naturally, we’re prone to shout her praises when we can!!  Dale is a delight to work with, her staff amazing & the best part….?  THE FOOD!  Dale’s food is absolutely scrumptious & I am sure that Claire & Joe think so too!

The Flare- We love everything about our bride & groom’s style from the bride’s sleek fitting Nicole Miller wedding dress to our groom’s suit of choice, which by our eye, has a nice natural tweed to it which compliments the natural surroundings…beautifully!  As if the style of our bride & groom wasnt enough, we are madly in love with their floral choices, truly capturing that Vermont wild flower feel in each uniquely different bridesmaid bouquet!

Vendor Love

Caterer: Catering by Dale
Floral Designer: Artistic Gardens, Blooms By The Box
Wedding Dress: Nicole Miller
Bridesmaid Dresses: J. Crew
DJ: Peak Entertainment
Photographer: Ampersand Wedding Photography