It’s no secret: Galia Lahav is a true titan of the wedding dress world, and for good reason. Just look at Simone Biles’ + Jonathan Owens’ wedding or Whitney Simmons’ wedding and you’ll know exactly what we mean.
Today we want to take you inside an absolutely enchanting wedding that featured one of *the* most breathtaking Galia Lahav looks we have ever seen.
Jess + Jonny—with the help of planner Jenn Robirds Events—created a lush + lovely celebration at Edgewood in Tahoe full of mossy, fern-filled florals in a rich + romantic color world. The whole thing looks like your fave fairytale come to life.
And, wow, the DRESS. We are speechless. And we’re so excited to show you all of the stunning photos that Nicole Ivanov snapped throughout the day!
These embossed teal wedding invites from Southern Fried Paper with their moody floral envelope liner totally set the tone for the day’s woodsy whimsical storybook vibe.
Ladies and gentlemen, we present the ‘Desiree’ gown by Galia Lahav 👏
Bride Jess Howle (aka fashion designer J Berarducci Designs) STUNNED in the unique hooded wedding cape that she designed! We are SO into the fantasy feel it adds to her look.
How many different dresses did Jess try to find the one? “SO so many!!!” Jess remembers. “I would say over 60 gowns. My mom and I traveled to numerous states, researched bridal boutiques and plotted our epic search.”
Jess’s gold and pear flower-adorned braid bun wedding updo by Luna Belle Beauty was the perfect balance of timelessly chic and whimsical.
Jess describes her experience working with the Galia Lahav team as “INCREDIBLE.”
“Truly one of the greatest experiences. And honestly it was an honor to work so closely with a team of people who are so insanely talented,” says Jess. “As a pattern maker/seamstress, designer, artist myself, recognizing the level of craftsmanship that goes into these gowns is astounding and important.”
“I custom designed my cape and was lucky enough to be in New York and work directly with the pattern makers there on numerous occasions,” Jess says. “On top of that my sales/stylist Ashley, (in the Soho location) was always there to listen to my needs, make changes whenever another design element popped in my head, and made me feel so taken care of. Everyone was so welcoming, warm and made me feel so special.”
Fact: nobody does a sheer structured corset bodice like Galia Lahav.
An Enchanted Forest Ceremony
“Jess had always dreamed of an ‘outside church wedding.'” remembers planner Jenn, and that vision was the inspiration for the custom built A-frame ceremony arches that Jenn created and tucked into a grove of towering pine trees. “Benches and a raised aisle anchored the space, and an open cathedral amongst nature was born.”
When Jess put on her dress on her big day she remembers feeling “Like. A. Queen. Regal. Timeless yet individualistic.”
Our Favorite Memory From The Wedding My dad and I had quiet moments together before walking down the aisle. We both were so nervous and emotional. We both recognized the significance of the moment, without saying many words. It felt like time froze just for a moment, and I tunneled through every memory I had with my father as a little girl and how this must feel for him; but more importantly how impactful my relationship with my father has been. How the love I have seen him give my mother my whole life contributed so much of what I have wanted for myself, and I found it. I thanked him for setting such an incredible example of devotion and love for us to emulate and stand on.
The orchids! The roses! The ferns! The moss! Zuri Floral Design created nothing short of magic throughout Jess + Jonny’s day.
“FLOWERS, FLOWERS oh, and more flowers,” says Jess, remembering favorite part of wedding planning. “I believe the exact words to my planner were, I want to feel as though we’re in an abandoned greenhouse that has thrived without being touched. She delivered.”
“Most everyone’s reaction started with tears!” says Jess of how her loved ones reacted to her stunning bridal look. “Lots and lots of crying! Everyone said, ‘This is the most Jessica gown in the world,’ and that it was made for me.”
Something as unforgettably unique as Jess’s hooded wedding cape is bound to happen when a brilliant fashion designer bride teams up with a design dream team like the one at Galia Lahav.
Amanda Carette created Jess’s dreamy neutral glam makeup look. Loving that shimmery, smoky eye.
“I felt transported in it,” says Jess of the moment she realized the the ‘Desiree’ (with its show-stopping train 😍) was the dress for her. “I wanted to choose something that made me feel like I was in a dreamy, whimsical, enchanted forest.”
“I felt so light in it almost immediately, despite it having yards and yards of fabric. It felt as if it found me, because it wasn’t something I even picked up. My sister made me try it on.”
“The gown made me emotional,” Jess says, “because I felt like the memories I was looking to create in it were made possible by the moment I had when I found it.”
SO into the way that pairing these bead-embellished bridal gloves with the gown’s strapless bodice created the illusion of an off-the-shoulder long sleeved silhouette!
Jess’s cute almond shaped wedding nails added a fun + sneaky sparkle to the look.
A Woodsy + Whimsical Reception
So obsessed with the mossy, dark academia vibes of this unique wedding reception seating chart!
Impeccable attention to detail (like in this magical mushroom-filled display) made the day’s design an unforgettably immersive experience.
Explore our list of fabulous summer wedding guest dresses to bring some stunning style to your next event like these ladies did.
Totally in love with this lush, leafy greenhouse reception!! The trees magically springing from the reception tables were 17′ tall!
“I am such a little details person!” says Jess. “My husband and I are both creatives, so we wanted to inject little bits of our story into everything. My husband designed our wedding logo, mixed the song I walked down the aisle to, and even surprised me with a song he wrote towards the end of the night. I am a fashion designer, and I made my welcome dinner look. The restaurant where we had our first date had a moth for their logo (shoutout to Meddlesome Moth in Dallas)! So, my husband designed our wedding menu and had their logo at the top.”
Palette Cakes raised the bar for wedding cakes everywhere with this towering, 3-foot-tall, FIVE tier beauty covered in mushrooms, butterflies, moss, and sugar flowers!
There truly is no such thing as too many florals. Floral table linens. Lush, table-framing and stage-lining arrangements. A mossy custom stone floral wall. And even a hanging installation that made use of the tent’s chandelier!
We are obsessed with the best-of-both-worlds indoor/outdoor vibe of this epic tent setup from Town and Country Event Rentals!
Our Advice To Those Planning Now Don't get so lost in the planning of the wedding that you forget there is a marriage. It’s so easy to get caught up in things that aren’t important or get swept into what others “think you should do.” Go with your gut and intuition with decision making and do things your way. After all, no relationship is the same and the wedding should be as unique as you and your partner are!
Can we get one last round of applause for this gorgeous Galia Lahav gown?
Congratulations, Jess + Jonny, on your absolutely enchanting Tahoe wedding day! If you need us, we’ll be daydreaming about your dazzling Galia Lahav dress!
photographer: Nicole Ivanov // planner and event designer: Jenn Robirds Events // florist: Zuri Floral Design // venue: Edgewood Tahoe // wedding dress: Galia Lahav // tent and select rentals: Town and Country // video: Direct Light Studios (you can see some of the videos here) // hair: Luna Belle Beauty // makeup: Amanda Carrete // cake: Palette Cakes // wedding invitations: Southern Fried Paper// signage and menus: Shimmer and Stain // linens: BBJ La Tavola // rentals: Theoni Collection // transportation: Reno Tahoe Limo // luxury restrooms: Quick Space // band: Big Crush
