What happens when two outdoorsy, creative, environmentally-minded people (who both happen to adore the Wes Anderson film Moonrise Kindgom) fall in love??
You end up with Emily + Patrick’s romantic, retro-summer-camp-themed DIY dream wedding!!
It was Emily’s sister Erica who first introduced her to Patrick. A shared love of nature connected Emily + Patrick from the very start, and only a few weeks after their first date they were off on a multi-day backpacking adventure together!
The couple tied the knot under towering trees on the southern shore of Lake Tahoe. They wanted their wedding to capture their passion for the outdoors and to be full of thrifted, foraged, and handmade details that would fill the day with personal touches while also keeping the environmental impact of the event low. Their venue Valhalla Tahoe is part of a non-profit organization working with the US Forest Service to preserve the surrounding land and its venue fees go towards that effort. Plus its laid back lodge vibes were a perfect fit perfectly with the couple’s Moonrise Kingdom-inspired vision.
Emily says she always knew she’d DIY the majority of her wedding, and she certainly did! Coordinator Cassandra Ream at Art In Motion Design stepped in to take care of the details of the day and Roseann Bath Photography captured the whole celebration documentary-style!
Emily designed this invitation suite herself to perfectly capture a charming, letter-home-from-camp feel. The couple also enjoyed collecting rocks along the beach near their home in Sonoma County which they hand-painted and shared with guests as favors!
Emily wanted her bridal party’s style to shine through, so she put together a color palette for her bridesmaids, and each one got to choose a color of their very own!
Emily’s dress is the stunning Allemande Gown by Nouvelle Amsale. Also, we can’t help but notice (and ADORE) a metallic statement shoe moment! Check out the Loeffler Randall Camellia Pleated Bow Heel in gold (and all sorts of other colors)!
We love a bridesmaid first look!
Patrick’s perfect mahogany suit is from Indochino. He completed the throwback vibe look with a bolo tie by Wildkind Jewelry.
Little Boy Flowers, an organic farm from nearby Nevada City, filled Emily + Patrick’s big day with eclectic, textured arrangements that brought their 70’s inspired color palette to life and utilized woodsy details like ferns, leaves, and earthy tones.
The groomsmen got their sharp, tan suits from Generation Tux. (Their bolo ties were a gift from the groom!)
Being surrounded by nature was an important element of the day. Emily + Patrick are both passionate about conservation and prioritized lessening the environmental impact of their wedding: “We tried to minimize waste by avoiding single-use plastics where possible, collecting recycled glass bottles for the florals, thrifting antique decor, and using natural elements found near our home in Sonoma County.”
A Woodsy, Whimsical Ceremony
Our Musical Choices Processional: “I Will” by The Beatles
Recessional: “I’ve Just Seen a Face” by The Beatles
First Dance: “Into the Mystic” by Van Morrison
Vibrant, organic floral installations added some magic to the tree that the couple used as their ceremony backdrop.
Check out Patrick rocking a classic pair of Red Wing boots.
Our Favorite Memory From The Wedding It sounds cliche, but it’s truly hard to pick just one, so here are a few snippets from throughout the day:
The morning of the wedding, we both woke up to exchange personal gifts and letters to each other before the chaos of the day was in full swing. It was such a sweet and intimate moment together before tying the knot.
My sister Erica, who introduced us, served as officiant for the ceremony. Asking her to officiate was probably the first wedding planning decision we made before all else - we knew she’d crush her duties! The ceremony was a perfect mix of humor and sentimental emotion, BIG emphasis on the humor. I firmly believe she was a stand up comedian in another life.
At the end of the ceremony, we were supposed to walk back down the aisle to “I’ve Just Seen a Face” by the Beatles, but Patrick surprised everyone by joining our friends to sing to me. Cue all the happy tears!
Elvis (Patrick’s cousin) made a surprise appearance to serenade our guests at the end of the night, which really hyped up the dance floor.
Our new 4 day old niece made it to the wedding, as well as my 96 year old grandpa who flew cross-country to be there. In his speech, Pat’s dad lamented that we had a “96-hour old and 96 year old” - the juxtaposition of life felt so incredibly special.
Emily’s ethereal hair and makeup look is the work of Jaclyn Cameron. The loose waves are the perfect pairing with her romantic, bohemian dress.
These two lovebirds in their element, out in the elements!!
Emily’s beautiful floral hairpiece is the Calypso Double Comb by Les Couronnes De Victoire, and her embroidered veil came from Daughters of Simone.
A Summer Camp Style Celebration!
Can’t get enough of this cute camp banner welcome sign!! More of Emily’s DIY handiwork.
Emily + Patrick built and painted these seat assignment boards themselves! Then Emily hand-drew animals native to the area on each camp counselor clipboard!!
Instead of a traditional guest book, Emily + Patrick designed and printed vintage inspired postcards and asked guests to write notes and attach Instax photos from the reception. The couple says: “We had so much fun looking through them and reliving the night when we returned back home to reality.”
Celebrations Party Rentals created the retro-rustic tablescape with vintage-style glassware, gray-green napkins, and gold flatware.
Blend Catering collaborated with the couple to minimize food waste for their buffet-style feast.
Signature cocktails courtesy of the mixological brains at Terroir Bar!
Our Advice To Those Planning Now Don’t feel like you have to prescribe to a certain wedding “formula”. It’s more than okay to throw tradition to the wind to create a day that is a reflection of your individual passions and the life you’ve built together. I spent more time than I’d care to admit scouring wedding blogs, Pinterest, and countless YouTube videos in my quest to DIY our wedding. It’s easy to get overwhelmed by all of the content out there, so I would recommend you and your partner compile a list of priorities and personal passions to serve as a north star while planning.
A few years ago, Emily and her sister Elinor started a home baking business called Flour + Floyd, and it was Elinor who made this glorious three-tiered wedding cake!! Edible flowers provided by Little Boy Flowers added a touch of nature, and Elinor even included a mini version of the couple’s dog, Wally!
Sometimes cake just isn’t enough. These two dessert lovers filled their reception with sweet treats including pies and desserts by Cornerstone Bakery.
Best part of your sister baking your wedding cake? She can recreate it for you for anniversaries!
A final thought from the bride: “I would love nothing more than for our wedding to be a resource and inspiration for those also looking to customize their day and figure out how to do it on a budget. Though there were plenty of highs and lows, we had so much fun with the process and couldn’t have envisioned a more perfect expression and celebration of our love.”
The DIY details made this woodsy wedding so special. Congratulations Emily + Patrick, and all the best from GWS!!
photography: Roseann Bath Photography // venue name: Valhalla Tahoe, South Lake Tahoe, California, United States // planning: Art In Motion Design // florals: Little Boy Flowers // wedding dress: Nouvelle Amsale Allemande // wedding dress boutique: BHLDN // hairpiece: Les Couronnes de Victoire // bride's shoes: Loeffler Randlal // bride's ring: Misa Jewelry // hair stylist: Jaclyn Cameron // makeup artist: Jaclyn Cameron // groom attire: Indochino custom suit and Wildkind Jewelry - Custom bolo tie // groom's shoes: Red Wings // groom's ring: Misa Jewelry // paper goods: Emily Mack (bride) // calligraphy: Emily Mack (bride) // handmade details: Emily Mack (bride) // catering: Blend Catering // cake: Flour and Floyd (bride's sister) // desserts: Cornerstone Bakery (pies) // tabletop rentals: Celebrations Party Rentals // furniture rentals: Celebrations Party Rentals // linen rentals: Celebrations Party Rentals // music: Dave Pascoe & Laura Benson of Late for the Train Band (ceremony music) // officiant: Erica Floyd (bride's sister) // cocktails: Terroir Bar
Great wedding! This is just perfect!