The snowy mountains, a lacy pink and white Claire Pettibone dress, dusty color wildflowers, and a warm lodge are the wedding today straight from a book of romance.
We are so at home and warm while as we scroll through the private Sierra Nevada wedding, filled with radiant smiles and lots of tears of joy.
In search of ” the dress,” Chelsea tells a believable story about trying on many gorgeous gowns that weren’t “her.” Then she found her vintage-inspired dress from Claire Pettibone with floral lace details in pink and a Victorian-inspired cut, which we think is ideal for the bride who wants something romantic but also different.
The Love Story
You know, the type of love story in which two souls are brought together and are meant to be? That’s Chelsea and Joel. It all began at the college, where Joel was wearing his finest shirt to class he attended on Wednesdays, along with Chelsea, who would walk in the wrong way every week after class to prolong their conversation. The first thing he noticed about her was her lips, and she was in love with his hair, which was red. The rest is, as they say, the history of love.
The Proposal
Joel and I visited Huntington Gardens and spent the whole day in the gardens. As the afternoon progressed, the crowds dispersed, and we walked into the garden of roses almost by ourselves on a bench with a shade. The court was the spot where he proposed. It wasn’t surprising -we’d discussed a lot about our future together, and I was crying in the end.
The Dress
I’m a lover of the past (something I learned from my mom, I think), and I am a fan of the vintage style of a lot. I tried on many modern, all-white wedding gowns and didn’t feel right in each of them. It was like this fashion was normal. However, it wasn’t my style.
Finally, I discovered it in the “Genevieve” Claire Pettibone dress. It is distinct with pink floral designs and Victorian-inspired lacing accents. I was enthralled immediately. I made my entire outfit natural to fit in with the lakeside theme. Simply a pair of cheap, nude shoes would allow me to dance, and several pieces of silver jewelry.
The Venue
The location was certainly crucial to us! We were prepared to commit more of our money to finding the perfect venue than any other thing else.
The wedding we wanted to have was intimate and small (just a handful of close family members) and held in the most breathtaking and natural beauty. I liked the venue to inspire us as well as encourage our guests. I wanted it to be inspiring and encourage everyone to feel something coming from the source of nature that wasn’t just some manufactured decoration. There’s nothing more appealing to me than the beauty of water in a mountain setting. Therefore we decided to go to Convict Lake, close to Mammoth Mountain, up in the Sierra Nevada. It’s breathtaking!
The Flowers
Because the natural elements were at the forefront, it was very important to us. Because we were on the hills, I wanted each of our centerpieces and bouquets to be able to give the “wildflower” look, as it was as if someone had just snatched some beautiful mountain blooms from the nearby area.
The bride specifically told the florist that I wasn’t looking for too many of the traditional bridal flowers that are manicured. I wanted lots of dusky blues and purples and a few the occasional pop of pink, as well as plenty of texture and variety in the arrangements. The result was stunning!
Special Moments
It could sound very normal. It may sound very typical, but I’m certain I’ll remember for a long time the brief moment that Joel’s expression changed noticeably as I walked up in the middle of the aisle. He seemed shocked, then he smiled, and I could see that he was in the midst of crying. The emotion was so real.
I can remember the thick white mist that hung over the lake’s mountain the day I was there — absolutely beautiful! And I can recall all our family members having fun on the dancing floor till the very close. And that includes relatives I don’t believe I’ve seen dance before in my entire life.
