By Monique

Mariya and Ryan were married at Gar Woods in North Lake Tahoe. There was rain, wind, sun, dramatic puffy clouds, and then there was a rainbow!

Mariya and Ryan are sailors, so they incorporated some nautical touches to their wedding decor.

Here are a few of my favorite moments, besides the gorgeous rainbow:

Their first look in the forest behind the house they were renting … umbrellas were needed for a little while during the light sprinkles, and they shared a few quiet moments together under the tall trees before heading over to the lake for their ceremony.

One of the flower girls Did.Not.Want. to walk down the aisle before the ceremony …. so her dad stood in for her and threw the petals down the aisle!

A Russian tradition, as described by the bride, “It’s actually supposed to be the groom’s parents (but my parents are the Russian ones) and the idea is welcoming the bride to the family as a sign of hospitality and that these are the necessities of life – and the couple will be happy as long as we have bread and salt (the basic needs) and that we would never be without them.” And her sweet grandma gave a toast in Russian that the bride’s brother translated for many of the guests.

Every one mingled and enjoyed the famous Wet Woody’s and danced. I ended the night with a few blue hour portraits of Mariya and Ryan on the pier.