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Music Festival inspired Lake Tahoe wedding for Jen and Mike

Lake Tahoe wedding photography, bride and groom portrait overlooking the lake, Photography by Monique

By Monique

Jen and Mike’s music festival inspired wedding at the Cedar Glen Lodge in Lake Tahoe was an amazing event to document … so much love and pure fun … and sooooo many details – all put together and created by the bride! When I asked Jen to describe the overall theme of the wedding, she said, “we say it’s like adult summer camp meets music festival with a retro twist!”

The lounge area of the reception was definitely one of the more fun, creative set ups I have seen at a wedding … I’d say it was also Burning Man inspired with a big round couch surrounded by a tent shaped frame lit up with LED lights, all made by Jen, and several chill spaces including a retro trailer open for people to go in and relax.

Jen also designed the wedding itinerary poster and all the printed materials for the day. Colorful flowers were put together that morning by many friends, and the table centerpieces were records that had been laser cut with different music festivals the couple has attended. They met at High Sierra music festival.

Many of their musician friends who attended the wedding treated them to songs through out the day. And their wedding rings were just about the coolest rings ever … one of these friends at the wedding opened for their favorite band, Umphreys McGee, with the bass string that is in both of their rings! Mike’s ring also includes the vinyl record from their first song, Everyone’s a Winner by Hit Chocolate, and lastly, it also has wood from a Jack Daniels whiskey barrel.

I could go on and on about so many more details, but I want to also tell you about their day …. The Cedar Glen Lodge in North Lake Tahoe was completely rented out by wedding family and friends … And it was all of these family members and friends who helped Jen and Mike set everything up the morning of the wedding.

There was a beautiful forest area behind the main lodge, away from the hustle and bustle of the team effort of the set up, where they had their first look. We then hopped in a car and travelled about 10 minutes up the road to a scenic overlook for some more portraits. After about a 5 minute hike up a steep hill, the last few hundred feet on a shale “path,” Mike asked, “what did you get us in to?” And I just said, “trust me.” Once they got to the top and saw the spectacular view high above North Lake Tahoe, they understood what the effort to get there was all about! With not another soul in sight, which is so rare these days anywhere in Tahoe, they were able to enjoy the breath taking views and each other on what was finally a long day coming … this wedding was the first of 4 final Covid delayed weddings. While they had already legally tied the knot, this day was a special, important time to gather their family and friends together to laugh, celebrate and dance together!

After the ceremony, lively speeches and impromptu musical performances by their friends, a band played for the rest of the reception, followed by a DJ set. One of their festival friends also brought his florescent body paint and treated guests to some colorful face painting designs. When I was done for the night, I even got a small design painted, and chilled for a few selfies on the round couch!

 

 

 

 

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