We love it when a couple isn’t afraid to do their Jewish wedding their own way – after all, helping couples do just that is really at the core of our mission. So naturally we were psyched when Kathleen and Carter’s wedding popped up in our inboxes.
These two knew their priority was a warm celebration with their loved ones, minus the stress that can so easily dominate wedding planning. They also knew they wanted to honor the groom’s love of the outdoors.
So they went right for the stuff that mattered to them and scrapped what didn’t when crafting their super fun wedding weekend at rustic venue The Hideout, in the mountains just outside Tahoe, full of hot chocolate, giant lawn games, and – above all – plenty of quality time with the couple’s nearest and dearest.Photographer Lindsey Gomes captured the wedfest in all its cozy glory.
We love that the wedding party made breakfast together in the lodge on the morning of the wedding, and Kathleen took the DIY approach to her own and her bridesmaids’ hair and makeup, “because I wanted everyone to be relaxed and feel like they were just getting ready with friends.” The best!
Another thing we love? The couple’s gorgeous ketubah from Smashing The Glass Recommended Vendor Tallulah Ketubahs, inspired by the breathtaking mountain setting.
There’s so much more we could say about this fab, laid-back wedding, but before we hand you over to the bride (who looked simply smashing in Naeem Khan), we’ll leave you with one last tidbit: she and Carter opted to exchange vows to each other in private on the morning of the wedding before saying them in front of their guests during the ceremony so they could have that special moment together, just the two of them. Awwwww!
A Wedding in the Mountains
Kathleen, the bride: Carter is a consummate outdoorsman, and he has slowly but surely brought me into his world (I own a backpacking pack, a pair of skis, and climbing shoes, to name just a few new acquisitions since we started dating!), so it was a goal of mine to find a venue and plan a wedding that he would be super excited about – and that’s exactly what happened!
I knew it needed to be outdoors, remote, preferably in the mountains because that’s his happy place. The Hideout was exactly that – secluded, breathtaking, unique, and just outside Tahoe. Carter loved it as soon as I brought him on the first visit.
Keeping it Low-Key
To be honest, neither Carter or I were hugely into weddings and all the chaos that surrounds them. We wanted the celebration with our loved ones, but we really wanted to avoid all the stress and structure. We actually ended up with more structure than we anticipated, but I think that becomes necessary any time you throw a party for 150+ people!
Hair + Makeup
My bridesmaids and I did our own hair and makeup because I wanted everyone to be relaxed, get to sleep in, and feel like they were just getting ready with friends.
Exchanging vows
Carter and I exchanged our vows to each other in private on the morning of our wedding so that we could look each other in the eyes and say them from the heart, before “performing” them in front of all the guests – bawled our eyes out!
A family feel
Beyond that, our focus was on creating a cozy, intimate, family feel, nothing too over-done. We actually chose all of our vendors based on our personal connection with them after our first meeting, and we ended up with a group of the kindest, warmest people you could ever imagine putting on our wedding! I really think that overflowed into the whole vibe of the wedding.
With Families and friends
We both were so, so happy that there was no stuffiness or over-the-top details, and instead, it truly felt like a cozy, love-filled gathering in the mountains with everyone we care about!
Comfort of home
Small, comfort-of-home things were important to us, for example: we bought 10 giant-sized lawn games and invited everyone to a casual Game Day on Friday, complete with hot dogs and burgers grilled by my family; the wedding party made breakfast together in the lodge on the morning of the wedding.
Warm and cozy
We welcomed kids for the entire weekend, and we made sure to serve hot chocolate at every event; we provided blankets and didn’t have a dress code because we wanted everyone to be warm and comfortable (it got down to 40 degrees at night!).
Cookies and waffles
We skipped the cake and instead had a delicious spread of just-baked cookies and build-your-own waffle cone bar.
Entertainment
The venue had no curfew or sound restrictions (a huge plus!), so we let Carter’s friends get on the 1s-and-2s and do some DJing for “late night” – the list goes on!
Kathleen & Carter’s little white book
Photography – Lindsey Gomes
Ketubah – Tallulah Ketubahs {offers 10% discount to all members of Smashing The Glass’s Brides Club}
Venue – The Hideout
Wedding planner – Elise Events
Bride’s dress – Naeem Khan, with customization by Jin Wang
Flowers – B&B Floral Design
