We were so happy to be back at Chalet View Lodge with Rio and Jess for their wedding after shooting their engagement session earlier this winter. The couple, who are from Los Angeles, was surrounded by a village of loving people – their friends and family members were all such amazing individuals to be around.
As per standard at Chalet View Lodge Jess and Rio had the whole venue to themselves all weekend long which really made it the perfect wedding venue for them and their love for the Sierra’s. It all worked out perfectly even the rainy forecast proved to be a false alarm – instead, there were just a few drops before the sun decided to come out, allowing us to have some great light throughout their whole day.
Some of our favorite details from the wedding included the mini mason jars (engraved with R+J for the couple’s initials) filled with shots of tequila, the Easter egg hunt planned for the day after the wedding, and the amazing live band that made all of us dance from beginning to end. (We were also super impressed with some of the dance moves we saw – everyone’s dance lessons definitely paid off!) However, one of the most memorable moments happened at the reception, when Rio’s brother, Forest, gave his speech via Skype on a big screen. He couldn’t make it to the wedding because he is actively serving in the military, so it was so sweet and incredibly moving how he was included. I don’t think anyone could hold their tears back hearing him talk so sincerely about God and the love Rio and Jess have for each other and in their families.
As the evening continued, we helped the couple sneak away (along with their dog, Reagan) for a private walk so they could soak it all in (complete with their newly embroidered Mr. and Mrs. jackets). To end the perfect day, everyone sent Rio and Jess off with sparklers and, our favorite, ice cream sandwiches.
