Allison and Travis… I can’t say enough good things about these two. There’s really just not enough room on a page to write it all out! So, I decided to switch it up! Normally, I write about wedding days from my perspective, but I thought that interviewing Allison and Travis all about their day would not only be fun, but helpful for couples looking for advice! Enjoy!
Valerie: What were your top 3 moments of the day?
Allison:
1. Our first look! Valerie suggested from the start that we consider an intimate first look that would allow us quick moment to see each other for the first time alone and get excited for the rest of the day. It is by far one of the best pieces of advice she gave us and some of our favorite photographs of the day are from the first look.
2. The ceremony! We chose to have a small private, ceremony with immediate family and a few close friends. While some were not thrilled with this decision we were happy that we stayed true to what we wanted. It was such a special moment with some of those closest to us that we will always be a treasured memory.
3. All the little moments with everyone who showed up for us. The reception didn’t last nearly long enough but every second was filled with love, laughter and light. From the pizza, beer and speeches all the way to bustin’ moves on the dance floor. It’s truly indescribable to be surrounded by people from so many different phases of your life that all just want to come together and celebrate you. Watching those we love connect with each other, share memories of us over the years and bond was something I’m not sure we will ever experience at this capacity again. Valerie is a serious magician and was able to capture so many of these moments amazingly.
Travis: The top moment of the day would have to be the first look for me. Waiting to see my wife in her dress all done up was nerve racking but so worth it. Second top moment would be the ceremony itself, theres nothing better than getting to share the moment with your closest friends and family. Third top moment would be dinner, because getting to look out from our table and see all of our loved ones sharing a meal together was a special moment that only happens once!
Valerie: What is some advice you have for newly engaged couples planning their wedding?
Allison: Enjoy the journey! Planning had many moments that could have become overwhelmingly stressful if we had allowed them to. We tried our best to take it day by day and started with booking the vendors we felt were most important to create the celebration of our dreams! I absolutely love planning, am very organized and had a specific vision when it came to decor and overall feel so opted out of hiring a wedding planner. But if planning a wedding isn’t your thing, HIRE SOMEONE! They are worth every penny when it comes to coordinating, details and contacts. But also, remember that less is more and you don’t need every bell and whistle to make your day perfect. It’s more about the people who come to join you and your love on your big day.
Travis: My advice to engaged couples planning a wedding is make sure you let your soon to be wife plan it and do whatever she tells or asks you to do!
Valerie: What’s one part of planning the wedding that you didn’t love all that much?
Allison & Travis: Planning from afar! As dreamy as a destination wedding sounded at the start, it was tough to plan such an important life event from so far away. We made as many trips as possible during the year leading up to our big day but life is busy as we all know! Some details were incredibly challenging to finalize from so far away which made for a bit of unnecessary stress. If you are planning a destination wedding, I would highly recommend going with an all inclusive venue that organizes almost everything for you OR hiring a wedding planner (: It’ll be worth the peace of mind!
Valerie: What was your favorite part of planning the wedding?
Allison & Travis: Choosing all our dream vendors! We had an absolute blast checking out alllllllll the local companies and picking the ones that seemed to best fit with our vibe. From the start when we chose to have a destination wedding in a small mountain town, we knew we wanted to support as many small businesses as possible. The friendships we created and extra love we received with every tiny detail was so incredibly rewarding. Valerie was actually the first vendor we booked and also the one we have become closest to. We had so much fun with her during our amazing Laguna Beach engagement shoot, we instantly knew she had to be a part of our day in Lake Tahoe. She is both professional yet so incredibly genuine that you know she truly cares and will doing everything necessary to capture your essence as a couple. We have friends for life through all the amazing vendors!
Vendor List:
Photography- Valerie Lendvay Photo (you’re on my site!) @valerielendvayphoto
Venue- South of North Brewing https://www.southofnorthbeer.com @southofnorthbrewing
Food- Basecamp Pizza https://basecamppizzaco.com @basecamppizzacompany
Desserts- Crazy Good Bakery https://crazygoodbakery.com @crazygoodbakeryandcafe
Flowers- Fresh Ideas Flower Co. https://freshideasmodesto.com @freshideasflowerco
Bouquets- Enchanted Florist https://southlaketahoeenchantedflorist.com @enchantedfloristlaketahoe
Rentals- Elevated Events https://www.tahoeelevatedevents.com @tahoeelevatedevents
Dress- Grace Loves Lace https://graceloveslace.com @grace_loves_lace
Music- DJ Pastor Ryan IG —> @djpastorryan
