A Rustic Waterfront Wedding at Madden Creek Estate in Homewood, California

Feeling inspired by the beauty around them, Christina Slakey (28 and an event planner) and Robert Milne (30 and a vice president in real estate investment) planned a rustic yet elegant wedding on one of California’s most famous lakes. “Since 100 percent of the guests were traveling and most had never been to Tahoe, we wanted to showcase the natural beauty of the lake and surrounding mountains,” Christina says of her nuptials at Madden Creek Estate in Homewood, California, near Lake Tahoe. The lake itself became the inspiration for the day, relying on a neutral and organic palette so it wouldn't distract from the venue's natural beauty. A single pop of electric blue, like that of the lake, appeared throughout, ranging from the couple’s invitations to their reception. Christina and Robert celebrated their ceremony and reception at the same venue, seeing Madden Creek's serenity and privacy as a plus. “We loved the idea of having everything in one place,” Christina says. That type of simplicity also became an underlying theme for the big day, as the couple happily handed the reins over to their vendors, so the newlyweds could enjoy every moment of their journey. “As an event planner, I live and die by the idea that you hire good vendors and let them do what they do best, so we gave the vendors a general direction and let them run with it,” Christina says. In the end, it was the wedding of their dreams. —Ginger Harris