It was a cold wintery day at the Chalet View Lodge in Graeagle, California but this winter wonderland was the perfect setting for Lonnie and Tylers NYE wedding extravaganza. Their friends and family bundled up like Eskimos and sat under the stars for their frosty outdoor “I dos”, and it’s by far one of the most romantic ceremonies we’ve seen.
In fact, this whole wedding is off the charts beautiful, and we can feel all the love these two have for each other in every photo! Want to see more? Of course you do! Rochelle Wilhelms Photography braved the cold, and a herd of wild deer that photobombed the couple, to capture this magical day. So be sure to check out the full gallery for more!
wintry wedding in California
From the bride: There is something so absolutely beautiful about making all of your closest friends and family bundle up like Eskimos and freeze in a winter wonderland. Never in my wildest dreams did I ever think sunny California would equate to a snowy below freezing wedding – – but, somehow we ended up under the stars wrapped in a blanket of snow on New Years Eve.
Deer photobomb
As we were taking our first look photos in the snow, a mob of deer decided they wanted to be part of our first look, too. Naturally, when I sing, animals tend to flock out of the forest, but before I even uttered a note, there they were. I promise I didn’t lure them in with my protea filled bouquet (even though I’m sure all of the greenery looked pretty tasty.) It was possibly one of the most magical moments of the day right next to saying our vows in the freezing cold under a sky full of stars.
Hand-made wooden aisle
My husband, Tyler, handcrafted our wooden aisle that we would walk down. He hand selected each board and stitched over one hundred boards together with an out-of-service firehose. Days before the wedding, he would sit outside in the cold sanding down each board to make sure my dress wouldn’t snag as I walked down the aisle to say, “I do.” It was a true labor of love.
Starting their new journey together
At the risk of someone catching cold or enduring frostbite, we moved the party over to a cozier (and fully heated) privately owned barn. Despite the cold, it was filled with all of the true elements to make you feel warm inside: hot chocolate, blankets, and BBQ. We envisioned a simple but classy evening with the traditional black and gold elements of a New Year’s Eve shindig accompanied by greenery filled tables, sparklers at hand, and just the right amount of soul to dance us into the new year. Everyone counted down the seconds aloud and clinked champagne glasses as Tyler and I shared a kiss at the stroke of midnight. We couldn’t have asked for a more beautiful way to start our new journey as husband and wife — the snow, the deer, our cherished family and friends, and the adventure of marriage ahead.
Check out the wedding film from Ben Ridpath Films below to get a closer look at this wintery NYE wedding!
