As Lizzie and Keith will recall with a laugh, they met in the most unlikely of places: a Nantucket-themed Mexican restaurant in San Francisco. Keith couldn't help but notice Lizzie, partly because she happened to cut in line in front of him. Soon after, he made an excuse to go over to her table. "Keith had the guts to strike up a conversation with me," Lizzie says. "Four hours later, we closed the place down and met the next night for a real date." A little over two years later, Keith took matters into his own hands once again. During a weekend trip to Carmel-by-the-Sea, he slipped away to go on a coffee run. Little did Lizzie know, he was staking out the perfect proposal spot. As they picnicked on the beach later that day, he surprised Lizzie with a cleverly hidden ring, designed by Edmund Weber Jewelers. Happily, Lizzie accepted.

The Wedding Locale
When it came to choosing a venue, one special place soon came to mind: Lizzie's family lodge, nestled in the lush Lake Tahoe setting. "It has become a place where we can get out of the city, and it has become very special to us both," says Lizzie, a Bay Area native. She and Keith fell in love with the idea of being able to share it with his family, who hail from Massachusetts.

The Dress
The two coupled the rustic scene with timeless looks. Keith donned a J. Crew suit and a Shinola watch, and Lizzie wore a mermaid dress by Vera Wang. Her bridesmaids wore soft creams, plus Ippolita teardrop earrings gifted by Lizzie to match her own pair. 

The Wedding Style
With the rich, natural beauty of Lake Tahoe as their backdrop, inspiration quickly took off. Working with Melissa Panico of MAP Events and Tracy Radeff from Radeff Design Studio, a beautiful, rustic setting was created for the sunny outdoor wedding. White flowers stood bright against a palette of forest greens and deep browns. Tall trees were adorned with string lights, and verdant, leafy garlands were hung along doorways and beneath the canopy tent. 

Flower girls wore laurel wreath crowns.

Lizzie and Keith also infused the day with personal touches. The couple made sure to have an oyster bar, one of Keith's favorite foods. They selected Aretha Franklin's "Baby, I Love You" for their first dance. For favors, guests left on a sweet note: miniature mason jars, filled with M&Ms personalized with the bride and groom's initials and their wedding date. The thing that made their day even sweeter? Sharing their wedding day with the mother-of-the-groom's birthday, and surprising her with a birthday cake and song.

Atop a wooden tree stump stood the cake

To brides-to-be, Lizzie shared a thoughtful piece of advice: "I realized what was really important on my wedding day," she says. "It wasn't what my hair looked like, what flowers were on what tables, or what drinks were served when. It was about making the commitment to Keith, and getting to marry the most wonderful man."