Cassandra & Ramit | Lake Tahoe

Cassandra and Ramit are a couple who are especially close to our hearts. We met them at the beginning of their journey when we planned their proposal! When they were ready to get married, they came back to Brilliant Event Planning to plan their destination wedding. We could not have been more honored!

Cassandra Campa, founder of Next Level Wardrobe and Ramit Sethi, founder of I Will Teach You to be Rich, knew from the start that they wanted a destination wedding on the West Coast. They both grew up in California and knew that they wanted to be surrounded by the state’s natural beauty for their wedding weekend. After seeing a handful of wedding venues, they chose to be married at the Ritz Carlton Lake Tahoe. The combination of the mountain views and impeccable service could not be beat! Plus, the outdoor space made it a blank canvas for creating multiple wedding events.

Guests arrived days before the wedding festivities to enjoy Lake Tahoe and everything it has to offer. Their first formal event was a combined Sangeet-Mehndi on Friday evening. The ladies were first invited to the courtyard for champagne, cheese and to have mehndi applied to their hands. It was a bright, colorful afternoon and the ladies lounged in the sunshine and celebrated the bride. Once the Mehndi came to a close, the groom, accompanied by all of the men, joined the party. A traditional mariachi band led the couple to the tent, as a nod to Cassandra’s Mexican heritage. Guests meandered behind them and ended up at an Indian-Mexican fusion fiesta!

Guests entered the tent through an Indian-temple-inspired archway. Along the arches, shelves were filled with various spices and scents, evoking an Indian marketplace. Inside, the tent was filled with brightly colored rugs and cushions for guests to lounge on. Golden lanterns hung from the top of the tent along with thick swatches of indigo-colored velvet. Guests dined street-market style at booths surrounding the tent. The offerings mirrored the multicultural theme and included Mexican and Indian inspired street food including tacos and Kati rolls! Guests danced the night away and went home with Indian sweets and bangles to wear the next day!

The next morning, the bride and her ladies woke as the sun rose to prepare for the first ceremony of the day. The couple chose to have two ceremonies to reflect each of their cultural and religious backgrounds. The morning sikh wedding ceremony took place at the neighboring resort, Northstar. Guests were treated to a gondola ride between the two venues to attend the ceremony. Dhol players led the baraat as the groom arrived on horseback. The bride and groom were married under a traditional mandap adorned with beautiful fabrics, as guests lounged on pillows under colorful parasols.

After light bites, everyone returned to their suites to change and prepare for their second ceremony! That evening, in the golden early evening light, guests joined the bride and groom in the forest for an enchanted Catholic ceremony amongst the pines. The bride walked down the aisle in a timeless, simply elegant wedding dress. The light was just right as they said their vows under a lush arch of greenery and white florals to complement the stunning natural surroundings. Guests then joined the couple on the terrace to sip cocktails as the sun set!

Soon guests returning to the tent for the wedding reception to find it completely transformed. The bold colors and décor from the night before were replaced by a clean, romantic aesthetic favoring more of the couple’s personal style. Driftwood adorned the tables and a chic black and white checkered dance floor anchored the open- air tent. Guests were treated to the signature Ritz-Carlton white glove service for dinner followed by a wild dance party. The dance floor was packed and guests danced the night away under twinkling lights and a clear sky full of stars!