1. Real Weddings

A Mountain Wedding at a Private Residence in Verdi, Nevada

After a three-month engagement, Kassi (26 and a marriage and family therapist) and Mark (26 and an associate product manager at Lincoln Electric Cutti

After a three-month engagement, Kassi (26 and a marriage and family therapist) and Mark (26 and an associate product manager at Lincoln Electric Cutting Systems) and wed in an elegant, intimate outdoor event at a private property beside the Truckee River in Verdi, Nevada. The couple exchanged vows at a wooden wedding arch that Mark had built, and the reception was held at Kassi’s childhood home. “I have grown up in the same house my whole life and thought that, before my parents moved, it would be the cherry on top of living in such an amazing place,” Kassi says. While Kassi’s bridesmaids and Mark’s groomsmen had crisp white floral boutonnieres and bouquets for the day, at the tented reception for 75 guests, Kassi chose to forgo flower centerpieces to save money, opting for more lighting instead. "I went for more lighting than flowers because I feel like it set a romantic mood and atmosphere," Kassi says. She decorated the mix of round and rectangular tables with votive candles and simple green garlands wrapped with fairy lights. Tables were then topped with black linens and a mix of Kassi’s grandparents’ wedding china. The couple opted for a doughnut cake from DoughBoys Donuts in Reno, Nevada. “We had three huge doughnuts stacked on one another, and for the guests we had regular-size glazed doughnuts, crumb doughnuts, maple doughnuts, chocolate-glazed doughnuts and Bavarian creme doughnuts,” Kassi says. “We did not have a cake topper, but we used my great-grandmother’s silver cake cutter.” Kassi and Mark exited in true romantic fashion—under the glow of sparklers held by family and friends. —Carolyn Meers

Kassi incorporated several family heirlooms into her look, including a double strand pearl bracelet, a pearl comb and a sash.
Kassi's friend Kate VanHoff designed the the couple's invitations, menus and programs. All followed a simple, elegant theme: black calligraphy on ivory paper.
"Once again, I have always wanted a timeless look and feel for my wedding dress," says Kassi, who chose a long-sleeved gown by Amy Kuschel. "The dress has a lace top with a silk and chiffon overlay for the bottom. It had an empire waistline and the option for a topper. I knew that for the ceremony I wanted a modest look, so the option for the lace topper was perfect."
St. Ive's Florist designed the bridal and bridesmaid bouquets. "For my bouquet, I knew I had to have peonies, tulips and hydrangeas because those are my three favorite flowers," Kaasi says. "I did all white with greenery for the colors and the beauty."
Before the ceremony, Kassi and her bridesmaids prepped together. Their black dressing gowns matched their black wedding day gowns.
Mark wore a black suit with black accessories, while the groomsmen sported gray suits.
Kassi and Mark exchanged vows on a private property set near the Truckee River in Verdi, Nevada, under a wooden arch that Mark had built.
A simply framed chalkboard sign welcomed guests to the outdoor event in Verdi, Nevada.
The cocktail menu was calligraphed on a gold-framed mirror.
Calligraphed wooden signs were placed throughout the event, adding to the day's rustic, romantic feel.
Instead of a one wedding cake, Kassi and Mark had DoughBoys Donuts in Reno, Nevada, deliver several varieties of doughnuts for their guests.
Kassi topped each table with black linens and used her grandparents' wedding china beside gold chargers.
Instead of numerous floral centerpieces, Kassi opted for simple green garlands wrapped with fairy lights.
Kassi and Mark opted for a doughnut cake from DoughBoys Donuts in Reno, Nevada. “We did three huge doughnuts stacked on one another, and for the guests we had regular-size glazed doughnuts, crumb doughnuts, maple doughnuts, chocolate-glazed doughnuts and Bavarian creme doughnuts,” Kassi says. “We did not have a cake topper, but we used my great-grandmother’s silver cake cutter.”
At the reception at Kassi's parents' home in Verdi, Nevada, guests snacked on meatballs—one of Mark's favorite appetizers.