Janey & Michael's Celebration: A Timeless Wedding at The Ritz-Carlton, Lake Tahoe
- Author: Natali Grace Levine
- Wedding date: 09/21/2025
- City: Sacramento
Love Story
Janey and Michael's journey began with a last-minute change of heart—and we're so glad it did. "Michael and I met in college during a sorority date function at Ole Miss," Janey shares. "Our best friends had set us up on a blind date — I was actually supposed to leave early that night, but thankfully I didn’t! We ended up dancing the night away and started dating about a month later."
That spontaneous decision to stay led to a beautiful journey together. The couple moved from Oxford, Mississippi, to New York City, and eventually to Las Vegas,where they bought their first home. Eight years after that fateful night at Ole Miss, they said "I do" in Lake Tahoe. “Nine years together and still laughing just as much as we did that first night,” they add.
The proposal? Well, it didn't exactly go as planned—but it was perfect anyway. "Michael had originally planned to propose during our family trip to Italy — very romantic, right? Unfortunately, the ring didn't quite make it across the Atlantic in time (so much for the grand European proposal, haha)," Janey laughs.
But Michael improvised beautifully. "A few weeks later, on what turned out to be the hottest day of July — and probably the entire summer — he proposed by a beautiful lake in a stunning neighborhood near our house," she recalls. With help from two of her best friends, he transformed a dock with vases of flowers, rose petals, and champagne.
About Your Wedding
When you ask a bride about her dream wedding and she simply says she wanted to be "on a lake surrounded by all of my favorite people," and then she gets exactly that—plus a thousand times more—you know something special is about to unfold.
The vision was "classic and timeless with a touch of Tahoe charm," as Janey describes it. "I wanted the day to feel elegant but still warm and inviting — a mix of refined details and that relaxed mountain atmosphere Lake Tahoe is known for."
The couple incorporated soft, romantic florals throughout—orchids, calla lilies, and roses created a modern yet timeless aesthetic. The bridesmaids carried simple, elegant calla lily bouquets, while "the rest of the space was filled with orchids and candlelight everywhere you looked." A palette of light blue and green accents tied everything together, and that black-and-white checked dance floor? Pure sophistication with a fun twist. “Between the mountain views, the candlelight, and all of our favorite people in one place, it truly felt like a dream come to life,” they share.
"Our incredible planner, Dennis Silknitter, owner of Silknitter Events, and his amazing team truly brought the entire vision to life," Janey says. "Every detail — big and small — was absolutely perfect, and they somehow made the entire weekend feel effortless and seamless from start to finish."
What inspired them most during planning? "Knowing that all of our favorite people would be together in one place to celebrate," the couple reflects. "That thought alone made every decision — from the venue to the flowers — feel so meaningful."
When we asked about the key moment she'll remember, Janey didn't hesitate: "Definitely walking down the aisle and seeing Michael for the first time. After all the planning and excitement, that moment just felt calm and real — like everything finally came together." She also treasures the moment of "walking into the ballroom for the first time and seeing what Dennis Silknitter and his amazing team created. It was beyond anything I could've imagined — the candles, the flowers, the black-and-white dance floor — every detail was perfect. And then, of course, once the Raiders' House Band started playing, the whole place turned into a party. Everyone was on their feet all night, and it was just pure fun from start to finish."
Morning Details
The morning began with those beautiful finishing touches that make a wedding uniquely yours. The stationery set the tone from the very beginning—Carly Creative Co. designed invitations that were "classic, elegant, and timeless, but still fresh and personal," Janey tells us. "Every detail, from the fonts to the paper, was absolutely perfect and set the tone for the whole weekend."
The wedding rings carried their own special stories. Michael designed Janey's engagement ring himself, working with a jeweler to create something classic and timeless. "What I didn't know at the time was that he added sapphire side stones, which is a Reddoch family tradition," she shares. "His grandmother, mom, aunts, and now sister (who recently got engaged!) all have sapphires in their rings, too. I absolutely love that he included that detail — it makes my ring even more meaningful. I'm officially a Reddoch girl!"
For the wedding bands, they wanted something cohesive yet personal. Janey chose a delicate diamond band that complements her engagement ring perfectly, while Michael selected a simple, classic platinum band. "We both wanted something we'd love just as much in 50 years as we do now."
The jewelry added even more sentimental touches. "My mom let me borrow her diamond shooting star ring that looks like a 'J,' which made it even more special," Janey says. "It's such a beautiful piece and has always been one of my favorites — I felt so lucky to wear it that day." Her father gave her sapphire earrings for Christmas to match her engagement ring, and she wore those on the wedding day too. "Having something meaningful from both of my parents made it feel that much more special."
Bride Getting Ready
There's something magical about those quiet morning hours before a wedding, and Janey's getting-ready experience at The Ritz-Carlton, Lake Tahoe was nothing short of dreamy.
Finding the dress was surprisingly effortless. "My wedding dress was Vera Wang Couture, from Couture Bride in Las Vegas," she shares. "The amazing Annette and Dawn made the entire experience so special — they instantly made me feel at home and somehow knew exactly what I was looking for." The best part? "It honestly didn't take much time at all to find the one (or three, if we're being honest!). With just one visit, I found my dream dress — classic, elegant, and perfectly me."
The getting-ready suite at The Ritz-Carlton provided the perfect backdrop. "The suites there are so beautiful — full of natural light and views of the mountains and trees — it made the perfect backdrop for those photos," Janey recalls. "It felt calm, happy, and a little surreal being surrounded by my bridesmaids, family, and the incredible Taylor Square Photography team capturing it all. Ann Marie made the whole morning feel effortless and fun, which was exactly how I wanted to start the day."
The accessories pulled everything together beautifully. Janey wore "a long veil with pearls and a blusher, which added a soft, timeless touch to my Vera Wang gown." But the most touching detail came from her mother that morning. "My mom surprised me with a custom robe made from her own wedding dress, and it was such a special way to start the day — sentimental, thoughtful, and so her."
She kept her jewelry simple but meaningful—those sapphire earrings from her dad that matched her engagement ring and the diamond shooting star ring borrowed from her mom. And the shoes? "Silver Jimmy Choo heels that I can't wait to wear forever. They were the perfect finishing touch to a look that felt classic, personal, and perfectly me."
The bouquet was a mix of orchids, calla lilies, and roses—"soft, classic, and romantic, with just the right amount of structure." Michelle Saxton, part of Dennis Silknitter's team, brought the floral vision to life perfectly. But the most meaningful detail was how it was wrapped. "My bouquet was wrapped with my family Bible, which belonged to my grandmother Tootsie. She and my Papa were married for 63 years, and even though he recently passed, it felt so special to carry that piece of them with me down the aisle. It was truly one of my favorite details of the day."
Surrounded by her closest family and friends—bridesmaids, parents, and loved ones—the morning was filled with "laughter, a few happy tears, and the best kind of energy." The bridesmaids looked stunning in their Amsale dresses in soft blue tones, "timeless and elegant," perfectly complementing Tahoe's natural beauty.
And a fun tradition? "We also had a really fun tradition with my bridesmaids and house party — a charm cake! Everyone pulls a ribbon with a charm attached, and each one comes with a little 'fortune' for the future. I actually pulled the engagement ring charm, which means 'the next to marry' — and it happened about 30 minutes before I walked down the aisle! Such a funny and sweet coincidence."
First Look
Janey and Michael's first look in the trees behind The Ritz-Carlton created one of the most treasured moments of their day. "There wasn't a cloud in the sky — the light filtering through the pines made everything glow," Janey remembers. "It felt private, peaceful, and so surreal finally seeing each other for the first time that day."
The setting was pure Tahoe magic—though there was one unexpected moment. "It was one of those perfect Tahoe moments… minus the part where we almost got hit by a massive acorn! We still laugh about it." Ann Marie from Taylor Square Photography captured every second beautifully—"the photos from that moment are some of our absolute favorites."
When Michael saw his bride for the first time, dressed and ready to become his wife, "he said he was just so excited and happy — he couldn't stop smiling." And Janey? "Honestly, I was just so excited to finally see him. After all the buildup, it felt like everything instantly calmed down the second I saw Michael. I remember thinking how handsome he looked and how surreal it was that this was our wedding day."
Photoshoot Before The Ceremony
With the first look emotions still fresh, the couple took their pre-ceremony photos right where they'd soon say their vows—and the results were absolutely stunning.
"We did our photos right in front of the aisle where our ceremony would take place," Janey shares. "It had the most beautiful forest backdrop — tall, breathtaking trees and that perfect Tahoe light filtering through." The strategic choice meant everything felt cohesive when looking back at the images.
But more than just beautiful, the session was genuinely fun. "Plus, we had an absolute blast taking them! It was relaxed, fun, and we were able to get so many great shots before the ceremony even started." There's something to be said for starting your wedding day with laughter and joy rather than nerves.
Ceremony
When you're standing in front of towering pine trees with the crisp Tahoe air surrounding you and 285 of your favorite people watching, you know you're exactly where you're meant to be.
The ceremony took place at The Ritz-Carlton, Lake Tahoe, "surrounded by the most stunning mountain scenery," overlooking the forest. "The ceremony site overlooked the forest, with towering pine trees and that perfect crisp Tahoe air — it couldn't have been more beautiful."
Janey walked down the aisle to the traditional Bridal March—"timeless and special in that beautiful Tahoe setting." But the real fun? "We walked back up the aisle to 'September' by Earth, Wind & Fire since we got married on the 21st night of September! It became our theme song for the entire night and such a fun, full-circle moment that everyone loved."
The ceremony itself struck the perfect balance. "Our officiant, Doug, made the ceremony feel so personal and genuine — there was a perfect mix of happy tears and laughter," Janey recalls. "The weather couldn't have been better, not a cloud in the sky, and it truly felt like Tahoe was showing off for us."
Photoshoot After The Ceremony
Fresh off their emotional ceremony and official debut as husband and wife, Janey and Michael continued their photo session on the lawn at The Ritz-Carlton—and the results speak for themselves. "The lighting was beautiful, and the backdrop of the mountains and trees made it feel straight out of a postcard," Janey describes. The couple's videographer, Johnny B, brought creative energy to the session. "Our videographer, Johnny B, had the most wonderful ideas for shots — he and Ann Marie from Taylor Square Photography worked together perfectly to capture every moment."
The collaboration between photographers and the videographers created something special. "The photos turned out absolutely incredible — you can feel the happiness and energy in every single one." When your wedding team works in perfect harmony, the results are pure magic.
Wedding Venue & Decor
Walking into the reception at The Ritz-Carlton, Lake Tahoe was a moment Janey will never forget—and once you hear about the details, you'll understand why.
The color palette was a sophisticated mix of "soft blues, greens, whites, and neutrals — classic and clean, with a subtle Tahoe feel." The florals—orchids, calla lilies, and roses—were used throughout the design, "and we added plenty of candles for a simple, elegant look."
But the showstopper? "The black-and-white checkered dance floor added a bold contrast and gave the ballroom a modern edge." It was unexpected, sophisticated, and absolutely perfect. "Dennis Silknitter and his team pulled everything together perfectly — every detail flowed and felt effortless."
Choosing The Ritz-Carlton was an easy decision for the couple. "I grew up spending time in Tahoe with my family, so the area has always been special to me, and I loved the idea of having a mountain setting that still felt elevated and classic," Janey explains. "The Ritz had everything we were looking for — beautiful views, amazing food, and plenty of space for our guests to relax and enjoy the weekend. It perfectly blended that cozy Tahoe feel with a polished, elegant atmosphere."
Reception
From the moment the newlyweds entered their reception to the last dance of the night, this celebration was everything a wedding should be—romantic, energetic, and filled with joy.
For their first dance, Janey and Michael swayed to Frank Sinatra's "The Way You Look Tonight"—a timeless choice for a timeless couple. The intimate moment set the tone before the real party began. And what a party it was. The Raiders' House Band—David Perrico Pop Strings Orchestra—brought the energy that kept everyone on the dance floor all night long. "Once the Raiders’ House Band started playing, the whole place turned into a party. Everyone was on their feet all night, and it was just pure fun from start to finish."
The Ritz-Carlton handled both the catering and the wedding cake, ensuring every culinary detail was as polished as the decor. Between the mountain views, the candlelight, the laughter echoing through the ballroom, and 285 people celebrating two people deeply in love, the reception was everything the couple dreamed of and more.
Looking back, Janey and Michael's Lake Tahoe wedding was a masterclass in creating a celebration that feels both timeless and deeply personal. With the dream team of vendors, every element came together seamlessly. "We honestly had the best team we could have asked for," Janey reflects. "Ann Marie and McKenzie with Taylor Square Photography were amazing to work with. They made us feel so comfortable, and somehow managed to capture every little moment without us even realizing they were there. The photos are everything we could’ve hoped for and more."
From the bride's Vera Wang Couture gown to the bridesmaids' Amsale dresses, from the Generation Tux tuxedos to the stunning rentals from Theoni Collection, from Carly Creative Co.'s beautiful stationery to the hair and makeup artistry of Shelly Ensign and Edin Carpenter—every vendor brought their A-game.
Wedding Team
- Photography Taylor Square
- Cake @ritzcarltonlaketahoe
- Planning @silknitterevents
- Videography @johnnybfilms
- Florals Michelle Saxton, part of @silknitterevents
- Music/Band @david_perrico
- Rentals @theonicollection
- Hair Shelly Ensign
- Makeup @edincarpentermakeup
- Invitations & Stationery @carlycreativeco
- Bridal Gown @verawangbride
- Bridesmaids’ Dresses @amsale
- Tuxedos @generationtux
- Rehearsal Dinner Venue @garwoodslaketahoe
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