Weddings

Backyard Lake Tahoe Wedding | Selina and Kenny

July 15, 2024

Couple celebrating their ceremony conclusion.

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I can’t wait for you to check out this beautiful Lake Tahoe backyard wedding. Let me just start off by raving about Selina.  She is an incredible artist!  Our paths first crossed at my 1st ever Reno wedding since moving to the area, she was the couples florist. She had magnetic positive energy and somehow the deaths of our mothers came into the conversation and she was so incredibly kind and reached out multiple times to check on my headspace.  When I ended up sharing the images from the wedding we worked, she reached out saying that she wanted me to photograph her and Kenny’s wedding!  She planned the best engagement session!  We met at sunrise and were out on the water by Emerald Bay and then ended the day in their backyard with their pups.  It was such a magical experience.  You can see their engagement session here.

Now onto their wedding day.  As I pulled up, their home had been transformed since the last visit.  They had built a deck for their ceremony, repainted their home and Nicole Taylor Events (their amazing planner) transformed their backyard into a gorgeous reception area and kept the day flowing perfectly. Selina created every single centerpiece, bouquet, arch and boutinnere, and they were some of the most beautiful colorful creations.  When I arrived she was in the make-up chair florals in hand.  Her wedding dress was hanging on her armoire, a delicate boho Reformation floor length dress adorned with the lace sleeves from her mothers wedding dress. Such a beautiful tribute to honor her mom, and have her involved.  Also did I mention Selina’s home was her childhood home, and that her mothers talent with florals inspired her to start her own business, Fowlers Flowers?

Minutes before their ceremony began Selina was putting the final touches on her jaw dropping vibrant jewel toned arch.  So much laughter during their vows! Kenny and Selina  incorporated sand from Tahoe and Ventura where they grew up, combining the sand and stepping in with their bare feet. They joyfully excited and then went into their cocktail hour on the side deck of their home.  It was very evident throughout the day how much they loved and were loved by all their friends. Time was dedicated to connecting and celebrating their loved ones. A fun champagne tower finished up cocktail hour, then the guests were led down the path to the backyard reception. Candles and florals flooded the tablescapes, encapsulated in the beautiful towering pines of Tahoe.

This backyard Lake Tahoe wedding reception was full of heart and touching moments, speeches and dances. An incredible band kicked off the 1st dance and parent dances as the couple swayed on their DIY dance floor that their friends helped them build. Kenny and Selina along with their best friends pulled off such a show stopping wedding experience.  So grateful to have witnessed it!

Vendor Team

Venue | Lake Tahoe Home of Couple

Harpist | Brittany Rose

Hair/Make-up |Rah Beauty

Linens | Creative Coverings

Rentals | Camelot Party Rentals

Wedding Planner | Nicole Taylor Events

Florist | Fowler’s Flowers

Band | Colton, Silk Road Truckers

DJ | Ryan Stubbs

Catering | Chef Kendrick Tsang

Photographer | Kirsten Zarek

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SHALL WE MEET?

HI FRIENDS

I’m Kirsten—a wedding photographer here to guide you through this wildly exciting time…and toward the best lighting.

Ever since my days in the highschool darkroom, I’ve been enamored with the power images have to tell a compelling story. I went on to study photography and fashion at Savannah College of Art & Design and worked as an editor for a studio before founding Kirsten Marie Photography in 2012. Every day since, and I’ve fallen deeper in love with the art of wedding photography—there’s just nothing quite as fascinating and fulfilling as documenting the tenderness weddings bring out in people.

As someone who’s fairly spotlight-shy, I know how awkward being photographed can feel—which is why I work to bring an atmosphere of ease (and a wicked sharp sense of humor) to our time together. I pour my whole heart into hyping you up, getting you the material you deserve, and making sure you feel comfortable and cared for.

Beyond the lens, I’m a mom to two feisty girls. Translation: there’s no group I can’t wrangle, no mountain I can’t summit, and no trail I can’t traverse. While you’re soaking in sunsets and sipping champagne—you can find me crawling through bushes and traipsing through snowpack to get the best angle…and loving every single second of it. 

Bay Area & Lake Tahoe wedding photography

For the adventurous & open-minded

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