Wedding | Natalie & Trevor

Tell us a little about yourselves!

Born and raised in Reno, Nevada, I’m a 28-year-old fashion designer whose creativity flows from the beauty of the Sierra Nevadas. In 2018, I met my dream boy, and life took me to South Lake Tahoe, his hometown, where we’ve embraced a slow, magical mountain lifestyle. He’s a former professional ski cross athlete who proudly represented the USA Ski Team, and together, we thrive in the great outdoors—skiing, boating on the lake, and dirt biking through the wilderness to uncover hidden gems.

We’re both old souls at heart: I’m drawn to vintage clothing, while he restores classic cars, including his first love, a 1962 Cadillac he’s owned since age 15. You’ll often find us cruising in that Caddy or his 70s café racer, soaking in the charm of our mountain town. Beyond our shared passions for the arts and music, we’re building a life that’s rich in adventure, nostalgia, and love.

Why did you decide to get married where you did?

For us, the decision was easy. Hope Valley is a place we hold close to our hearts, surrounded by mountain ranges like no other. Just a short drive from the world-renowned Kirkwood Ski Resort, it’s an area we visit often and deeply cherish.

When deciding where to gather 100+ of our favorite people, we thought about all the spots we love most—and our favorite meadow immediately came to mind. The views are unmatched, and it offers everything we need: ample parking, easy navigation for our guests, and a sense of serenity that reflects our life together. Hope Valley is more than a venue; it’s a part of our story.

How many guests did you have?

It came in at around 130 guests, including our photographer Amanda Pool Photo.

What was your budget?

We set a budget of $20,000, but it was crucial for us to come in under—and we did, landing at $16,000! My background in graphic and design played a big role, as I took on as much as I could, creating our invitations, graphics, and other design elements.

We also sourced most of our decor second-hand. I spent months hunting for treasures at thrift stores and came up with creative ways to style the space without relying on flowers or other costly items. This approach added unique, personal touches to our day and kept us well within our budget.

Tell us about your outfits.

For my dress, I knew exactly what I wanted even before I was engaged. I’ve been following Danielle Frankel since 2020 and immediately knew the Nina dress was the one for me. Although I originally hoped to source a vintage gown, the 8-month timeline pushed me to try the Nina, and it was love at first sight. The drop waist and the luxurious 100% silk-wool fabric made it feel timeless, elegant, and bold—perfectly embodying both me and Trevor. When I stepped out, my mom's first words were, "This is it. It embodies you and Trevor in one dress." I felt so fortunate to wear my absolute dream dress.

For the after-party, I wanted something special, so I thrifted a vintage wedding slip gown. It was a stunning buttercream color with delicate lace and embroidered wedding bells. I can’t wait to wear it again on our anniversary—it’s a beautiful and sentimental piece that perfectly captures the essence of our day.

Trevor wanted to replicate a vintage Western suit, incorporating a Western yoke detail and a traditional black tuxedo. He paired it with a pleated ivory tuxedo shirt and a black silk tie, reminiscent of vintage Western heritage.

I wore my favorite black Frye Campus boots, and Trevor completed his look with a Nevada cowboy hat, which he adorned with a hawk feather he found and encased on the brim.

What was the most important aspect for you, in terms of planning your wedding?

For me, the most important thing was staying true to who we are and not getting caught up in the overdone production that often happens with weddings. Small details meant so much, and I wanted to make sure our day reflected that. A big part of that was sticking to our budget. We made sure to stay on top of our finances, never straying away from the real reason we were getting married. It was crucial for us to keep the focus on what truly mattered and not get distracted by unnecessary spending.

I was so excited to take on the creative aspect of the wedding—something that comes so naturally to me as a designer. It was a blast for me to bring our vision to life, making sure everything felt personal and meaningful.

Small details meant so much, and I wanted to make sure our day reflected that. One of my favorite touches was taking the quilt pattern from our wedding invitation and having it made into a wedding quilt, which hung as our altar during the ceremony and later became a photo backdrop at the reception.

Since my husband refers to me as his "pony" (a nod to my love for horses as a Nevada girl), we added horse-themed elements throughout, like a thrifted horse statue that acted as our cake topper. We also wanted to do something that was true to us, so we included a "toke tent." We used my mother-in-law’s teepee for the tent and called it the "Ricioli Toke Tent." It was a huge hit! We filled it with floor pillows and cowhides, making it the perfect laid-back hangout spot for our guests.

We also personalized our cocktails to reflect our interests. Trevor’s love for cars and motors inspired a mezcal tequila drink called "Two Stroke Tequila," while my favorite cocktail, a Negroni, was renamed the "Pony Negroni" in honor of the nickname Trevor gave me.

Our wedding playlist was also a major detail for us. We spent 8 months carefully curating and refining it to reflect our music tastes perfectly, making sure that the soundtrack of our day felt uniquely ours.

Any tips for couples getting married?

My biggest tip is to not feel the need to compare your day to others. Stay true to yourselves and incorporate whatever feels right for you. I found peace in knowing that our wedding would be unique, and however the day unraveled, it would be beautiful.

Don’t hold yourself to extreme standards—social media has created unrealistic expectations for many, and it's important to remember that weddings on a friendly budget are totally attainable. At the end of the day, I felt so happy with how everything went. Everything was perfect, just as it was meant to be.

Are there any vendors that you would like to tell us a little more about?

One of the vendors we were most excited to showcase at our wedding was the band Dead Seagals. They hold such a special place in our hearts as a local surf rock-inspired band that Trevor and I have loved from the start. There’s a funny story behind it, really—when we first met, we were both startled by the feelings we had for one another. It was at a time when I was certain I was going to leave my hometown again, after having moved home for a short time. Trevor had been enjoying being single after some past relationships, so we both thought it would just be a fun fling. After a few months of dating, we parted ways—more his decision than mine, but I understood.

Flash forward a few months, and I was still hopelessly romancing about this dream skier boy. We ended up at a local show—Dead Seagals. That night, we reconnected, and I just knew in that moment that he was going to be such an important piece of my story. And apparently, I was to him too. To have Dead Seagals play at our wedding felt like a complete full-circle moment, and it was so incredibly special.

Photographer: Amanda Pool Photo @amandapoolphoto | Planning & Styling: by Natalie | Flora:

Thran’s Flowers @thransflowers | Ceremony Location: A Meadow, off Blue Lakes Road | Reception Location: Trevor's Childhood home | Celebrant: Nate Riffle @nate_riffle | Hire: Camelot Party Rentals

@camelotpartrentals | HMUA: Cru Salon/ Maya Saldana @mayasaldanaa | Catering & Beverages:

Get Rad Pizza @getradpizza | Cake: by an Aunt | Stationery: by Natalie | Entertainment: Dead Seagals

Wedding | Natalie & Trevor

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