Happy Real Weddings Wednesdays, everyone! Put down your planners and kick your feet up so you can read all about Jenny + Mark’s Reno ceremony. Full of whimsical outdoor decor and vintage touches, this beautiful wedding is unique and full of love. Keep scrolling so you can read more about the couple, while perusing some of their stunning wedding photos, courtesy of the talented Emma Paul Photography!

Bride and groom embracing after their first look.

Bride and groom posing together.

Bride and groom posing with their family.

Tell us a little about you and your beloved.

We met at the University of Nevada, Reno, where we both studied music and played the saxophone. After graduation, we moved to Las Vegas, N.V. We love hiking at Red Rock Canyon, so it was the perfect place for Mark to propose in May, 2020. We hiked  one of our favorite trails, and on our way back, Mark got down on one knee and asked me to marry him! From the beginning, we knew that we wanted an intimate wedding, and not just because of the COVID-19 pandemic and lock-down at the time. We also knew that we wanted to have our special day in Reno so that our friends from school could attend. We researched ‘elopement’ and came across The Hytch. Jenny used to visit Sierra Water Gardens when it was an outdoor plant store, so when we saw that it was now a max 50-person wedding venue, we knew it was perfect.

Bride and groom standing together at the altar.

Bride and groom walking together after saying "I do".

Bride and groom hugging at the altar outside.

Bride and groom taking photos in the woods after their ceremony.

Groom spinning his bride.

Bride and groom sitting down together outside.

Bride posing with her back to the camera.

Groom posing and looking into the distance.

Photo of the bride and groom about to sign their papers.

What was the best part of your day?

We had an amazingly intimate and meaningful ceremony and reception with under 50 guests. It was amazing to see all of our closest friends interacting, especially those who have never met before.

Photo of the outdoor reception at Sierra Water Gardens.

What else would you like to share about your big day?

While planning, we wanted to be sure the day was authentically us. We researched vendors and a venue that would bring that personal vision to life. They were all incredibly hospitable, making the day smooth for us and our guests.

Bride and groom holding hands on their way to the reception.

What advice would you give to our readers who are planning their weddings right now?

We felt a lot of pressure early in the planning process to have a larger wedding than what felt truly comfortable and out of financial ability. Trusting our instincts and asserting our vision for the day was challenging but really worth it. Our advice would be to be true to yourselves and the kind of wedding you want. Mix traditions and have fun with it, it’s your day!

Bride and groom celebrating their wedding at their sweetheart table.

Bride and groom giving a speech.

Anything you would have done differently?

Our wedding was in 2021 just after the lock-down was lifted, and we took a weekend to travel to our destination. Regrettably, we did not take more time off around the wedding to truly enjoy the time with our closest friends.

Bride and groom posing next to their wedding cake.

Photo of a white wedding cake.

Bride and groom's guests all posing for a photo at Sierra Water Gardens.

Newlyweds posing at a lit up arch.

Bride and groom walking through the gardens at night together.

Photos courtesy of and copyright Emma Paul Photography used with permission.

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