San Jose natives Madeline and Alain knew that they wanted a venue where their friends and family could come together and be in one place for the weekend. But like many couples, they were struggling to find a location that checked everything off their wish list without breaking the bank. After looking at many venues in the Bay Area but struggling to find one that provided on-site lodging as well as celebration space, Madeline discovered the Chalet View Lodge. “It looked like something that was out of state, but I was surprised to find that it was in California—and within driving distance!” As they both wanted an outdoor wedding with natural elements, it turned out to be the perfect fit.

Roughly a year prior, Alain had proposed to Madeline on a dock at a cabin in Bass Lake, California, just south of Yosemite National Park. So when it came to saying their vows, a dock at the Chalet View Lodge was the natural place to say their personalized “I dos.” Before they gathered in front of their family and friends to walk down the aisle, they met on the dock and said private vows in the company of only trees and flowers. Madeline knew that neither of them would be able to “keep it together in front of that many people,” so having just the two of them present was the perfect special moment. They then walked to their ceremony, where they planted a unity tree instead of saying vows. After the weekend was over, they re-planted the unity tree at their home to signify the literal and figurative roots they’ve put down as a family unit.

Because the couple loves the outdoors and environment, they decided to do a handful of DIY projects, both to be frugal and to emphasize their rustic, natural theme. “Instead of spending money on rentals,” says Madeline, “we wanted to make a few special items that we can always cherish.” Their custom-built sweetheart table is now the dining table in their home, and their arbor under which they married now serves as a swing in their backyard. They cut, stained, and painted their own table number signs out of reclaimed wood, and even dressed up their dog, Ava, in greenery to match the bride’s bouquet (their other dog Chester wore a tie).

When it comes to what these two would do differently if they had to plan a wedding again, there’s an easy answer: nothing! Madeline says “seeing my vision of everything come together was probably the best part!” As for Alain, what he remembers most fondly is seeing Madeline look “overwhelmingly gorgeous” on their wedding day. From seeing all their planning pay off to taking wooded sunset photos, Alain can sum up the wedding day in one sentence: “I’m the luckiest guy in the world!”

—Suzie Dundas