A Magical Lake Tahoe Elopement at Emerald Bay for Clarissa & Tony

Clarissa & Tony may have moved on after being high school sweethearts but they never forgot each other. Years later, they reunited and realized they were soulmates! Tony arranged a magic proposal at Disneyland and Clarissa said, ‘yes’! The newly engaged couple decided they wanted to elope somewhere just as magical. Clarissa & Tony, along with family, exchanged vows overlooking the exquisite views at Emerald Bay at Lake Tahoe. We love that the two of them came in style for their naturally beautiful outdoor elopement. Tony wore a black tux and bowtie while Clarissa was gorgeous in her spectacular gown and veil. Read more to find out how Simply Eloped planned every detail of this special day and made sure that the newlyweds never had to worry about a thing. 

How did you meet? What was your first impression of one another?

Clarissa: We are high school sweethearts and met our freshman year in high school. We dated, and fell in love, but like most teenage love we went separate ways. We both had kids and separate relationships but we never forgot each other. We rekindled 13 years later and realized our love was not only as strong as before, but even stronger! We were always meant to be together and we are truly soulmates. True love always leads you back to the other half of your heart.

How did you propose or accept the proposal?

Clarissa: Tony proposed at one of our favorite places ever, The Happiest Place on Earth… Disneyland! It was beautiful and magical!

Where did you choose to elope and why did you choose that destination?

Clarissa: We decided to elope at Emerald Bay, Lake Tahoe! We wanted to have another magical destination to start our journey as husband and wife. Lake Tahoe is so beautiful and we knew it was the perfect location for us.

What attracted you to the venue you eloped at? What were your favorite parts about eloping there?

Clarissa: Having the beautiful lake as the backdrop for our wedding was a dream come true! We felt being out in nature was simply perfect.

How would you describe your elopement venue to someone who has never been there?

Clarissa: If you like the outdoors and nature, a Lake Tahoe elopement is the perfect choice. You will forever have your memories and can go back again and celebrate one of the happiest days of your life. We will forever cherish our spot and plan to come back to celebrate anniversaries in the future.

What did you do before the wedding? How did you get ready? How did you feel in the moments leading up to your elopement? 

Clarissa: We had some time to visit the lake, and have dinner with our closest family, before our wedding. We were very happy, relaxed, and excited about our elopement. 

How was your experience with Simply Eloped? 

Clarissa: The entire staff with Simply Eloped was amazing. Our coordinator, Keely, was always available for our questions and any requests we had. Our photographer, Irina, was wonderful and went above and beyond giving us tips. Our photos are beautiful! Our officiant, Meghan, did a perfect job. She met with us prior through face time to go over everything we needed to know. Our florist, Shirley, did a beautiful job on our ceremony flowers! Jordan, our videographer, also spoke to us to get to know us and our story. Thank you to Simply Eloped who paired us with the most amazing vendors! We are so happy with our whole experience with Simply Eloped. They made sure everything went perfectly and had the best communication ever!

How did you choose to celebrate your elopement? 

Clarissa: We had a beautiful dinner and some cake, of course, with our family at a local restaurant.

What words of encouragement do you have for those considering eloping? 

Clarissa: If you are not sure about eloping, we can definitely tell you it is the most amazing way to get married! It will be much more intimate, and all about the two of you, instead of having to be all over pleasing so many guests and not really enjoying your day as a couple. You will have a much better memory of the day you become husband and wife. We are very happy we chose to elope. One of the best days of our lives! 

Officiation by: Meghan Ruiz
Photography by: Irina Alexandrova
Planning by: Simply Eloped
Venue: Emerald Bay State Park Lookout, Lake Tahoe, California

Written by Janessa White

Janessa White is the co-founder of Simply Eloped and has helped thousands of couples plan elopements. As an expert in the field, she has been featured on Martha Stewart, Brides.com, Vox, and HuffPost. Janessa thinks elopements are the ultimate way to tie the knot.