Alisa & Nick’s Serene Garden Elopement at Revive Coffee & Wine in Lake Tahoe

Real Elopements,
4 min read Jul 1, 2021

Alisa & Nick had a very unusual start to their relationship…her Dad helped get them together! A rock festival weekend cemented their friendship, and that turned into love. They knew from the get-go that they would elope because they wanted their ceremony to be unique – just for the two of them. So they found Simply Eloped, and voila! – they married at the Revive Garden in Lake Tahoe. Alisa & Nick wed under the towering trees in casual elegance. We love Alisa’s gorgeous bouquet, Nick’s bowtie and suspender look, and the hilarious Covid masks. Read more to find out how these two tied the knot without stress (and be sure to check out the bride’s sneakers!)…

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

Alisa: I had tickets to a rock festival known as Aftershock. I had no one to go with me, so my father set me up to ask Nick to go. He agreed, and we had the best time! 

When did you first fall in love? How did you know?

Alisa: I fell in love with Nick after that first night at the festival. We began hanging out as friends spending more and more time together. I think we both knew we had feelings for each other but, neither one of us wanted to admit it. I had a pretty nasty roll-over car accident heading out to his home, and it put things into perspective for us. I moved in with him a week later, and we were officially dating.

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How did you accept the proposal?

Alisa: It was Christmas a few years after we decided to date. We had bought our first home together and this was our first Christmas. We promised no gifts but, I got him a gift anyway. He had also purchased a present for me. A tiny Bluetooth button for my phone to take pictures. He then took me into our room with a whole Nightmare Before Christmas “Simply Meant To Be” proposal. I, of course, said “Yes.”

What do you love about your partner?

Alisa: He’s honest, hardworking, caring, selfless, loving, brave, and adventure-seeking. He loves with his whole heart, and I can’t thank him enough for being the great man he is.

What is the greatest strength of your relationship?

Alisa: We always put our love for each other first no matter the disagreement we have or hardship we are going through. At the end of the day, we are partners through life and a team. We remember our love for each other can get us through anything we go through in this life.

Why did you decide to elope?

Alisa: We decided to elope because love is between two people. It can be shared with friends and family in so many different ways. However, the ceremony portion for us was private and special.

How did you find Simply Eloped?

Alisa: We did a quick google search on private wedding elopements. We found Simply Eloped, and it was perfect. We loved that it was cost-effective, fast and we received so much help with planning.

How did you know Simply Eloped was the right fit for you?

Alisa: Simply Eloped was right for us because we wanted a private ceremony that was cost-effective. After the first email, we knew they were the perfect company because they had all our needs met on time, and we could have everything we wanted for our big day.

What attracted you to the venue you chose for your elopement?

Alisa: Revive Coffee and Wine was the perfect place for us. We both love coffee and craft beer which the venue provided. The venue gives, off a real outdoor forest vibe. The staff made us feel so comfortable and congratulated us on our big day. It was a wonderful experience. 

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

Alisa: We decided to make a whole trip out of our elopement. We got a room with The Cottage Inn in Tahoe City. I can’t even begin to explain how amazing our room was. They provided us with incredible detail and care, knowing our big day was coming. They helped us so much. We also enjoyed a lot of the local businesses and shopped. The restaurants in the area were great as well. We essentially wined and dined while looking back on our relationship and why we decided to tie the knot! It helped with the nerves. We wanted everything to go perfectly, and Simply Eloped made that happen. 

Tell us about your experience with Simply Eloped leading up to and on your big day! 

Alisa: Simply Eloped was probably one of the most professional, fast-acting businesses I’ve ever experienced. All of our needs were met on our big day. Not a single detail was missed!

How did you celebrate after your elopement? 

Alisa: We took a limo ride back to our room and had champagne! We then went to a restaurant and had an incredible meal. We couldn’t stop talking about how perfect the elopement turned out to be. We were so excited to see the photos and couldn’t wait to see how our elopement looked through the eye of a lens. 

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

Alisa: Do it! You absolutely will not regret eloping. It was the best decision we ever made. They made all my dreams come true as a bride and my husband as a groom. We couldn’t have been happier! Our big day was as amazing as it was because we chose to work with Simply Eloped!

 

Officiation by: Carole Baisinger-Criddle
Photography by: Irina Alexandrova
Hair & Makeup by: Emily Van Scoy
Planning by: Simply Eloped
Venue: Revive Coffee & Wine, Lake Tahoe

Real Elopements
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 Brides.com, Vox, and HuffPost. Janessa thinks elopements are the ultimate way to tie the knot.