Kassadie & John’s Priceless Paradise Park Elopement

Real Elopements,
5 min read Nov 18, 2020

If you’ve built a strong bond like Kassadie and John, you know that choosing to tie the knot is one of the easiest decisions you’ll ever make. From the moment they met, they felt a strong connection. Over time, that connection developed into so much more: love, family, and a feeling of certainty. When Covid changed their original wedding plans, they knew they didn’t want to wait any longer. These two lovebirds decided to keep their date, and invited close family to a favorite childhood spot – Tahoe Paradise Park. It doesn’t get any better than saying “I do” in Paradise! Keep reading to see how Kassadie and John created a wedding in Lake Tahoe to remember.

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

Kassadie – We met in college. He was actually dating my roommate when I first met him, and I remember telling her how handsome he was. But he was also sweet and funny. We didn’t end up dating till a few years later, he wrote me a message on Facebook. We started talking and then went on our first date!

John – We met at a party and I was going out with her roommate but, at the time I remember being nervous around her and we immediately smiled at each other. She was electric!

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

Kassadie – The first moment I realized I fell in love with him was after our first kiss. I knew once we kissed that he was the one – it was the first time it felt like the perfect kiss. We just connected perfectly.

John – I’d say I first fell in love on our first date. I have never recited lines in preparation like I did that night in the mirror. I had to make sure I didn’t stutter.

How did you propose or accept the proposal?

Kassadie – The proposal was pretty funny. We were at home one night in our bedroom with our daughter and he was in the bathroom acting weird. I asked him what he was doing, and to hurry up and come hang out with us so we could watch a family movie. All of a sudden, he comes out of the bathroom, gets on one knee and says he couldn’t wait another second to call me his fiancé. I was shocked and so happy! It was a perfectly intimate moment with my family. He only had the ring for 8 hours and couldn’t keep the secret from me any longer.

John – I had the ring for a total of 8 hours before I popped the question. We were looking at family pictures upstairs and I thought, “What better way than while reminiscing?” Initially I wanted to come up with some elaborate treasure hunt type proposal, but clearly my nerves got the best of me.

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What do you love about your partner?

Kassadie – John is such a kindhearted and thoughtful man. He is always so positive and such an amazing father. I love how he can make friends anywhere we go. He also helps me appreciate the beauty in simplicity.

John – Other than being one of the strongest women I know, I think I love the sense of family that Kassadie has. Nothing can come between her and the people she loves. The bond she has with our daughter is something I will always cherish.

What is the greatest strength of your relationship?

Kassadie – Our greatest strength is the fun we have together. We are always looking for things to do together and with our daughter. Whether it is having a water balloon fight in the backyard, taking a vacation to somewhere new, or just having a board game and movie night. He is my best friend; not only do we have fun, but we also keep each other grounded.

John – Our romance to me is our greatest strength. We always find time to bond together. We love spending time together and being with Kassadie makes me feel the most comfortable.

Why did you decide to elope? 

We were originally going to have a big wedding in October, but like so many, we had to reconsider our plans because of COVID. We decided that we still wanted to get married on the day we originally planned but with a smaller group of people. We are planning on having a big wedding next year, but are so happy we got to keep our original wedding date.

How did you find Simply Eloped?

I was googling “small wedding options” online, and came across Simply Eloped.

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

It seemed so perfect and seamless. Since we are planning on having another wedding next year, the less we had to think of the better. Simply Eloped made everything so easy!

What attracted you to the idea of a wedding in Lake Tahoe?

I’m originally from Northern California and Tahoe is somewhere I hold dear from all the trips with my family. I wanted John to be apart of that. As for the actual venue, the tree at that location drew us in and we knew we wanted to get married under it.

What activities did you do before the wedding? How did you prepare? How did you feel leading up to the moments of your elopement? 

Before the wedding, we traveled from where we live in Las Vegas with our daughter and spent time with family and friends. We tried to keep everything as simple as possible. We were so excited for the day and it turned out better than we could have expected. It was perfect!

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

Everything was so seamless. They were always available to answer any questions, no matter how silly or how often. We loved everyone we worked with.

How did you celebrate after?

We had a nice champagne toast and appetizers at a family house. After that we had a small reception dinner with our friends and family at a brewery. We loved every minute. So much fun!

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

Do whatever feels right. Don’t try to make everyone happy. This moment is for you and your love, and it should be what you want it to be – no matter what that is.

Planning: Simply Eloped
Officiant: Margie Byrne
Photographer: Irina Alexandrova
Hair & Makeup: Pink Chique

Real Elopements
Written by Karen Norian

Karen Norian is an elopement photographer and has photographed over a hundred elopements. Karen has also worked as an elopement planner for Simply Eloped. She's been quoted in the New York Times, Brides, Hello Giggles, Bustle, Yahoo, and more.