Natalie & Corey’s Spectacular Lookout Elopement at Emerald Bay

Natalie & Corey met online, but a random text nearly derailed their love story! Destiny intervened, and a sunrise proposal on a beach in Florida followed. These two describe themselves as ‘mountain and lake people,’ so it’s no surprise they decided on a Lake Tahoe elopement. They exchanged vows on a spectacular lookout over the blue waters and skies of Emerald Bay State Park in California, with a violinist serenading in the background.  It’s not often we can say the groom is just as pretty as the bride (in a manly way, of course!), but the floral shirt and cowboy hat are perfect. Natalie upped the game with a gorgeous gown and the prettiest hair jewelry we have ever seen. Don’t miss the photo of these two shotgunning right after the ceremony and finding out how Simply Eloped took care of everything.

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

Natalie: We met online. That, in it of itself, may not be that unique, but we have a quirky first date story. On the first date, Corey asked to see a picture of my dogs and, while I was pulling them up, he ran to the restroom. I sent a group text to my friends stating, “Oh my gosh, I want to marry him- haha.” Because of the last not-so-great online dates I had been on, my best friend thought I was being sarcastic and responded, “Bad date?” When Corey returned, I showed him the pictures of my dogs, and he saw the message pop up on my screen, “Bad date?” He shrugged it off and never mentioned it to me, and on Valentine’s Day, I showed him the original message that prompted that. It turned out to be a funny story that we like to talk about and tease my best friend that she almost messed it up for us.

How did you propose or accept the proposal? 

Natalie: It was on my bucket list to see the sunrise on the beach, and Corey proposed to me at dawn on the beach in Florida. 

Corey: On a sunrise walk on the beach. 

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

Natalie: We chose Lake Tahoe, CA. We are more mountain and lake people. Corey and I had never been to Lake Tahoe, and during the summer, we felt it was a perfect spot. It was close to water, mountains, and access to a lot of trails to hike! 

Corey: Lake Tahoe. We chose this destination because we love the mountains and the lake. The pictures of Emerald Bay were beautiful, and we thought it would be the perfect place to get married and have a honeymoon! 

What attracted you to the venue you chose for your elopement? What were your favorite parts about eloping there?

Natalie: Our ceremony was at a lookout at Emerald Bay State Park in Lake Tahoe, CA. We saw pictures on the Simply Eloped website and fell in love with the views! The photos turned out really great. 

Corey: The venue overlooked the lake surrounded by mountains. We thought it would be great to have our pictures and video done there. 

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

Natalie: Emerald Bay State Park has great lookout spots. Our favorite lookout is surrounded by mountains overlooking an island in the lake and has an abundance of trees and waterfalls. 

Corey: The mountains are spectacular at Emerald Bay State Park. It is close to the water so you can see a lot of the lake from several lookout points. There is also water access by way of a short hike. 

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

Natalie: Our sisters flew out the day before the wedding. Corey and I went on a hike the morning of and met our sisters for a nice brunch. I went (to Rah Hair Studio at the Edgewood Hotel and Resort) for hair and make-up. I got dressed at our Condo, and we carpooled to the ceremony. I was excited to have our ceremony in such a beautiful spot and say I do with Corey.

Corey: We went on a nice hike the morning of the wedding to spend time in nature. Fortunately, there were no bear sightings, so we went for a pancake breakfast. When Natalie went to the hotel for hair and make-up, I thought about the ceremony and how truly blessed I felt to marry my best friend, and the love of my life, in such a beautiful place. I thought about what this next step meant to me, the life I wanted us to have, and the husband I wanted to be. 

How was your experience with Simply Eloped?

Natalie: We had a great experience with Simply Eloped. Going through a lot in 2021, it was so nice having the entire wedding planned in just a few minutes after a few clicks. There were a lot of options to choose from to build a perfect package. 

Corey: Leading up to the ceremony, they were great to work with, and it was great that they helped us plan the ceremony exactly how we wanted it. At the ceremony, the vendors were incredibly helpful, professional, and talented. 

How did you choose to celebrate your elopement?

Natalie & Corey: After the ceremony, we shotgunned some beers and went to dinner with our sisters. It was a great time.

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

Natalie & Corey: Planning a wedding can be extremely stressful, and you can put a lot of pressure on yourself. Having an elopement is intimate and specific to your wishes.

Officiation by: Carole Baisinger-Criddle
Photography by: Irina Alexandrova
Planning by: Simply Eloped
Venue: Emerald Bay State Park Lookout, Lake Tahoe

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.