When Kasey first imagined her wedding day, she dreamed of hikes and the breathtaking landscapes of Lake Tahoe, where her family has roots and countless memories.
“If I could conjure up a dream wedding, I would probably get married on a hike,” she shared.
However, it was vital for her and her husband Alex to celebrate with the people they love. What unfolded was like something out of a mountain fairytale: a custom-designed gown with hand-embroidered wildflowers, a ceremony at the top of a ski lift at Northstar, and a weekend that honored shared history.
A Dress Inspired by Tahoe and Trust
Kasey had her eye on the Cora gown by Rue de Seine early on.
“It was the first dress that sparked joy,” she said. But it had a face on the chest and a look that wasn’t quite bridal.
That’s when the idea sparked: she would create a custom gown.
She found Nathalie serendipitously.
“Nathalie’s studio is two blocks from where I live,” Kasey said. “I could tell that she made wedding outfits that were special to every single individual that she works with.”
From the first connection, Nathalie got it.
“She understood the vision,” Kasey said. “She was so excited about it.”
That one-of-a-kind lace became the centerpiece of the gown. Nahtalie and her team went to work, meticulously cutting out each colorful flower and carefully embroidering them onto the skirt of the gown.
The placement, shape, and gradation were all designed to resemble a soft ombré bloom—just like a mountain meadow. Nathalie created the dress from off-white fine leo tulle and layered with soft Chantilly lace on both the corset and one layer of the skirt.
An Ode to Heritage - The Veil
We considered embroidering the same flowers on the veil, but thought that would look too traditional, like Russian dolls. Ultimately, Kasey wore a custom version of our Valencia drop veil made out of Italian tulle, with cascading layers and a clean cut edge.
“I wanted a simple veil,” she added, “and this one had nice volume.”
Though not overtly incorporating Eastern European cultural traditions, Kasey’s custom gown still felt meaningful. She speaks Russian, and Alex has Polish roots.
“I did feel like my dress was an ode to the culture in a way.”
Nathalie and her team created a soft, sweetheart neckline and a form-fitting corset bodice, complete with a dropped waist for a modern yet romantic silhouette. They detailed the gown’s low back with delicate bridal buttons. The flowy A-line skirt has a gentle train, designed to move beautifully in the mountain breeze.
The Emotional Reveal
During the design process, Kasey frequently talked to her dad. He fully supported her dress vision and was excited about it.
Just two months before the wedding, Kasey’s father had passed away unexpectedly.
When she tried on the dress at Nathalie’s studio, she got emotional.
“I won’t get that first look moment with my dad,” she reflected. “But I felt like he would have loved it. He would have been proud of me. It was probably the most beautiful thing I’ll ever wear. And I felt proud of myself, too.”
Kasey said the design process gave her confidence, teaching her to listen to her intuition.
“I trusted myself throughout the planning process in a way that I don’t usually, and it came together so beautifully.”
Nathalie’s guidance helped immensely.
“She would prompt me to ultimately make the gut decision she knew I was too scared to make.”
The Proposal: A Leap Year Love Story (With Detours)
Kasey and Alex’s love story began at a college party over a decade ago. They started off as friends with humor as a foundation. After a spontaneous move-in during the COVID lockdown and a summer spent together in Tahoe, they knew.
They officially began dating on Leap Day 2020. Kasey had a hunch a proposal might come four years later, on their next anniversary. But a snowstorm in Tahoe forced them to leave Northstar early, derailing Alex’s original plans (which included a secret photographer and a proposal dinner).
After flying back to New York, he convinced her to take a walk in Central Park. A family friend who dances on stilts popped out of a tree to give Kasey a note that said, “Alex has a question for you.”
His dad was hiding in the bushes, taking photos. Despite being surprised, and exhausted after a red-eye flight, she loved it.
A Wedding That Felt Like a Wildflower Bloom
Kasey and Alex were married at Zephyr Lodge at Northstar, a mountain lodge perched above the resort where Kasey’s family has a condo, a destination they ski at every year.
To reach the ceremony, guests rode a gondola and then a chairlift.
“There were so many mountain bikers coming around, stopping to let you pass, yelling congratulations.”
Inside the reception, wildflowers bloomed from every corner.
Pine and cedar garlands paired with local Sierra Nevada blooms decorated rustic wooden tables.
“I wanted it to basically look like there were wildflower blooms growing out of the tables,” Kasey said.
Each of her bridesmaids picked a color to match a flower on her dress.
“I wanted a wildflower wedding.”
Their bouquets were pine and cedar with wildflowers of their dress color.
“It was really perfect,” Kasey said. “It felt like a big backyard wedding on top of a mountain.”
One of the most powerful moments came during what would have been the father-daughter dance. He loved the Dierks Bentley song “Drunk on a Plane” and everyone screamed the lyrics at the top of their lungs.
“Everyone got to honor his memory in a way that was beautiful rather than depressing,” Kasey said.
Kasey’s advice to other brides-to-be?
“If someone has a vision of what they want their dress to look like, go for it. This was such a fun experience, and I’m so sad I don’t get to go to Nathalie’s studio all the time anymore.”
Bride @kaseydilllaaa Photography: VILD Photography Dress & Veil: NK Bride Venue: Northstar California Resort Florals: arti bloom floral design Design and planning: kasiedilla Coordinator: Vista Events Live Band: popular demand band Rentals: camelot party rentals Calligrapher: Kelliegraphy Beauty: @love_is_inthe_hair Writer: Gina Tron
