Part 2 - Planning 300+ Weddings—and Then My Own. The Ceremony
- K. Rose Events
- Sep 19
- 4 min read
When my then fiancé (now husband) and I started thinking about our ceremony location, we had two non-negotiables: it had to feel private and it had to be accessible for our guests, especially our older family members. The problem? Private but accessible doesn’t really exist. On top of that, we wanted the scenery to feel distinctly Mammoth, with snowcapped peaks and maybe even water nearby. Not exactly a simple checklist.
Since we had only been to Mammoth once before, we had no idea where to start. Another factor was that many locations in the area require permits if you plan to set up chairs, arches, or anything formal. We really didn’t want to go through that process, so we enlisted the help of Arlene, the woman providing our rentals. She’s local, has done hundreds of pop-up weddings in Mammoth, and knows all the hidden gems. We gave her our list of must-haves and planned a scouting trip during our visit in June 2024.
About 30 minutes outside of Mammoth Lakes, she brought us to a semi-remote spot called Owens River. From the road, it looked simple enough with flat ground, easy parking, and no complicated trek. But when we stepped out and took it all in… wow. A 360-degree view of snowcapped mountains and the calm, winding river cutting through the valley floor. It was absolutely perfect. Arlene assured us we wouldn’t need a permit and could easily set up benches and rugs. The best part was total privacy. Sure, it is a fishing hot spot, but she told us fishermen always move without hesitation when a wedding is happening. That was it. Ceremony spot locked in. Coordinates saved.
Planning the Details
Being a wedding planner myself, I knew I wanted our ceremony to be simple and sweet with no long drawn-out production. We asked my future father-in-law to officiate, which was extra meaningful because the father of the groom doesn’t usually play a big role in weddings. He had never officiated before, but he happily accepted, and it made the day feel more personal.
Then came flowers, and this was a logistical nightmare. Mammoth has very few florists, and the quotes I received were outrageous for what I needed. I understood why since small mountain towns don’t have access to flower markets like Southern California, but there was no way to transport florals from home without refrigeration.
After weeks of brainstorming, I found a vendor on Etsy in the UK who created faux bouquets. At $150, I figured it was worth the gamble. A few weeks of back-and-forth later, she sent me the final product and I was in love. It was so beautiful that I ended up showing it to vendors whenever they asked about my wedding colors. Since the bouquet turned out perfectly, I also decided to source faux flowers for our ground arrangements to keep things cohesive and stress-free.
Well, that didn’t go quite as planned. I found a local vendor and sent her inspiration photos and detailed instructions. Four days before the wedding, I went to pick them up and was stunned. The arrangements were mismatched, messy, and literally covered in spider webs. It looked like someone shoved random flowers into foam blocks. I was speechless.
Cue panic mode. I drove to every Hobby Lobby within reach, bought out all the flowers that matched my palette, and went home determined to fix it myself. To my surprise, my DIY arrangements came out exactly how I envisioned, if not better. In hindsight, I think it was meant to happen that way because they were perfect. And no, the original vendor never apologized or even acknowledged the situation.
The Ceremony
Finally, June 8, 2025 arrived. The weather was a dream with overcast skies, a comfortable 72 degrees, and just enough of a breeze to feel refreshing. Arlene set up benches with boho rugs down the aisle. My flowers, the ones I crafted in a last-minute frenzy, were in place.
We had arranged for a special pre-ceremony touch: custom beer cans from Weir Beer in Vista, California. We picked the brew, designed the label, and made it our own. Guests sipped on them while listening to live music by our friend Sam Marcey, a musician I have followed for years who now performs at weddings.
And then… it was time.
As a planner, I had been numb to most of the process. It all felt surreal. But the moment that broke me, and everyone else, was when our daughter began to sing the song I walked down the aisle to. For months, she had been secretly preparing with her choir teacher, practicing Birds of a Feather by Billie Eilish. The second her little voice rang out, tears started pouring, not just mine but every single guest’s. It was the most emotional and unforgettable moment of my life.
Our ceremony reflected us perfectly: heartfelt, simple, and personal. In place of a unity candle or sand ceremony, my husband and I did a shot of our favorite tequila, something we’ve always done to celebrate life’s highs and lows. But I didn’t want it to be just about us, so we handed out mini bottles to every guest. When we took our shot, they all joined in. It was fun, authentic, and very us.
My father-in-law delivered a beautiful officiation, we exchanged vows and rings, and just like that, we were married.
Guests couldn’t stop raving about the location, the views, and the unique touches. At several points, flocks of birds flew overhead, almost like nature itself was celebrating with us. It was magical in every way.
✨ Coming up in Part Three: The Reception where I’ll share how we pulled off the celebration after saying “I do.” You’ll never believe what happened to our daughter hours into our dinner!
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