For Andrew Bosworth, it took a four-day trek across glaciers complete with crampons and ice axes to reach the peak of his courtship with April Wood – a breathtaking proposal on the snowy summit of Mount Shasta in Northern California. “When we finally reached the top, we were rewarded with a spectacular view. We posed for a photo taken by our guide, and then Andrew got down on one knee and presented me with the ring,” describes April of the moment she became engaged to her beloved. “It was one of the happiest moments of my life.”

Their out-of-doors proposal set the scene for their alfresco nuptials. Inspired by their shared love of nature, they sought to embrace “casually elegant” décor throughout the ceremony and reception, which included both rustic and refined elements. “We enjoy going out for a hike one day and then getting dressed up for a nice dinner the next,” explains the bride. “The magical outdoor space we chose served as a beautiful and iconic example of the Northern California landscape for our guests, and the décor elements we used reflected our personalities as a couple.”

In a sunlit forest clearing, among more than 200 of their closest friends and family, Andrew and April’s lives were entwined forevermore. The bride’s gleaming gown accentuated an intricately designed bodice featuring lace and beading detail with cascading layers of ivory organza. Her romantic nosegay held David Austin garden roses, hellebores, valley lilies, and fern accents.

The ceremony grounds were naturally impressive, surrounded by colossal redwood trees and exquisite greenery. The beautiful bride made her grand entrance on a white horse led by her father. Glimmering lights projected onto the forest floor and highlighted the aisle edged with white larkspur and green ferns, which seemed to rise organically from the earth.

A heartfelt service was officiated by Andrew’s childhood pastor and included handwritten declarations from the couple. “The most memorable moment was hearing Andrew deliver his personalized vows to me,” begins April. “He put so much emotion into them that he had both of us and most of the audience in tears. It meant the world to me that he put so much thought into expressing our love in such a public way.”

Following the ceremony, a cocktail hour ensued where concoctions specially created by the groom were served, as well as wine from his family’s vineyard. “My favorite moment came between the cocktail hour and the reception,” reveals Andrew. “We wanted to stay out of view of our guests for a bit so we could make a grand entrance once they were all seated in the barn.” He reminisces with a smile, “So we got drinks from the bar, took a golf cart, and drove around the preserve. It was a really special time for us to be alone and just have fun together in the middle of everything.

Wedding attendees discovered their table numbers on a wall display of prize ribbons styled in horse show fashion as a nod to April’s equestrian background. Each of the escort “cards” featured a special phrase personalized for each guest. “Andrew and I spent quite a bit of time coming up with funny superlatives for everyone,” says April. “It was essential to us that our guests have a great time, and that the celebration be a reflection of us as a couple.” Commemorating Andrew’s passionate work as an executive at Facebook, wedding attendees signed a customized guest book with pages arranged to look like Facebook profiles.

Friends and family gathered in the barn for a sit-down dinner where long tables draped with ink-blue linens comprised an assortment of white ceramic and glass vases encompassing dahlias, garden roses, English tea roses, hydrangeas, and trailing clematis. Lovely accents of fresh fruit included grapes, quince, fresh figs, and miniature long-stemmed apples. Suspended overhead from exposed wooden beams, were chandeliers swathed in moss and adorned with roses, hydrangeas, and other summertime florals in raspberry hues.

The wedding cake was a four-tiered masterpiece in antique white textured with vertical lines on the fondant frosting. The splendid work of art featured pound cake with alternating raspberry and candy-bar fillings and was exquisitely decorated with floral and fruit details. “From a distance the cake looked as if actual fruit and flowers were cascading down the layers,” pronounces April. “Upon closer inspection, you could see that each intricate piece was delicately made of sugar and handpainted.”

From the high mountaintop to the forest floor beneath the redwoods, April and Andrew enjoyed every part of their planning process. “I wouldn’t change a thing!” exclaims the groom. During the couple’s first dance set to Andrew’s cousin’s rendition of “Better Together” by Jack Johnson, April recalls, “It finally hit me that we were married. Everything around us faded away and it was just the two of us on the dance floor.”