Before Jessica Lombardi and Rob Roy thought of one another romantically, they were already in awe of each other as professionals in the tech industry. “I was practically starstruck upon first meeting him because of his prodigious accomplishments,” Jessica remembers. “Never in my wildest dreams did I think that a few years later, we would be together!” Rob adds, “Jessie immediately impressed me – not only from her business acumen, but also her intelligence and the joy she brings to those around her.” 

When the time came to propose to his “missing unicorn puzzle piece” as his daughter affectionately calls Jessica, Rob incorporated the pair’s desired wedding date in the nontraditional engagement ring design. “Jess and I love numbers and their significance, so I worked with the jeweler to design two diamond infinity bands that represented our ideal wedding date,” he shares of the 12- and 10-carat diamond bands, totaling 22 carats: 12-10-22. 

As they began planning their nuptials, the couple selected Lake Tahoe for their wedding destination. Since they have a home nearby and the bride grew up visiting family in the area, “it felt like such a natural decision for both of us to have it in Tahoe,” explains Jessica. A winter wedding was a no-brainer, as it gave the pair the opportunity to celebrate with 150 friends and family in one of the places they feel “overwhelming joy” and doing what they love to do, skiing and spending time in the snow. 

With four days of events planned for their wedding weekend – including a holiday-themed rehearsal dinner at their Martis Camp home, a day of skiing followed by après-ski fireside custom cocktails, and an opulent welcome reception including a phenomenal 12-piece band – they knew they would require an esteemed planner to organize the details and hired Andrea Eppolito of Andrea Eppolito Events. 

“Andrea designed, implemented, and ensured every single detail was perfectly delivered. I cannot express the true genius, talent, and hard work that my wedding designer and planner Andrea Eppolito put into our wedding and how she alone made it the best weekend of our lives!” exclaims the bride. 

“When you walked in, you were completely enveloped in black with chandeliers and mirrors everywhere.”

As snow fell outside, friends and family gathered in an enormous glass conservatory, which had been built solely for their fairy-tale mountaintop nuptials. “Our ceremony was a once-in-a-lifetime build-out that took over 35 workers constructing for six consecutive days to complete. Every piece of that glass conservatory was hand selected specifically for us, down to the cut stones that were hanging from the ceiling,” confirms Rob of the sparkling setting. “People are still talking about how beautiful it was.” 

A live string quintet performed Pachelbel’s “Canon in D” as Jessica made her way down the aisle in a glimmering custom gown. “We did not see each other until that moment, and it was overwhelming in the best way to finally marry her in front of our family and friends – and in such a perfect winter wonderland setting,” shares the groom. While most brides picture a white wedding ceremony, Andrea suggested black, and the couple fell in love with their planner’s idea. “It was more beautiful and memorable than we could have ever imagined!” the bride affirms of the bold, wintry design scheme. 

“We went from a gorgeous wedding ceremony blanketed in the dark evening sky and lit by custom starry lights designed out of LED fairy lights draped by 1,500 strands of crystal hand-molded amber rocks into a cocktail hour representing a pure white winter wonderland,” explains Jessica, adding that Andrea transformed the hotel wedding venue with white carpeting, draping, and custom-made fireplaces filled with candlelight. “She even removed the doors and replaced them with custom white barn doors!” illustrates the bride. 

As the doors slid open, guests took in the grandeur of the ballroom, which had been turned into a chic, dramatic couture setting. “When you walked in, you were completely enveloped in black with chandeliers and mirrors everywhere,” she describes. Attendees were seated at long, custom black lacquered tables surrounded by white velvet chairs and topped with four-foot-tall crystal candelabras. 

“I’m not very floral-forward, and I didn’t want huge floral centerpieces that would obstruct anyone’s views, but we knew we wanted some flowers,” shares Jessica. Thus, low arrangements of mixed white roses, hydrangeas, and orchids spanned the length of tables, falling gracefully to the floor. Snowy vessels and glass votives were illuminated with candlelight, and each guest’s place setting displayed a gold-rimmed charger, an ebony plate, black flatware, and a sophisticated black-and-white menu detailing the outstanding supper selections. 

The Ritz-Carlton, Lake Tahoe’s culinary team curated an unforgettable six-course sit-down dinner service, which included a remarkable display of dozens of white-gloved servers delivering each course in timed unison to guests. “Friends and family still hail it as one of the most delicious experiences they’ve ever had,” confirms the bride. In addition, there was an endless flow of sweet treats alongside slices of a stunning four-foot-tall wedding cake decorated with fresh orchids. 

After the couple’s stunningly choreographed first dance to “Dance with Me” by Morgan Evans and Kelsea Ballerini, guests joined them in revelry for the rest of the night. “We had a packed dance floor, and the wedding night went until 2AM!” affirms the groom of the “progressive, professional, and truly awesome” reception entertainment, which included two DJs and live performers. “We had a live saxophonist and percussionist on the dance floor, which enhanced the experience by making it infinitely more fun and interactive,” he adds. 

When asked for their wedding advice, the newlyweds suggest other couples share a private dance. “We were able to sneak into the ballroom early and practice the first dance alone before any of the guests arrived, so in a way our first dance was completely private, just the two of us. It was a lovely moment and so special,” smiles Jess. Also, “Hire a wedding planner!” she urges. “The best decision we made was working with Andrea… In fact, we got so close to her that we asked her to officiate our wedding, so not only did she plan and design the entire weekend, she also literally and legally married us!”

This real wedding was originally published in the Winter 2024 issue of Inside Weddings magazine. 

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