Amber and Andrew’s celebration began long before they exchanged vows. Guests gathered for days of boating, live music, campfires, and time spent together in California’s Sierra Nevada mountains, creating an experience that felt more like a getaway with family and friends than a traditional wedding.

The location played a big role in that. The couple chose to host their Eastern Sierra wedding in a region that had been part of their relationship for years. They had spent countless days hiking, camping, climbing, biking, and snowboarding in the area, making it an easy choice when it came time to decide where to get married.

Between the mountain views, lakeside setting, Scottish traditions, and pizza reception, every part of the celebration reflected what matters most to them. Keep scrolling to see how Amber and Andrew brought it all together.

What We Love About This Eastern Sierra Wedding

• A full wedding weekend that felt more like a mountain getaway
• Pizza, campfires, and lake adventures replacing more formal wedding traditions
• Thoughtful nods to both Scottish and Hong Kong heritage
• Guests staying together on-site throughout the celebration

A Relationship Nearly Two Decades in the Making

Amber and Andrew first met in Santa Barbara in 2008 while they were both students. Andrew was attending the Marine Dive Tech Program at Santa Barbara City College, while Amber was studying Communications at UC Santa Barbara.

Mutual friends brought them together for a movie night, and the connection was immediate. A few months later, they started dating and have been together ever since. “Being together was so easy and we were always laughing and learning together,” Amber shared.

By the time they started planning their wedding, they had already spent years building a life together through travel, outdoor adventures, and countless memories with friends and family.

Choosing a Place That Already Felt Like Home

The location was the first and most important decision. Over the years, the couple had spent countless weekends hiking, camping, climbing, biking, and snowboarding throughout the Sierra Nevada mountains. When they found Cardinal Village Resort, they knew they had found the right place.

The venue offered everything they were looking for: a beautiful meadow for the ceremony, accommodations that allowed many guests to stay on-site, and a laid-back atmosphere that fit their personalities perfectly.

It also happened to have a pizza oven, which later became one of the most talked-about parts of the reception. With guests staying together all weekend, the celebration felt more like a mountain getaway than a traditional wedding.

Keeping the Wedding Design Simple

With the mountains providing a dramatic backdrop in every direction, Amber and Andrew didn’t feel the need to add much decor. 

Greens and white florals framed the ceremony and reception spaces while the surrounding landscape remained the focal point. The restrained approach felt natural for a couple who wanted the setting—not elaborate design elements—to define the atmosphere.

The result was understated, relaxed, and perfectly suited to the location.

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A Ceremony That Honored the Past and Celebrated the Future

The ceremony quickly became one of the most emotional parts of the weekend. The couple exchanged personal vows reflecting on their years together, the adventures they had shared, and the life they had built side by side. Their longtime friend Helen Trickey officiated and incorporated a traditional Scottish handfasting ceremony, where the couple’s hands are bound together, a custom often associated with the phrase “tying the knot.”

One of the most memorable moments came when Andrew honored both of his parents. Just two weeks before the wedding, his mother had passed away after a battle with cancer. During the ceremony, Andrew surprised Amber by scattering a small amount of both his mother and father’s ashes, creating a deeply personal tribute that left few dry eyes among the guests.

A Dress, a Kilt, and Fashion With Personal Meaning

Amber knew exactly what she wanted for her wedding-day look: something elegant that complemented both the setting and Andrew’s traditional Scottish kilt.

She found her Grace Loves Lace gown secondhand through Stillwhite and paired it with a cathedral veil and braided updo for the ceremony. Later in the evening, she changed into a playful Betsey Johnson reception dress, complete with white heart-shaped sunglasses and Dolce Vita platform heels made for dancing.

For Amber, one of the most anticipated moments of the day was seeing Andrew waiting at the end of the aisle in his kilt. Since the beginning of their relationship, she had imagined that moment. “It lived up to my dreams and more.”

The welcome dinner featured its own fashion highlights. Andrew wore a custom embroidered shirt designed by a local artist that incorporated the national flowers of Hong Kong, Scotland, and California—representing the places he has called home. Amber paired a lace dress with one of her favorite custom hats from a local maker.

Sneaking Away for Pizza and Lake Photos

Before joining the reception, the newlyweds carved out a few quiet moments together.

They shared a private pizza dinner in their cabin while guests settled in for the evening, then headed to the lake with their photographers after boat rentals had ended for the day.

The brief break gave them a chance to take everything in before returning to the celebration.

Once they made their way back, the focus shifted entirely to dancing.

Turning the Wedding Into a Full Weekend Experience

Creating a memorable experience for guests was one of Amber’s biggest priorities throughout the planning process. The festivities began on Thursday evening at a local brewery and continued through a farewell brunch on Sunday morning. Friday served as the main welcome day, beginning with an afternoon on Lake Sabrina before guests gathered for a welcome dinner featuring a carnitas taco bar and live guitar music. 

The evening quickly turned into an impromptu dance party. “We both had such a great night of food, speeches, and dancing; we were nervous how Saturday could top it.” That focus on hospitality carried through the entire weekend. From the open bar and live music to the late-night campfires outside the cabins, the goal was simple: create plenty of opportunities for people to spend time together.

Incorporating the Things They Love

Throughout the weekend, small details reflected the different influences that have shaped their lives together.

Double happiness cups paid tribute to Andrew’s Hong Kong heritage. Guests received custom koozies featuring an AM logo that Andrew designed and matchboxes designed by Amber.

The signature drinks also carried personal meaning:

• Old Fashioned for Amber
• Hong Kong Gunner for Andrew
• Mischievous Margarita for Bandit

Combined with plenty of wine, Coors Light, and mountain views, the details felt personal without ever feeling overdone. 

A Night of Dancing, Light-Up Batons, and Beer Shotguns

Amber and Andrew created a custom playlist filled with songs they genuinely loved, giving the DJ a soundtrack that felt true to them.

Guests hit the dance floor with light-up headbands, glowing batons, and plenty of enthusiasm. At one point, Andrew gathered a circle of friends for a rally cry and a celebratory beer shotgun before everyone returned to dancing.

The evening ended with a sparkler exit and an Auld Lang Syne circle, another meaningful nod to Andrew’s Scottish roots.

One Last Unexpected Moment

Not everything went exactly according to plan. At one point, the ring bearer made it down the aisle without the rings, sending his mom on a quick dash back to a nearby cabin to retrieve them. Thankfully, everyone laughed, the rings arrived safely, and the ceremony continued without a hitch.

From the welcome dinner and afternoon on Lake Sabrina to the sparkler exit and Auld Lang Syne circle, every part of the celebration reflected the things Amber and Andrew enjoy most: spending time outdoors, bringing people together, and creating memorable experiences for the people they love. With guests staying on-site, afternoons spent on Lake Sabrina, and campfires continuing long after the reception ended, Amber and Andrew created the kind of gathering they had envisioned from the start—one that gave everyone plenty of time to enjoy the mountains and each other’s company.