Xistra, Rich marry at Heavenly

South Lake Tahoe residents Aimi Xistra and Dan Rich were wed in a 2 p.m. double-ring ceremony Dec. 11 at the top of the tram at Heavenly Mountain Resort. The simple ceremony was performed by the Rev. Melodie Swanson as the couple exchanged heartfelt vows in front of a dozen of their close friends. The bride wore a white snowboard jacket and carried a red and white rose bouquet with fir tree accents and ribbons.

What seemed to be a dismal day at the mountain turned into a beautiful afternoon as the clouds broke and the sun came out just in time for the nuptials. Following the ceremony the wedding group gathered for celebratory champagne and photographs before spending the afternoon shredding the slopes. Aimi and Rich, who are both prominent snowboarders, chose Heavenly because that is where they met and fell in love.

Following the day on the slopes a 7 p.m. reception for the couple was hosted by Myles and Liz Hallen at Riva Grill on the Lake.

The bride is the daughter of George and Shirley Xistra of Roseburg, Ore. She graduated from Greshman High School in Greshman, Ore., in 1994, and received bachelor's degrees in English literature and comparative literature from San Francisco State University in 2004. She is the communications coordinator at Heavenly Mountain Resort.

The bridegroom's parents are James and Patty Rich of Sterling, Alaska. A 2000 graduate of Skyview High School in Soldotra, Alaska, he is a bell man at the Marriott Resort.

Dan was born in Sterling, Alaska, and Aimi in Portland, Ore. Their uniting proves that people travel to Tahoe in search of the perfect lifestyle and sometimes they also find love.