Olympic Valley is the most special place in Tahoe to me. It was my first job. I worked there for four years, and I spent a lot of that time watching how the light moves through that valley. Where it hits first in the morning. When it leaves in the afternoon. What it does after a fresh snow.
So when a couple tells me they’re getting married at Everline Resort, I already know a lot about their day before we talk. Here’s what I tell them about the venue, the seasons and the light.
The venue
Everline Resort and Spa sits at the base of Olympic Valley, with KT-22 and Granite Chief right behind it and the meadow out front. It used to be the Resort at Squaw Creek, and plenty of people still call it that.
It’s a full resort. There’s an outdoor ceremony site at the Pavilion next to a 250-foot waterfall, a meadow on the golf course for summer ceremonies, and a big ballroom with mountain views for the reception. Your guests stay on site. They eat there, dance there and walk back to their rooms. Nobody is driving a mountain road at midnight.
You step outside and the valley is right there. You don’t have to go anywhere for mountain photos. That’s the whole reason to get married here.
The light leaves early
This is the one thing I want every Everline couple to understand. Olympic Valley is surrounded by mountains, and the sun drops behind them long before actual sunset.
In winter the sun can be behind the mountain by 3:45pm. In summer it dips behind the mountain around 7pm. The sunset time on your phone is not when the light leaves the valley. Plan around the mountain, not the sunset.
Once the sun goes behind the ridge, the valley goes into shade. It’s soft and even for a little while, and then it’s gone. If your portraits are scheduled after dinner, they’re happening in the dark.
Why I recommend a first look
For a winter wedding at Everline, a first look is pretty much necessary. With the light gone that early, it’s the only way to get your portraits, wedding party and family photos done without missing your own cocktail hour. And you don’t want to miss your cocktail hour.
In summer you have more room. I still recommend one. You get a relaxed portrait session, more time with each other, and the photos are done before the ceremony. Nobody is racing the sun. With a second shooter we can split family and wedding party photos while the second covers cocktail hour.
Winter
Winter at Everline is my favorite. After a fresh snow the valley goes quiet and white, and the light off the mountains does things you don’t see the rest of the year. Megan and John got married here in winter and the golden hour in the valley was amazing.
It’s also the season that takes the most planning. Snow on the roads, chain controls, ski traffic. Give your guests and vendors extra travel time. And plan that first look.
Spring
Spring is a mix. There’s still snow on the peaks and people are still skiing, while the valley floor starts to thaw. The meadow can be wet or still under snow, so check what the outdoor spaces look like before you count on them. The days are getting longer, which helps.
Summer
Summer is green and wide open. The meadow and the Pavilion are at their best, and with the sun dipping behind the mountain around 7pm you have the most room in the timeline. It’s still earlier than most couples expect, so the same rule applies. Plan around the mountain.
Fall
Fall is quieter. The summer crowds are gone, the evenings get cold and the light gets low and warm. The days get shorter fast, so a ceremony time that works in September is too late by late October.
Why I keep coming back
I’ve photographed this valley in every season, and before that I spent four years working in it. I still look up at those ridges and think about where the light is going to be. That doesn’t go away.
If you’re getting married at Everline, I’d love to hear about it. The venue details are on my Everline Resort venue page, and the honest guide covers the rest.