Summer Wedding on a Private Lake on Donner Summit
Natalie
& Ben
Her parents’ land, their lake and everybody they love.
Donner Summit · California
A wedding at home on the lake.
Natalie and Ben got married on August 22, 2026, on Natalie’s parents’ property on Donner Summit. Pines, a granite peak on the skyline and a private lake right in the middle of it all.
I’d photographed these two once already, when Ben surprised Natalie with a proposal at Scott Creek with their Dalmatian, Olive, in on it. Olive made the wedding too, flower collar and all.
Pines, a lake and a long table. Summer on the summit.
The details · Before it starts
Vow books and rings.
Vow books, rings and the invitation laid out on the table before anything started. Simple and personal, like the rest of the day.
The crew · By the lake
Everybody showed up.
Bridesmaids in greens and earth tones, the guys in dark suits and a lot of cheering by the water. This crew was a good time from the very first photo.
Olive · Flower collar
Olive made the cut.
Olive was part of the proposal at Scott Creek, so of course she was part of the wedding. Flower collar on, best behavior. Mostly.
The party · In the pines
Dancing in the trees.
The dancing started outside while the sun was still coming through the trees and kept going under the lights once it got dark. Sparklers, glow sticks and nobody leaving early.
A quick preview.
This is just a preview. Ask to see the full gallery
The team
Vendors & credits.
FAQ
A wedding at home on Donner Summit.
Where did Natalie and Ben get married?
On Natalie’s parents’ property on Donner Summit, California, on August 22, 2026. The ceremony, portraits and party all happened on the land, around a private lake in the pines.
Can you get married on private property on Donner Summit?
Yes. Plenty of couples get married on family land up here. Plan for parking, power, restrooms and a rental company for tables and chairs, and check the local rules for a big event before you send invitations.
When is the best light for a Donner Summit summer wedding?
The last hour or so before the sun drops behind the trees and ridges. On the summit that usually happens well before the official sunset, so build portraits into that window.
Can our dog be part of our wedding?
Yes. Olive the Dalmatian wore a flower collar and is all over this gallery. Give one person the job of looking after your dog so you don’t have to.
Did you photograph their engagement too?
Yes. Ben surprised Natalie with a proposal on the beach at Scott Creek in Santa Cruz County, with Olive in on it. That gallery is on my engagements page.
Donner Summit, California
A lake, the pines and their people.
Natalie and Ben’s wedding was at home in every sense. If you are planning a wedding on family land around Donner Summit, Truckee or Lake Tahoe, this is what that can look like.
Their Scott Creek proposal More galleries Lake Tahoe wedding venuesGetting married on Donner Summit?
Let's talk.
I’m based in Truckee and Donner Summit is about 20 minutes up the road. Tell me your date and I will let you know if I am available.
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