Venues I'd send
my friends to.
This isn't a directory. Every venue here is one I've photographed as a Lake Tahoe wedding photographer, and I'll tell you the honest stuff: where the light lands, how many people fit, which ones make you rush and which ones make the parking weird. Tap any of them for the full guide.
Tell me where you're getting marriedThe shortlist.
High Camp + OVEC · Olympic Valley, CA
Ceremony at 8,200 feet after a tram ride, reception back down in the valley at the Olympic Valley Event Center. It's where I shoot most, and the one I know better than any other.
High Camp up to 175 · OVEC up to 225 · All seasons
Emerald Bay · South Lake Tahoe, CA
A 1966, 70-foot classic yacht chartered into Emerald Bay. No other venue on the lake has that backdrop. Not even close.
Up to 47 guests · Full bar + catering
Lake Tahoe State Park · Incline Village, NV
Granite boulders and water so clear it looks fake. Made for elopements and small ceremonies. You'll need a permit, so don't wing it.
Elopements + ceremonies · Permit required
Little Truckee River · Sierraville, CA
Twenty acres on the Little Truckee River, about as far from a hotel ballroom as you can get without a backpack.
Up to 150 guests · June to September
Lakefront · South Lake Tahoe, CA
Private beach ceremony, reception inside, and everybody sleeps on site. Easy logistics with a real lake view.
Private beach · On-site lodging
North Shore · Carnelian Bay, CA
Lakefront lawn with the Sierra behind it and one of the better portrait piers on the North Shore. The food is genuinely good, which matters more than couples think.
Dock ceremony · Lakefront reception
Yuba River · Soda Springs, CA
A 1920s lodge in the forest. The aspen grove ceremony spot is one of the best natural backdrops in the region, and there's a river swimming hole for portraits.
Historic lodge · Weekend format
Donner Summit · Norden, CA
Old-school ski resort on Donner Summit with big mountain light, summer or winter.
Summer + winter weddings
Napa Valley · St. Helena, CA
Private Napa estate with five event spaces and farm-to-table food from Chef Nash Cognetti. Formerly Tre Posti.
Up to 350 guests · Preferred vendor
Sierra foothills · Newcastle, CA
Foothill garden estate with a ceremony lawn and vineyard views. Warm light, soft hills, easy drive from Sacramento.
Garden ceremony · Vineyard views
Placer County · Newcastle, CA
Private estate with open hillside in Placer County. Lots of room, lots of sky.
Private estate
Apple Hill · Camino, CA
Pond, bridge, rowboat and a giant red maple that goes off in September and October. Friday-to-Sunday buyouts, so nobody rushes. Heads up: guests park off site and shuttle in.
Weekend buyouts · Shuttle parking
Redwoods · Woodside, CA
Redwood forest estate on the Peninsula. Shady, quiet and good all year.
Redwood forest · Year-round
Gold Country · Coloma, CA
Two 1850s churches, Saint John's (about 50 guests) and Emmanuel (150), with the park and river for portraits. Do the reception somewhere else.
Historic churches · Small weddings
Wailea + South Maui, HI
Wailea Beach Resort and South Maui Gardens. Beach or garden, both with that Maui light everyone flies over for.
Destination · Beach or garden
Sonoma County · Santa Rosa, CA
Barn, vineyards and rolling hills. Wine country without the Napa traffic.
Barn + vineyards
Yosemite National Park, CA
Sunrise vows at one of the most photographed views on earth. Worth the alarm clock. Every time.
Sunrise ceremonies · Permits needed
Also been there.
No full guide yet, but there's a real wedding to look at. Tap one.
★★★★★ From a real couple
“We had ideas about the Lake Tahoe photos we wanted, but Wade's knowledge of the area made all of our visions come true.”
Venue questions, answered.
Palisades Tahoe. Ceremony at High Camp, reception at the Olympic Valley Event Center. It's where I shoot most, so I know where the light lands in every season and which corners to avoid. If you want a lake view instead, Tahoe Bleu Wave and Sand Harbor are hard to beat.
Palisades Tahoe (High Camp is unreal in snow), Everline Resort and Sugar Bowl all do winter properly. Just plan around the early sunset. In the Olympic Valley, direct sun can be gone before 4pm in December.
Yes. Sand Harbor is a Nevada State Park, and ceremonies need a permit. Sort it out early, then go pick your boulder.
Sand Harbor for the lake, Tahoe Bleu Wave if you've got up to 47 people and want to be on the water, and Saint John's church at Marshall Gold Discovery Park in Coloma for about 50 guests and a lot of history.
Yes. Brindare Estate in St. Helena, Mountain Terrace in the Woodside redwoods, Cloverleaf Ranch in Santa Rosa and Sequoyah Country Club in Oakland are all in my portfolio.
Tell me where it is. There's a good chance I've shot there or nearby. And if I haven't, I like new places. I'll scout it before your day.
Your turn
Booked a venue, or still choosing between three? Tell me. I'll give you the honest take on light, logistics and timing, whether you hire me or not.
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