Clair Tappaan Lodge wedding photographer · Donner Summit, Norden
Clair Tappaan
A Sierra Club lodge built for skiers.
- Location
- Donner Summit
- Reception
- Up to 175
- Sleeps
- Up to 140
- Built
- 1934
Clair Tappaan Lodge wedding venue · Norden, California
A rustic mountain lodge. Your whole crew under one roof.
Clair Tappaan Lodge was hand built by Sierra Club volunteers in 1934 as a retreat for hikers, skiers and climbers. It is post and beam, all old wood, and it sits on Donner Summit just west of Truckee. It is named after Clair Tappaan, a judge and a Sierra Club president.
For a wedding you get the whole lodge from Friday afternoon to Sunday at noon. Reception space for up to 175, bunk rooms for up to 140 and a chef and kitchen staff on site.
I'm a Truckee wedding photographer and I've photographed a wedding here. Below is what the lodge says you need to know, plus what I'd tell a friend.
Clair Tappaan Lodge wedding venue · The details
What it’s actually like.
Sierra Club · Donner Summit · Since 1934
Clair Tappaan
Norden, California
Old wood inside, tall pines outside. You can get ready in the lodge, get married in the woods and dance on the lawn under string lights, all without leaving the property.
- Address
- 19940 Donner Pass Road, Norden, CA 95724
- Exclusive use
- Friday at 2:00 pm to Sunday at 12:00 pm
- Reception
- Up to 175 guests
- Lodging
- Up to 140 guests in bunk-style rooms with twin beds and shared bathrooms
- Food
- Chef and kitchen staff on site. Outside caterers allowed.
- Alcohol
- No beer and wine license. You bring the bar.
- Phone
- (530) 426-3632
- My favorite spot
- The woods right by the lodge. Tall pines and soft light.
What it costs · Rates listed on the lodge's website (2024)
Friday to Sunday
Facility fee
$12,000
Exclusive use of the lodge for the weekend. Includes plates, cups and silverware, trash and recycling and grounds upkeep.
Four meals
Food minimum
$5,000
Covers dinner the night you arrive through brunch the day you leave. Reception and rehearsal dinners are priced per guest.
On all sales
Service + tax
20% + tax
A 20% service charge and tax are added. Booking takes a 25% deposit, a signed contract and event insurance.
Pricing comes from Clair Tappaan Lodge and can change. Call them for current rates.
Clair Tappaan Lodge · Where to take pictures
The woods do the work.
Inside the lodge
Old wood walls and window light. Great for getting ready photos with your friends.
The woods
Tall pines right outside. Jess and Parker's ceremony was out here under a wooden arch.
The lawn at night
String lights over the tables and the dance floor in front of the lodge.
Golden hour
Head out into the trees and the meadow grass before sunset for portraits.
Getting to Clair Tappaan Lodge
Up on Donner Summit.
Driving
From I-80, take exit 174 for Soda Springs and Norden. Head east on Donner Pass Road for 2.4 miles.
Flying
Reno is the closest airport. Sacramento works too if you don't mind a longer drive.
Nearby
Less than 2 miles from the Pacific Crest Trail and about 25 miles from Lake Tahoe.
Winter
Donner Summit gets a lot of snow. For a winter date, plan for chains and extra time.
Clair Tappaan Lodge wedding gallery
See it in real life.
Jess & ParkerA real Clair Tappaan Lodge wedding
See the gallery
Clair Tappaan Lodge wedding planning tips
Things nobody tells you.
01
Tell guests to bring sleeping bags.
Beds are twin bunks and you bring your own bedding, towels and toiletries. The lodge rents bedding for a fee if people forget.
02
Sort out the bar early.
The lodge has no beer and wine license. Line up your alcohol and a bartender well ahead of time. The lodge can give you referrals.
03
Read the decoration rules.
Everything needs approval ahead of time. Candles must be enclosed. No nails, staples, paint or glue.
04
Book early.
You can book up to 18 months out, and you need a deposit, a contract and event insurance to hold the date.
05
Hire a DJ who can throw a party.
Jess and Parker had Silver State DJ out of Reno and the dance floor stayed full all night.
06
Plan the weekend, not just the day.
You have the lodge Friday to Sunday. Use it. Welcome dinner, the wedding, then brunch before everyone heads home.
Clair Tappaan Lodge wedding FAQ
Questions couples actually ask.
Can you get married at Clair Tappaan Lodge?
Yes. Clair Tappaan Lodge is the Sierra Club lodge on Donner Summit in Norden, California, and it hosts weddings with exclusive use of the lodge for the weekend. It has reception space for up to 175 guests and overnight lodging for up to 140.
How much does a Clair Tappaan Lodge wedding cost?
The lodge lists a weekend facility fee of $12,000 and a food and beverage minimum of $5,000 (2024 rates on their website). The minimum covers four meals, from dinner the night you arrive through brunch the day you leave. A 20% service charge and tax are added. Call the lodge to confirm current pricing.
Can our guests stay at Clair Tappaan Lodge?
Yes, up to 140 of them. The rooms are rustic and bunk style with twin beds and shared bathrooms. There are big dorm rooms, family rooms that sleep 5 to 10 and private two-person rooms. Guests bring their own sleeping bags, towels and toiletries, or rent bedding from the lodge for a fee.
Can we bring our own alcohol and caterer to Clair Tappaan Lodge?
The lodge does not have a beer and wine license, so you bring in the bar and they will give you referrals. Outside caterers are allowed. If they use the kitchen there may be an extra fee, and the food and beverage minimum still applies.
What are the rules at Clair Tappaan Lodge?
The lodge is non-smoking. Decorations need to be approved ahead of time, candles must be enclosed and no nails, staples, paint or glue. Exclusive use runs from Friday at 2:00 pm to Sunday at 12:00 pm.
How far ahead should we book Clair Tappaan Lodge?
Weddings can be booked up to 18 months out. You need a signed contract, a 25% deposit and event insurance to hold your date. Call the lodge at (530) 426-3632 for availability.
Where is Clair Tappaan Lodge?
At 19940 Donner Pass Road in Norden, California, on Donner Summit just west of Truckee. From I-80, take exit 174 for Soda Springs and Norden and head east on Donner Pass Road for 2.4 miles. Reno is the closest airport.
Does Wade Snider photograph Clair Tappaan Lodge weddings?
Yes. I photographed Jess and Parker's wedding at Clair Tappaan Lodge and I live in Truckee, right down the hill. Send your date through the contact page and I'll tell you if I'm free.
Getting married at Clair Tappaan?
Let's make it a weekend to remember.
I live in Truckee, right down the hill. Send your date and I'll tell you if I'm free.
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