"I'd marry you with paper rings."
Updated Apr 22, 2024The 15 Best Lake Tahoe Wedding Venues for an Epic Event
Outdoorsy couples will have no shortage of dream venues to choose from in Lake Tahoe.
Lake Tahoe is the second-largest alpine lake in the country; only Crater Lake National Park is bigger. But it's not just impossibly blue water and sandy beaches Lake Tahoe offers. You can get married deep in the forest, in a glass-walled restaurant on a snow-covered mountain top or in a historic mansion built into a lakeside cliff. The best Lake Tahoe wedding venues are the ones that'll make your guests gasp when they see how beautiful the views are.
And with numerous towns dotting the north and south shores there are plenty of Lake Tahoe wedding venue options. Tahoe is known for mountain wedding and beach venues, so if you're hoping to get married in the great outdoors, you'll love the variety the region offers. And your guests will love the convenient hotels and fabulous year-round recreation. Weddings are gorgeous year-round and Tahoe has more than 300 days of sunshine a year, but having a backup indoor location may be helpful if you're planning a winter wonderland wedding at one of the area's many ski resorts.
If you're ready to say "I do" in the mountains, read on for the best Lake Tahoe wedding venues, from elegant resorts to historic cabins.
Squaw Valley High Camp in Olympic Valley, California
Even if you don't ski, you'll want to consider the luxurious High Camp at Squaw Valley/Alpine Meadows resort if you're planning a winter wedding. Your guests can take the roomy Squaw Valley Gondola to the top, enjoying amazing mountain views along the way,. Once arrived, greet your guests with a glass of champagne before hosting your ceremony on the outdoor, mountain-view deck at an elevation of 8,200 feet. Host your reception in the glass-walled Terrace Restaurant and Bar, or head back down to the European-styled village for additional space.
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Summer weddings are also gorgeous, with wildflower-covered peaks, massive pine trees and plenty to do before and after the big day. They have several wedding packages ranging from budget options to pricey affairs for hundreds of guests.
Rainbow Lodge in Soda Springs, California
A remote, historic lodge tucked into the woods just west of Truckee, Rainbow Lodge may be one of Tahoe's best-kept secrets when it comes to wedding venues. The lodge dates to the 1860s and was once a stop on the Pony Express mail delivery route. Today, it's a rustic wedding venue, with a grassy lawn for the ceremony and plenty of space to take photos in the shadow of massive pines. It's one of the best outdoor wedding venues in the Tahoe area if you want an intimate wooded wedding.
Beach Retreat & Lodge at Tahoe in South Lake Tahoe, California
If you can't decide between a beach venue and one with stuninng mountain views, The Beach Retreat & Lodge at Tahoe provides the best of both worlds. Host your ceremony on the shores of the lake, followed by a reception in one of the lodge's two ballrooms, or in a tent on the expansive property. Perhaps best of all, your guests can stay on premises and enjoy all the activities that this Lake Tahoe wedding venue has to offer.
Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe Resort, Spa & Casino in Incline Village, Nevada
If you're dreaming of a beach wedding in Tahoe, look no further than Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe Resort, Spa and Casino. Don't let the fact that it's a major hotel brand dissuade you from considering this venue: it's incredibly unique and used to be a luxury hotel for Hollywood elites in the 1960s. Weddings here are elegant affairs, though they can also handle micro weddings and low-key elopement getaways.
A variety of wedding venues are available, but the two most popular are the Cottage Green – a grassy lake view venue surrounded by charming luxury cabins – and the private beach with towering mountain peaks in the background. Hyatt also has on-site wedding coordinators and can take care of everything from your lodging to hair and makeup and morning-after catamaran sail, so it's an excellent choice for couples planning a destination wedding from afar.
The Ridge Tahoe Resort in Stateline, Nevada
With space for up to 150 guests, The Ridge Tahoe Resort offers a stunning setting 7,500 feet above Lake Tahoe. There are several indoor and outdoor spaces to choose from, including the aptly-named Grand View Garden, Lake Side Beach, the Sierra Mountain View Deck and the indoor Stagecoach View room, with floor-to-ceiling windows and mountain views. The Castle Rock Event Center is the most popular reception venue, featuring 16-foot ceilings and huge windows. All-inclusive wedding packages are available to make planning your big day in Lake Tahoe a breeze.
Valhalla Grand Hall in South Lake Tahoe, California
The Grand Hall of Valhalla—named after the blissful afterworld in Nordic mythology – is a historic home dating to the 1920s. On the south side of the lake near historic Camp Richardson, the venue sits on a huge wooded lot with plenty of space to roam. Indoor celebrations are inside in the stately Scandanavian-meets-mountain-themed Grand Hall, and outdoor ceremonies are next door on one of the lawns of Camp Richardson. Your wedding reception can be indoors or outdoors, and the entire space is yours to use for photos.
Sunnyside Restaurant in Tahoe City, California
So named for the near-constant sunshine that seems to shine on this section of Lake Tahoe's shoreline, Sunnyside has been a constant in Tahoe City's restaurant scene since before Tahoe was cool. The elegant restaurant has vintage, wood-detailed interiors and a huge outdoor deck on the beach for wedding ceremonies. Sunnyside has a vintage Tahoe feel and is perfect for couples looking to recreate the feeling of childhood vacations at a lakeside cabin on their special day.
The HideOut in Kirkwood, California
The HideOut is 40 acres of wooded paradise and it's yours for the whole weekend when you book a wedding here. Just south of Lake Tahoe, the Hideout is a mini-version of the Sierra Nevada. Your ceremony will be on the lawn just outside the massive log cabin home and receptions can be indoors or outdoors. On-site, you'll find a private lake, a Wild West-style saloon, streams, hiking trails and available wedding decor like wooden whiskey barrels and a claw-foot bathtub to hold your favorite beverages.
The Chateau at Lake Tahoe in Incline Village, Nevada
Whether you're hosting an intimate event or the grandest of parties, The Chateau at Lake Tahoe is an ideal and picturesque location, full of natural beauty. Exchange vows overlooking the beautiful scenery, and enjoy cocktail hour on one of the wraparound decks. The 5,200 square foot main ballroom can accommodate up to 250 guests and features two stone fireplaces, exposed beams and vaulted ceilings. Couples rave about all aspects of this Lake Tahoe wedding venue, especially the accommoating staff.
Thunderbird Lodge in Incline Village, Nevada
Once the stately home of a wealthy San Francisco recluse, Thunderbird Lodge is one of the most impressive historic homes on the lake, made even more impressive by the sprawling cliffside gardens perched above the water. Weddings can be held indoors or outdoors and photo opportunities are nearly endless. The lodge is pricey and the guest list has to be kept rather small, but it's the best wedding venue in Tahoe if you're planning on an intimate, high-end affair.
Edgewood Tahoe Resort in Stateline, Nevada
The alpine-modern Edgewood Tahoe is a stunning choice for a beachfront wedding venue in South Lake Tahoe. The resort offers several ceremony spaces for summer or winter celebrations and can assist in everything from hosting a champagne ice-skating welcome reception to coordinating your arrival in a classic wooden yacht. Nearly every room in the resort has a lake view, so you really can't make a bad choice no matter what setting you choose.
Heavenly Mountain Resort in South Lake Tahoe, California
For spring and summer weddings, consider booking your celebration at Heavenly Mountain Resort. Straddling two states and offering stunning views of the south shore, Heavenly hosts wedding ceremonies at the Lakeview lodge and receptions inside a stunning two-story dining room or outdoors on a sunset-view patio. And as the Heavenly Village is in the heart of Stateline, your guests will be able to walk to restaurants, casinos, beaches and epic hiking and biking trails. (Oh, and there's an alpine mountain coaster, too.)
Twenty Mile House in Greagle, California
An hour north of the town of Truckee is the beautiful Twenty Mile House, in wooded and remote Greagle. The 200-acre wooded venue is exclusively yours during your wedding day and includes everything you want from a forest wedding. The venue has meadows, streams, forests, towering pines, wooded bridges and even an authentic gold mining cabin. Couples and wedding parties can get ready in the main home (dating to the 1850s) and spend their wedding night in the creekside cabin, complete with a private hot tub.
Zephyr Lodge At Northstar in Truckee, California
Couples who spend all year looking forward to their annual ski trips out west will want to consider hosting their big day at Northstar California Resort's Zephyr Lodge. At 8,000 feet above sea level, it has panoramic Sierra Nevada views and plenty of space for large celebrations. Wedding ceremonies are usually held outdoors on the lawn or on the massive deck, while receptions are indoors against the extremely tall floor-to-ceiling window wall to ensure you'll have a front-row seat to sunset. Guests will be whisked to the Lodge in gondolas, offering a unique experience bound to wow out-of-towners (and in-towners too, for that matter.)
Nakoma Resort Lodge in Greagle, California
Another great venue in the heart of wooded and rustic Greagle, just an hour or so north of Truckee, Nakoma Resort is a true stunner. The large wrap-around deck has pine trees growing through the floor, string lights cross-cross the reception area, and rustic stonework. Inside the Frank Lloyd Wright-designed main lodge, you'll find a four-sided stone fireplace, vaulted ceilings and decor paying homage to the "Lost Sierra." Nakoma has 200 acres and 42 guest rooms, plus amenities like a climbing wall and movie theatre. You could even arrange an easy morning hike before your wedding day to give your guests a chance to see the beauty of this section of Northern California.
