Spectacular Places for a Wedding in Lake Tahoe

I say spectacular when it comes to Lake Tahoe because the area is so beautiful and the views, well, spectacular! I’ve always enjoyed Lake Tahoe – the south side, or Stateline, for its gambling and entertainment (Willie Nelson was great) and glitz, and the North Side for its quiet beauty. I spent many weeks on family ski vacations there when I was younger. Incline, Northstar and others. As a very little girl I joined my parents on a glass bottom boat ride on the lake and was told I enjoyed it immensely. The paddle wheeler cruises I’ve been on since were lots of fun also. A drink and the view at sunset atop Harvey’s is a wondrous site. I also enjoy the drive around the lake and also to Carson City.

So, I think a wedding here would be nothing less than stunning. Although, you can get hotel packages which will do it all for you, or let you can pick and choose what you want them to do, in this article I’ll stick to non-hotel venues.

First, and perhaps simplest of all, is a wedding ceremony and reception at a lovely cabin. My friends, Glynes and Bill, did exactly that many years ago. About 25 people drove up and stayed at various places and the wedding was held at a friend’s beautiful cabin. Following the ceremony and cocktail party at the home, they all went off to a glamorous dinner at one of the many casino restaurants on the south side. This was long before the phrase “destination wedding” had been coined. Other friends, accompanied by a small entourage of family and friends had Harrah’s Hotel handle everything for them and were very pleased with the results.

The Homewood Mountain Resort is more than just a ski resort. Located on highway 89, west of Lake Tahoe, it is a great place for an “Old Tahoe” style wedding. The Tahoe Lodge which lies at the bottom of the ski hill has a few cost effective options. Their large patio is ideal for private ceremonies or a BBQ rehearsal dinner. Other venues include a lovely creek side location against a backdrop of young aspen and towering cedar trees. The main lodge, North Lodge offers beautiful views of the lake. Visit Homewood at www.skihomewood.com for more information.

Sitting on the south shore of the lake, is Edgewood Golf Course and event facility. This course built in 1968, while being one of the most scenic courses in the world, holds the distinction of being rated as one of “America’s Top Golf Courses” by Golf Digest Magazine. The South Room here has a guest capacity of 100 and their North Room can hold as many as 250 guests. They do all the catering and will give you a list of preferred vendors for other services. There are no accommodations here, but hotels are located just across the road. The book up very quickly, so you must make advance reservations to hold an event here. See them at edgewood-tahoe.com for more detail.

Graham’s at Squaw Valley’s Olympic Valley is another place to consider. This was built as Squaw Valley’s first “home” (And, I think it may have been here I stayed on a ski trip while in college???) They have facilities for indoor and outdoor events which can hold up to 200 seated guests or 300 standing persons. They provide the catering which is a mix of California cuisine with a Mediterranean influence. There are also a few guest rooms. Contact them at 530-581-0454.

Kings Beach, on the quieter north side of the lake is the location of the North Tahoe Conference Center. Here you can get married lakeside on a sandy beach or inside with a backdrop of gorgeous lake views. Their facilities can hold from 40 to 300 guests. They will cater your reception, or, if you prefer, you may bring in another caterer. Accommodations nearby include hotels and condos, some within walking distance. You can contact them at northlaketahoe.net for more details

And, what about a wedding cruise? North Tahoe Cruises in Tahoe City offers weddings ceremonies and receptions along with rehearsal dinners on the Tahoe Gal, the only paddle wheeler on the North Shore. All the boat captains are licensed to perform marriage ceremonies, or, you may bring your own officiant. The Tahoe Gal can hold parties of up to 135 persons. Or, you can rent just the Commodore Salon for a private party on an existing cruise and save some money. Get more information at tahoegal.com. Lake Tahoe Cruises at Stateline offers a larger selection of vessels. They have two paddle wheelers which can be chartered for your wedding party, the M.S. Dixie II and the Tahoe Queen. They also have a magnificent yacht, the Tahoe Paradise, or, a more casual boat, the Tahoe Princess. They’ll even provide you with a buoy your guests can sign as a memento of your special day. For additional information visit zephrycove.com

I’ve only given you information about a few of the great places to hold your wedding at in the Lake Tahoe area. You can find a lot more selections by searching online. You’ll easily find the perfect place for your wedding.

Don’t forget your honeymoon. Even if you opt not to marry at Lake Tahoe, the area has wonderful hotels, condos, motels and B & B’s for a romantic, relaxed honeymoon.

Happy wedding planning at Lake Tahoe, or anywhere!