West Shore Cafe and Inn

5160 West Lake Blvd., Homewood, CA 96141
 westshorecafe.com

Located on the western reaches of Lake Tahoe near Homewood Ski Resort, this fairly new-on-the-scene inn and restaurant (it’s been open roughly three years) offers stunning views of the lake and an exquisite dining experience. Its executive chef, Jason Poe, is a graduate of the New England Culinary Academy. His unique appetizers include such delicacies as teriyaki quail and caramelized sea scallops.

Weddings at West Shore can be held outside through mid-October on an expansive lawn abutting the lake. Complete with picturesque dock, the lawn is next to the cafe’s cobblestone patio that boasts a full bar. Indoor weddings and receptions in late fall and winter are held in the cafe with its stunning fireplace. West Shore offers three different wedding packages, ranging from $100 to $175 per person. That price includes dinner, but not alcohol. Wedding parties must supply their own flowers and wedding coordinator, although the inn offers ivory linen tablecloths and napkins. But given the beauty of the Tahoe region, wedding planners won’t need to add much color to the scene.

“You really don’t need a lot of extra décor up here,” says Lulana Calhoun, special event coordinator at the inn. “With the pine trees and view of the lake, it’s beautiful the way it is.”

Northstar-at-Tahoe Resort

100 Northstar Dr., Truckee, CA 96161 northstarattahoe.com

If you’re looking for an upscale ski lodge ambiance, this world-class ski resort offers three venues for fall and winter nuptials. TC’s Pub, formerly Timberlake Restaurant, is known for its elegant, alpine aura. Located in the Village at Northstar, the restaurant can accommodate 50 to 140 people. Separate banquet rooms with floor-to-ceiling windows at the Villages at Northstar also are available for indoor weddings year-round.
 The banquet rooms hold up to 125 people. The Lodge at Big Springs, Northstar’s mid-mountain cafe, can hold up to 125 guests for nuptials year-round. Each spot requires a $40 per person minimum for food and beverages.
Wedding packages at Northstar range from $2,900 on weekends to $1,900 weekdays. Table linens, an on-site planner, discounted guest rooms (when available) and complimentary accommodations for one night are included.

Thunderbird Lodge

5000 Highway 28, Incline Village, NV 89450 thunderbirdlodge.org

Dubbed the “Castle in the Sky,” this multi-building site, tucked in the pines on the eastern shore of Lake Tahoe, was built in the 1930s by a millionaire socialite from San Francisco. Wedding guests will be thrust back in time with the lodge’s old-world feel. Listed as a national historic site, the lodge offers three main venues for weddings and can seat a maximum of 120 guests for dinner, 150 for hors d’oeuvres. Because the lodge operates as a non-profit, a portion of the $2,500 per hour rental fee is tax deductible. Docent-led tours of the lodge site are offered for wedding guests.

“Where else can you experience panoramic lake and mountain views, explore secret tunnels, romance on America’s most famous wooden boat and save Nevada’s only house museum estate at Lake Tahoe?” boasts Bill Watson, curator and manager of Thunderbird Lodge.

Valhalla Grand Hall

One Valhalla Dr., South Lake Tahoe, CA 96150 valhallatahoe.com

This wood and stone hall with wrap-around porch was built in 1924 and is listed as a national historic site. With the character of a dignified national park lodge, the hall boasts a 20-foot fireplace and walk-in hearth. It is available for weddings year-round and can accommodate up to 125 people inclusive of catering staff, so plan your guest list accordingly.

“We would describe it as rustic elegance,” says Steve Farnsley, executive director of the Tahoe Tallac Association, which manages the site. “It’s modeled after a medieval Norse type of hall.”

Because of Forest Service regulations, wedding ceremonies must be held indoors. Receptions may be held inside the hall or outside on the grounds.

Rental fees: $4,500 on Saturdays; $4,200 on Fridays and Sundays, and $4,000 on weekdays.