Tahoe is a spectacular setting for spring and summer weddings, when it’s warm and inviting during the day, and crisp and cool in the evening. Whether becoming one with nature or living it up with the wild nightlife is your goal, Tahoe caters to both kinds of crowds, and many in between. There are hundreds of places to host a wedding event in Tahoe, and there are likely at least a few locations that fit the mood you’re after. We’ve looked at venues in north and south shores—popular and lesser-known venues worth considering for your rehearsal dinner, ceremony and reception.

North Shore

North Lake Tahoe is a destination for the nature lover, the scenery hound, the adorer of natural beauty. It’s quieter in North shore, where towns such as Tahoe City, Squaw Valley and Carnelian Bay spread from the west coast of the lake to North Shore proper, where you’ll find Kings Beach and Incline Village. Restaurants, wedding chapels, hotels and resorts are scattered throughout the woods and along the lakefront in North Shore, and there are a multitude of options for an inviting wedding weekend.

Romantic Rehearsal Dinners

Gar Woods restaurant backs up to the lake in Carnelian Bay. Its deck and pier afford a sweeping view of the water and surrounding mountains. Consider dining outdoors to be closer to the landscape. An evening rehearsal dinner by candlelight could set the tone for a relaxed evening, or a mid-afternoon celebration could kick the night off right.

Gar Woods serves lunch and dinner. Grilled seafood entrées dominate the menu (orange-soy glazed ahi and pistachiocrusted halibut, for example), but you also can get soup, salad, a sandwich or a burger. Entrées range in price from $23 to $40.

Another option in North Shore is the Soule Domain, a cozy cabin restaurant nestled among the pines that dishes up gourmet fare. The menu runs the gamut, from rack of Australian lamb chops to Maine lobster tail and vegan vegetable sauté. Entrées are priced between $18 and $46.

The restaurant is open seven days a week for dinner only, starting at 6 p.m., and can accommodate about 50 people. Call ahead to discuss event details and make a reservation. Ask restaurant owner Charlie Soule about creating a special menu for you and your guests.

North Shore Ceremonies

Squaw Valley Chapel is west of Tahoe City, about eight miles away from the lake. Light filters lazily through tall pines that surround the chapel. The site was built for the 1960 Winter Olympics but has become a sought-after spot for weddings. The church is not associated strictly with any one religion.

The chapel features tall, stained glass windows with views of the trees. Outdoor ceremonies are conducted on the lawn. Based on guest count and whether you prefer an indoor or outdoor ceremony, rental fees range from $250 to $1,000. Officiant fees are separate.

Lakeview Wedding Chapel at the Tahoe Christian Center in Tahoe City is secluded, tucked among three acres of forest. The outdoor amphitheater has an impressive vista of trees backed by blue hues of the lake. Ceremonies can seat up to 125 guests. Contact the chapel directly to discuss rental fees.

This Episcopal chapel welcomes couples on an equal spiritual plane to wed. This requirement means either both believe or both do not believe, but they are spiritually equal.

Exceptional Receptions

At the Tahoe Biltmore Lodge & Casino, you won’t have to play favorites with your guest list. Receptions for up to 450 guests are an option, so feel confident to bring your clan up the hill.

Located at the top of the North Shore between Kings Beach and Incline Village, the Biltmore is a practical choice for small or large groups. Guests can celebrate, gamble, see live entertainment and stay the night. For large groups, the ballroom rents for $1,125 for four hours, and for smaller groups, half the ballroom rents for $525 for the same amount of time.

The Tahoe Yacht Club is located on the lake in the Tahoe City Marina, and its biggest draw is definitely the scenery. You don’t have to be a member to throw a wedding reception here. Rates range from $1,500 to $2,500, depending on the size and timing of the party. The
club invites parties of 100 or fewer, and closes at midnight.

Important to note is that the club does not accept reservations in July or August, but the setting would be striking for a spring or June reception.

South Shore

South Lake Tahoe has much to offer couples of all ages. You don’t have to work to find a charming restaurant off the main drag serving interesting cuisine. Planning a relaxed rehearsal dinner, a lakefront ceremony and an elegant reception are just a matter of knowing where to look.

Rehearsal Dinner Dining

If a casual and lively environment is your idea of a great rehearsal dinner, check out The Fresh Ketch, which specializes in seafood and is right on the water in the Keys Marina. The Ketch has plenty of space, so the size of your rehearsal dinner party won’t pose a problem. Just hope everyone likes seafood. The restaurant offers any kind of fish dish you crave, including stuffed halibut, fish and chips, clam chowder and sushi. Lunch and dinner entrées range from $15 to $38.

If you’d prefer a more intimate environment, try Christiana Inn. Don’t be confused by the name—the hotel portion of the property is under renovation—but the restaurant and bar are reason enough for a visit. Mood lighting, bright abstract art pieces, white tablecloths and a contemporary bar make for a dramatic ambiance. The eclectic menu presents dishes from a variety of regions. A few of the entrées—New York steak, Spanish seafood stew, Moroccan braised lamb shank and spanakopita—demonstrate the worldly flair. Entrée prices range from $17 to $23. A 20 percent gratuity fee is added to the bill for parties larger than six.

South Shore Ceremonies

Lakefront locations are one reason to choose Lake Tahoe as a backdrop for a ceremony. At Lakefront Wedding Chapel & Events, both indoor and outdoor ceremonies are an option, and both put you and your wedding party right next to the water.

All ceremony packages include professional photography, and starting prices for 20 or fewer guests range from about $400 to $1,000 on Saturdays, depending on options. The chapel welcomes up to 180 guests. Contact the chapel for information about additional fees associated with a larger guest list.

When the weather is right, outdoor ceremonies are the way to go. One South Shore outdoor space that offers a panoramic of the lake, mountains and trees is Tahoe Beach and Ski. The sand of the private beach is swept smooth for small ceremonies of up to 50 guests. White wooden chairs and a simple white arch are set up facing the lake. Added bonus: An on-site wedding coordinator helps couples plan ceremony details. Downfall: There’s no backup plan for rain and no refunds. The spring and summer rental fee is $525 for Friday and Saturday ceremonies.

Rockin’ Reception Sites

Forest Suites Resort sits in the heart of South Lake Tahoe under the Heavenly Gondola and offers ceremony-only, ceremony and reception, or receptiononly reservations. They have a variety of package deals and there is no minimum guest requirement.

Reception options include year-round indoor banquet facilities for about 60 people. In summer months, the outdoor garden can accommodate up to 100 guests. The grounds are nicely manicured and surrounded by pine forest. Spring and summer rental rates vary and depend in part on whether the couple stays at the resort.

Edgewood Tahoe Golf Course is the quintessential Tahoe wedding reception site. The site of the annual Celebrity Golf Tournament, the beautiful golf course, elegant clubhouse, top-notch service and reportedly delicious food lure many couples to the grounds.

You can choose between two rooms for a reception. One is the South Room, a smaller space for parties of 60 to 100 guests. Starting in May 2009, rates for a four-hour Saturday wedding reception are $2,700 with an additional non-refundable deposit of $4,000 required to reserve the date. The larger space, the North Banquet Room, can hold between 100 to 250 guests. Rental rates for a four-hour Saturday reception are $5,500 and a non-refundable deposit of $5,000 is required.