How to get married in Lake Tahoe

How to

Feb 3

Wedding ceremony on a beach in South Lake Tahoe. Bright blue skies and crystal blue waters frame the bride and groom as they exchange vows.

When it comes to natural beauty in this world, Lake Tahoe shines like a blue agate geode on the map. Nestled between the California and Nevada border, this gem is a convenient weekend getaway for anyone living in the Bay Area or Reno and offers a multitude of activities including hiking, mountain biking, rock climbing, beach-going, boating, rafting, and so much more. Since marrying my best friend and Tahoe-local, I’ve come to learn just how much this sublime lake means to everyone. In fact, we were once in Japan and met some Australians who loved the time they spent in Lake Tahoe! It’s just one of those places that connects so many people and makes the world feel beautifully small.

Knowing this, it’s no surprise that the lake is such a popular spot for engaged couples looking to get married! From elopements and micro-weddings to huge wedding celebrations, Lake Tahoe’s natural beauty offers something for everyone and every celebration. The bright blue skies, crystal blue waters, and lush green trees surrounding the world-famous basin create a timeless, romantic, and adventurous backdrop and attracts couples who want to showcase their love in one of the most beautiful places in the world.

The same can be said for Olivia and Tim’s wedding featured in this blog post! They opted for a classic South Lake Tahoe beach wedding surrounded by a hundred of their closest friends and family. Their guests traveled from across the country, including California, Colorado, and New York, to celebrate their love and make timeless memories in the remote mountain town. The day was warm, with clear blue skies and featured the sound of gentle waves lapping the shores in the background. We had the honor of witnessing their sweet vows, watched a vibrant sunset fall behind the Sierra Nevada mountain range, and had an all-out dance party with a live band to end the night. It was a truly perfect wedding day.

Why should you get married in Lake Tahoe?

Besides the obvious beauty of Lake Tahoe and the lasting impact it makes on all of its visitors, there are three reasons why this is a popular location amongst newly-engaged couples looking to get married.

1. Limited restrictions

While this is not to say that there are no restrictions or limitations to getting married in South Lake Tahoe and North Lake Tahoe, it is still a fairly easy place to get married! Unlike some other beautiful, natural locations, Lake Tahoe is not a National Park. This means that it won’t have the same restrictions and permit requirements for elopements and wedding ceremonies that you often see with other National Parks, like Yosemite, Zion, and Olympic National Park.

2. Convenient location

Since Lake Tahoe sits between both California and Nevada, the remote mountain town is actually very easy to get to from several different international airports, including San Francisco International Airport (SFO), Sacramento International Airport (SMF), and Reno-Tahoe International Airport (RNO). Beyond that, the lake is 22 miles long with over 72 miles of shoreline, offering tourists a ton of beautiful places to stay while visiting. From luxury resorts to tiny A-frame cabins, you can choose a spot to stay that aligns with the vibe and needs of your trip!

3. Variety

Whether you’re wanting to have your celebration on the shores of Lake Tahoe, in the mountains overlooking the blue water, or nestled deep in the woods, there’s something for everyone. Lake Tahoe wedding venues range from high-end luxury resorts, like Edgewood Tahoe Resort or Chalet View Lodge, to vista points, like Logan Shoals Vista Point and Emerald Bay State Park Lookout. Each spot offers different amenities and advantages to meet the needs of your day.

Of course, the variety lends itself to more than just the scenery. Lake Tahoe also experiences all four seasons, with each providing different weather, foliage, and vibes! You may be wanting a whimsical Spring wedding with wildflowers or a romantic fall wedding surrounded by golden aspen trees. On the other hand, you could want a warm beach wedding during the summer months or a cozy snow-covered winter wedding. Regardless of the aesthetic you’re going for, Lake Tahoe has it all!

In the foreground, bride and groom stand on dock, blurry, waving to passing boat. In background, boat is in focus on Lake Tahoe and waving at the newlyweds.

Planning your Lake Tahoe wedding

If you, like many other engaged couples, have decided that Lake Tahoe is the place for you and your love to tie the knot, there are five important steps to consider when planning your wedding or elopement.

1. Pick a season

As I previously shared, Lake Tahoe experiences all four seasons. Depending on the aesthetic of your wedding and the guests you plan to invite, you may want to pick the season you get married carefully. For example, if this will be a destination wedding for many of your guests, you should take into consideration the best airports for their arrival, resorts and Airbnbs for them to stay at, and the weather conditions they may be traveling through.

Spring: March to May

If you want to get married when the weather is a little cooler and the foliage is fresh and green, then Spring is the season for you! From about March to May, the snow begins to melt, the leaves and flowers begin to grow again, and the wildlife slowly returns. During this time, Lake Tahoe still experiences a little rain (and sometimes snow!) and tends to have more moderate temperatures. The challenge here is that the weather can be a little unpredictable, so understanding that the weather may be overcast or a little damp is important and having a contingency plan for if it rains will be vital.

Summer: June to August

If you want to get married when the weather is warm and perfect for swimming in the ice cold lake, Summer is the season for you! Besides having the perfect beach-going weather, summertime also allows for a ton of other outdoor activities to do surrounding your wedding. Leading up to your big day and your welcome party, you and your guests can do group hikes, rent a boat, and watch the sun set over the mountains at one of the many local breweries. The downside to getting married during the Summer is that it can get very hot, which can cause makeup to run, sweat stains, and be dangerous for some guests. You’ll want to make sure you have plenty of cold, bottled water, shaded areas, and hand fans for your guests to stay cool, hydrated, and safe during your party!

Fall: September to November

If you want a romantic, vibrant, and cozy wedding aesthetic, you may want to consider Fall! From the beautiful aspens that change colors — bright greens to shocking yellows to warm oranges — to the fallen leaves that cover the ground, Fall is absolutely magic in the mountains in Lake Tahoe. The downside here is that it can be quite chilly and the sun sets earlier than it does in the Summer. Make sure you have space heaters, warm blankets, and hot teas and coffee for your guests to stay comfortable and cozy during your reception!

Winter: December to February

If you want a romantic and timeless white wedding, the snowy Winter months are perfect for your celebration! From December to February, you’ll often find the ground here coated in a sparkling layer of snow and it makes for a truly magical backdrop. Just remember that Winter storms can and do occur, which could delay or prevent your guests and vendors from arriving to your wedding. Having a local wedding planner or coordinator is important, especially for bigger celebrations, to ensure you have help should you need to pivot and adjust your plans. They’ll be able to help coordinate transportation, rent equipment like space heaters and tents, and share alternative vendor recommendations if one of yours is suddenly unable to attend or can’t physically make it to the event.

2. Pick your wedding venue

Whether you’re eloping or having a wedding, there are a variety of different venues on both the South and North Lake shores that can accomodate all types of celebrations. To help pick your venue, you’ll want to consider the following:

Location - If you’re inviting guests, how far will they need to travel? Is there a convenient airport nearby? Are there places to stay and will they need transportation to your venue?
Vibe - Do you want your ceremony to be next to the lake or overlooking the lake? Do you want to be surrounded by tall redwoods or have views of sprawling mountain ranges? Not all venues have lake views and not all venues are surrounded by trees - so make sure you know what your ideal setting is for your wedding!
Size - Will you be inviting guests and if so, how many? A lot of wedding venues have guest count minimum and maximums. You’ll want to make sure you’re looking at venues that can accomodate your plans and any accessibility needs your guests might have! If you’re not inviting guests, and you’re just eloping, this opens up even more ceremony locations to consider.

Here are a few of my favorite venues and locations in the Tahoe area:

Resorts - Edgewood Tahoe Resort, Chalet View Lodge, Nakoma Resort, and Everline Resort and Spa.
Venues - The Ridge Tahoe, Heavenly Mountain Resort, Lake and Wood, and Beach Retreat Lodge at Tahoe.
Beaches - Sand Harbor State Beach, Regan Beach West, and Sugar Pine Point State Park.
Vistas - Logan Shoals Vista Point, Emerald Bay State Park Lookout, and Monkey Rock.

3. Find your vendors

The Tahoe area has some truly amazing wedding vendors! And if you can’t find one you like or who is available for your day, you can always search for alternative wedding vendors in the San Francisco, Sacramento, and Reno areas.

I recommend first finding and booking your wedding venue to secure your date, and then reaching out to whatever vendors are your top priority. For example, you might really want to make sure you have a specific wedding coordinator, photographer, or florist! If there is something or someone you really want to make sure you have on your day, they should be the first vendors you reach out to, that way you don’t miss out on them!

To find your vendors in the Tahoe-Reno area, you can search on Google, Instagram, and wedding vendor platforms like The Knot and WeddingWire.

4. Get your marriage license

Regardless of which venue or vista you choose to get married at, you’ll need to know if it’s in California or Nevada. Both states have their own marriage license process and requirements. You’ll want to make sure you know what the requirements are for the state you’ll be getting married in and obtain a marriage license before your big day.

You can learn more about getting your marriage license in Lake Tahoe through the Visit Lake Tahoe website.

5. Know what permits you need

If you’re getting married at one of the vista points or state parks, you may need a permit to get married! Make sure you look into the requirements and fees you may need to pay in order to have your wedding ceremony. The last thing you’d want is for you and all of your guests to arrive and be unable to legally have your wedding.

Permit requirements can be found at California State Parks and Nevada State Parks by searching for the specific park you plan to celebrate in!

Get married in Lake Tahoe

Whether you choose to elope or have a wedding, you can’t go wrong celebrating with all of your loved ones in Lake Tahoe. From it’s convenient location and range of seasons to the luxury resorts and majestic overlooks, Tahoe caters to all event types including the simple and the elaborate. Once you’ve decided on your venue and season, you can then begin to find your dream vendor team and get your paperwork in order to say “I do!”