Lakeside weddings have been a growing trend over the past few years for several reasons, one of which is the sheer beauty a wedding on the shore brings to your joyous day. And lakeside weddings in Tahoe South are over-the-top beautiful. News flash: Lake Tahoe is the largest alpine lake in North America. Not only is it surrounded by the majestic Sierra Mountains and towering, fragrant pine and cedar trees, its crystal clear, blue-green-turquoise water is second to none. So, pick a venue with a private beach (see: Edgewood Tahoe, Beach Retreat & Lodge at Tahoe, Zephyr Cove Resort, The Landing), or a wooden pier, or a grassy lawn and start planning the lakeside wedding of your dreams. Since we host thousands of weddings in Tahoe South, we’ll give you a few of our favorite ideas to incorporate into your own lakeside wedding:
The Boathouse at Beach Retreat & Lodge at Tahoe is an idyllic setting for a cocktail hour or even a pre-wedding day dinner. Photo Credit: Beach Retreat & Lodge at Tahoe
A lakeside wedding with cocktail hour in a boathouse
Kick off your wedding festivities with a swanky cocktail hour in a boathouse on the lake. Work with your wedding coordinator to design a special drink menu and apps to offer guests. Beach Retreat & Lodge at Tahoe has just the setting to pull this off with The Boathouse, situated along Lake Tahoe’s south shore.
Pick a beautiful beach for your lakeside wedding ceremony
What would a lakeside wedding be without a little sand between your toes? The Lake Tahoe shoreline offers a one-of-a-kind mix of sandy beaches, ginormous boulders, and of course, the signature turquoise waters encircled by majestic mountains. Set up rows of traditional chairs for guests or come up with something truly unique that speaks to your relationship or plays on your wedding theme.
A lakeside wedding on a beach in Tahoe is classic. Photo Credit: Indigo Photography | Lake Tahoe Resort Hotel
Tahoe South has numerous beautiful beach options for a lakeside wedding ceremony and photo ops. Photo Credit: Photojournalist Monique Sady | The Landing Lake Tahoe Resort & Spa
Exchange vows on a dock or pier
While the beach is a no-brainer for a lakeside wedding, you could also avoid the sand and set foot on a dock or pier and say your “I Dos.” One of the unique aspects of a lakeside wedding is all the beautiful shoreline choices for your ceremony, so feel free to think outside the beach.
As an alternative to a beach ceremony, why not exchange vows on a pier or dock over the lake? Photo Credit: Melanie Underwood, Underwood Photography | The Ridge Tahoe
Say “I Do” aboard a giant boat
One of the more novel advantages to having a lakeside wedding is that you could actually get married on a boat. In Tahoe South, Lake Tahoe Cruises will whisk you and your guests off into the sunset aboard one of their sea-worthy vessels. If vintage is your vibe, check out the M.S. Dixie II paddle wheeler. If posh and intimate is your preference, they also have a luxurious yacht called Tahoe Paradise. Both boats are year-round options for a lakeside wedding in Tahoe South.
Bring your wedding party of up to 300 aboard the MS Dixie II paddle wheeler for a celebration like no other. Photo Credit: Theilen Photography | Lake Tahoe Cruises/Zephyr Cove Resorts
After your lakeside wedding, go jump in the lake
We’ve seen many wedding couples get wet and wild after the ceremony with a “lover’s leap” into the lake. The choice is yours whether to christen your formal attire or switch to more water-worthy apparel, but it’s a great photo op and can add some excitement and thrill to your day. (And we hear that jumping into Lake Tahoe can be very invigorating!)
A fun way to christen your new union is with a leap into the lake! Photo Credit: Theilen Photography | Edgewood Tahoe
Make your grand departure on a stand-up paddleboard
In Tahoe South, we do it up big. Okay, so it doesn’t have to be a SUP; it could be a canoe, kayak, jet-ski, powerboat, or pontoon, but what better way to exit your lakeside wedding than via watercraft? It makes for a fantastic photo, plus it’s super fun!
After your lakeside wedding, sail away with your sweetie on a SUP! Photo Credit: Jeff Dow | Tahoe South
Take all the sunset photos
Gauging by the millions of people who post sunset pics on Instagram, we know it’s a favorite photo subject. And we can confidently say that Lake Tahoe has some of the most breathtaking sunsets. So, why not time your wedding festivities to align with one-of-a-kind sunset photo ops? (Note: We could honestly post dozens of amazing sunset shots at lakeside weddings, but we’ve narrowed it down to just a few. But we think you’ll get the idea.)
Sunsets in Tahoe are spectacular! Photo Credit: Theilen Photography | Edgewood Tahoe
The bride and groom are beaming — and so is the sky! Photo Credit: Wedding Photojournalist Monique Sady | Edgewood Tahoe
A stunning bride, a stunning sunset. Shot captured along the shoreline at Tahoe Beach Retreat. Photo Credit: Bogdan Condor Photography
A whimsical sunset shot with Tahoe Paradise yacht docked in the distance. Photo Credit: Zephyr Cove Resort/Lake Tahoe Cruises
A wedding couple out for a stroll at sunset. Photo Credit: Theilen Photography | Zephyr Cove Resort
