Kelsey and Ryan are high school sweethearts and senior prom dates(!) who survived a long distance relationship through college. After getting engaged, they had a difficult time finding a wedding location and kept taking weekend trips to Lake Tahoe instead of looking for venues. Then it dawned on them… why not get married in Tahoe?!
This fun loving couple enjoys camping, hiking, skiing, mountain biking, and rock climbing and fell in love with Squaw Valley through season ski passes. Once they saw High Camp, there was no question this was the venue of their dreams. Describing their design vision as “simple and classy,” Kelsey and Ryan wisely kept the focus on the mountain and valley’s natural beauty. It really doesn’t get much better than the expansive views from High Camp, especially with Lake Tahoe framed perfectly within the striking hexagonal ceremony arch.
Before the wedding, photographer Mark Tuzman took the couple and wedding party down to the Squaw Valley meadow for a romantic first look and gorgeous group photos against the backdrop of Fall colors on display. Kelsey and her bridal party looked stunning with elegant, understated hair and makeup by Salon Bella Vita.
Kelsey and Ryan chose a late September wedding date, one of our favorite times to get married in Tahoe due to less crowds and mild weather. At Squaw, September is also Oktoberfest season and many wedding guests had a blast the next morning competing in the Keg Roll, Bratwurst Toss, and Stein Holding competitions (which Kelsey’s dad, Gene, won against a group of twenty-somethings!). Other guests went for hikes nearby or tested their highline skills on Squaw Valley’s ropes course.
With a cohesive vision and an emphasis on fun, Kelsey and Ryan nailed it on creating the classic Tahoe wedding experience for their guests and have some of the most picturesque mountaintop wedding photos we’ve ever seen. We know they’ll be returning to Squaw Valley to make even more family memories for years to come.
