Finding The Right Venue for your Tahoe Wedding
Planner One Fine Day Events | Venue Zephyr Lodge Northstar | Photographer Kay Kroshus | Florals Twine Floral Co
Securing your wedding venue is a major milestone in planning your wedding—it not only locks in your wedding date but also sets the stage for your entire celebration. To ensure a seamless planning process and a wedding day that exceeds your expectations, it's crucial to start your venue search as early as possible.
Venue Dancing Pines / Planner Sisters Event Studio / Photography Sarah Woods Photography / Florals Haven Florals / Dress Swoon Bridal
Before You Begin
Hire a Wedding Planner
Bringing a planner onboard before you venue shop will save you time, stress, and money. They can provide invaluable guidance in navigating your options and finding the perfect fit for your vision and budget. They will know all the quirks and intricacies of working with each venue and know all the right questions to ask. Most importantly, they will be with you on the wedding day itself. While some venues will have a coordinator on-site during your event, they are responsible for the venue while your planner will help with everything else (greeting vendors and guests, guiding setup of rentals, florals, and decor, sticking to the timeline, etc.).
Planner& Venue One Fine Day Events | Photography Cory Fox | Video Chair 7 Films
Set a Budget
Determine a realistic venue budget, keeping in mind that a “site fee” often encompasses more than just the rental fee. Factor in potential costs for catering, rentals, and other services. Be sure to account for tax and gratuity if your venue provides food and beverage. You can ask for an “all-in” estimate based on your guest count to get a sense of what the final bill will be.
Photography Adorn Life Photography | Coordinator Tahoe by Design | Venue Gar Woods
Date vs. Location
Decide whether your wedding date or location holds greater importance. Prioritizing a specific date may limit your venue choices because of availability, while flexibility with the date opens up more possibilities for your desired location, size, and amenities.
Planner One Fine Day Events / Photographer Itla Photography / Venue The Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe / Florals B&B Designs / Floral Ring and Draping Red Carpet Events and Design /Linens BBJ travola / Band Idea Team / Photo Booth Epic Photo Booth / Cake Paris Custom Cakes
Vibes
Envision the overall atmosphere and aesthetic you want to create for your wedding. This will help you narrow down venues that align with your desired style, whether it's rustic, elegant, modern, or something else entirely.
Venue Shopping Checklist
When evaluating potential venues, keep these essential factors in mind:
Planner Tahoe Unveiled | Photographer Jeremie Lu | Venue Garwoods
Size and Capacity
Ensure the venue can comfortably accommodate your estimated guest list, allowing ample space for dining, dancing, and mingling. Ask your planner for guidance on creating a floor plan for each venue that doesn’t feel too cramped or too spacious.
Photography Adorn Life Photography | Coordinator Tahoe by Design | Venue Gar Woods
Amenities
Inquire about available amenities, such as furniture rentals, restrooms, catering options, and lodging. Remember that any included rentals may be basic or plain, and you might need to budget for additional rentals to achieve your desired look. When considering an outdoor celebration like private estate or beach, you will likely need to include the cost of portable restrooms, tables & chairs, dinnerware, an outdoor kitchen, and lighting & sound equipment in your rentals budget. Finally, if your chosen venue is a resort or hotel, it will likely have ample parking for your guests and vendors. If not, you’ll need to budget for shuttles to and from your ceremony and reception.
Venue Dancing Pines / Planner Sisters Event Studio / Photography Sarah Woods Photography / Florals Haven Florals / Dress Swoon Bridal
Natural Beauty and Surroundings
If scenic views and outdoor spaces are important to you, assess the venue's natural features and surrounding environment. Lake Tahoe provides natural beauty in spades, but consider whether you’d prefer a mountain view, lake view, a meadow, or a stunning indoor space with lots of windows.
Photo Kari Henrichsen / Planning One Fine Day Events / Venue The Hyatt Lake Tahoe / Beauty Love is the hair / Gown Eva Lendel / Florals Twine Floral Co / Getaway Boat Wild Goose II
Privacy
Consider whether the venue offers exclusivity and privacy for your event. While a hotel may meet all your amenities requirements, your wedding may not be the only one happening on your big day, and the general public may be milling about nearby. If complete privacy is important to you, then your venue might require a few more logistical considerations.
Venue Edgewood Tahoe Resort / Planner Forget Me Knot Events & Design / Photographer Mandy Ford / Videographer Dax Victorino Films / Florals Twine Floral Co
Bridal Suite and Getting Ready Spaces
Consider your wedding day timeline. If you want to hop out of the makeup chair and right down the aisle, you’ll want to get ready on-site. But be sure the getting-ready space is large enough for your bridal party and your beauty vendors to fit comfortably. If you think seeing the chaos of setup and vendor arrivals will stress you out, consider getting ready elsewhere and building in some travel time before the ceremony. Either way, check to see if there is a private space or staging area on site for just the two of you- to wait before the ceremony begins, to stash your things or a place to sneak away to during the reception for a moment alone.
Venue Granlibakken / Planner Stephanie Marie & Co. / Photographer Holly Shankland / Florals Holly Fleur
Logistics
Understand the practical aspects like noise restrictions, rentals and vendor load-in and setup times, parking availability, and any vendor restrictions.
Planner One Fine Day Events | Venue Zephyr Lodge Northstar | Photographer Kay Kroshus | Florals Twine Floral Co
Accessibility
Ensure the venue is accessible to guests with disabilities or mobility limitations, allowing everyone to fully participate and enjoy the festivities.
Venue Dancing Pines / Planner Sisters Event Studio / Photography Sarah Woods Photography / Florals Haven Florals / Dress Swoon Bridal
Weather Backup Options
If any part of your wedding day will be outdoors, inquire about backup options in case of inclement weather.
Planner One Fine Day Events / Photographer Itla Photography / Venue The Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe / Florals B&B Designs / Floral Ring and Draping Red Carpet Events and Design /Linens BBJ travola / Band Idea Team / Photo Booth Epic Photo Booth / Cake Paris Custom Cakes
Restrictions and Considerations
Venue Rules and Policies
Familiarize yourself with any restrictions regarding capacity, noise levels, cut-off times, and vendor choices. Be prepared to adhere to these rules or consider alternative venues if they don't align with your vision.
Photographer Scott Sikora Photography / Videographer Davey Hibler / Venue Edgewood Tahoe / Planning Marcella Camille Events
Flexibility and Compromise
While some venues may offer flexibility, remember that pushing boundaries too far could compromise the quality of service or overall experience. It's essential to find a balance that respects the venue's policies while fulfilling your wedding day desires. (This is a good principle to remember when booking your other wedding vendors, too!)
Photographer Angie Walsh | Venue Vahalla
Setting Up Viewings and Asking the Right Questions
Seasonal Considerations
Schedule venue tours during the same season as your planned wedding date to get a realistic sense of the atmosphere and surroundings. If that isn’t possible, bring your planner along to show you photos and floor plans to help you visualize how the space will look.
Photographer VILD Photography
Tour Duration
Allocate approximately 30-60 minutes for each venue tour, allowing ample time to explore the space, ask questions, and envision your wedding day.
Photography Elsa Boscarello / Venue North Tahoe Event Center /Music Hip Service (full band)
Limit Attendees
To avoid distractions, keep your venue tour group small and focused. A good list would include the couple (of course!), your planner, and one or two supportive friends or family members.
Venue and catering Palisades | Photographer Holly Shankland
Future Changes
Inquire about any planned renovations or changes to the facilities or landscaping that may affect the venue's appearance or functionality before your wedding date.
Venue Boca Estate OFD | Vild Photography
By following this guide, you'll be well-equipped to navigate the venue selection process and find the ideal setting to bring your dream Lake Tahoe wedding to life. The perfect venue will balance your budget and logistical needs while capturing the essence of your vision and creating an unforgettable atmosphere for your wedding day.
