Of foremost importance to the bride and groom when in the beginning stages of planning their wedding is the selection of the wedding venue, especially if contemplating a destination wedding in an unacquainted place. If looking for a private outdoor beach location and the anticipated place lands you in the vicinity of Northern California, there are two exclusive wedding sites in Lake Tahoe that may be the ideal spot you’re looking for.

The Arch at Lakeside Beach

The Arch at Lakeside Beach is a private spot that has always been a popular pick because of its brilliant setting, which is just a mere few steps away from the waterfront. You’ll enjoy a toes-in-the-sand affair at the water’s edge with the surrounding vividness of the magnificent Sierra Nevada Mountains looming in the background.

In conjunction with a wedding service provider that can provide basic ceremonial services such as a minister and photographer, the site comes complete with chairs for guests, an arbor, a PA system to play your chosen music for the walk down the aisle, and, of course, a stupendous backdrop.

In addition, a staff attendant to assist with any needs of your wedding party or guests is also part of the deal. There’s free parking too, and the easy access to the site is a result of its ideal location near the central portion of town in South Lake Tahoe.

Regan Beach

With similarities and distinctions to its rival The Arch at Lakeside, Regan Beach is another popular spot located along the southern portion of the lake. As opposed to the ceremony taking place on the sand, this venue offers a spacious grassy knoll under the lush Jeffrey Pine trees that line the park that’s adjacent to the sand and slightly elevated above the water. Like the Arch at Lakeside Beach, the panorama is exquisite.

A significant difference of the two venues, however, is that Regan Beach allows for tables to be erected for catered food or cake cutting and champagne toasting, if that is your inclination. Benefits of hosting the ceremony and the banquet at the same locale can amount to a pleasant savings.

Conclusion

Without hesitation, it can be said that these two venues are among the top selections when envisioning an outdoor ceremony near the water’s edge of Lake Tahoe. Making the choice between The Arch at Lakeside Beach and Regan Beach is simply a matter of which amenities are more preferential. In either case, these two exceptional wedding venues situated along the shoreline are certain to meet the elemental needs you require as well as emit desirable scenic beauty for a very distinctive juncture.

Orchard House

The oldest permanent settlement in the state of Nevada is the thinly populated township of Genoa. Located in the center of this very small community is the Orchard House. Constructed in the 1860’s, it is now a Bed and Breakfast Inn founded by Carl and Hope Falcke, an establishment that is also geared towards hosting outdoor weddings and events.

A Historical Synopsis of Genoa

The town of Genoa was originally named Mormon Station, but was renamed in 1855 by an elder of the Mormon Church, Orson Hyde. The name change came about after a trading post was constructed in 1851 that was built for the purpose of accommodating explorers during the territorial days, which eventually attracted permanent settlers to the area. Prior to that, the trappers and explorers would only briefly pass through.

Although the Orchard House was unaffected, much of Genoa was destroyed by fire in 1910. The fire was started by an inmate in the county “poor house”. Also surviving the fire and just a few blocks from the inn was Nevada’s oldest saloon, Genoa Bar, which was patronized by Mark Twain, Ted Roosevelt, and John Wayne to name just a few. The bar, also known as the “thirst parlor”, is still currently in operation.

The Orchard House to date has housed five generations of the Falcke family. Strategically set at the base of the eastern slope of the Sierras just a short distance from Lake Tahoe, the serene setting composed with outstanding views is perfect for large or small, formal or informal weddings.

Everline Resort and Spa

Palisades Tahoe (formerly Squaw Valley) is home to one of the largest ski areas in the United States and was host to the Winter Olympics in 1960. One of the biggest luxury hotels in Palisades Tahoe is the distinguished Everline Resort and Spa (formerly the Resort at Squaw Creek), an exceptional locale situated among the Sierra Nevada Mountains on the northwestern side of Lake Tahoe in California.

The resort is in close proximity to Donner Pass, the infamous spot where the Donnor Party was stranded in 1846 on their fateful journey west into California. Snowfall can exceed as much as 40 feet during the wintertime in this area.

The Everline Resort and Spa is an extravagant place that has several beautiful indoor and outdoor ceremony and reception locations. If you choose to have your wedding outdoors, you’ll find yourself engulfed with unmatched sights of the epic, mountainous terrain of Squaw Valley and striking ponderosa pines.

With an ambiance of serenity and appeal, the resort will deliver an experience that is genuinely peerless.

St. Mary in the Mountains Catholic Church

A Brief History of St. Mary

Originally built in 1860 during the Big Bonanza era in Virginia City, the church’s initial wooden creation collapsed. Its replacement met a similar destructive fate and was destroyed in 1875 by what is remembered as the Great Fire, which devastated much of Virginia City. Ensuing plans were soon underway to build a grander structure.

Embodied with an enriching past of Old West caliber, St. Mary in the Mountains is categorically an inviting venue for brides and grooms looking to have a unique and sanctified wedding.

Conclusion

With an assortment of wedding venues at one’s disposal throughout Northern Nevada and California, it’s a sure bet that the Orchard House, Everline Resort and Spa, and St. Mary in the Mountains will rank among the elite. The contrasting elements they possess in comparison combined with their diverse historical background will produce an ambiance solely unto itself, and choosing to marry at any one of these phenomenal wedding venues will conclusively produce a stirring day, one that will be long remembered and in an extraordinarily special way.

Brazilian Room

Built in the 1940’s, the Brazilian Room is a prevailing wedding site that hosts innumerable weddings each year. The edifice, built of rock and timber with an Old English architectural style façade, is located in the rolling hills of Tilden Park in Berkeley, California. Beautifully situated, this imposing place with its rustic charm, set amidst a light fragrant mixture of oak, pine, and eucalyptus trees, offers incomparable amenities that will impress the most captious critic.

Additionally, the momentous room features the original interior hardwood paneling obtained from the Brazilian Pavilion, which was designed by Gardner Dailey for the Golden Gate International Exposition in 1939 and given to the park as a gift. The exposition, held in San Francisco on California’s Treasure Island, was a World’s Fair that celebrated the city’s two newly-built bridges – the Oakland and San Francisco Bay Bridge.

The hall’s seating capacity varies dependent upon if a dance floor is included. While the room is quite spacious, a ceremony on the facility’s flagstone patio allows for a much greater capacity of guests. Provided are table rounds or rectangles, padded chairs, and Green Market Umbrellas for an outdoor ceremony.

Operated by the East Bay Regional Park District Rental Facilities Office, the Brazilian room is ideal for large, formal weddings.

The White House

With a mixture of architecture of both historic and modern, this refined wedding and reception venue is one of Redding’s best. The White House is located in Shasta County on Churn Creek Golf Course and is an exceptional place to celebrate any special event or occasion.

The setting of the home is brilliant and encompasses towering trees, colorful gardens, a Federal Revivalist style portico, scenic pathways, and dramatic night lighting that line the landscape. The facility is loaded with additional amenities that will positively make an impact upon the bride and groom, which includes a bridal suite with a master bath and Jacuzzi, a guest house for the groom and his party, tables and chairs providing seating for a high capacity of guests, a dance floor, and a functional kitchen.

An exceptional wedding venue that’s able to accommodate large parties and appropriate for formal or informal attire, the White House is an attainable option to host your special day.

Emerald Bay

Nestled at elevated heights in the Sierra Nevada Mountain Range overlooking Lake Tahoe is one of the most beautiful spots in the world. Located on the west side of the lake approximately 20 miles from the state line of Nevada, Emerald Bay is a renowned tourist attraction and is also a very prevalent destination wedding venue. If its simplicity you seek on your wedding day, the bluff over the bay is a great site that offers a setting that parallels the best available, yet eliminates much of the wedding planning process associated with many indoor facilities.

An Emerald Bay wedding is ideal for those desiring an uncomplicated, outdoor wedding in the center of nature. The surroundings are inspiring, emitting a tranquil and intimate ambiance.

Although Emerald Bay places limitations on the number of guests who can attend and is only available for ceremonies, it remains a perfect place to marry, most particularly when extensive planning is not desirable or financial confines reduce available options.

Venues Worth Exploring

With an array of outstanding wedding locations from which to choose, brides and grooms are certain to find the precise way of how and where they want to celebrate a very prominent day in their lives. The Brazilian Room, the White House, and Emerald Bay are only a few unique locations that Northern California has to offer, but with such exceptional attributes and enrichments each sustains, these opulent venues may perhaps have the merit you’re looking for.

However, for some brides and grooms, they want that extra edge for their event of a lifetime. If you are one of those couples who are looking for an elite wedding and reception venue that is noticeably above the rest, three of Tahoe’s best are The Ritz-Carlton, Valhalla Grand Hall, and Edgewood Tahoe Resort.

3 Top Quality Soiree Sites in Tahoe

The Ritz-Carlton Resort Hotel

Located on the north shore of Tahoe in the quaint town of Truckee, the Ritz-Carlton is a well known establishment and offers several wedding and reception venues within its facility. Providing multiple options for an indoor or outdoor celebration, you will find that this resort is rather an exclusive wedding venue that will meet your every need.

Ritzy Indoor and Outdoor Receptions

For indoor reception festivities the Ritz-Carlton Ballroom is an optimal choice. With floor-to-ceiling window features you’re sure to catch impressive views of the striking Sierra Nevada Mountain Range, particularly when stepping outside onto the adjacent walk-out terrace. Able to accommodate a significant number of guests, the Ritz-Carlton Ballroom is quite suitable for large, formal wedding receptions.

The Pines Ballroom is another classy indoor reception area provided by the resort. Very similar to the Ritz-Carlton Ballroom, this ballroom is ideal for smaller wedding parties.

The Valhalla Grand Hall

Located on the southwest shore of Lake Tahoe in Camp Richardson in close proximity to world-famous Emerald Bay, the historic Valhalla Grand Hall is a magnificent wedding and reception facility that can rival any first-class resort in Tahoe offering the same. Built in 1924, the Scandinavian-style construction with its rustic look is very imposing. The interior is equally impressive with finely crafted woodwork, French doors opening to a porch that wraps the building, hardwood floors, a balcony that overlooks the reception area, and an attractive stone fireplace.

Edgewood Tahoe Resort

Bordering California and Nevada on the southern edge of Lake Tahoe is renowned Edgewood Tahoe, most notable for its world-class golf course. Edgewood also doubles as a first rate wedding and reception facility that is unsurpassed in quality and service. This prestigious venue is lakefront and provides astounding panoramic views of the lake and majestic Sierra Nevada Range.

Similarly, the South Room contains comparable elegant decor as the North, offering tall window features, scenic views, and a walk-out veranda of its own. The main difference is that while the North Room is geared toward larger wedding parties, whereas the South Room has a smaller guest capacity.

When exploring for the perfect place to celebrate your wedding day and you discover the abundance of quality and highly desired amenities made available by each of these prominent resorts, it becomes apparent that the Ritz-Carlton, Valhalla Grand Hall, and the Edgewood Tahoe are deserving of attention. If you’re looking for excellence to beautify the celebration of your special event of a lifetime, these unparalleled and exclusive wedding reception venues are indisputably three of Tahoe’s best.

Additional Resources

Exclusive wedding locations in Lake Tahoe are abundantly available if you’re planning a wedding in Tahoe. For brides and grooms who are contemplating getting married along the shoreline of one of the largest and most gorgeous alpine lakes in the world, visit the beautiful beaches around Tahoe through our virtual tour.