Frequently Asked Questions

Our Services

What services do you provide?

The services we provide involve most of those that pertain to the wedding ceremony, including minister services, photography and videography services, transportation, permit acquisition for select venues, and other related essentials.

Can you coordinate our reception?

We don’t assist in the planning of receptions, but we can provide you with leads. Visit our wedding planning resources page for a list of reception facilities found in the vicinity of the South Lake Tahoe area.

Can you send me details about your wedding packages and prices along with any information regarding the wedding locations you have available?

Our website contains detailed information about what each of our wedding packages contain in addition to pricing information. Our site also provides precise descriptions of the various wedding locations we have available. Optionally, you can fill out our information request form or call us directly for more information.

Booking Your Wedding

How do I go about booking my wedding and what information do you need?

Booking your wedding with us is fairly simple and can be done over the phone or online. All you’ll need to provide at the time of booking is some personal information such as your name, your future spouse’s name, phone contacts, and so forth. Also, you’ll provide us with the details of your event, including the date you’ve selected to be married on, the wedding package preferred, choice of location, and the like. To book your event online, use our information request form.

How far in advance do I need to book my wedding?

There is no steadfast rule on how far in advance you should book your wedding, mainly because it can vary depending on the location you’ve chosen and the time of year you want to get married. For our more popular locations in the summertime, it is recommended to book at least six months in advance to have greater assurance that you will acquire your specific date and time, most particularly if you plan to get married on a weekend. During the off-season, it is possible to make arrangements with a day’s notice for certain locations.

We just decided to get married this coming weekend and was wondering if you can schedule a last minute wedding?

Yes, we can arrange for any wedding services you need on the spur of the moment, regardless of the time of year, provided the necessary resources are available.

I’m interested in booking a specific venue, and although it states a maximum number of people allowed to attend, can I exceed that number if I pay additional fees?

Unfortunately, whenever it’s indicated that there is a maximum number of people allowed at a specific venue, that number cannot be exceeded, even if willing to pay a higher price. This is generally due to our permit restrictions or regulations of the managing organization that oversees the site.

Why can’t I book a larger group at certain ceremony sites where guest attendance is limited?

Certain managerial agencies provide guidelines for particular ceremony sites that they govern, and these guidelines often include limitations on the number of people that may attend the event at a given location. A primary reason for these limitations is because these specific sites are largely open to the general public and typically not feasible for larger parties. Those who conduct weddings at these particular locations must observe the rules set forth by these land managing organizations. Fortunately, limits on group size apply only to a few specific venues that we offer.

What is the deposit amount if I want to book my wedding with you?

If you’ve chosen one of our simpler packages, a deposit as low as $250 may be all that is necessary to reserve a date, but with our more elaborate packages a larger deposit will be required.

Marriage License

What are the requirements for getting a California marriage license?

The requirements for a California marriage license entail that both the bride and groom be at least 18 years of age and be able to present a valid pictured ID such as a driver’s license, state issued identification card, military ID, or a passport. Additionally, if a divorce has taken place within 90 days of procuring the license, you may also have to present your final divorce decree.

If I live in another state, will I need a marriage license from that state?

No, the marriage license needs to be issued by the state you are going to be married in.

How do I obtain a marriage license?

You can obtain a California marriage license from any county clerk’s office that’s situated within California. If you’ve chosen a Nevada ceremony venue, a county clerk in Nevada will have to issue the license.

What is the difference between a “public” marriage license and a “confidential” marriage license?

While both types of licenses are legal documents, there are some significant differences between a public and confidential marriage license, and this article explains what those differences are.

Can you issue us either a public or confidential marriage license?

We unfortunately cannot issue either type of license.

What if I already have my marriage license?

You may use the California or Nevada marriage license you’ve purchased from the county clerk as long as it has not expired, which is 90 days from the date of issuance for a California marriage license and one year for Nevada.

When will we receive the marriage license once we are officially married?

After the ceremony, you can obtain a copy of your marriage license by requesting it from the minister. However, the actual license will be submitted back to the county recorder-clerk’s office that originally issued the license. This is the minister’s obligation. If you would like to receive an official copy of the license after it has been recorded, it will be necessary for you to request it directly from the appropriate county recorder-clerk. You will have to complete the specific form that they require and submit to them the related fee.

Is it necessary for me to obtain a blood test before I’m issued a marriage license?

It is not required to have a blood test in order to get married in California or Nevada.

The Wedding Day

I’ve never been married before and I’m not sure what to do once I arrive to the ceremony venue, so will someone be there to help me?

The ministers we collaborate with have decades of experience in conducting weddings of all types and they always arrive early at the ceremony site to instruct you and your wedding party on how to proceed. You can also have a phone consultation with the minister or one of our staff members prior to your event date.

What do I need to bring to the wedding site on my wedding day?

The bride and groom must bring their marriage license and current pictured ID to the ceremony venue. Acceptable identification, for example, is a state issued driver’s license or passport.

How long does the ceremony last?

Plan on the entire event lasting about 45 minutes. It depends on a few different factors, but generally the ceremony itself lasts about 15 minutes and the photography afterwards usually takes up to 30 minutes or so.

Bad Weather Conditions

What happens if bad weather occurs on my wedding day?

There are local chapels that can provide an indoor alternative during times of inclement weather, if they have availability. However, depending on how severe the weather conditions are and if the wedding venue remains accessible, if the bride and groom still desire to have an outdoor wedding, we’ll proceed as planned. It’s your special day, so you call the shots.

Do I have to pay additional costs if my wedding has to be moved indoors due to inclement weather conditions?

Yes, and depending on which chapel is available, cost for the indoor venue will vary. Typically, costs may range from $150 to $250.

Where are the potential chapels located that may be used during bad weather?

The prospective chapels we sometimes use when the weather won’t allow us to perform the wedding outdoors are all situated in the general vicinity of the main part of town.

Deposits

How much is the deposit to reserve my wedding date?

For our simplest wedding packages, a minimum deposit as low as $250 may be all that’s required to reserve a date. However, a more involved package will have a higher deposit.

When is the remaining balance of our selected wedding package due?

Generally, we like to have the balance paid at least 90 days prior to the date of the event.

Cancellations and Refunds

Is my deposit refundable if I cancel my wedding plans?

With the exception of the allocated nonrefundable administrative fee, we do grant refunds of deposits that you have paid if we are notified of the cancellation at least 90 days prior to the event. However, if you’ve chosen a wedding location that necessitates a permit for its use or a facility that requires an advanced payment in order to secure it for a specific date and we used the deposit, or portions thereof, to purchase the permit or secure the facility on your behalf, deposits generally will not be refundable as there are other refund policies that we must contend with beyond ours, namely that of the permit provider or the secured facility. Review our terms and conditions for more details as other prevailing factors may affect refunds.

Photography and Photos

Can I bring my own photographer?

Yes, you can have your own photographer at the wedding site. In fact, you can customize a package to your liking, with or without our photographer.

Does the photographer that’s included with the package we selected photograph the ceremony only?

Our photographers will shoot the entire event, which may include candid pre-ceremony shots of the bridal party and guests upon their arrival to the ceremony site, highlights of the actual ceremony, various combinations of formal shots of the bride and groom with the wedding party and guests after the ceremony, and intimate shots of just the bride and groom.

When will I receive my wedding photos?

Your wedding photos will typically be available within two weeks after your wedding date, although it could be slightly longer if your wedding takes place during the peak of the summer wedding season.

How will I be able to get my wedding photos if I live out of town?

Your wedding photos are usually emailed in a digital format. They can also be mailed via USPS to an address you provide us with, if requested. Other various photo delivery options may also be available and can be coordinated through your photographer.

Are my wedding photos going to be prints?

You will not receive prints, but you will receive all of your wedding photos in some manner of digital transfer or other deliverable formats that the photographer offers, any of which will allow you to create prints yourself.

How many pictures will I receive?

Much of the time, the amount of photos you’ll receive depends on the size of your wedding party and the amount of guests attending your wedding. As a general rule, we guarantee a minimum of 50 unique photographs, but often brides and grooms receive up to 75 or more photos with larger parties.

Will we receive all of the photos taken during my wedding or will I have to pay an additional fee?

You will receive all of the photographs taken of the day without having to pay anything extra, less those that are eliminated during the editing process.

Does the photographer place copyrights on the photos he’s taken or can I make additional prints without having to pay for the copyrights?

We never place copyrights on our work, so you can reprint any of the photos that we provide to you without having to pay any additional costs.