Weddings in Lake Tahoe

The mountains. The lake. The abundant sunshine. All these things make Lake Tahoe and its surrounding areas the ideal location for a romantic wedding.

Guidelines for Marrying in Lake Tahoe

As with a wedding anywhere, you’ll need to abide by the specific rules of obtaining a marriage license in this particular locale, either Nevada or California, depending on which side of the lake you choose.

Getting a marriage license in Nevada is quite easy and requires only a driver’s license. If you don’t have one, another form of ID – including a passport, a birth certificate, or a military ID – will suffice. Both individuals need to be present to obtain the license. There are no blood tests and no waiting periods. No divorce papers are needed, if applicable. The cost is around $50-$60 but varies from county to county. Go to a county clerk’s office to pick up the license.  

In California, you can apply online for your marriage license but will still need to go to the clerk’s office to pick it up. As in Nevada, a photo ID is required and both parties must be present when applying. If divorced within the last 90 days, a divorce decree must be presented but all those who are divorced need to know the date their divorce was final. The license remains valid for only 90 days.

   

 

  

Venues

Many of the resorts in Tahoe offer flexible function space that is ideal for wedding ceremonies and receptions. Some of those locations might be outside overlooking the lake with the beautiful Sierra Mountains in the background. Most of the large hotels and resorts have dedicated wedding coordinators on site that can help couples organize all the details of their wedding, from the rehearsal dinner to the post-wedding breakfast and everything in between.

Other venues are much more intimate and may include the backyard of a lovely B&B or country inn. Again, most of those types of establishments have experience hosting weddings and have gazebos or other cozy venues available for small affairs, both indoors and outdoors. So, you can get married in the living room by the fireplace or out by the lake under a rose-trimmed arbor.

Don’t forget, of course, the most natural outdoor venues, which include the many beaches of Lake Tahoe and secluded spots within the Sierra Mountain range. Check out the rules about being married at one of the lovely state parks or on federal lands, like the Tahoe National Forest.

Lake Tahoe also has wedding chapels, but they’re not the glitzy, over-the-top, themed chapels that you’d find in a place like Las Vegas. Instead, they capitalize on the natural beauty of the area and often include large picture windows that provide views of the mountains or lake, an ideal backdrop for any wedding. Check out:

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