I had the opportunity to photograph this Jewish wedding at Everline Resort & Spa on a warm summer day in August. More than anything, the bride and groom wanted professional, candid photos that could capture the celebration and all the special moments. Here is one of my favorite photos from the day, when we visited the Olympic Valley meadows for photos as the sun set behind Granite Chief peak.
Getting Ready Photos at Everline Resort & Spa
Like most couples getting married at Everline Resort & Spa, this bride and groom stayed in hotel rooms onsite the night before the wedding. On the wedding day, I met the bride in one of the conference rooms, where hair stylists and makeup artists worked their magic. As a photographer, this is one of my favorite parts of a wedding day to shoot. The air is filled with excitement and anticipation, which always makes for great photos.
To create the first photo below, I set up a remotely-triggered flash behind the bride. As the hair stylist sprayed her hair, my flash illuminated the drops of hairspray. Owing to many years as a wedding photographer, I can anticipate moments like this and capture them candidly, with an artistic twist.
In the photo above, I created a traditional bridal portrait by using some soft, flattering window light in the hotel room. Even though my style is very documentary-oriented and unposed, a photo like this is very easy for me to create when I see the right moment. Parents love to frame photos like this, and it also looks great when printed in a wedding album.
One of the highlights of pre-wedding preparations is the bride getting into her wedding dress. In the next photo, I composed the scene carefully to ensure all the bridesmaids’ expressions are visible. This is one of my favorite images from their wedding because it shows the joy and excitement the bridal party is feeling before the ceremony.
Next, the bride had a first look with her father. Since the hotel room didn’t have a great view, I composed this photo to include a framed landscape photo of Lake Tahoe that was hanging on the wall, which adds some visual interest and context to the scene.
I also visited the groom in his hotel room, where he was getting dressed and watching a golf tournament. Before leaving, I made a quick portrait of the groom in his suit and tie.
Ketubah Signing and Wedding Ceremony
Everline Resort & Spa is a great place for a Jewish wedding because it is a large venue with multiple locations for ceremonies and other special events. At this wedding, the bride and groom signed the ketubah in a room adjacent to the outdoor ceremony location, with the rabbi, immediate family members, and wedding party all present as witnesses.
After the ketubah signing, the wedding party headed outside for a traditional Jewish wedding ceremony under a chuppah. This larger ceremony, which all the wedding guests attended, was outdoors on a large patio overlooking the golf course and Olympic Valley. Everline Resort calls this ceremony site The Spa Deck.
I love all the raw emotions and candid expressions in these photos!
Just before the reception, the bride and groom wanted to take a short walk along the edge of the meadows in Olympic Valley. This is very close to the hotel, so we waited until the light was just right and spent 15-20 minutes taking photos as the sun set behind the mountains. In general, I prefer unposed portraits of the bride and groom. Sunset is one time during the day when I will share a couple tips and guide the couple to a great location. But the joy, the backdrop, and the emotions are all uniquely their own!
Wedding Reception at Everline Resort & Spa
The Pavilion is a large patio at Everline Resort & Spa that is a popular site for wedding receptions. It sits just below the Spa Deck, next to the pool area. Even though their wedding was during the summer, this couple chose a tented reception to make sure rain wouldn’t be a problem on their wedding day.
By the time you get to your reception, it’s all about the party! As a photographer who specializes in capturing candid emotions, I love photographing the reception. This is the part of the day when everyone lets loose and has a good time. I am always out on the dance floor, shooting the action all around me.
Chris Werner Photography
If you are planning a Jewish wedding at Everline Resort & Spa or anywhere else in Tahoe, I would love to work with you! You can see more photos from this venue on my Everline Resort Photography page. To find out if I am available for your wedding, go to my contact page and send me a message with your details. Or, check out more of my work on my main portfolio page.
