I was super excited about this wedding! For one thing, it had been a few years since I photographed a wedding at Olympic Valley Stables. Second, I worked with this couple during their engagement photos at Speedboat Beach. It was pretty cold that day. But they had lots of positive energy and it was a great time. I knew that no matter what happened on their wedding, it was going to be an awesome day!
As it turned out their wedding fell on a rainy, cloudy day. If you know summers in Lake Tahoe, then you know how rare this is! Even with some logistical challenges (the rain forced them to relocate their ceremony into the reception tent), this couple rose to the occasion and made it a fun, joy-filled celebration.
Olympic Valley Stables is one of the most historic places in this magical valley. This outdoor venue is in a unique and rustic setting with amazing mountain views.
In the photo below, you can see the reception tent in the meadow below Tram Face and the Palisades Tahoe Aerial Tram.
Getting Ready
When I arrived I met the bride at a vacation rental in Olympic Valley, a short drive from the venue. As soon as the hair and makeup team finished up, the bride got into her dress.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the valley, my second photographer captured some great photos of the groom getting ready with the guys.
First Look in The Meadow
The bride and groom dreamed of having a first look in the meadow, with stunning mountain views all around them. As with most first look meetings, I recommended a good location and helped coordinate the timing. In this case, I drove the bride to this spot and the groom met us there.
Before long, the raindrops were beginning to fall. The bride grabbed an umbrella and we headed to the Olympic Valley Stables.
Ketubah Signing Ceremony
By now, the rain had settled into a steady, sheeting downpour. Fortunately, the ketubah signing location was in the barn, which offered some shelter from the storm. On the way, the rabbi covered the bride’s head with her ceremony binder to help keep her hair dry.
Since I knew that it might rain,I was prepared. I brought a rain jacket for myself and a rain cover for my camera equipment. This allowed me to move around the venue and capture the action without worrying about my gear getting wet.
As wedding guests arrived, staff directed them to a small tent to enjoy cocktails. Meanwhile, family members and close friends gathered together to witness the couple signing the ketubah, the Jewish marriage contract.
After signing the ketubah, a few family members offered heartfelt well-wishes to the couple.
Since the rain wasn’t letting up, the couple decided to move their ceremony indoors. The dance floor offered plenty of space, so the rabbi helped everyone get ready.
The bride and groom are avid skiers, so they incorporated a ski pole into their chuppah!
Ceremony
Even though the weather was not what they hoped for, the bride and groom were excited to get married. The stoke level was high!
As a photographer with a documentary style, I keep my camera up no matter what is happening on a wedding day. This allows me to capture the real story of the day, as it unfolds.
The bride and groom’s parents greeted them and joined them at the chuppah for the duration of the Jewish wedding ceremony.
As they emerged from the tent, the downpour eased into a gentle drizzle. They took a moment to enjoy the views, happy to finally be married!
Reception
With the ceremony logistics behind them and the rain finally letting up, it was time to celebrate! The reception began with champagne toasts by parents on both sides.
Hilarious anecdotes about the happy couple were sprinkled throughout the speeches.
Afterwards, the couple took a moment to thank their wedding guests for traveling great distances to attend the wedding. Several wedding guests came all the way from Israel!
Next, the couple took their positions in the dance floor to perform a surprise, choreographed performance.
Dance Party
The couple hired a group called The Freshmakers to perform at their wedding reception. This band specializes in the greatest hits from the 90’s and 2000’s. Their setlist was full of songs that are etched in everyone’s memories. From the very first song, everyone was belting out the lyrics together.
But first, the hora!
The singers of the band shared the microphone with anyone who knew the lyrics.
As twilight began and the cloudy sky turned blue, the bride and groom joined me outside for a few final portraits.
Wedding Photography
Are you planning a wedding at Olympic Valley Stables? I would love to be your photographer! Jump over to my contact page to check my availability, or see more of my work on my wedding portfolio page.
To see more photos from this area, click over to my Olympic Valley weddings page.
