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Rainbow Lodge Wedding with Funk Band & Tacos

This Rainbow Lodge wedding in Truckee took place at one of the most historic venues in the Lake Tahoe region. Located near Donner Summit along the Truckee River, Rainbow Lodge sits on more than 100 acres of forested Sierra landscape.

The bride and groom live in Truckee year-round, so they know the area well and wanted a venue that felt connected to the mountains rather than a resort setting. Rainbow Lodge offers exactly that. It is a private property with historic character, riverfront scenery, and space for a relaxed outdoor celebration with friends and family.

Their wedding combined local touches, live music, and an outdoor reception under the stars. Since they wanted the full day captured, their wedding photography package included coverage of getting ready, the ceremony, and an amazing dance party on the lawn.

Bride and groom embrace outdoors in a sunlit forest at their Rainbow Lodge wedding, surrounded by greenery and natural beauty.
  • Chalkboard sign at a wedding asks guests to unplug and put phones away, surrounded by flowers and greenery.
  • A sign reading Rainbow Lodge hangs on a building, with Canadian and British flags below.
  • Triangle wooden wedding arch with floral and pampas grass decor, set outdoors by a pond and trees.

Getting Ready at Rainbow Lodge

When I arrived, I photographed the bride and groom separately. One of the advantages of a venue like Rainbow Lodge is that much of the day can happen in one place. The property includes historic buildings, forest paths, and open lawn areas, which allows the wedding to unfold naturally without a lot of moving parts.

The bride and her bridesmaids were downstairs in the bridal suite. Rainbow Lodge offers this area for getting ready before the wedding. The bridesmaids were close friends of the bride, and I immediately realized I needed to capture this strong sense of connection and sisterhood.

Two women smiling, the bride in a white top and pink skirt being embraced from behind by a bridesmaid in a beige dress, indoors.
Five bridesmaids and a bride stand in a close, supportive group hug in a cozy room with stone walls and warm lighting.

The groom was upstairs with his groomsmen. I photographed a few images of him putting on his jacket and boutonnière.

Groom in a gray suit standing indoors, buttoning his jacket near a window with natural light streaming in at Rainbow Lodge in Tahoe.

The groom is a DJ, so he had a boutonnière with a tiny disco ball on it!

A Lake Tahoe florist holds a floral boutonniere with greenery, white flowers, and a small silver disco ball.
A bride in a bohemian style white dress stands in a doorway, holding her gown, with a geometric wooden wall art beside her.
Two women in light dresses smile as they see a bride in a white gown, standing in a rustic room with stone walls.
  • A bride in a strapless lace dress looks down and smiles softly in dramatic black and white lighting.
  • A smiling bride in a white strapless dress holds a large bouquet in a green, wooded setting outside the Rainbow Lodge on Donner Summit.

Wedding Party Portraits and a First Look

After everyone put on the final touches, we went outside for some photos of the bridal party. Even at midday Rainbow Lodge has some great locations for group portraits. This kind of soft, diffused light with a lush forest background is perfect for these types of photos.

Four bridesmaids in light dresses, holding bouquets, smile outdoors with the bride, in front of green trees and a stone wall.

The bride and groom did their first look by the Truckee River. The rest of the wedding party joined us there for some larger group photos.

A bride in a white dress taps the shoulder of a groom in a gray suit by a rocky stream outdoors.
A bride and groom kiss in a forest clearing, surrounded by tall trees and large rocks.
A wedding party outdoors, all smiling and raising arms joyfully, with bridesmaids in light dresses and groomsmen in white shirts.

The Ceremony

The ceremony at this Rainbow Lodge wedding took place outdoors on the lawn, surrounded by tall trees and the sound of the nearby river.

One of the biggest advantages of Rainbow Lodge as a wedding venue is its privacy. Although the road is nearby, there are no beach crowds or passersby around.

A bride in a white dress walks down the aisle with her father, smiling, surrounded by seated guests outdoors at a Rainbow Lodge wedding.
Outdoor wedding ceremony at Rainbow Lodge on Donner Summit with guests seated on white chairs, facing a couple at the altar surrounded by trees and greenery.
A bride and groom stand facing each other at their Rainbow Lodge wedding, as an officiant reads from a book; bridesmaids smile in the background.
Four bridesmaids in light dresses hold bouquets and smile outdoors, surrounded by greenery and flowers.
A bride reads vows to her smiling groom outdoors, surrounded by trees and sunlight.

As a photographer, I love this kind of outdoor setting. The open layout makes it easy to document the ceremony naturally. I have plenty of space to move quietly and capture both the broader environment and the smaller emotional moments between the couple.

  • A bride in a lace dress reads vows to the groom outdoors on a sunny day, both smiling.
  • A bride and groom stand smiling outdoors with an officiant under a triangle arch decorated with flowers and greenery at a Rainbow Lodge wedding.
A bride and groom kiss at an outdoor wedding ceremony as bridesmaids in blush dresses smile nearby.
A bride and groom walk joyfully down the aisle at their Rainbow Lodge wedding in Lake Tahoe, guests clapping as they celebrate.
A bride and groom walk down an outdoor aisle, smiling as guests cheer and clap on a sunny day.
Smiling bride and groom stand together by an open door, holding hands, on their wedding day.

Reception, Food Truck Catering, and Dancing

After the ceremony, the celebration shifted into a relaxed outdoor reception. The bride and groom kicked it off with a first dance, surrounded by their friends.

A bride and groom dance outdoors, smiling at each other, with guests watching and celebrating in the background.
Smiling woman in sunglasses hugs another woman at an outdoor event with people in the background.

Instead of traditional catering, the couple hired Red Truck, a popular restaurant located at the Truckee Airport. Guests gathered around the truck, grabbing tacos and eating outside while catching up with friends.

The atmosphere was relaxed and social. Because the couple lives locally, many of their friends already knew each other. This gave the day the feeling of a community gathering rather than a formal event.

Three people holding plates of food near Red Truck's catering truck, with condiments and brightly colored dishes visible.
A group of people in semi-formal attire gather around a the Red Truck catering truck outdoors, surrounded by trees and rocks.

Food truck catering works especially well in outdoor mountain venues like this. It keeps the atmosphere casual and gives guests the freedom to move around rather than sit through a long formal dinner.

A person holds a paper plate with tacos topped with veggies and sauces in small cups on the side, an example of Red Truck's catering services.

Next came speeches. The father of the bride spoke first, followed by the best man and maid of honor.

A bride kneels and smiles at her dad during his speech, also holding hands with her groom at an outdoor wedding.
A bride in a white dress hugs her dad in a tie, both smiling and holding drinks outdoors.
A bride and groom celebrate with cheering guests at an outdoor wedding reception.
Maid of honor in a light dress speaks into a microphone at a Rainbow Lodge wedding reception in Soda Springs, with people watching from a balcony behind her.
A bride and her maid of honor warmly hug at an outdoor Rainbow Lodge wedding in Truckee, with smiling guests in the background.

Music was a major part of the evening. First, the groom played a DJ set. Their friend brought his band Funksalot, and the live funk set quickly filled the dance floor.

A DJ called Disco Terrorist raises both hands while performing outdoors, with people watching from a balcony above.
A woman laughs and dances with friends at an outdoor party surrounded by trees and people enjoying themselves.
Two women laugh and hug outdoors at a lively gathering, with other people socializing in the background.
A man in a white shirt and bow tie dances and sings joyfully at an outdoor party with other people around him.
A newlywed couple shares a kiss on an outdoor stage at night while guests watch and celebrate around them.

Later in the night, the groom surprised everyone by stepping behind the DJ booth and performing another DJ set. Between the band, the DJ music, and the outdoor dance floor, the reception turned into a lively party that continued well into the evening.

Two women dance energetically at a lively Rainbow Lodge wedding reception at night, surrounded by people and blurred colorful lights.

Some of my favorite photos from this wedding came from the dance floor and the surrounding outdoor spaces — especially the fire pit area, where guests gathered to take a break from dancing and enjoy the cool mountain night.

Two women smile and dance at an outdoor nighttime party, surrounded by other people also dancing and celebrating.
People in colorful dresses dance and smile together at an outdoor event in the evening, enjoying themselves.
Two musicians perform on stage, one playing saxophone and the other playing bass guitar under colorful lights.

Planning a Rainbow Lodge Wedding in Truckee

Rainbow Lodge is one of Truckee’s most unique wedding venues. With its historic buildings, private forested property, and riverside setting, it offers a very different experience from the larger resort venues around Lake Tahoe.

If you’re planning a Rainbow Lodge wedding here in Lake Tahoe, you can browse my wedding galleries to see how other Lake Tahoe celebrations come together in different settings.

When you’re ready, reach out through my contact page to check availability. I’m always happy to share practical planning insights from photographing weddings throughout the Lake Tahoe area.

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