Everline Resort is one of the most scenic wedding venues in the Lake Tahoe region. If you love mountain views, this could be the perfect setting for your big day. I photographed this wedding on a warm summer day in June, one of the best times to get married in the Sierra Nevada mountains. Highlights from this wedding include a ceremony with spectacular mountain views, romantic sunset portraits of the bride and groom, and a fun-filled reception on a crowded dance floor.
Bride Getting Ready
Before the ceremony, most brides and grooms get ready in a couple of Everline Resort’s hotel rooms. On this day, however, the bride and her bridesmaids used one of the conference rooms for wedding hair and makeup. With 9 bridesmaids in the bridal party, this was a good decision. Everyone had plenty of space to chat, sip champagne, and be comfortable.
Although the ambient lighting in these rooms is minimal, I used some creative off-camera lighting techniques to highlight the bride’s preparations, and incorporate the mountains and trees into the scene. Once she was in her wedding dress, I captured a beautiful moment of the bride and her mom holding hands. This is the kind of special, heartwarming moment that I look for on a wedding day!
Afterwards, I photographed the bridal party outdoors with the mountains in the background. This is one of my favorite backdrops for wedding photos in the Tahoe area. Since I often photograph traditional portraits like these in the middle of the day, I use professional studio lighting to eliminate facial shadows and balance the exposure with the sunny surroundings.
Groom Getting Ready
Although I typically focus on the bride during pre-ceremony preparations, I always spend some time with the groom as well! Even though it doesn’t take as long for the guys to get ready, this is an important part of the day to document. I keep an eye out for key moments that capture the groom’s personality, and his important relationships with his groomsmen.
The First Look
Are you wondering if you should plan a first look on your wedding day? In case you’ve never heard of this before, a first look is when the couple sees one another before the wedding ceremony. If you are wondering how to calm your nerves on your wedding day, this is a great strategy. It also means you and your fiancé can enjoy a special moment together on your own.
When I photograph a first look, especially during the middle of the day, I generally recommend a shady location. One of my goals is that you won’t be squinting when you see each other. Open shade, as we call it, also means the lighting on your faces will be a more uniform exposure.
At this wedding, I also photographed a first look between the bride and her father. I knew he might get emotional, so I made sure I was in the perfect position when he saw his daughter in her wedding dress. It was an emotional and sweet moment that I was happy to capture for them with my camera!
Wedding Ceremony on the Golf Course
If you are planning a spring, summer, or fall wedding at Everline Resort, you should consider a ceremony on the golf course. The golf course ceremony location at Everline Resort is on the 10th Hole. This part of the golf course is very close to the hotel, which makes it a short walk for wedding guests of all ages and abilities.
Because I have photographed so many weddings at this venue, I have a careful strategy for every ceremony. Not only do I want to get the best angles with flattering lighting, I want to capture the special moments that make this one of the most important days of your lives.
As a photographer, I love this venue. Check out the scenery in the photos below and you will understand why!
Portraits of the Bride and Groom
Sunsets in Olympic Valley are one of the reasons I love photographing weddings at Everline Resort & Spa. Before every wedding at this venue, I research the sunset time and sun position late in the day. I also consider the time of year, the weather forecast, and your wedding day timeline. With so much experience at this venue, I always know in advance the best time for these portraits.
Although I invest a lot of effort and preparation before each wedding, authentic emotions and candid expressions are what make a great photo! So, I make sure that everyone I photograph feels relaxed and comfortable just being themselves. After all, these are the photos that you will want to decorate your home and bring back the memories of your wedding day.
Wedding Reception
These folks came to party! The laughter, smiles, and dance moves all made this an amazing celebration to photograph. This bride and groom chose “The Pavilion” for their wedding reception, where they hosted their guests under a huge white tent. Even though summertime weather forecasts in Lake Tahoe are pretty reliable, don’t forget that we are in the mountains. Since thunderstorms do happen in June, a tent is not a bad idea.
As you can tell from the photos, the wedding speeches were funny and entertaining. They recounted stories about the bride and groom and shared wishes for the newlyweds. During this part of the evening, I focus on the raw emotions and the genuine connections between the couple and their loved ones.
Chris Werner Photography
Are you getting married at Everline Resort and Spa? I would love to be your photographer! Swing by my contact page to send me a message and find out if I am available on your wedding day. To see more photos from this venue, head over to my Everline Resort Wedding Photography page. Or, check out my main portfolio.
