Just a year before, Tyler reached out to me to capture his surprise proposal– he had planned an evening out to one of Skylar’s favorite neighborhoods in Dallas (which is also one of my favorite neighborhoods, the Bishop Arts District). I was casually sitting across the street with my camera (and when I say casually, I might have been shaking with excitement for them and whipping my head in every direction towards passing couples), but I was keeping an eye out for them to arrive at the spot we had planned ahead of time.
They reached out to me again a couple months later to share their idea of an intimate elopement in Lake Tahoe with their immediate families. They wanted to spend their wedding day experiencing a new place, and fell in love with the gorgeous turquoise waters and mountain views of Lake Tahoe.
Their Tahoe Elopement Timeline
- Morning hike to Monkey Rock
- Private vows overlooking the lake
- Lunch with family
- Getting ready separately
- First Look at their hotel
- Afternoon ceremony at Sand Harbor
- Toast + dessert with family
- Sunset portraits
- Campfire + s’mores
- Late dinner reservation
Private Vows on the Hike
Tyler + Skylar decided to exchange vows in a private and adventurous setting: at the peak of their hike to Monkey Rock. We started the hike in the morning to avoid the busy afternoon crowds along the way, and only crossed paths with a couple other hikers. The trail overlooked Lake Tahoe, with a direct view of Sand Harbor, where they would later have their official ceremony with their families as witnesses. For the first half of the day, they opted for something a little bit more intimate and personal to them. Both loved the idea of keeping their most emotional promises to each other between themselves, so when we reached the top, they explored for the exact right place to commit their lives to each other.
Getting Ready + First Look
Though Tyler had promised Skylar that he wasn’t going to cry when he saw his now wife in her bridal dress, he couldn’t help but tear up again. When he turned around, they both were smiling ear to ear and ready to share the rest of their evening with loved ones.
Intimate Wedding Ceremony at Sand Harbor
While the group gathered among the sandy beach, both families were overcome with joy to see the union of Ty + Sky. They opted for simple elegance in their ceremony setup, really hoping to showcase the unbelievable scenery that surrounded us. After the “I do,” they gathered around a family-style table with white + green florals and gold accents set up by The Hytch. Each person at the table toasted the newlyweds with champagne and beautiful words to express their excitement over their new adventure and marriage. Following the best life motto, everyone enjoyed their dessert before dinner!
We adventured around the beach for couples portraits, and even scrambled some of the iconic Lake Tahoe boulders barefoot (which was especially impressive that Skylar did it flawlessly in her dress!)
Wrapping Up the Evening
As it started to cool off into a crisp spring evening, we wrapped up photos to head back to their hotel and warm up around a campfire before they left for dinner. With one more dessert before dinner, the two toasted marshmallows and made s’mores. Their photo coverage wrapped up and I let them enjoy the rest of their evening and dinner reservation with their loved ones. Congratulations Tyler + Skylar, I had so much fun celebrating you two and your love!
Tips for Your Own Lake Tahoe Elopement
- Tahoe is very busy in the summer months. To have more privacy for your elopement, planning your day in the shoulder season (late spring or early fall) makes it a little easier to travel around the lake with less traffic.
- There are so many adventurous activities in the area that you can include in your elopement day– consider paddle boarding, a boat tour, biking/hiking, or exploring the incredibly clear waters with clear-bottom kayaks.
- The north side of the lake is better known as the “chill side,” while South Lake Tahoe is busier, with bustling casinos, restaurants, and parks. Both are beautiful and so much fun, but it is just a different experience between the two!
- Be prepared for jaw-dropping views at every turn! This area is absolutely stunning, making it such a beautiful place to elope.
- If you’re looking for more information on Lake Tahoe elopement packages, I offer all-inclusive packages that include elopement photography, planning assistance, location scouting, and local vendor recommendations– just contact me here. I can’t wait to hear about your ideas!
