Being a photographer based in the Bay Area means that I have the good fortune to shoot in a variety of photogenic settings that are still close to home. But I’m always especially excited when a couple’s celebration gives me an excuse to get out of my standard radius and see somewhere new. So Anne & Dan’s summer wedding by Lake Tahoe provided an extremely welcome road trip and dose of fresh air.

Anne & Dan are based in the East Bay but also love the outdoors. As Anne explained, “he loves the mountains and I love the lakes.” And so it seems like they couldn’t have picked a better compromise than the Truckee area, which was given further significance by the fact that Anne grew up visiting Tahoe Donner on vacations. The perfect getaway; the perfect place to look ahead.

Nestled beneath the impressive trees, Anne & Dan celebrated their union with a wonderfully large party and a lot of special little moments. They exchanged gifts before the ceremony that, whenever used, will I’m sure bring them back to this day. During the ceremony, they combined sand from Sacramento and Tahoe to represent the merging of their shared histories as they move forward together as a couple. And in a perfect nod to summertime camping tradition, guests were given favors of individually wrapped s’more kits, which many broke out on the spot to use at the fire pits right beside the dance floor. All in all, it was a joy to capture a beautiful day in the woods and under the stars with these two beautiful people.

Wedding Venue: The Lodge at Tahoe Donner / Wedding Coordinator: Lea Stafford Events / Florist: Love and Lupines Floral Design / Live Musician & DJ: Music in Tahoe / Second Photographer: Noah Christman