Lake Tahoe Weddings

This was just one of those weddings. I got a call from Sara about two weeks before the day they planned to marry. We talked extensively about their individual stories and their together stories and the meaning and love surrounding this day. They wanted beautiful photographs captured of their union and wow, what a day it was! Let me be clear, I am a photographer, not a writer. Sara, on the other had- words seem to flow for her, so I’ll keep this brief and let the images do the story telling. What started as a courthouse wedding in Placerville…

These two… There’s so much love and excitement in the air around Megan and Ryan and the sweet love they share makes me smile. They found it- they found each other. I look forward to photographing their wedding this October at The Davies Family Inn at ShadowRidge Ranch. Over the last 15 years, I’ve enjoyed capturing many of the O’Rilley milestones including family photos,  a wedding, and even all their graduation photos. Megan is the final O’Rilley to be getting married and it’s going to be a big celebration and the dance floor will be going late into the evening.…

Cara and Justin were engaged for over three years having met on Match.com.  With family ties to Lake Tahoe, they wanted to be married on the shore of the lake and chose Lakeside Beach in South Lake. Their reception was just up the road at South of North Brewing Company/Basecamp Hotel which was the first time I had been there. It was a cool venue that was sectioned off for the wedding and the bride and groom seating was right in front of a vintage Airstream. I loved that this brewery was just off the beaten path of a very…

High on a hill, with rows of vines shimmering in diffused light and gently sloping southeast, Elena and Josh exchanged vows at the home of Elena’s parents, Tim and Karen Jolly, owners of a beautiful vineyard and farm, WindRush. Out in the mid-day sun of a vineyard, this exposed location could have sent us photographers seeking shade to find the most flattering light, but not today. The clouds softened the light before it hit the ground all day long while we hit the ground running to capture their wedding day. Avoiding a forecasted rain, there was just a slight hint…

  A gorgeous day, drenched in sunlight and palpable joy, with blue skies overhead and snow on the mountains – it was a perfect Tahoe day to celebrate the marriage of Matt and Madison! M & M first contacted me in January 2020 about their April 2021 wedding…and I bet you can guess how that went. 2020 turned into 2021 that turned into 2022. They both wanted a celebration surrounded by their closest friends and family…and a big ol’ dance party. They would have to wait. During this time they were living in Reno where they had first met at…

Briana and Danny came ready to party! Taking over an entire mountain-top resort in the incredible Bear Valley, California, this fun-loving couple, their friends and family, started the celebrations the night before we arrived but that didn’t stop the festivities on their big day. The whole day was nothing short of joyful with many unique and personal moments, starting with a unique and heartwarming first-look for Briana, not with Danny, but with her grandparents. It was hard not to have tears in your eyes as they saw Briana in her dress for the first time, or when they walked her…

On a most spectacular Thursday afternoon in the mountains, my daughter Jaz and I headed to Sorenson’s Resort in Hope Valley to capture Bethany and Dan’s very intimate wedding ceremony. The day was beautiful and the drive made me realize how much adventure and road trips give me renewed energy. Bethany and Dan’s connection was clear when I first met them as we hopped in my car to photograph them together, down the road in the open meadow of Hope Valley. Here are a few of my favorites…including their dessert bar and charcuterie plate. They give you a good flavor…