By: Lydia Mattern
Lake Tahoe is an ideal wedding destination for so many reasons, and if you are dreaming of having a Tahoe wedding, it is important to know how much money you need to save in order to have the wedding of your dreams.
According to a recent survey, the average California wedding costs $39,000. With Lake Tahoe being one of the most popular wedding destinations, the cost does increase.
There are many factors that play a role in how much a wedding costs, including whether you opt for a wedding package at a popular wedding venue or choose to have your wedding at a private estate where everything needs to be provided by outside vendors.
Wedding size, location, music, food, flowers, photography, decorations, and more are all taken into consideration when budgeting a Tahoe wedding.
With a variety of wedding venue options comes a variety of wedding venue costs. So, let’s dive into the details and discover the cost of a Lake Tahoe wedding.
What Is Included in the Cost of a Tahoe Wedding?
Every Lake Tahoe wedding is going to cost a different amount depending on many factors, including when and where you have your wedding, how many guests will be there, and if you choose pre-packaged wedding deals from Tahoe venues.
These types of wedding packages give you a base price for your wedding, but it is important to remember that they do not include additional wedding vendors to supply your cake, music, decorations, and more! Take a look at these starting prices:
Heavenly Mountain Resort - Lakeview Lodge
Guests: 100
Event Day: Saturday
Peak Season: June-September
Cocktail Hour: Yes
Menu: Two-Course Plated
Bar: One type of alcoholic beverage
Length: 5 Hours
Heavenly Mountain Resort - Lakeview Lodge offers a variety of indoor and outdoor options for the ceremony and reception and can accommodate up to 250 guests.
For an outdoor wedding ceremony and indoor reception, the venue cost is $16,000, which breaks down to $6,000 for the venue with a $10,000 food and beverage minimum. This price does not include additional cost for vendors.
Edgewood Tahoe Resort
Guests: 100
Event Day: Saturday
Peak Season: July
Cocktail Hour: Yes
Menu: Two-Course Plated
Bar: None
Length: Varies
Edgewood Tahoe Resort is a luxurious and dreamy Tahoe wedding venue with multiple indoor and outdoor spaces available ranging from $3,000 to over $8,000 without food included. Food and beverage options range from $70 to $100 per guest, so your overall price package depends on the number of guests and type of venue and food options you choose.
While the above three examples range anywhere from $3,000 to over $15,000 for the venue, there are Tahoe wedding packages that can cost up to $40,000--like packages offered at the Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe Resort.
Lake Tahoe Private Estate Wedding
If you choose to have your Tahoe wedding at a private estate rather than opting for a wedding package from a popular venue, the average cost is $65,000 because there are no additional amenities included. However, a private wedding does give you more creative freedom and allows you to plan “out-of-the-box.” Depending on your budget, your dream Lake Tahoe wedding may come together best if it doesn’t have to fit within a predetermined package.
Don’t Forget Your Lake Tahoe Wedding Vendors
Your wedding venue is transformed into a dreamy, rustic, elegant, fun wedding with the help of your wedding vendors. It is important to remember to budget your vendors into your overall wedding cost. Vendor pricing varies by the type of vendor and the company you choose.
First and foremost, to make the wedding planning process smooth and simple, you will want to find a Lake Tahoe wedding planner to help you navigate all the details.
At Epic Thyme, we specialize in helping couples make their Lake Tahoe wedding dream a spectacular reality. We also help you find the best wedding venue and local vendors in the Tahoe area that fit within your budget.
Here is how much a typical wedding vendor costs in the Tahoe area:
Wedding Planner: $8,000 - $25,000
Bride and Bridesmaids Fashion: $3,500 - $10,000
Groom and Groomsmen Attire: $500 - $1,500
Beauty (for the bride): $500 - $2,500
Stationary: $1,000 - $4,000
Venues: $8,000 - $24,000
Officiant: $250 - $500
Photography: $3,800 - $12,000
Cinema: $4,500 -$12,000
Catering: $90 - $150/pp
Cake: $10 - $20/pp
Bar and Beverage: $45 - $125/pp
Entertainment: $1,800 - $20,000
Transportation: $1,200 - $6,000
Rentals and Decorations: $4,500 - $50,000
Florals: $4,200 - $30,000
Favors and Gifts: $1,500 - $10,000
Rehearsal Dinner: $3,000 - $50,000
Brunch: $1,500 - $15,000
Travel and Accommodations: $1,200 - $10,000
And here is approximately how much of your wedding budget you should allocate to each vendor:
Wedding Planner: (12%)
Bride and Bridesmaids Fashion: (7%)
Groom and Groomsmen Attire: (0.5%)
Beauty (for the bride): (0.5%)
Stationary: (2%)
Venues: (11%)
Officiant: (0.5%)
Photography: (6%)
Cinema: (6%)
Catering: (19%)
Cake: (2%)
Bar and Beverage: (6%)
Entertainment: (8%)
Transportation: (1%)
Rentals and Decorations: (9%)
Florals: (7%)
Favors and Gifts: (3%)
Rehearsal Dinner: (6%)
Brunch: (3%)
Travel and Accommodations: (1%)
Now, the vendor total may be a big number to some, but don’t let it crush your Tahoe wedding dreams. There are ways to decrease costs. For example, while this budgets $8,000 for your venues, there are less expensive options as mentioned above. Or, if you have family that owns property in Tahoe where you can have your wedding, you won’t have to pay for a venue at all.
Epic Thyme can walk you through where to allocate your money based on what is important to you. We can save in areas that may be less of a priority. We know the costs of hundreds of vendors in the area- we see these contracts pass our desk daily.
Or, if you are looking for a budget-friendly wedding and are feeling a bit more adventurous, you may consider eloping or hiking to a secluded spot with just a few family and friends for the Tahoe adventure wedding of your dreams.
Contact us today for Lake Tahoe wedding vendor recommendations, and let us help you find the best people to throw you the best wedding.
Plan Your Lake Tahoe Wedding with Epic Thyme
With Lake Tahoe, the wedding options are endless. At Epic Thyme, we have years of experience and have planned so many gorgeous Tahoe weddings.
We can’t wait to hear the details of your dream wedding and help you plan a perfect Tahoe wedding that is within your budget. Contact us today and start planning your Lake Tahoe wedding now.