Rachel and Brendan's wedding at Winters Creek Lodge
The last Saturday in September, on Slide Mountain, with Washoe Valley four thousand feet below.
They stood under umbrellas and did it anyway.
It rained on Rachel and Brendan's wedding day, hard enough that the ceremony came inside and most of the plan went with it. The first look was the one thing they refused to move.
So they did it in the rain, in front of the glass, holding umbrellas — nerves and laughter and everything else all arriving at once. Then the mountain gave it back to them at the end of the day.
The Day
Getting ready
Rachel and Brendan got ready at the Peppermill in Reno and drove up the Mt. Rose Highway to the lodge. That's the usual arrangement here — there's no getting-ready suite on the mountain, so the morning happens in town and the day begins when you arrive.
The first look
This is the part of the day they held onto. It was raining, so they did it under umbrellas in front of the lodge's glass facade, with the mountain behind them and water running down the windows. Nerves, then laughter, then neither of them saying much at all.
There's a highlight film from this wedding — that's where you'll see what this actually looked like, because it isn't something a single frame holds.
The ceremony
The rain moved the ceremony indoors. That's a swap this venue handles better than most, because the main room is glass on the mountain side, so coming inside doesn't mean losing the view — it means watching the weather from a dry seat.
Fifty-plus guests, one room, and rain on the windows the entire time.
Portraits
Toward sunset the rain let up, and a rainbow came up over the valley. We went back out.
That's the run of frames I'd point anyone at from this wedding. It only happens because the weather had been bad all day, and it lasted about as long as you'd expect a rainbow to last.
The reception
Dinner and dancing in the main room, with the Sky Bar turning over into the dance floor after.
How it was covered
Photography and film, with a second photographer for the day. That mattered more here than usual — when a plan changes at eleven in the morning and everything compresses into one room, one person covering the couple and another covering everyone else is the difference between a full record of the day and a partial one.
About Winters Creek Lodge
Winters Creek Lodge sits on the edge of Slide Mountain at Mt. Rose – Ski Tahoe, overlooking Washoe Valley roughly four thousand feet below. It's a modern building rather than a rustic one: a large glass facade faces the slopes, so the mountain is part of the room rather than something you step outside to see. There's an 8,000-square-foot outdoor deck, an on-site kitchen, and the Sky Bar inside, which converts to a dance floor after dinner.
The venue holds up to 130 guests and is booked exclusively — no other event runs alongside yours, and the mountain isn't open to the public around you.
Weddings here traditionally run May through October, with April and November possible but subject to snow. As of 2025–26 the venue publishes its rates directly: $3,250 Monday to Thursday, $4,250 Friday, $4,750 Saturday, $3,750 Sunday, and $1,750 for ceremony only.
What that means for photography. Two things shape a day here. First, the orientation — the lodge faces east over the valley, so the sun sets behind the building. The valley below goes gold and pink while the lodge itself drops into shade, and that gap is short. If you want portraits in that light, they have to be planned to the minute, not fitted in after dinner. [Add your specific recommendation.]
Second, the glass. Floor-to-ceiling windows on the mountain side mean the reception room is beautiful and bright until it isn't — the light falls off fast at elevation, and the room goes from daylight to dark quicker than a valley venue does. [What you'd tell a couple about scheduling toasts and first dances around that.]
On the season. Late September and early October are the best-looking weeks here — the aspens turn and the crowds are gone. They're also cold after sunset at this elevation, which is worth telling guests in advance rather than discovering during cocktail hour on the deck.
On rain. Weather at this elevation changes fast and doesn't care about your timeline. Winters Creek Lodge is unusually good at absorbing that, because the indoor space is glass on the mountain side — moving a ceremony inside here doesn't mean giving up the setting. Worth deciding the rain call early in the day rather than at the last minute, and worth remembering that mountain weather that clears late often clears spectacularly.
On getting ready. There's no bridal suite or overnight accommodation at the lodge, so couples get ready in Reno or at Tahoe and drive up. Build the Mt. Rose Highway into the timeline — it's a climb, and it takes longer in bad weather.
Questions About Getting Married at Winters Creek Lodge
Where is Winters Creek Lodge?
Winters Creek Lodge is located at Mt. Rose – Ski Tahoe in Nevada, on the edge of Slide Mountain. The lodge overlooks Washoe Valley approximately four thousand feet below, and sits between Reno and the north shore of Lake Tahoe on the Mt. Rose Highway.
How many guests does Winters Creek Lodge hold?
Winters Creek Lodge accommodates up to 130 guests. The venue is booked exclusively for a single event, so no other party or public activity runs alongside a wedding. Indoor space is complemented by an 8,000-square-foot outdoor deck.
How much does a wedding at Winters Creek Lodge cost?
As published for 2025 and 2026, Winters Creek Lodge venue rates are $3,250 Monday through Thursday, $4,250 Friday, $4,750 Saturday, and $3,750 Sunday. A ceremony-only booking is $1,750. Catering is available in-house and priced separately. Confirm current rates with the venue.
What months can you get married at Winters Creek Lodge?
Winters Creek Lodge traditionally hosts weddings from May through October. April and November dates may be considered but depend on snow and weather conditions at elevation.
Does Winters Creek Lodge have views of Lake Tahoe?
No. Winters Creek Lodge overlooks Washoe Valley to the east, not Lake Tahoe. The lake sits on the other side of the ridge. Couples wanting a lake backdrop in their ceremony photographs should know this before booking, though the valley view at sunset is arguably the more dramatic of the two.
What is the weather like at Winters Creek Lodge in September?
Late September at Winters Creek Lodge is typically warm during the day and cold after sunset, because of the elevation on Slide Mountain. It is also when the aspens turn. Couples planning outdoor cocktail hours in the shoulder season should plan for guests to want layers once the sun drops.
What happens if it rains at a Winters Creek Lodge wedding?
The ceremony moves indoors. Winters Creek Lodge handles a rain plan better than most mountain venues because the main indoor room has floor-to-ceiling glass facing the slopes, so an indoor ceremony keeps the setting rather than losing it. Weather at this elevation changes quickly, and afternoon rain frequently clears before sunset.
Where do couples get ready for a Winters Creek Lodge wedding?
Winters Creek Lodge does not have getting-ready suites or overnight accommodation, so couples typically get ready at a hotel in Reno or on the Lake Tahoe side and drive up the Mt. Rose Highway. The drive is a mountain climb and takes longer in poor weather, so it should be built into the wedding day timeline deliberately.
Is there indoor space at Winters Creek Lodge?
Yes. The main room has floor-to-ceiling glass facing the slopes, with an on-site kitchen for catering and the Sky Bar, which converts to a dance floor after dinner. Ceremonies can be held outdoors with the reception moving inside.
Planning a wedding at Winters Creek Lodge?
I've shot here and I know how quickly the light goes once the sun drops behind the mountain. Send me your date and I'll tell you honestly whether I'm free — and what I'd do with your timeline.