Tahoe Weddings & COVID-19

During this unprecedented time it is our greatest hope that you are staying healthy and adapting the best you can to the changes to your every day life that the Coronavirus has dictated. This last week definitely has been a whirlwind of news and information for Tahoe weddings and COVID-19.

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends social distancing and restricting large gatherings (no more than 10 people). This greatly impacts so, so many Tahoe weddings that were planned to take place within the next 3 months and the growing reality is that they will need to be postponed to a later date.

My words cannot convey enough how our hearts break for you, all the couples postponing and rescheduling their dream Tahoe weddings and the couples faced with this looming decision. We completely understand the emotional roller coaster that you are on but this is the time to breathe, remain positive and stay calm (and have that extra glass of wine!).

If you are getting married in 2020, the below FAQs can help to address the next steps and questions related to the COVID-19 virus and Lake Tahoe weddings. We are here at Merrily Wed to help however we can, we know that postponing a wedding is a difficult decision with many ramifications and logistical issues. We are here to help guide you through this process, be the extra shoulder for you to lean on and provide as much assistance as we can.

TAHOE WEDDINGS – LET US HELP

If you would like to discuss your 2020 Tahoe wedding over the phone, Skype or Zoom, please feel free to use this link to schedule a time, we would love to offer our professional advice as best we can. You can also please connect with us through our Inquiry Form.

 

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FAQ

From our industry colleagues and the editors at Style Me Pretty:

SHOULD I POSTPONE MY WEDDING?

Unfortunately, any couple whose wedding was planned for sometime in the next 3 months needs to postpone and reschedule the wedding for a later date. As much as weddings matter, people matter more. And it’s our social responsibility to make sure we’re keeping not just our loved ones safe, but the community at large. Couples will still get to celebrate and that is still so important, but right now it’s more important that we think about the greater good and keeping others safe.

Any weddings planned for the next 3 months need to get postponed unless it’s a local elopement (with just the two of you). But even any weddings beyond 3 months need to start thinking about postponement. Any weddings that require people to travel (especially international destination weddings) should consider postponement or adjusting locations. Any weddings over 50 guests will want to start thinking about postponing or downsizing. But beyond the type of wedding you’re having, it’s important to also assess how you feel. Your level of comfort and fear (for yourself and your guests) will play a big factor in your decision to postpone. If you want your wedding to be 100% safe, you’re going to have to postpone until things have calmed down and you’re no longer putting people in danger.

WHERE TO BEGIN IF I HAVE TO POSTPONE MY WEDDING?

Begin the process of rescheduling as soon as possible. All of your vendors may not be available on the same future date, but choose your top 4 or 5 and see if you can get them to align. The remaining will fall into place and the community is working together to assist with referrals whenever possible. Stay positive and do your best to stay calm, this unfortunate situation is beyond your control. If you are forced to reschedule know this is for the best interest of you, your family and friends. Postpone rather than cancel, you can still have the wedding of your dreams and your vendors will make that happen. While this situation is very challenging, don’t panic. Trust your vendor team and know that we are all doing everything we can to help you reschedule and still have the amazing wedding that you’ve been dreaming of. And, stay focused on the end result.

Stay positive and do your best to stay calm, this unfortunate situation is beyond your control. If you are forced to reschedule know this is for the best interest of you, your family and friends. Postpone rather than cancel, you can still have the wedding of your dreams and your vendors will make that happen.

WHAT DATES WILL BE AVAILABLE?

The venue’s (availability) should be your first call for available dates. Then your next top 4-5 vendors. Be open to a Friday or Sunday. If a Friday or Sunday is not desirable, be open to a winter wedding or a spring/summer 2021 wedding.

HOW CAN I POLITELY INFORM MY GUESTS?

If you have a wedding website, first renew the domain (most expire in a year). Then, update the website with all information regarding a new date. Draft an e-mail / text message to your guests informing them that for their safety and yours you have decided to postpone. Let them know you’ve successfully rescheduled to a new date and that your wedding website will be updated with any further information.

Guests are expecting to hear — they WANT to know, and they will be understanding. Use an email as the main platform and perhaps an Instagram post as a follow up.Telephone calls are best for the elderly – it’s best if they hear it directly from the bride and groom.

An email could be along these lines:

To our Dearest Loved Ones,
We have made the difficult decision to move our wedding to a later date, due to the current health threats. We love you all dearly and our collective safety is our highest priority. We look forward to celebrating our wedding when all of our guests are able to attend and enjoy the experience to the fullest. We will be in touch as soon as we have more information about when that will be.

Thank you so much for all of your support, love and understanding.

 

WHAT ORGANIZATIONAL STRATEGIES SHOULD I BE DOING IN ORDER TO CONTINUE MY WEDDING PLANNING PROCESS? EVEN IF I’M NOT GETTING MARRIED IN THE NEXT 3 MONTHS?

Start by re-reading your contracts and understand what you originally agreed to. And then talk to your vendors and find out what happens if you postpone/cancel. Keep a list of the information for each vendor so you can easily reference it as needed. This sheet will also help if/when you start discussing new dates so you can keep track of who is available on which dates. Once you have a new date or you cancel with a vendor, make sure you get a new proposal and contract amendment with that information. For those not postponing or cancelling at this time but have a wedding this year, it’s important to start thinking about a Plan B.

Start thinking about postponement or cancellation in case you need to make that decision so you know what you want to do. Get that same information from your vendors, so that you’re ready if/when the time comes. And for any vendors you haven’t contracted but are talking to, make sure you have a discussion about their policies and you feel comfortable with them before you sign. Given the state of things and the uncertainty, you need to be make sure you’re covered and you understand what could happen if postponement or a cancellation has to happen.

There is going to be an influx of weddings for Fall / Winter 2020 due to the amount of reschedules, so current clients who are booked and actively planning at this time should continue to secure vendors.

 

AVAILABLE DATES

Please inquire with us regarding our available dates for Tahoe weddings in the late summer, fall and early winter. These dates are constantly changing (change is our new constant!) so I am not posting any dates here.

 

With Love, Light and Hope,

Merrily

 

A Berry-licious Wedding at the West Shore Cafe | Merrily Wed® Lake Tahoe Weddings

The Knot Magazine California, Merrily Wed Lake Tahoe Wedding Planner, Merrily Wed, West Shore Cafe weddingThis berry-licious Lake Tahoe wedding just oozes rich, lush color – light pink, coral, raspberry, cranberry, spring green, hunter green all complimented by shimmery gold tones and dark wood. The Knot California magazine featured this beautiful lakefront wedding at the West Shore Cafe earlier this summer. Now its our turn!

We are pleased to give you previously unseen photos of the many gorgeous details below! From the personalized Daddy’s little girl mug to the escort cards nestled in a giant bed of ombre hydrangeas this wedding has it all. The best dressed wedding party rocked short olive lace bridesmaid dresses to khaki seersucker suits topped with bow ties for the groomsmen.

If you missed the original post – just click here!

 

 

Lake Tahoe Wedding, West Shore Cafe Wedding, Merrily Wed Wedding Planner, Merrily Wed Lake Tahoe Weddings, the knot California magazine, Jay Reilly Photography, Tahoe Lakefront WeddingLake Tahoe Wedding, West Shore Cafe Wedding, Merrily Wed Wedding Planner, Merrily Wed Lake Tahoe Weddings, the knot California magazine, Jay Reilly Photography, Tahoe Lakefront Wedding

Lake Tahoe Wedding, West Shore Cafe Wedding, Merrily Wed Wedding Planner, Merrily Wed Lake Tahoe Weddings, the knot California magazine, Jay Reilly Photography, Tahoe Lakefront WeddingLake Tahoe Wedding, West Shore Cafe Wedding, Merrily Wed Wedding Planner, Merrily Wed Lake Tahoe Weddings, the knot California magazine, Jay Reilly Photography, Tahoe Lakefront Wedding

Lake Tahoe Wedding, West Shore Cafe Wedding, Merrily Wed Wedding Planner, Merrily Wed Lake Tahoe Weddings, the knot California magazine, Jay Reilly Photography, Tahoe Lakefront Wedding

Thanks to Jay Reilly, who is always a pleasure to work with, for the stunning photos!

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A Tale of Two Shores | Merrily Wed® Destination Lake Tahoe Weddings

The West Shore and the East Shore of Lake Tahoe each have a special allure that draws visitors to their sunny beaches – some sand and some rock.  They also both have a wealthy history dating back to the 18th century thanks to the aristocratic families that weaved their legacy with Tahoe lore. At Merrily Wed® we have found these shores to be memorable locations to hold your destination Lake Tahoe wedding.

George Whittel built a fabulous summer home that he named Thunderbird Lodge.  It sits in isolation on the eastern shore of Lake Tahoe.  This section of the lake is rugged and pristine, in contrast to much of the rest of Lake Tahoe’s shoreline.  His failure to allow development on the 27 miles of shoreline that he bought more likely was a result of wanting privacy than being a nature conservationist.  Regardless, it has kept this section of the lake from being developed with hotels, homes and shops.

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Thunderbird Lodge – photo courtesy of Catherine Hall Studios

Visitors to Lake Tahoe often may not be aware of historical attractions such as Thunderbird Lodge and two other mansions on the western shore that tell a tale of how the fabulously wealthy spent their summers at Tahoe back in the first half of the 1900’s.  All three homes are open to tours every summer and two of the three are beautiful venues to host your destination Lake Tahoe wedding.

Landscaping at the Thunderbird Lodge includes waterfalls, pools and streams connected by winding stone pathways and flourishes such as a stone shamrock and other whimsical designs.  One tunnel leads to the infamous Card House where Whittel indulged his passion for late night card games and alcohol.

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Thunderbird Lodge – photo courtesy of Catherine Hall Studios

Your wedding guests may even be able to see the Card House on a tour of the famous Thunderbird property during your wedding.  A tower was added to the original lodge after Whittel’s death by investor Jack Dreyfus Jr, where today the space is now used for weddings and special events.  The Thunderbird Lodge Preservation Society manages the proceeds from tours and events to help maintain and restore the property and the 55-ft Thunderbird mahogany yacht.

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Thunderbird Lodge – photo courtesy of Catherine Hall Studios

The Hellman-Ehrman Mansion on the west shore is the largest of these three mansions consisting of 11,703 square feet and three stories.  Hellman and his descendants used Pine Lodge from 1903 until 1965 when Hellman’s granddaughter sold it to the state of California.  It is now part of Sugar Pine State Park and commonly known as the Ehrman Mansion.  Weddings are held on the lawn by the lake and receptions are commonly located on the hilltop closer to the Pine Lodge/Ehrman Mansion.

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Ehrman Mansion – photo courtesy of Brian MacStay Photography

The third historic mansion rich in history and wealth is Vikingsholm just a little farther down the west shore from Hellman-Ehrman Mansion.  This was Lora J Knight’s summer retreat whose estimated wealth at that time was $43 million, built in 1929, and sits at the head of Emerald Bay, arguably Lake Tahoe’s most scenic spot.  She wanted the mansion to look Scandinavian as the bay reminded her of fjords in Norway.

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Vikingsholm – photo courtesy of Vikingsholm.com

She also owned tiny Fannette Island which sits in the middle of Emerald Bay.  A small stone teahouse that she built sits on its crest.  She rarely used it because of the difficulty in accessing it.  For the same reason Vikingsholm, despite its intriguing beauty, is not an ideal wedding location due to the narrow path one must hike to reach it.

Whether selecting the West Shore or the East Shore, incorporating one or more of these locations would be a great idea for visiting guests to see more of Lake Tahoe’s rich history.  And if you are lucky, one historic site may be host to your wedding itself!

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Summer Sips to Wet Your Whistle | Merrily Wed Lake Tahoe Wedding Planning

With the long hot dog days of summer here, we couldn’t resist these refreshing and mouthwatering cocktails hand-picked by Catering Magazine to ensure to wet your whistle as well as “raise the bar” at your next summer BBQ, party or even your wedding.

From a lip smacking Kumquat Mojito to a Ben & Jack’s Swimming Pool to a Mango Spice and Ice, you will find something here to quench your thirst and tempt your guests’ taste buds with the exotic.

What is your favorite??

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Modern Style West Shore Cafe Wedding | Merrily Wed Lake Tahoe Weddings

The June wedding of Jill and Dave at the West Shore Cafe kicked off our past wedding season with a bountiful feast of eye-grabbing details thanks to the scrumptious bright yellow Jill is so fond of.  Her wedding color palette comprised of bright yellow, pewter silver/grey with whites and creams was sophisticated and current.

Jill and Dave didn’t want anything too traditional with their wedding and strove for a modern, unique yet elegant touch to their special day.  Standing together with their closest friends and family seated nearby, all eyes were on them during the ceremony as they opted to not have a wedding party.  Another modern change, in leiu of a classic ‘presentation’ wedding cake, they opted for a passed dessert of lemon blueberry mascarpone cake.

Other current touches included faux paper grey flowers mixed in with the real blooms in Jill’s bouquet.  This brought a color and texture spectrum not normally found in nature to the mix – absolutely stunning.  The faux flowers could be found as well throughout the reception including the dining table centerpieces.

Floral rosettes cascaded down Jill’s gorgeous gown and this fabric was mimicked in the backing of each formal invite.  A fresh bright yellow dot motif was carried throughout from the invites to the reception accessories – all by Angela Dal Bon Custom Invitations and Announcements.

Real Wedding - Lake Tahoe, West Shore Cafe
Jill & Dave exchanged vows at the end of a long, dramatic pier.  Modern, bold and slightly edgy arrangements on silver pedestals in clear vases elevated the “floating” flowers to new heights and nodded to the Lake Tahoe water just inches away.  Bright yellow pomeander balls flanked the aisle and together with pewter silver were an exceptional color combination.

Real Wedding - Lake Tahoe, West Shore Cafe

White floral orbs graced the ceremony and cocktail hours along with the visually delightful bright yellow.  Yellow callas presented in clear fishbowls added another unique floral design to the list by Bellissima Floral.

Real Wedding - Lake Tahoe, West Shore Cafe
The clever yellow dot motif popped up again on the escort cards and table numbers.  The center of the long dining tables overflowed with white pillars, hydrangea, orchids and callas.  More pops of the bright yellow awaited each guest at their place setting.

Real Wedding - Lake Tahoe, West Shore Cafe
Guests dined with an incomparable lakeside view under a modern and romantic open air tent, with sheer swagging and twinkle lights draping over their heads.

Real Wedding - Lake Tahoe, West Shore Cafe
Hollye of Hollye Schumacher Photography captured every detail of this stunning wedding including the perfect sunset kiss that delighted the guests.

Real Wedding - Lake Tahoe, West Shore Cafe

This isn’t the only glimpse of this wedding you will see, there is lots more to come of this gorgeous wedding… stay tuned!
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