Summer in Tahoe
Tahoe is stunning in all seasons– famous for its alpine vistas and world-class skiing in the winter and its clear blue lake and water sports in the summer. We were lucky enough to make visits in both seasons this year. At the end of June, Alex and I drove over to attend a friend’s wedding (my first as a guest in years!) and we added a camping trip afterwards at our favorite spot in Emerald Bay too.
First, a brief visit to our favorite Tahoe town of Truckee.
Then we arrived in Tahoe City for welcome drinks with the bride and groom!
The next morning, breakfast by the river.
And then it was time for Grace and Danny’s wedding, which I absolutely loved. Instead of a traditional ceremony, they gathered everyone in this outdoor living room space. There was no walking down the aisle, there was no ‘repeat after me.’ Instead, we were all treated to an hour of stories about the couple, beautifully told by their closest friends and family. No matter how well you already knew them, you inevitably got to learn a bit more about their stories and their relationships with each other and everyone else. And no two people told the same story, though of course the same threads of generosity, community, and connection were woven throughout.
Their escort cards included photos and personal, handwritten notes for every single guest. Even Alex, my plus one who had never met Grace or Danny, got a personal note from Grace.
Lovely to see details done by friends, like the calligraphy by Brianne of Brown Fox Calligraphy and watercolors by Kait of Two Moos Studio.
Kait with a double rainbow! Could this day be any more incredible?
The dance floor was lit. The Danny’s mother, a former ballerina, showed us some moves. And everyone was glued to the dance floor, never wanting to leave.
A feeling to remember. This whole blog post is just my phone photos, but Grace and Danny’s actual wedding photographer did an incredible job, and you can see her images here.
A farewell brunch the next morning.
And then Alex and I were off to the next leg of our trip, camping for one night in Emerald Bay at our favorite campsite.
First things first, some hammock time.
Reading down by the beach too. We were reading the same book, but mine on Kindle and Alex’s on paper: Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals by Oliver Burkeman.
Sunset views from our campsite.
And the next morning, some sapphire appreciation in Emerald Bay. And our secret beach, accessed from the campsite.
And that was it. One more look at the bay from above, and it was time to head home.
‘Til next time, Tahoe!
Anna Wu is a wedding and portrait photographer based in San Francisco. She compulsively documents and blogs all of her daily adventures, even in quarantine. Follow her on instagram and view more of her professional work at annawu.com.
