Contact: Margaret Skillicorn
Weidinger Public Relations
775-588-2412

SOMETHING BORROWED SOMEWHERE VERY BLUE

(South Shore, Lake Tahoe, Calif./Nev.) – The traditional wedding takes on a new meaning at Blue Lake Tahoe. As a national treasure, Lake Tahoe’s majestic natural beauty offers one of Mother Nature’s most distinctive wedding venues in the world.

The serene beauty of Lake Tahoe, surrounded by a bowl of 10,000-foot mountains, annually attracts thousands of couples to exchange vows. From rustic to elegant, to-be married couples can find the location, services, and amenities to make their day perfect.

Modern Bride has awarded Lake Tahoe the following honors: Number 1 in “Best Winter Sports Honeymoons”; Number 9 in “Best Destination Wedding”; and Number 1 in “Best Gaming Honeymoons”.

The South Lake Tahoe area boasts more than 20 chapels and over 10,000 accommodations and packages tailored for individual budgets and desires for the romantically inclined. As South Shore’s romantic reputation has grown, so have the number of attractive facilities. The area’s casinos – MontBleu Resort, Casino & Spa, Harrah’s Lake Tahoe, Harveys Resort Casino and the Horizon Casino Resort – feature a variety of wedding packages to meet everyone’s style and budget.

Joining the casinos are the intimate chapels of South Shore including the Fantasy Inn, with its on-site chapel, and Lakeland Village Resort, offering the area’s only private beach for lakeside ceremonies. Others include A Personal Touch Wedding Chapel & Boutique, Chapel of the Bells, Cloud Nine Wedding Chapel, Weddings at Timber Cove and Weddings of Distinction.

One of the most spectacular spots to say “I Do” is the top of Heavenly Mountain Resort. At 2,000 feet above Lake Tahoe, the top of the Heavenly tram is a unique and private location serving 25-300 people. The Heavenly Mountain Caterers and Special Events crew are on-site to assist with all the details.

In addition to being wedding sites, many chapels also provide complete wedding services. Arrangements for flowers, cake, decorations, music, limousine, lodging, jewelry, formal wear, video, hair, makeup and personal care are all available through wedding chapel coordinators.

The South Lake Tahoe area offers three types of marriage licenses. The California Confidential Marriage License does not require a blood test or waiting period. Applicants must be living together as husband and wife and must be at least 18 years old. The license must be issued in the same county in which the ceremony takes place. Licenses are available at California wedding chapels and the El Dorado County Courthouse. The California Marriage License does not require blood tests or waiting period. The couple must be at least 18 years of age. The license is available at any California county courthouse or the El Dorado County Courthouse.

The Nevada Marriage License does not require blood tests or waiting period. Licenses are now available at Stateline, Nevada on the South Shore. The couple must be at least 18 years of age. Couples ages 16-18 must have parents or legal guardians present or bring notarized written permission.

When the wedding is over, Lake Tahoe offers honeymooners the beauty of the great outdoors and the never-ending activities of the great indoors.

Unique honeymoon spots pepper the South Shore of Lake Tahoe. Couples can enjoy the privacy of their own lakefront cabin at Zephyr Cove Resort. Located on the beach along the eastern shore, the cabins offer an unparalleled view of the sun setting over Lake Tahoe’s mountainous western shore. The Fantasy Inn provides exotic themed suites with details like mirrored ceilings and in-room spas. The Black Bear Inn boasts luxury accommodations with rustic décor in a relaxing mountain setting. With five gorgeous guest rooms in the main house and three private cabins of varying sizes as well as a hot tub gazebo nestled among the pine trees, the Black Bear’s tranquil atmosphere is perfect for honeymooners after the hustle and bustle of a wedding. Local casino resort hotels provide lavish suites with finely appointed amenities for serious post-nuptial pampering. Several massage therapists around town offer in-room couples’ massages or honeymooners can visit one of many day spas for a complete spa treatment.

When newlyweds decide it’s time to leave the comforts of the suite, all of South Lake Tahoe awaits with each season offering a different experience. Fine dining abounds on the South Shore. Edgewood Tahoe offers unsurpassed cuisine in their lakefront restaurant with an incredible view of the sunset. Serving classic dishes and the chef’s original combinations, Mirabelle is South Shore’s finest French restaurant. Café Fiore’s intimate setting and fine Italian fare give diners the sensation of sitting in a café in Rome or Tuscany. Evan’s Gourmet American Café offers delicious American cuisine in a cozy, relaxed atmosphere designed for enjoying both the food and your new spouse’s company.

And, of course, the 24-hour Nevada gaming, headliner entertainment, comedy clubs, local music scene, and nightclubs complete any honeymoon experience. Whether newlyweds want to catch a few laughs before heading back to the suite or play and dance the night away before heading for bed in the early hours of the morning, the casino resorts offer more entertainment options in a single evening than anyone could possibly exhaust in a week. Go to www.bluelaketahoe.com for the latest in entertainment information.

The Lake Tahoe Visitors Authority offers the new and complimentary South Lake Tahoe wedding and honeymoon planner, “Watercolor Memories,” which can be ordered by calling 1-800-AT-TAHOE or visiting www.bluelaketahoe.com.

About the Lake Tahoe Visitors Authority
Set high in the Sierra Nevada mountain range, South Shore Lake Tahoe offers one of the World’s most unique destinations, combining spectacular natural beauty and a plethora of outdoor activities along with 24-hour nightclubs, fine dining, gaming and superstar entertainment. The region’s naturally beautiful white-capped granite peaks reaching nearly 10,000 feet, emerald green forests, and indigo blue waters draw vacationers year-round from around the world to experience the best in outdoor recreation, including world-class skiing and riding, boating, fishing, golfing, hiking, and mountain biking as well as to enjoy the dynamic nightlife. For information about lodging, recreation and family packages at South Shore Lake Tahoe, call the Lake Tahoe Visitors Authority, 1-800-AT-TAHOE (1-800-288-2463) or log onto www.bluelaketahoe.com.

Access to Blue Lake Tahoe
The Reno/Tahoe International Airport provides 180 daily flights with nonstop service to 20 destinations, including Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Houston, Las Vegas, Seattle, Portland, Minneapolis, Phoenix, San Diego, Orange County, Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Jose, and Salt Lake City. An additional 24 destinations are serviced via direct, one-stop flights from RTIA. The airport is just 55 miles from South Lake Tahoe and is accessible via the South Tahoe Express, a luxury shuttle service. The Lake Tahoe Airport is a year-round all-weather facility with professional services located in South Lake Tahoe, CA for the general aviation and corporate executive traveler.