Emily & Michael’s Wedding at Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe Resort

It feels like just yesterday that we were photographing Emily and Michael’s beautiful surprise proposal in Napa. Fast forward a year and a half, and here we were again, this time celebrating their wedding at the Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe Resort. Having met their families at the proposal and spent the previous day with everyone at their church ceremony and welcome reception, we were surrounded by so many familiar faces. It’s not often that we arrive at a wedding feeling like we’re reuniting with old friends, but that’s exactly how this weekend felt. We were so excited to be back with everyone for the big celebration, and now, even more excited to share some of the highlights of their day!

The morning was filled with so many sweet and emotional moments. Emily shared a series of first looks with her loved ones, while Michael had his own special moment with his sisters. But nothing quite compared to Emily and Michael’s first touch with each other. There were happy tears from start to finish, and seeing just how much this moment meant to them was incredibly touching.

Their outdoor ceremony took place on a beautiful lawn nestled in the woods, with gorgeous white florals and greenery framing the couple as they exchanged their vows. Afterward, we headed down to the lake with their entire bridal party for some fun photos on the beach. The bright blue water and mountain views were absolutely stunning, and not something we typically see back at home! Later in the evening, we snuck away with just Emily and Michael to a quieter stretch of beach for some romantic sunset portraits. Between the warm golden light, the breeze catching Emily’s veil, and the two of them looking so incredibly happy together, these were easily some of our favorite moments – and photos – of the day.

The celebration continued with an outdoor reception beneath the trees, where the speeches were a wonderful mix of heartfelt, beautiful, and hilarious. We loved watching Emily and Michael laugh their hearts out alongside their favorite people. And once the party moved indoors, the dance floor was absolutely packed with everyone having the best time.

What an incredible weekend this was, from the beautiful lakeside setting to all the laughter, tears, and unforgettable moments in between. Michael and Emily are both so sweet and full of the sort of expressiveness that our cameras just love to capture. We’ve loved being able to document these special chapters of Michael and Emily’s story, and seeing the two of them surrounded by so much love and happiness made it all the more meaningful.