4.9
Verified reviews from real couples
The Way it Should Be
Holds ceremonies and receptions
We had the most amazing wedding day at Zephyr Lodge and feel so lucky to have created such an unforgettable memory on the mountain with our friends and family.
Everything exceeded expectations—from the stunning setting to the food and service. Our guests could not stop raving about how beautiful the venue was and how seamless the entire experience felt.
The Zephyr Lodge team was absolutely fantastic from start to finish. Everything was handled with such care and professionalism, which allowed us to fully relax and enjoy the day.
We are so grateful and truly couldn’t have imagined a more perfect place to celebrate.
Amy R.
5.0
Zephyr Lodge was already deeply special to our family, and when we decided to get married there the team made it even more meaningful. They took the time to get to know us and our loved ones, and our venue contact made sure every detail came together beautifully. The food was unforgettable—we received so many compliments. It truly felt like the Northstar team cared about our wedding as much as we did, even while planning many others this summer. Our guests had an incredible time and experience of arriving to the venue by chairlift. We’re so grateful to have been married at a place we’ll return to year after year. Choosing Zephyr for our wedding made it truly unforgettable.
With love, Kasey & Alex
Kasey Z.
5.0
AWARD WINNER
Thanks to recommendations from couples on The Knot
Northstar California Resort offers a majestic setting for your wedding celebration. Located between the charming town of Truckee and the north shore of Lake Tahoe, this mountain paradise is the perfect backdrop for an unforgettable alpine wedding. With exceptional service, breathtaking views of the Pacific Crest, and a stunning lodge, Northstar California Resort promises a one-of-a-kind experience.
We offer two unique venues for your celebration of love: Zephyr Lodge and Wild Pine.
Zephyr Lodge (June – September)
Perched at 8,000 feet and accessible via gondola cabins and open-air chairlifts, Zephyr Lodge is an iconic mountaintop venue that combines rustic charm with modern elegance. Floor-to-ceiling windows flood the space with natural light, while tall ceilings, exposed ductwork, wooden beams, and statement chandeliers add industrial-chic character. The expansive deck—complete with ample seating and panoramic views of the Sierra Nevada—is perfect for cocktail hour or stargazing. Inside, up to 200 guests can enjoy signature family-style dishes in the spacious dining room, creating an elevated and cozy reception experience.
Wild Pine & The Overlook (May – October)
For a more intimate affair of up to 80 guests, say “I do” in the heart of Northstar Village. Begin your day at The Overlook, a beautiful outdoor ceremony site framed by towering pine trees and sweeping views of the Sierra Nevada mountains. Nestled in the vibrant alpine village, this serene setting creates a picture-perfect backdrop for your vows.
After the ceremony, guests can enjoy a festive cocktail hour complete with hors d’oeuvres, bocce ball, and views of the bustling village. Continue the celebration at Wild Pine, a warm and stylish reception venue designed for dining, dancing, and making memories with your closest loved ones. With cozy mountain charm, refined cuisine, and a welcoming ambiance, it’s the perfect space for an unforgettable evening.
Whether you’re planning an intimate gathering or a grand destination celebration, Northstar California Resort combines natural beauty, modern amenities, and effortless charm—making it one of Lake Tahoe’s premier wedding venues.
To ensure your day is seamless, our venue packages include everything you need: tables, chairs, linens, flatware, stemware, and china. Gondola transportation is provided to whisk your guests up the mountain for an unforgettable celebration. Make the most of your wedding weekend by exploring all that the resort has to offer—from outdoor adventures to luxurious relaxation.
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Amenities + details
Amenities
Ceremony Area
Covered Outdoors Space
Dressing Room
Handicap Accessible
Indoor Event Space
On-Site Accommodations
Outdoor Event Space
Reception Area
Wireless Internet
Ceremony Types
Civil Union
Commitment Ceremony
Interfaith Ceremony
Non-Religious Ceremony
Religious Ceremony
Second Wedding
Vow Renewal Ceremony
Settings
Backyard
Barn
Farm & Ranch
Garden
Hotel
Mountain
Park
Restaurant
Rooftop
Trees
Venue Service Offerings
Bar & Drinks
Cakes & Desserts
Other Desserts
Destination Weddings
Destination Wedding Packages
Destination Wedding Planning
Food & Catering
Planning
Destination Wedding Planning
Service Staff
Transportation
Shuttle Service
Awards and Affiliations
2013 'Best of Weddings'
Best of Weddings
The Knot independently assesses vendors for this award—it’s never self-reported. We base it on firsthand experiences from real couples and guests, and they must have a 4.5-star average across 7+ reviews in the qualifying year.
Join couples who chose award-winning vendors for their wedding
Reviews
4.9
out of 5.020 reviews
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Review Summary
This AI-generated summary is a snapshot of this vendor's ratings and feedback.
Zephyr Lodge at Northstar delivers an unforgettable mountain wedding with stunning scenery, unique chairlift arrival, and outstanding food. The team and coordinators were professional, communicative, and handled weather and logistics seamlessly, even for remote-planned events. Guests praised flawless execution and warm, attentive service that made the day stress-free and magical.Review photos
Showing slide number 1 out of 9
Amy R
5.0
6/28/2026
We had the most amazing wedding day at Zephyr Lodge and feel so lucky to have created such an unforgettable memory on the mountain with our friends and family.
Everything exceeded...
expectations—from the stunning setting to the food and service. Our guests could not stop raving about how beautiful the venue was and how seamless the entire experience felt.
The Zephyr Lodge team was absolutely fantastic from start to finish. Everything was handled with such care and professionalism, which allowed us to fully relax and enjoy the day.
We are so grateful and truly couldn’t have imagined a more perfect place to celebrate.
Kasey Z
5.0
10/05/2025
Zephyr Lodge was already deeply special to our family, and when we decided to get married there the team made it even more meaningful. They took the time to get to know us and our ...
loved ones, and our venue contact made sure every detail came together beautifully. The food was unforgettable—we received so many compliments. It truly felt like the Northstar team cared about our wedding as much as we did, even while planning many others this summer. Our guests had an incredible time and experience of arriving to the venue by chairlift. We’re so grateful to have been married at a place we’ll return to year after year. Choosing Zephyr for our wedding made it truly unforgettable.
With love, Kasey & Alex
Any questions?
Allyson D
5.0
8/18/2025
Zephyr Lodge was the perfect venue for our wedding celebration; we could not be happier that we got married here! We are not local to California anymore so we were nervous planning...
from afar, but the venue team was extremely attentive and easy to work with. Our venue coordinator, Jessica, was a true rockstar. It actually snowed on the day of our wedding (in June!), and Jessica worked with our planner and vendors to ensure we were able to get our guests up the mountain and still have our ceremony outside. She was extremely communicative throughout the chaos of Mother Nature, but she understood our vision, and did everything in her and the team's power to execute it. We could not be more grateful to her and the Northstar team for making our day happen!
Nicole O
5.0
9/12/2024
Our experience getting married at Northstar's Zephyr Lodge was top notch! From the food tasting day where we got to spend time 1:1 with the head chef and make customizations to the...
standard menu to fit the season and our tastes, to the most wonderful support from Kellie, our coordinator who made us feel like we were loved ones, to the wonderful support from Lyndsey the head bartender, we couldn't have asked for more. Even when a quick thunderstorm emerged, the team managed to seamlessly shift the order of events to enable everything we dreamed to still occur. Thank you!
Bridget G
5.0
12/13/2023
Northstar and Zephyr Lodge Team - We want to give you all a huge thanks for the epic wedding you pulled off for us! Seriously, we're still riding high from this day. We've been rep...
laying videos and reliving every moment with the fam in our group chat for the last month..
We were low-key bracing ourselves for some bumps in the road, 'cause that's what everyone says about weddings, right? But guess what? Not a single glitch! You two must have some kind of behind-the-scenes magic going on. Your planning skills, Heather's chill vibes, and the flawless execution – we couldn't have asked for more.
But what stands out the most is how all the staff cared. Our guests are still talking about how seamless everything was. So, for anyone hunting for wedding venue that goes above and beyond, Zephyr is your place! - Ryan and Bridget (July 15th, 2023)
Jacqueline P
5.0
9/20/2019
We got married at Zephyr Lodge in August 2019 and could not have asked for a more perfect venue or day! Jennifer was our planner and she was absolutely amazing. She was always ve...
ry prompt to respond to our questions and if we had an idea or a request, she would figure out a way to make it work both for us and for Northstar. During the day of she set up everything exactly how we asked and ensured that everything ran smoothly. The food at the cocktail reception and the dinner was also very good. We did family style and everything came out in a prompt manner and was well prepared and cooked. We did not have a cake so the culinary team worked with us to make fun desserts that were off their normal menu. The venue itself has incredible views. We were also lucky to have all of the wildflowers in bloom which added to the beauty. We were concerned about guests getting up the gondolas, but no one had any issues. Even a guest in a wheelchair was able to get up to the venue without issue. All in all the day ran very smoothly and I wouldn't have changed a thing!
Alexandra J
5.0
8/03/2019
We got married at Zephyr Lodge in June 2019 and had the most amazing day! Our friends and family were absolutely blown away by the experience. Everything from the friendly lift sta...
ff to the incredible scenery, the stunning lodge space to the fantastic food and drinks. We couldn't have imagined a more special location for our big day!
I worked with Cara and Jennifer on the sales and planning teams and they were super helpful and accommodating in making the day perfect! Early on, we had some issues with the contract pricing and staff transitions, but the team honored our early conversations and really did all that they could to ensure we had the wedding of our dreams! Jennifer helped us come in right on target with our F&B and was very respectful of our budget. They were courteous and truly committed to helping us have the best day. They were very respectful and patient (even when I brought a 2-page list of logistics questions to the tasting!). We did have a planner who liaised directly with our coordinator, Jennifer, to help streamline the process. I felt very comfortable throughout the entire process that everything was in order and that my vision was understood - and everything turned out beautifully! We hosted our Welcome BBQ at the Martis Valley Grille, and everyone was also so impressed with that space, the staff and the food. The whole weekend was amazing and we are so happy with our choice! Thank you for all of your help in making it incredible!
Bailey G
5.0
7/12/2019
My husband and I got married at Zephyr Lodge at Northstar a few weeks ago and we couldn't have asked for a better experience. From when I first contacted Northstar through to after...
the wedding they were always very responsive and helpful. My event manager at Northstar helped coordinate my vendors and was so organized, which made it so that everything really went perfectly on our wedding day.
Not to mention how beautiful the venue is. Zephyr lodge is at the top of the mountain at Northstar - the lodge itself is gorgeous and the views from the lodge and ceremony site just outside the lodge are incredible. We've had many of our guests tell us that it was the most beautiful venue they've been to for a wedding.
And the food - how often is it that you get mini grilled cheese sandwiches as an orderve at a wedding?! We had so many comments on how delicious the food was.
I HIGHLY recommend Northstar for your wedding!
Cat S
5.0
6/26/2019
Our wedding at the Zephyr Lodge was above and beyond our wildest expectations of how wonderful of a day it would be! It was on our radar when we realized no matter how badly we wan...
ted to have our wedding "in nature", mother nature doesn't always cooperate in the Sierras, so we scoped out the place in the winter time and the view was amazing. We initially thought it was too pricey, but once we crunched the numbers with other venues that are less inclusive, the cost was about the same- we ultimately chose Northstar so we could give our large East coast families the ability to all stay in houses together and close by. ( The *only* comment I have was the discounted lodging link/website was a little rough, it's wording didn't match the lodging descriptions on the Northstar website, and several guests had a hard time navigating/confidently booking the accommodation they wanted.) Brett was super responsive as an up front contact and handled the booking and logistics well, and Paula took it from there as our day-of contact and point of contact for planning. Paula was wonderful- she was responsive, followed up promptly with answers or documents, and if it wasn't for her, there are so many details I would have missed/not thought of, she really helped keep us on track. She also was right on point helping us meet the F&B minimum w/out going over. The day of was amazing- friends and family raved about the view, the fun gondola rides, and how pleasant the staff was- several guests brought kids unexpectedly, and Paula handled it with a smile (thank you Paula!) Staff brought my husband and I appetizers while we were taking pictures so we wouldn't miss out(or pass out!), the bartenders were friendly and engaging with our guests, everything went off without a hitch, and if there were any hitches, they handled it deftly. In summary: amazing venue for a ceremony with a spectacular view; the reception was a nonstop party and everyone of my 100ish guests felt taken care of personally; Paula is amazing, I hope if you choose Northstar you get to work with her; my husband and i could not have had a better day there!
Collin W
5.0
10/25/2018
Our wedding at the Zephyr Lodge was incredible. All of the Northstar staff were so helpful, especially the conference and event services manager. Having your big day on top of the ...
mountain is special. Everyone takes a gondola or chairlift up the mountain for an unforgettable experience. The Lodge is beautiful and has a great flow for a wedding. We had roughly 200 people up there and it was perfect. Highly recommend.
Matthew S
5.0
10/04/2018
We hosted our wedding at Northstar in September, and did the cocktail hour, dinner and dancing in the Tavern. It was a great and intimate location for ~80 guests. The chef and bar ...
tender were very supportive of customized asks, and the execution was spot on for the day of, the wait staff was attentive and friendly. It was super convenient to have all of the wedding activities in one location, no shuttle buses, just a short walk from the ceremony to the dining room, a shorter waltz to the dance floor and an easy stumble through the village back to the room!
Marnie M
5.0
8/30/2018
Zephyr Lodge brought our dream to life. The day was unreal, and the experiences and atmosphere that come with a venue like this are uniquely memorable.
I am an event planner by p...
rofession. We looked at 20+ venues in the Bay Area and 5+ venues in Tahoe. We fell in love with Northstar from our first visit, despite it being covered in 10 feet of snow and populated by skiers and snowboarders. The most important thing to my husband and I was setting a mood, and this venue really enabled us to run with that.
I will say that it is not for everyone. It is at a high altitude, and you have to take 2 ski lifts to get to Zephyr. We had some folks with mobility and oxygen challenges, so we had to put a bit of extra effort into it. The F&B minimum is a bit high, but the quality of food was superb. We had 2 tastings (one included with the venue fee) which included a 1:1 meeting with the coordinator (hi, Cara!) and the chef. That experience alone really set the bar high and put us at ease. While we didn't want the food to be terrible, food was kind of on the bottom of our list of priorities. We were pleasantly surprised to see how delicious, artful, and thoughtfully created everything was. The bar service was also excellent.
The venue has a long list of trusted and reputable vendors to work with (we went with Love and Lupines for flowers, Jeff Jones band for music, Tin Roof Farmhouse for staging, and Kirsten Noelle Wiemer for photography). Rest assured that they are all top notch.
The experience of the day was overwhelmingly joyful and beautiful. I wouldn't change a thing. Hearing guests talk about the venue with such awe made everything worth it. It was a wedding for the books! Highly recommend.
Sara Beth G
5.0
9/21/2017
The Northstar Resort was the perfect location for our wedding. It’s apparent from the second you pull up to the property the location is extremely beautiful and relaxing. The room...
s are great; there is the convenience of the village restaurants, bars, shops, small food/beverage store, activities, and stunning scenery regardless of the season. We loved that our guests were able to stay in the village and not have to worry about how they were getting to and from events. We had a Welcome party in the Village Overlook, our wedding the next night at Zephyr Lodge and after party at the Tavern. We received many compliments from our guests about their experiences at Northstar, the venues chosen, and how great the food was at all 3 events (mac and cheese balls, pizza cones, and the mini grilled cheese sandwiches with tomato soup were a huge hit at the end of the night)! I don’t think pictures can do Northstar justice. Once you ride the chair lifts to Zephyr Lodge at the top of the mountain and look out over the beautiful mountains you will fall in love, too! Another major plus is they assign an event coordinator to each wedding to help with details pertaining to the property, catering and vendor arrival and departure. Cara was our coordinator and she was amazing!! She was quick to respond to emails and phone calls, gave great recommendations, met with us every time we visited, and communicated with our vendors to make sure the weekend ran smoothly. The Northstar Resort speaks for itself in appearance, but Cara made the biggest impact on our experience at this location leading up to the wedding and throughout the wedding weekend.
Renee S
5.0
10/02/2016
My husband and I were married at Northstar on September 25th surrounded by a small group of our closest family and friends. From the views up at Zephyr Ridge, to the intimacy of th...
e tented reception at Overlook Pavilion, to the amazing food by Executive Chef Chad Shrewsbury, we cannot possibly pick a favorite aspect to our perfect day.
Our group was small at 35 people, but the setup was arranged to make it feel like we owned the space rather than feeling empty and cavernous. They were very accommodating in allowing our dog, Tuck, to be a part of our day and didn't mind a tired pup napping on the outdoor sofa while we ate dinner.
Our rehearsal dinner the night before was at Tavern 6330'. The food was great, the service was great, and the price was just right.
Anonymous
5.0
8/20/2015
We got married at Zephyr Lodge at the top of the mountain. The staff, the location, everything was wonderful! There were no surprises and Northstar is a great location because ther...
e is so much to do right there in the village. Highly recommend!
Sarah F
5.0
8/10/2015
We chose Zephyr Lodge up at Northstar for our wedding. Not only was it spectacularly beautiful, but I cannot say enough about Mercie Galvin (the coordinator we were set up with) a...
nd the entire Northstar team. Mercie was so responsive and helpful throughout the entire process, doing everything she could to accommodate our requests and make our day as perfect as possible. On the wedding day itself, she was so calm and did so much to make sure things went smoothly. When our rehearsal turned into a hail storm and the lift shut down trapping half of us up at the lodge, and the other half unable to make it up, she had the bar open for us to keep us happy and then came to our rehearsal dinner to go through a run through. On the wedding day when the florist didn't show up until 30 minutes before the ceremony, and it rained up until 1 minutes before the ceremony was to start, she made sure to get me as much information as I needed, but ensured she did not stress me out. All the other things that she did, I can't even express my gratitude and praise!
Mary P
5.0
3/01/2015
Northstar was amazing. Just the beauty of the venue itself speaks volumes but add the food, drinks, lodging, and a wedding professional all for a very reasonable sum makes Northsta...
r one of the best choices I made in planning my wedding. I worked with Sharon and I couldn't have asked for a more helpful person in every way. She is excellent. I would choose Northstar again in a heartbeat.
Athena L
5.0
10/21/2013
Northstar is the perfect place for a wedding. The quality is superb and the convenience is amazing. The option to have family and friends stay at the same location as the ceremony ...
and reception is wonderful, and there is nothing more beautiful than the pine tree backdrop at the Overlook wedding site.
In addition, and probably more unique than many other locations, the Northstar team of caterers, hotel services, and in-village business owners is experienced, kind, and extremely hard-working. Northstar also provides an coordinator on site that will quickly become the greatest resource you never knew you would need.
If I could go back and get married again next Saturday, I would. And, whenever possible, we will return to relive the day and share the place with everyone we can.
Kelly J
3.0
9/22/2012
While the venue is beautiful, I have some concerns. I had a small wedding (30 guests) and it was held at Martis Valley Grille. The ceremony was held at "Dustin's Grove" near the G...
rille. This is a small grassy area next to the parking lot on a golf course, so golfers will be driving and golfing behind you. Fortunately later in the afternoon/evening it is not as frequent. Most of the golfers were very nice about a wedding being held there, but some were extremely rude. Some concerns about service: 1) The children were given meals they did not order (staff tried to give the vegetarian children chicken fingers instead of grilled cheese, and appeared upset that the kids didn't want them), 2) The children weren't actually fed until the adults were finished eating (if you're parents you know how problematic this is), 3) They forgot to order the arch for the ceremony (to their credit they substituted an upgraded arch and didn't charge me extra), 4) We never saw the advertised golf cart that we were supposed to be able to use for transportation and/or pictures, 5) The meal was supposed to come with a table of brownies/cookies which I never saw (a couple guests said they may have seen it), 6) The condos are really hit and miss - some are fairly nice while others feel like 1-star motel rooms, they put me and the bridal party in a horrible room which was not acceptable since that was where we were going to be doing the getting ready pictures the next day (they upgraded us after my maid of honor complained). While the coordinator and other staff were nice to work with prior to the wedding, it seemed a little disjointed.
Susan B
5.0
10/30/2008
Both families were able to stay in houses in the resort for the entire week. The Northstar Property Association has a great family area with pool playground sauna etc. There...
are several areas to hold a ceremony. We used the Overlook Pavilion which was at the top of the hill. The view was ideal and we had the place to ourselves.
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