by Scott Sady
Sara and Brad choose Scott to shoot their wedding at the new Winter’s Creek Lodge on the slide side of the Mt. Rose Ski Resort just west of Reno. It was the first time we had shot at this venue and found it to be a great site for a wedding. The venue is pretty isolated from anything else, being at a ski resort at 8200 feet, and offers sweeping views of Washoe Valley. Though the timeline for this particular wedding did not permit it, views at twilight and into night-time show a twinkling sea of lights from Reno down in the valley that would make a great background for pictures done later in the day. If you want lake views in some of your pictures, be prepared to build in about an extra hour of time to drive over the summit, make the photos and get back. The lodge itself is basically a modern box of cool glass walls, so lighting inside is not a problem. The bar, where the dancing and DJ usually set up, has tinted windows looking across to Washoe Valley and Reno and gives a darker, more intimate feel. Winter’s Creek lodge has the added plus, in my opinion, of being run mostly on wind power from 3 large turbines located above the parking lot. For more daring couples, there is a short hiking trail up a small peaklet across the parking lot that offers stellar views 360 degrees, but takes about 15 – 20 minutes to walk up through the trees.