Bride and groom entering wedding reception

Stunning Summer Wedding at Shore Lodge in McCall, Idaho

This day was extra special to me because I grew up boating Payette Lake every weekend. My family and I would stop at Shore Lodge for a break, the adults would enjoy a drink at the bar while the kids ran around jumping off the docks. At one point, my friends and I would talk of our future wedding at Shore Lodge (even though we were only 12). It’s a spot that holds so many nostalgic memories for me. If someone asked me (today me, not 12 year-old me) to describe a dream wedding at Shore Lodge in McCall, Natalie & John’s would be it. No detail, and I mean NO detail, was missed for their celebration. From the abundant, gorgeous florals to the customize aisle runner rug to the late night snack bar, everything was thought of.

The celebration weekend started off the night before with their rehearsal dinner, and was actually the first rehearsal dinner I had ever covered. And it was so special! The speeches that were given during the rehearsal tugged just as many heartstrings as the speeches during the wedding reception. I think the rehearsal dinner is an important part of the story of the weekend, not just because of the actual rehearsal, but it is more time you get to spend with your friends and family that are all gathered for the occasion.

On to the wedding day itself, you couldn’t have asked for a more perfect day in McCall! The sky was cloudless, it was warm but not scalding hot, and the lake was blue. Natalie and John chose Shore Lodge because they love spending time in McCall and at Payette Lake, so to have the best “McCall” day was so awesome! I remember when I made my way over to the ceremony and reception spaces, my jaw literally dropped. The detail that went into both spaces was unmatched and too amazing to be put into words - you’ll have to look through the photos!

A few of my personal favorite moments from the day: Natalie’s first look with her dad and brother; the entire dinner setup, especially once the candles were lit; the champagne tower & sparkler exit; the few quiet moments I stole them away for photos, when we got to enjoy the view of Payette Lake and capture some sweet moments.

A few notes from Natalie & John about their day:

We decided on Shore Lodge as our venue because Payette lake is one of our favorite places. We wanted to be close to the water because of how special it is to both of us. It was so nice to be able to hear the waves crashing next to us as we said our vows. It was the perfect choice of venues, and we are so glad we chose it.

Our favorite part of the day was that everything went perfectly as planned and we were able to really just soak in the moment and be with each other. friends, and family. Dancing the night away while taking in the scenery and sunset over the lake was definitely a memorable moment and something we’ll never forget. The whole day was equally as perfect and we are truly still thrilled about how great it was.

Their advice to couples currently planning their wedding:

Take your time, don’t rush into things, and enjoy every moment of it. Although it took us almost a year and a half to plan our wedding, it still seemed to fly by, and I honestly miss that chapter of life. It is so special being able to plan the most perfect day of your life with your partner and watch it all come together.

If you are getting married in Idaho, I would highly recommend considering McCall. It is the perfect “destination” spot with views that are out of this world and hard to beat. All of our vendors were incredible and we truly could not have done any of it without each and every one of them.

More About the Day…

One thing I love about hotel venues is how much ease it adds to the day, and Shore Lodge is a top notch option when it comes to a venue/hotel combo. When I got to the suite where Natalie & the bridesmaids were getting ready and saw the clear hook that was attached to the window at a perfect height for hanging a dress, I knew the hotel had their ducks in a row. The room itself was gorgeous and so spacious, so if you are planning your wedding here I’d highly recommend booking the wedding suite! But having everyone stay at the venue is both fun and helps the timeline stay on track. If everyone is already on site, the chances of delays from traveling to the venue are reduced. And later on when the party gets going, it’s easy for people to go change into comfier party clothes!

Another great aspect of Shore Lodge is the amount of boat docks they have that can be utilized for photos. Unless you have access to a private dock somewhere else in town, the only other main docks are near downtown and can get really busy. The docks at the hotel are quiet and face the perfect direction to catch the sunset! For larger group photos throughout the day there is a large square dock in the middle that worked great, and was close to the shore so there weren’t long walks involved. When it came time to have the sparkler exit, there was plenty of dock space for guests to stretch out on.

There are also a ton of options for ceremony and reception setups. Natalie & John initially planned to have their ceremony altar in front of the large windows that faced the lake, but ended up changing it to in front of the large fireplace. Depending on what time of the year you are planning to get married at Shore Lodge, I would take lighting into consideration. At their ceremony time, the sun would have been shining through the windows and would have been a bit blinding to the guests. Changing to the fireplace was a great choice. I loved that the florals tied in the classic & timeless vibe of their wedding with the rustic charm of Shore Lodge. The large room upstairs for the reception is almost a blank slate with the ability to be transformed into anything you envision. When I walked in and saw the intimate setting of Natalie & John’s reception, I was speechless. While I am a fan of head tables, I love a beautiful banquet table. And their banquet table knocked it out of the park, complete with hundreds of candles, stunning rented chairs, gorgeous florals and simple yet elegant place settings.

There is way too much from this day than can be written into words - this would be the longest blog post ever! It was such an intentional wedding filled with so much community surrounding Natalie & John. I’m forever grateful to experience the relationships between the couple and their friends & family, it’s what truly makes a wedding so special!

I’m looking forward to the next time I document a wedding at Shore Lodge, to see what other ideas can fill the gorgeous space. If you’re planning your wedding at Shore Lodge, I’d love to be a part of the journey!

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