The Shore Lodge in McCall Idaho is one of the very best wedding venues in Idaho. The Shore Lodge has 77 guest rooms and can fit 200 people in their event spaces. This historic resort was built on the shores of Payette Lake . I love staying at this amazing resort as much as I love shooting gorgeous McCall weddings.
Part of what makes The Shore Lodge so special is their OUTSTANDING customer service and willingness to go above and beyond. Every night, the hotel staff leaves yummy chocolate chip cookies on your pillow during their turn down services. The Cove Spa is a one of a kind spa experience with an outdoor-indoor hybrid natural hot spring to relax after your massage or facial. Their food is world class. Not to mention, the views are unparalleled. From every room in the Shore Lodge, you’ll experience unbelievable views of the mountains and pristine lake.
By choosing to have a Shore Lodge Wedding, you are giving your guests a once in a lifetime mountain experience!
For more inspiration, here are a few blog posts from Shore Lodge Wedding
Crystal & Kevin’s Winter Wedding
Choosing a McCall Wedding Photographer
Picking a photographer who understands light is crucial at The Shore Lodge. As you’ll see below, the Shore Lodge has a few challenging lighting situations for new photographers. The ceremony location is most commonly taken place indoors with harsh light. Seasons can change the light outdoors and indoors rapidly. I have worked at The Shore Lodge over 20+ times in the 10 years I’ve been an Idaho Wedding Photographer!
Photography Tips for A Shore Lodge Wedding
In this guide, I’ll breakdown the best tips for getting amazing wedding photos at the Shore Lodge. Going moment by moment, I’ll provide my best advice and best locations to get the best wedding photos. There are so many great spots around The Shore Lodge to capture amazing moments. In this guide, you can visually see what your photos will look like!
Getting Ready Photos
Most couples choose to get ready on site in a King suite or the Presidential suite at the Shore Lodge. The rooms are decorated with wall paper and darker wood accents, which can be tricky from a photographer’s perspective. However, the rooms do have huge windows overlooking the lake. I typically ask my glam teams and couples to position themselves in front of the large window light to capture the most light on their faces.
I love grabbing bridesmaid PJ shots either on the docks or on the grassy lawn outside the hotel. Both options create a stunning backdrop. On a sunny day, I will try to choose a shady area against the hotel exterior. However, on a cloudy day or dim morning, you can capture the stunning backdrop of the lake.
For the bridal getting ready shots, if your hotel room has a balcony, I love grabbing shots of the bride getting dressed outdoors. The dark green exterior is extremely flattering and feels authentic to the mountain vibe of the landscape.
Ceremony Space
The Shore Lodge provides a few options for where you can hold your wedding ceremony. However, if you have a larger guest count, you are limited to the event ballroom indoors. The indoor ballroom offers stunning views of the lake. Also, the indoor ballroom allows you to have a ceremony year round so there is no need for a Plan B in case of bad weather.
The ceremony light at the Shore Lodge is notorious for being difficult. Due to the expansive floor to ceiling windows, which are beautiful, the light can be extremely harsh. Most couples choose to get married in front of the windows so their guests can look outdoors towards the lake. However, this causes a lot of extreme backlight, forcing the photographer to expose for the lake or the couple.
Photography Tip for Awesome Ceremony Photos! Consider getting married against the fireplace in the indoor pavilion instead. You’ll have better lighting for better photos.
Maggie Grace Photography
Another option for couples having an intimate wedding is to get married on the outdoor dock! The dock has limited space, but the view is amazing. I love this option for guests getting married with less than 50 guests. The Shore Lodge also allows guests to set up in the sand on the shoreline as well. A few guests can even hop in a boat to watch your vows!
Wedding Party Photos
Most photographers who have worked at Shore Lodge can agree that the best spot for wedding party photos is either outdoors on the dock or in the forest surrounding McCall. It may sound like a lot of extra work, but with a great wedding planner and a great wedding photographer, it might be worth it to consider taking your wedding party to Ponderosa State Park! The Park offers lots of shade, beautiful pine trees, and a gorgeous backdrop for your photos. The Shore Lodge offers shuttle services, but you may also choose to rent a bus or driver in town.
First Look Locations
McCall has many stunning locations if you want to take photos off site of the Shore Lodge! I highly recommend couples leave the venue for an hour on your wedding day to take photos at one of the many scenic locations in McCall. McCall Idaho has many stunning locations popular among photographers for elopements, family photos, landscape photography, and more!
Cocktail Hour Photos
I love taking candid photos of wedding guests at the Shore Lodge during cocktail hour! When the sun is low in the sky, it creates a warm glow during cocktail hour. This is also a great opportunity to get shots of the lake and the mountains while both are illuminated by the sun. The docks are also beautiful for capturing photos with friends, extended family, and other important wedding guests.
Family Photos
There are a few spots at the Shore Lodge where I recommend taking family photos. The indoor pavilion can be tricky depending on what time of year your wedding is and the light that day. However, if the weather permits, I highly recommend stepping outside. Either the beach or outdoor courtyard provides even lighting and the lake provides a nice light reflection. Also, a lot of family members enjoy the opportunity to walk along the dock. The dock is another great option!
When the weather isn’t great or it’s dark outside, I recommend using a soft flash or off camera flash to take indoor family photos.
Sunset Photos
If you haven’t seen a photo from the Shore Lodge of a couple with their vintage boat, scroll below. The Shore Lodge has a few stunning vintage boats available to rent. If you want a moment of privacy after saying I Do, renting the boat for an hour long ride on Payette Lake is a great time to take in the moment. It also creates some amazing photo opportunities at sunset.
Depending on how much time you rent the boat for, you can also dock at one of the public parks. Some boat drivers will even let you out of the boat for some sunset photos on the beach if you ask politely 😉 Either way, you can’t go wrong.
