How to Plan the Winter Wedding of Your Dreams
If you’re now starting your wedding plans, you and your future spouse might be brainstorming ideas for your wedding’s color combination, theme, budget, location, and date. Since the average wedding takes about a year to plan, we thought we’d round up some of the best destination winter wedding locations to plan an unforgettable wedding weekend.
Although spring and summer weddings are wonderful, they do tend to be a bit more costly as peak wedding season raises the price on everything from decor, florals, catering and of course, rental prices for venues. Nevertheless, there’s something so beautiful and unique about winter weddings. From the beautiful snowy backdrop to the cozy feel of being indoors, having a destination winter wedding can feel like a magical ceremony and is the perfect opportunity to create the wedding of your dreams.
We also love that winter weddings can help you add creative and warm details your guests are sure to appreciate and enjoy. Things like mittens or scarves for party favors, a coffee bar, faux fur seat covers, and warm comfort food are just a few favorites that will make your wedding a day to remember.
Below we also include some helpful tips for planning a warm and inviting winter wedding. Keep reading to peak at some of the most beautiful destination winter wedding spots.
Tips for the Perfect Day
Winter weddings provide a unique opportunity to create an ambiance that is truly one of a kind. From cozy accessories to wintery centerpieces, here are some great ways to make your winter wedding unforgettable.
Accessorize
Winter weddings provide fantastic opportunities to accessorize. From a faux fur shrug to an elegant veil, there are endless ways to accessorize your winter wedding outfit and make it stand out from the rest.
Wintery Colours
Winter weddings are the perfect opportunity to use a unique accent color like burgundy or emerald. Having a memorable accent color can create a cozy ambiance and make your wedding truly unforgettable.
Plan for seasonality
Seasonal factors like flowers will likely be different for winter weddings. Instead of a traditional floral centerpiece, take the opportunity to adopt a unique centerpiece that is sure to make your wedding one-of-a-kind! Having cold-weather accents like pinecone centerpieces or fir features can add a unique touch to your wedding.
Have a cozy reception
One of the most comforting feelings is being indoors on a rainy or snowy day. Recreate this with your winter wedding by having a beautiful, cozy reception space with an intimate ambiance. Bonus: Adding in mood lighting with candles or a fireplace can elevate your wedding to create an even more intimate atmosphere.
Coat Check
Winter weddings can require more planned out logistics to run smoothly. Make sure to have a coat check to make the process as seamless as possible for your guests, and for your peace of mind on your big day.
Unique wedding favours
Instead of having a popular wedding favour like wine glasses, opt for something cozy and unique like customized mugs. If your wedding is before the Holidays, a customized tree bauble can also be a great gift that you know your guest will definitely use!
Winter Wedding Destinations
Not all winter weddings have to be winter wonderland themed. From Lake Tahoe to Central Park, here are some of our favorite spots that would be dream winter wedding destinations.
Browse through this collection of stunning venues to find the perfect one for your big day or at the very least, gather some great inspiration. The roundup includes essential details including peak winter wedding months of each location, capacity, wedding spaces offered, and best nearby lodging for you and your guests.
Treehouse Point—Issaquah, WA
Treehouse Point is the perfect destination for any bride dreaming of a fairytale wedding. In a fairy-like setting, Treehouse Point is surrounded by evergreens and is set up for a cozy and intimate ceremony.
Washington School House Hotel—Park City, UT
An all-white venue, the Washington School House Hotel feels like an almost ethereal backdrop for a winter wedding. For any bride looking for a rustic yet sophisticated look, the Washington School House Hotel is the perfect destination.
The Ritz-Carlton Hotel—Truckee, CA
Located nearby Lake Tahoe, The Ritz-Carlton Hotel is an excellent venue for any bride looking for an extravagant and classy wedding. With a capacity of up to 400, The Ritz-Carlton is great for brides who want a large ceremony with tons of family and friends.
Central Park—New York City, NY
One of the most famous and picturesque locations in the world, Central Park is a timeless winter wedding destination. Surprisingly budget-friendly, a wedding in Central Park requires only a $25 application fee. For budget-conscious bridges, Central Park is the perfect way to fulfill your winter wonderland dreams without breaking the bank.
Planterra Conservatory – West Bloomfield Township, MI
For a unique aesthetic, plan your winter wedding at this gorgeous conservatory in Michigan. Surrounded by plants and twinkling lights, your wedding is sure to look stunning.
Dunton Hot Springs – Dunton, CO
For a more outdoorsy couple, Dunton Hot Springs in Colorado is great! It’s rustic vibe and crystal white snow background will leave you with little else to add.
Union Hill Inn – Sonora, CA
This fairytale-like inn is great for couples who want a winter wedding but are feeling a little unsure about heavy snow. The gardens and cottage rooms create an ideal space for any wedding.
The Whiteface Lodge – Lake Placid, NY
Surrounded by snow-covered evergreens and impressive slopes Whiteface Lodge is great for the adventure sports couple.
Pitcher Inn – Warren, VT
Another charming inn to plan a lantern-lit winter wedding. Your guests can spend their days antique shopping, maple tasting or even skiing.
Dover Hall Estate – Richmond, VA
Another option on the pricier side but stunning nonetheless, Dover Hall Estate is a great venue to plan a royal-like winter wedding.
Tenaya Lodge – Yosemite National Park, CA
This beautiful, rustic lodge in Yosemite Park offers tons of areas for your winter wedding. Whether you want an indoor or outdoor wedding, they’re sure to have space for you.
Another plus if you do end up choosing one of these U.S. venues, rest assured that there will also be plenty of romantic honeymoon destinations nearby.
Planning the perfect winter wedding doesn’t have to be stressful—hopefully, we’ve helped give you some inspiration for your perfect day. When searching for your perfect winter wedding destination, it’s important to take a trip to the venue beforehand to check it out and get everyone’s approval on it.
Many thanks to CarRentals.com for this infographic
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