Image Courtesy of Martha Stewart Weddings

Believe it or not spring and summer are not the only seasons popular for weddings. Winter weddings can be fun and exciting, and brides have some interesting choices in wedding cakes. Winter wedding cakes have the hint of snowflakes, frost and wintry foliage.

There are many dazzling designed and delicious wedding cake ideas for winter weddings. The winter bride should think of three things when deciding on a wedding cake for winter: the cake’s flavor, the cake’s color, and the cake’s adornments.

Some flavors reflecting winter are rich chocolates, tangy cranberry, and peppermints. White cakes are traditional and popular and can represent the pristine whiteness of snow, but other choices can be a tasty caramel spice cake with a butter cream frosting. Other options for taste can be an orange chocolate cake with dark chocolate filling with flecks of orange. The white cake can have a cranberry butter cream frosting and filling.

The palette of winter are whites, icy blues, and reds. However greens with rusty hints of color mixed with brown can add some richer tones.

Some adornments can be snowflakes, pinecones, twigs, and roses made from chocolate, sugar or gum paste.

Some unique Winter Wedding Cake themes are: a Snowflake Wedding Cake with marzipan snowflakes, a Pine Trees in the Snow Wedding Cake decorated with tiny pine cones and foliage made out of icing, and sprinkled with coconut to represent fallen snow, a Snow Globe Wedding Cake topper with the bride and groom inside, and a Penguin Wedding Cake decorated with little penguins with coconut flakes as snow.

I was looking at Martha Stewart Weddings and came across this Peppermint Fantasy Cake. It is a great choice for a wedding scheduled around the holidays. This cake is made with colors of red, white, and pink, and looks very much like a fantasy cake that would dazzle any bride. It’s a five tier whimsical wonderland of white icing, peppermint candy, and Italian Meringue. It looks stunning, wintry, and very elegant.

Also some other ideas are to make a brown and white cake with strawberries circling the cake, or red roses cascading down a white cake, or Calla Lilies clustered on a white cake, and finally a classic white cake with an icing bow.

For a perfect winter wedding cake try the three tier white coconut cake dripping with orange fondant bows, small pine cones, green foliage, and coconut flakes sprinkled all over.

Winter brides who would like to match their cakes with their bridal bouquets should look at these delicious cakes. For an elegant and very tasty cake, try the three tier cake with white butter cream made to look like snow, strands of cascading pearls, and topped off with a flower bouquet to match the bridal bouquet. For an even more wintry wedding cake try a winter snowflake wedding cake. This one is sprinkled with chunks of coconut to look like snow, and then topped off with burnt orange red roses to match the bridal bouquet. Then there’s a tasty white marshmallow butter cream frosting cake with a rich chocolate mud cake for its center. It’s decorated with exotic purple flowers and on the top to match the brides bouquet.

If you are having your winter wedding at a ski chalet or winter retreat try for a more exotic touch with a rich winter chocolate cake that melts in your mouth served with hot coffee, cocoa and tea.

I hope this has given you some interesting and unique ideas on the kind of winter cake you would like to have for your wedding. As you can see winter weddings can be fun and exciting with so many ideas!

If you also want some cake topper ideas, check out here!

Image Courtesy of The Fairmont Chateau at Lake Louise

He popped the question, you have a sparkly ring on your finger and now it’s time to plan the wedding. Winter weddings in Canada can be stunningly beautiful, and with a wide range of options for a venue, your wedding will be the perfect event.

From snowy mountain tops to beautiful forest settings, Canada has so much to offer. Here, in no particular order, are the top five winter wedding locations in Canada.

1. Fairmont Chateau – Lake Louise, Alberta

This gorgeous wedding spot with amazing natural surroundings is located in the heart of Banff National Park in southern Alberta. With picturesque views of mountains, the lake and even glaciers, this is the ideal destination if you are looking for natural scenery.

The hotel offers wedding planning assistance to line you up with some of the best wedding vendors in the area. Ceremony rooms, a spa, beautiful guest rooms, and, of course, dining areas with views of the mountains for your reception and dinner, all top off this luxurious wedding destination.

2. Viamede Resort, Ontario

Another good choice for a wedding with natural beauty is Ontario’s Viamede Resort. Gorgeous lake views make this a great wedding location. Guests can enjoy snowshoeing, ice skating, tobogganing and even cross country skiing.

At the end of the day, you can relax at the resort’s spa or sit by a warm fire and enjoy visiting with your guests. The beautiful rooms in the resort will make your wedding feel like a dream, and your guests will be in awe of the natural surroundings.

3. Jasper National Park, Alberta

Nestled in the Canadian Rockies in Alberta, this wedding destination has it all: mountains, forests and clear lakes. Truly a winter wonderland, this park is ideal for a ceremony on a lake, in the woods or in one of several five-star hotels. As the largest park in the Canadian Rockies, Jasper offers dining, recreation, sightseeing and relaxation spots that can’t be beat.

4. Emerald Lake Lodge, British Columbia

For a more cozy, mountain-themed wedding, you’ll love Emerald Lake Lodge. Surrounded by forests with snow-covered pines, this location will bring a whole new feel to your wedding. Outside you can enjoy in the breath-taking mountain views and the gleaming winter snow.

Warm fires, comfy furniture and beautiful cabin decor greet you inside the lodge. You and your guests will find this scenic getaway perfect for your once-in-a-lifetime event.

5. Strathmere, Ottawa

Strathmere can give you a homey, country-style wedding. This retreat has more than 200 acres of beautiful wooded areas and farmland. You can choose to have your ceremony outdoors on the beautiful landscape, or indoors in a cozy setting. With an historic inn, a garden house and of course the lodge, there are plenty of options. Food, guest rooms, wedding coordination and even food styling can all be arranged for with the lodge.

At any of these five destinations, your Canadian winter wedding will be exquisite and a day to cherish. Take the next step in your wedding planning and reserve a beautiful wedding venue.

Image Courtesy of HighMountainWeddings.com

There is no more beautiful setting for a wedding to take place than at Lake Tahoe. It is an opportunity for photographs and videos that will complement your wedding with memories to last forever. During the winter months you have the glistening snow as a backdrop for all of those photographs and memories to treasure. First is deciding which of the many wonderful venues to use for your momentous occasion. Ceremony sites can be from going to the chapel to a mountain top experience.

Lake Tahoe offers a chapel that will take you right to the water’s edge; as well as many other chapels that have beautiful views of the lake and the mountains. Your wedding can be inspired by the panoramic view of the area. A chapel would offer you a venue inside from the cold winter weather found in Lake Tahoe. The setting would still be as beautiful as if you were outdoors in the middle of the snow.

If you prefer to have an outdoor wedding in the middle of winter, then you might check out some places that offer weddings in their garden gazebo. Some offers heating in the form of heat lamps to keep you warm during your ceremony. This type of ceremony will be lovely with the stars shining down at night on you while you exchange your vows. Add some soft romantic music and lights; and your wedding can be the dream wedding you have always wanted. These venues make an outdoor wedding in the middle of winter in Lake Tahoe possible.

Then, after your beautiful winter wedding at Lake Tahoe, you will be ready to have a reception to celebrate the joining together of two loves. Some of the reception rooms available will offer you the same great views of the mountains and the lake that inspired your wedding ceremony. Some of the venues will offer to do everything for you. They will provide the cake and the champagne as well as the other foods. You can choose a full buffet or just appetizers. Some venues will offer live music with a real DJ as well as ample room for dancing. What could be better than a romantic wedding ceremony at Lake Tahoe followed by an exciting and well organized reception?

Before or after the ceremony, you and your guest might enjoy working off some steam at a local ski resort. Winter in Lake Tahoe offers some of the best skiing. These resorts get plenty of snow, so you are sure to find a way to play while you are waiting for the big event. They have sledding and tubing and even ice skating for those who dare. But if you want to be a little bit safer and relaxed, you can always take a romantic sleigh ride through the snow. Or, why not stick around after the ceremony for a few days and enjoy a honeymoon at one of the local ski resorts. That way you can take part in all of these activities together as a married couple.

Whichever unique venue you choose to have for your wedding at Lake Tahoe, it is sure to be remembered by all that attends. With the beautiful lake and the magnificent mountains, there is no way to go wrong with a wedding at Lake Tahoe. So grab a few friends or even a lot of friends and family, and come to Lake Tahoe and celebrate with a gorgeous wedding and fun reception. And don’t forget to enjoy the slopes while you are there, or maybe the fabulous sleigh ride through the falling snow.

Image Courtesy of 'Memoirs of a Mountain Girl'

Finding the perfect location for your wedding day is critical if you want it to be memorable. The last thing anyone wants is to have an unmemorable wedding. You want it to be the type of wedding that your friends and family talk about for years after. Getting married is a big deal, so having it at a memorable location is crucial.  For those of you in the Colorado area or those of you who want to be married there, I’ve listed some of the top wedding venues in your area!

1) The Craftwood Inn is located in Manitou Springs, Colorado. The inn is also a historic landmark that is located on a hillside. It was established in the early 1900s and has been open since. The Craftwood Inn is a beautiful location with stunning landscape. The Craftwood Inn’s award winning restaraunt varies from Colorado wild game, to seafood and delicious desserts. If you decide to have your winter wedding here, you are guaranteed to have an unforgettable wedding.

2) Hudson Gardens is located in Littleton, Colorado, which is outside of Denver.  Hudson Gardens offers couples a cozy but charming location to be married. Hudson Gardens and Event Center has wood flooring throughout the facility as well as vaulted ceilings. For a wedding the location will seat 250 people. On the ceiling you will also notice exposed wood beams. Hudson Gardens and Event Center was established in 1941, and was a long desired dream that was finally made reality by Colonel King C. and Evelyn Leigh Hudson.

3) There are actually four different Crystal Rose wedding locations throughout Denver.  These venues offer a scenic view like nowhere else on Earth. It is so beautiful that you will not have to think twice about having your wedding here after you’ve seen it. Another benefit of having your winter wedding here is that you have the option of choosing an indoor wedding or an outdoor wedding. If you always wanted an outdoor wedding, this is the ideal location to have it.

4) The Stanley Hotel - This location truly is a breathtaking, unique location. It is the hotel that inspired Stephen King to write the book ‘The Shining.’ The hotel is said to be haunted by ghosts, which is a must for any couples who want to get married at an unforgettable location. Just being at Stanley Hotel is something you will never forget. Having a wedding there is something you will be able to boast about for years. This venue is a luxurious landmark location that has been open for business since 1909. The whole hotel is overlooking the beautiful Estes Valley with stunning views that will dazzle the eyes.

5) Considered to be one of the best gardens in the entire United States, Denver Botanical Gardens is located on York Street. The Denver Botanical Gardens offers a wide variety of plants that are imported from around the world, so you will not only see native plants but exotic plants also. One thing is for sure, your ceremony will look incredible!! Check out the link to see the various locations you can hold your event.

What I like about these various locations is that they can each meet couples’ varying tastes and demands.  You can’t go wrong and they’re all BEAUTIFUL locations!!

Image Courtesy of Three Winks Studio and TheBrideandGroom.com Blog

Planning a wedding involves an assortment of decisions which need to be made to create the perfect day to suit your style and personal taste. You can create a them for your wedding simply by choosing just the right combination of colors for your special day. For winter weddings occurring between November and February, you can choose unique color schemes to create a distinctively unique wedding.
November weddings will most likely use combinations of fall colors to create a celebration of autumn foliage.  However, especially for y’all up north, some winter schemes can transition everyone into the winter season due to early snowfalls & dropping temperatures.  Deep green, burnt orange and dark red can be used throughout to highlight the changing of the leaves. One alternate option is to use the colors of fall mums as an inspiration for color pairing. Teaming deep red, dark purple, gold and bronze is a unique mixture of colors, all which complement one another.

December, typically centered around the holiday season, can be the basis of a wedding color scheme which is different and eye catching. One option is to pair a white bridal gown with jet black bridesmaid dresses and use bright red for accents such as flowers, boutonnieres, bow ties, sashes and pew decorations for a formal and modern style wedding. Alternately, pairing dark purple, lavender, silver and grey can create a lavish color scheme which is suitable for winter as the shades of purple are reminiscent of sugarplums.

January, when the New Year is being honored, can focus on icicle inspired colors for a truly winter theme wedding. Pairing dark blue, pale ice blue and white will create a winter wonderland theme for your special day. To make a winter wedding a bit out of the ordinary, and to move the color theme to the opposite end of the spectrum, pairing bright pink, sunny yellow, grass green and cool turquoise can give your winter wedding a bit of summer flair and levity.

February, which hosts one of the most romantic holidays of the year, can use Valentine’s Day as a theme. Bright red, pale pink and white work well together. You can also combine Plum, lavender, copper and camel to create a subtle color scheme which hints at the upcoming spring.

Regardless of the color combination used for your wedding, opt to add dashes of complimentary colors throughout the venue to create a look which is eye catching and completely distinctive when compared to traditional wedding color schemes. One of the best ways to find the right color theme for you is to pick your favorite color or hue and start seeing which variations match up well. Keep in mind to think outside of the box, and don’t discount any color as a good pairing until you have visually assessed how the colors work together. You may be surprised what works and what does not.

Image Courtesy of Martha Stewart Weddings

Winter is a wonderful time to get married and because it is a slower season, you may be able to get better prices on catering, photography and other wedding services. Outdoor weddings are beautiful, but can be risky because of weather concerns.  Ensuring that you have thoroughly planned out your wedding and preparing for any outcome (especially the ones that are beyond your control!) will cause less stress on your big day. Having a back-up plan for severe weather is especially important.

If you are having a winter wedding outside, having a sheltered area for guests is important. A wedding tent or other type of similar covering can provide the protection from the elements necessary for a comfortable ceremony. Including portable heaters would also mean a lot to your guests. These heaters and tents are reasonably priced and can go a long way to make your guests comfortable.  Even the milder climates can cause discomfort outside, so when choosing a venue, it may be a good idea to choose a venue where they have indoor options as well.

Your guests may need to drive in inclement weather and having discounted hotels or other accommodations for spending the night is a great idea, if you can negotiate a good deal! Your guests will feel more secure about making the trip out to see you on your day, especially when you’re going out of your way to prevent any potential accidents if the weather does not permit a safe return trip. Suggesting that guests arrive the day before the wedding is also a good idea, so no one will miss out on the fun you’ve been preparing for them! Think about having small gift baskets or bags waiting for your out of town guests makes them feel important. The baskets can contain things like hot chocolate, tea, crackers or cookies and brochures about nearby attractions. This will welcome your guests and let them know that you are happy that they made the effort to come to your celebration. You may also want to put a schedule of all events in this basket. A list of restaurants with menus would also be beneficial for those spending the night, if the hotel doesn’t already provide them.

Speaking of awful weather, definitely consider wedding insurance!! A lot of venues already require this coverage, but it is definitely worth it when things happen beyond your control even when they may not.

Decorating for outdoor weddings can also be less expensive than the other popular seasons. Birch branches could be set up along the isle with tiny white lights. Think about using seasonal berries, leaves or other natural plants. You can coordinate the entire wedding party’s bouquets with this type of natural materials for a inexpensive and interesting look to a outside wedding. Small favors for your guests can follow this same theme. Seedling for spring, bird seed feeders from pine cones or cookies shaped like leaves can all make great take home thank you gifts.

If you are serving food at your reception, make sure you have plenty of hot dishes and drinks. Soups, and hearty dishes can make your guests feel warm inside and out. A coffee bar with ingredients for specialty coffee drinks can substitute for a traditional bar and may also save you money.

Planning ahead for any possible unexpected weather event can ensure that your winter outdoor wedding flows smoothly. Your guests will appreciate the care that you took to make them comfortable and enjoy the unusual yet charming outdoor venue. Make plans early and then enjoy the most special day of your life stress free.

Recent Trends for Winter Weddings

A winter wedding creates an atmosphere of enchantment and elegance. Not only does a wedding in the winter season set the stage for beauty, many couples have an easier time securing venues because the season is less busy. Colors, the dress, flowers, photography, and the reception are all key aspects of weaving together a winter wedding.

Image Courtesy of MarthaStewartWeddings.com

An apple spice punch, for example, made with apple, pineapple, lemon, and orange juices, ginger ale, cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg, is a flavorful wedding beverage which incorporates the natural splendor of autumn. Certain fruits, such as cranberries, can be mixed with sugar and made into a puree that will pair very well with a variety of fruity white wines or champagne. A sparkling fruit punch can be made with apple, peach and cranberry juices, fresh, sliced peaches, cloves, and fruity white wine. Many alcoholic beverages can be turned into non-alcoholic beverages by simply omitting the alcohol and adding ginger ale.

Winter weddings bring to mind the warmth of a cozy fireplace, while gazing out to a freshly fallen snow. There are a wealth of ideas for bringing this warmth to your winter wedding gathering. Wassail, a beverage traditionally served during winter, is typically made with apple cider, lemon and orange juices, sugar, water, and a variety of spices which usually include allspice and cinnamon; this aromatic beverage is perfect for a winter wedding celebration. A variety of delicious gourmet hot chocolates will allow you to have fun and be creative; enjoy serving special blends of white chocolate, mint, or peppermint flavored beverages. For an added touch, try adding a chocolate liqueur. You will also find an extensive variety of delicious coffee drinks that make great wedding beverages; try hot or iced white-chocolate mochas, creamy vanilla or caramel lattes, or flavored coffee drinks with hazelnut, almond, butter rum, or macadamia nut syrups. The variety is endless. Eggnog is another winter specialty that allows great creativity. Try an eggnog beverage mixed with peppermint ice-cream, ginger ale, and rum for a festive wedding treat.

Another great idea is one I found on Martha Stewart’s Wedding site. You use caramel wafers to rest over the top of your guests’ coffee mugs. The warmth of the coffee will soften up the wafer to delights your guests’ taste buds with a “warm, gooey treat.” Click on the image above to see more ideas from her website!

A wonderfully delicious variety of fall and winter beverages await you and your guests; you will find the internet and specialty recipe books to be most helpful when looking for the perfect beverage for your special day.

Image Courtesy of Mountain Top Inn Weddings

There are some great locations in New England for fall weddings. The first location is the Mountain Top Inn and Resort. The Mountain Top Inn and Resort is located in Chittenden, Vermont. The resort can hold up to 250 people at one time. There are a variety of outdoor sites that a couple can choose from for their wedding. Some of these sites include on the beach or in their meadow of the mountains. The mountains offer the guests a wonderful view for you and everyone who is attending your wedding. They have experts on staff that can help you with every aspect of your wedding. Plus there are different activities that your guests can do on the days before the wedding.

The second location is the Winnetu Oceanside Resort. The Winnetu Oceanside Resort is located in Edgartown, Massachusetts. It overlooks the South Beach that is on Martha’s Vineyard. There is enough room for up to 145 guests for your wedding. They have a team on staff that can help you plan everything for your wedding, including the food. It is a very unique place to have a wedding. This is because of the location and the wonderful staff. They want your wedding to be something that you will remember for years and years to come. The setting is very beautiful and the food is out of this world. Therefore, you have nothing to worry about when you are getting married at this location. *While this may not be ideal for colder weather, it could also serve as a great location for rehearsal dinners.

The third location is the Lovetts Inn. The Lovetts Inn is located in a very small village of Franconia, New Hampshire. This inn was built in 1784 so it has a lot of historic value to it. It is a great place for a couple who wants a country style wedding. There can be up to 160 guests at your wedding comfortably. Everyone who comes to your wedding will feel very relaxed while they are there. They have a chef on staff that is very well known for his wonderful food. The outdoor country setting features beautiful views of the White Mountains, wonderful green lawns, flower gardens, and a wonderful pond. Therefore, your wedding will be very tasteful.

The fourth location is the Alamoosook Lakeside Inn. The Alamoosook Lakeside Inn is located in Orland, Maine. The inn is surrounded by some of the most beautiful woods, lawns, and gardens in Maine. All of these things make for a wedding that you will never forget. And they will do everything that they can do to make your wedding dreams come true. Most people choose to get married on the beautiful green lawn of the inn. The wedding couple can leave their wedding smiling because of the wonderful staff that is there to help them to plan every step of the way. The food that will be served at your wedding is all grown at one of the local farms.

The fifth location is the Village By the Sea. The Village By the Sea is located in Wells, Maine. They understand that your wedding day is very important to you and they know that you deserve the best service possible. The staff is committed to doing everything that they can to make this day in your life wonderful. The most popular place to get married here is the gazebo. They have an executive chef on their staff that is known for his variety of food that he creates. The food includes a full service buffet, plated entrees, and cocktails for everyone who is attending your wedding.