Image Courtesy of www.Michigan.Org

When two people choose to get married, it can be a very big decision. There is a great deal of planning that goes into many different kinds of weddings and choosing the right kind of venue for your ceremony can be a bit of challenge. There are so many different options that convey different emotions and contain different atmospheres that can help enhance the ceremony itself and provide a comfortable place for both family, friends and those who are undergoing the ceremony.  Here are some ideas for romantic venues for weddings – in honor of the most romantic day of the year!

Heaven Event Center, Orlando, Florida

One of the most important aspects of any ceremony is having everything perfect and exactly the way that you want. In order to make this happen, many people choose to hold their ceremonies in venues that they can decorate themselves such as the Heaven Event Center in Orlando, Florida. These give those, who are looking to undergo the ceremony, the ability to create a loving and romantic atmosphere that accurately reflects the love that the two people have for each other. Customizable venues can portray a loving, vital and vibrant reflection of the relationship between the two who are willing to tie the knot together.

The Grand Hotel, Mackinac Island, Michigan

One of the most important parts of ceremonies is making them memorable. Having your ceremony at the top of a building like the The Grand Hotel and seeing all of the surrounding area below can create a very memorable experience. Your events can be held in two locations, on the balcony or in the garden. Not only do you have everything (I repeat – EVERYTHING!) you may need on location – salon, hotel rooms, activities for your guests (golf, tennis, swimming, etc.), the beautiful scenery will create an even more memorable experience for all involved.

English Gardens, Winter Park, Florida

A garden, such as the English Gardens located in Winter Park, Florida, is a fantastic place to hold a wedding ceremony because of the natural beauty that the foliage and flora provide. It helps to give people fresh air and is a stark contrast from a stuffy, traditional church. What makes a garden so great is the fact that people can enjoy nice weather outside in a relaxing atmosphere and go right to the reception which can be held near the ceremony itself.

Any Cathedral or Chateau in France

Everybody dreams of having a traditional wedding where the bride and groom romantically exchange vows in a traditional church. This is how marriages have been done for quite a while and is the stand-by for those who wish to hold ceremonies. But, some people strive for something a little larger than a regular church.  Cathedrals like the gorgeous Chartres Cathedral (used as an example just to place an image!) in France offer a towering, grandiose and beautiful alternative to regular churches as they seem to mirror the importance and majesty of the occasion. Cathedrals, and Chateaus, are perfect for people who love the idea of marking an important time in their lives with a grand statement. These types of venues not only provide you with an incredible destination wedding, you and your loved one are also able to be married in one of the most romantic countries in the world!

Paradise Cove, Orlando, Florida

Many people who choose to have a less traditional wedding often opt for a ceremony by an ocean, such as Paradise Cove in Orlando, Florida. This can be extremely romantic for the same reason above (Mackinac Island) but because it is near the ocean and it adds a bit of fun to the mix. People can enjoy the sand and the sun as well as the water while they watch two people join together in holy matrimony.

All of these options present beautiful ways to get married to the person you love. One can be sure that picking a venue that is romantic and beautiful is exactly what is needed can bring lasting happiness to any relationship and marriage.

So simple yet so lovely!

This would be gorgeous at a botanical garden venue.

I’m obsessed with this shot.

I’m thinking this would be awesome for a vineyard theme.

The doors for the entrance are brilliant.

This would be great for a late afternoon/early evening wedding – an area for people to wind down and “chill” before they head home!

I love this dance area

Happy Monday, y’all!

Image Courtesy of Madi Flournoy

As brides-to-be look ahead to the plans they will make for their 2012 weddings, there are many things to consider. 2012 wedding trends will be at the forefront of their considerations, as they seek to plan a dreamy event that is marked with personal style, and a popular flair. There are many fun design elements to watch for in the coming year.

Wedding Gowns

Interesting embellishments and styles take the traditional white gown in an interesting direction. While some will opt for shorter wedding dresses, others will look to designers who incorporate unusual embellishment. Whether a bit of color is incorporated into the gown, or unusual textures, full length gowns will be individualized through the integration of contrasting materials and accents.

Bouquets

The natural look is among the preferences for the 2012 wedding season, with greenery and floral décor combined. However, another interesting trend to watch for is the use of non-floral bouquets. Silk and fabric flowers, beads, and materials, may be worked together to achieve a striking centerpiece for the bride to carry. Vintage elements, incorporated into a flower-like arrangement, will be the talk of the wedding, for many 2012 brides.

Centerpieces and Decor

In this same vein, the centerpieces and décor for many nuptials will use the same themes, whether vintage materials and jewelry pieces, or whether the natural look. Smaller is better and allows guests to appreciate each unique part of the décor.

Striking color combinations will be featured, as well. While traditional pastels are still popular, expect unusual combinations. Bold colors, such as Pantone’s “Tangerine Tango” (the color of the year), will be included in many wedding color schemes.

Invitations

Traditional invitations, with frilly printing and imagery, are set aside for more personal designs. Bride and groom may design their own invitations, with print-on-demand services, or with their own computers and printers. Incorporation of interesting imagery or photography, or coordinating colors with the wedding color scheme, will be an integral element of 2012 invitation design.

Favors

Customization is a key feature of the wedding favor for 2012. Whether artisan cookies, resembling the bride’s gown, are used as table favors, or boxed luxury cupcakes, edible is in. Cake pops are also very well received, and molds can be used to shape them into hearts, wedding bells, or doves, making these one of the newest, unique favors. Interests of the bride and groom will also be reflected in table favors, in many cases, with toy replicas or miniature stuffed animals bearing the wedding date, and names of the happy couple.

Food

Guests love unique food at wedding receptions, and brides and grooms love creating a fun theme for their receptions. The candy buffet has been one of the most popular trends in recent years. Watch for coffee bars, food trucks, and fun novelty treat stations. Cotton candy, sundae stations, and hot dog carts will be acceptable, when presented in creative, nostalgic manner.

In short, the wedding of 2012 will be all about personal preference, crowd pleasing fun, and creative design. Re-using materials, or supporting local businesses, the 2012 bride will combine color with creativity, to achieve the wedding of her dreams.

Image Courtesy of Paper Doll Romance

While brides spend their efforts putting together an amazing ceremony and reception, they can use their cocktail hour as a subtle transition between the two events.  With the proper lighting, music and open atmosphere, guests have a warm and welcoming time to relax and hang out before the party really kicks off.

Drinks can be a real defining moment for cocktail hour. A couple of nice drinks can make all the difference in the world. The martini or champagne drinks are nice, but one should also consider the season.  You can always add special holiday traits to signature drinks – eggnog or candy cane martinis, y’all? But you can also include beverages, such as hot chocolate or hot apple cider, that are perfect for a warm winter gathering. While planners cannot pull off hot drinks throughout the year, they are ideal for creative twists for weddings during the season.

No matter the temperature outdoors, some guests will always go with cool drinks. The internet is filled with a plethora of different recipes for occasions such as this. Some planners mix juices and champagnes together to conjure up delicious cold drink ideas. Champagne Pomegranate Cocktails, for example, use ingredients that call for both champagne and pomegranate juice.  Frozen eggnog is also a great drink idea for a winter wedding. This is a different twist from the hot beverage theme, but it still works well in the winter season. While these ideas are unique and ‘out of the box’, it ensures your guests will have a wide variety while they wait for you to arrive.

When it comes to the food, it’s best to keep it small and simple. You don’t want to overfeed your guests if you have a larger, more extravagant meal prepared for the reception.  One thing to keep in mind is that while some venues may have the menu planned out for both the cocktail hour and the reception, check and see how the food will match to whatever drinks you’re serving.  You don’t want beverages and hor d’oeuvres to leave an unpleasant aftertaste and leave people feeling awkward!

A nice wintery theme is great, but it is incomplete without the right music. Sometimes it takes a harp or a string quartet to set the mood – if it’s within your budget. Classical music is often perfect for setting the mood prior to the wedding and can appeal to the masses.

Decorating during the holidays may be the least stressful task on your planning list. It is easy to decorate when all of the other elements above are set in place.  Snowflakes decorations are a common way to bring out the look and feel of the winter season. Change the lighting and ornaments to match your color theme while selecting the appropriate centerpieces and floral arrangements…there’s not much left to worry about.

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 the Ruffled Blog

The winter months are an excellent time for holding a wedding ceremony. The weather can be picturesque and the gathering of wedding attendants helps create a warm, festive feeling for the special event. A wedding theme inspired by the sights and sensations associated with wintertime can be easy to create and follow without the need for extra expensive accessories and decorations. By choosing to make your own centerpieces for a winter wedding, you can save money as well as express your creativity as you prepare for the big day.

Flower arrangements make attractive centerpieces for any type of wedding, and can be customized to create a truly wintry feel. Choose large flowers with petals that spread wide to create a full, robust arrangement. Lilies, chrysanthemums and peonies are all good choices for centerpiece arrangements, but you can choose any flower you prefer. Pale or white colors of flowers work best with a winter theme. Poinsettias of any color are also highly appropriate for a winter theme. If you opt for silk flowers instead of visiting a florist for your centerpieces, make sure that they are of good quality and look professional. Once you have your flowers, arrange them in large, cylindrical, solid-colored vases so that the centerpiece appears to be full without any large gaps in the petals. As an added touch, you can cut white embossed wallpaper to fit around each vase and secure the paper in place with double-sided tape to increase your centerpieces’ elegance.

A relatively inexpensive option for designing your own winter wedding centerpieces is to use clear glass candle holders and long, tapering candlesticks to create a sophisticated array of light. Find glass candle holders at home design stores, thrift shops or in your own collection. The holders can either match uniformly or be a whimsical mix of different shapes and sizes. Then choose long candlesticks and fit them into their holders. White or silver candles evoke the frosty theme of snowy winter settings, but you can also choose a pastel shade of one of your wedding colors for the candlesticks. Arrange the centerpieces in the middle of your table so that they create an aesthetically pleasing visual effect, then light them once the ceremony is about to begin. Be sure that the lit candles are out of the way of any unwary guest that might accidentally bump into or brush up against them.

Filling clear glass bowls with natural elements that are commonly associated with the winter season is another way to create elegant, inexpensive centerpieces that will impress you guests. Place white pebbles, soft gray stones, artificial red berries or pomegranate seeds in the bottom of decorative glass bowls. Small clippings from pine trees, pine cones, holly or fancy plastic snowflakes can then be placed on top of the base materials, so that they slightly reach out of the top of the bowl. This centerpiece option has a lot of room for customization. You can combine the suggested materials or any other winter elements in a number of ways to create truly unique decorations. Once you have crafted centerpieces that fit your aesthetic tastes, you can position them on tables and surround them with a few tea light candles as an extra special touch.

When you are making DIY centerpieces for winter weddings, what you make is limited by your own creativity. Keep in mind the vision you have for your decorations and follow your aesthetic sensibilities to ensure that you create centerpieces that look good to both yourself and others. Doing this will ensure that your winter themed decor is truly memorable.

Image Courtesy of Hotel Kakslauttanen

Many people choose to stay in romantic tropical locations for their honeymoon. However, others like to make their honeymoon one they will never forget. Choosing a unique place to stay for your honeymoon provides you and your new spouse the opportunity to spend the night in a place that you would never think possible.
Under the Sea

Some people may have heard of Atlantis, the mystical city that disappeared beneath the ocean. The Poseidon Underwater Resort, located somewhere off the coast of Fiji, provides guests with a unique one-week experience. This hotel’s rooms are actually located 40 feet below the surface of the ocean. Guests descend to the rooms via elevator. Each room provides panoramic views of the ocean floor and the sea life that resides there. Space is extremely limited, and you must stay for one week.

An Icy Stay

Spending the night in an arctic location may not seem like a pleasant experience for newlyweds. However, there are a couple of ice hotels available where you can stay in comfort within the arctic circle for your honeymoon. ICEHOTEL, in Sweden, is rebuilt each winter to create a new experience for each guest. The hotel is only open between the months of December and April. After April, the walls begin to melt, making the hotel unsafe.

Another ice hotel option is Hotel Kakslauttanen in Finland. At this hotel, newlyweds can choose to stay in a log cabin or the special honeymoon turf chamber. If a couple seeks a different experience, they can choose to spend their time at the hotel in an igloo. The igloo provides guests with an AMAZING view of the Northern Lights.  For Destination Weddings, they have options for both summer and winter weddings.  They also have two options for chapels – including one completely sculpted out of ice and snow.

Turkish Caves

If Turkey is the honeymoon destination, the Gamirasu Cave Hotel provides a unique experience. This hotel was built in the same way the traditional cave dwellings in the area were built. In fact, it is actually a remodeled Byzantine monastic retreat. However, the remodel kept the hotel looking much as it originally had so it still fits in with the surrounding landscape. The hotel provides honeymooning couples with several packages that are tailored specifically for a newlywed couple.  If you click on the wedding section of their site, you can read about previous weddings at the caves.

Royal Accommodations

Those who travel to Scotland or Ireland for their honeymoon can take advantage of the royal treatment. Both countries offer the opportunity for newlywed couples to spend their honeymoon inside one of the many castles located throughout the area. These historic castles have been transformed into hotel accommodations for visitors to enjoy. A newlywed couple can relax away from their normal lives and pretend they are king and queen for the endurance of their honeymoon.

Scottish Honeymoons

In addition to staying in one of the castles in Scotland, honeymooners can choose from one of the other unique experiences available. A newlywed couple can choose to spend three or six days on a cruise, which uses an old wooden ship. This unique experience gives couples a taste of what it was like before the time of iron steamers. Other options in Scotland include staying in a lighthouse, at a secluded island hideaway or in an 18th century farmhouse.

Choosing a unique honeymoon destination gives you and your new spouse a chance to make memories that will last a life time. Everyone remembers their honeymoon, but many choose a destination that they have visited before or will visit again. Making your honeymoon a unique experience ensures that you will always remember this special time following your very special day.