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 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 Ridge Resort at Lake Tahoe

A wedding is a special event filled with precious memories to treasure for years to come. Choosing the top US locations for an outdoor winter wedding proved to be quite challenging as many resorts are available that specialize in winter weddings, each having their own aura of charm and elegance. The five cited below are definitely at the top of the list.

1.The Ridge Resort at Lake Tahoe, Nevada. This facility takes care of all details including wedding, reception and accommodations. For winter weddings, a complimentary package is offered which includes 3 night honeymoon, champagne toast for reception and your choice of either two Heavenly Lift tickets or an exclusive spa gift certificate. For the perfect wedding, include a brief ceremony at the base of the lift. Once ended, take off in a shower of confetti with your spouse aboard the Heavenly lift for a quiet time together, returning later to join your wedding party at the reception by a fireplace indoors. Photos taken at different sites could fill your album with a wonderland of wedding memorabilia.

2.Hudson Gardens Event Center in Denver, Colorado. This location offers unique and picturesque settings or your winter wedding outdoors. Imagine sheer white of the bride’s dress against white snow with splotches of color such as her bouquet and the grooms black tux, combined with an array of color chosen for the wedding party. Mink wraps, sable stoles or faux fur would add a touch of elegance and the service of a white or silver stretch limo or horse -driven carriage for the wedding party is a plus. A gazebo with white gauzy hangings and ornate space heaters would create a magical effect for the ceremony. Then move indoors to a reception by a fireplace where rich decorations, sumptuous food, petit fours and warm spicy drinks would add a delicious completion to this fairy tale wedding.

3. Stonebridge Country Club in Manchester, New Hampshire, is a scenic and beautiful location for winter weddings. With a heat pump and open fires, an aura of warmth will be yours throughout the wedding ceremony and reception. The ceremony and reception can be held in a canopied tent or at a site with a panoramic view of the garden or lake, a wonderland of white in winter. The staff at Stonebridge will cater to your fancy and address your theme of choice whether a Hawaiian luau or Scottish highland’s feast.

4.Star Hill Ranch in Austin, Texas. If history and country are your style for a winter wedding, Star Hill Ranch is the place for you. Situated along a historic street framed with buildings that mark the area’s historic past, Star Hill Ranch has much to offer. Located only minutes apart are its quaint historic country chapel and a charming bride’s house. The mild winters Texas boasts allow the ceremony and reception to be held in its outdoor arbor. The wide streets will accommodate hayrides or street parades to add that great flavor of an outdoor country winter wedding.

5. Lanikuhonua in Hawaii. Who says you can’t have it all? You can escape to an island paradise for the winter wedding of your dreams. Lanikuhonua has a private get-away beach and offers quite a romantic setting for your winter wedding. With its breathtaking scenery and delightful entertainment all you need is a colorful lei to complete your wedding outfit. You can choose from a simple barefoot wedding on the beach, to traditional, or a more exotic and elegantly romantic wedding on the lavish lawn areas that will astound your guests. This private beach setting is earmarked for a dream wedding never to be forgotten.

For your winter wedding, bear your guests’ comfort in mind. Make outdoor ceremonies brief, opt for comfortable clothing and have lots of hot spicy drinks on hand. You will have the unforgettable wedding you dreamed of and your guests will enjoy the moment with you!

The matter of setting up activities for kids also becomes easier when you are outdoors. After all, you do not want kids running around in a church or a wedding hall. They might damage something and they will make a lot more noticeable noise. However, if the wedding is outdoors you can always arrange stuff for them to do.

Kids are happy as long as they are entertained. You are going to want to set up games for them to play. Depending on how old they are, you might want to pick different games. Sometimes you can have kids board games set up on the lawn, so that they can play with each other and interact while not disturbing the wedding.

If there is a lawn that is large and nearby, and it is safe, you can send the kids there with someone to supervise them. This way they can play a small sports game or something like capture the flag or hide and seek. These games are going to keep them very happy, and chances are they will tire the kids out too. Once the kids are tired they will be more content to sit quietly and rest and enjoy the wedding.  If you end up having your wedding at an venue where an indoor option is allowed as well,  you might even be able to set up a different room where appropriate movies are playing.  Is Halloween near the big day? Play ‘Hocus Pocus” or something along those lines! This is a good way for kids who are tired of playing around to relax yet still be entertained while the “big kids” have fun. Another great halloween/kids’ activity would be to have a bunch of small pumpkins that they can decorate with non-messy materials such as stickers. If there are markers (washable, of course!) around that have a chance of getting on clothing, have spare t-shirts around to avoid unhappy parents.

You can also have the kids play a sport. Playing a bit of soccer or American football may be a good idea. Soccer is a good sport that will have them running around, and everyone loves to play American football. Sometimes, if you do not want them running around too much, you can also get them to play easy sitting down games. They can play charades with each other. That is a game where you have to give clues to a particular movie or book and the other people have to guess. That can be time consuming and a lot of fun. It will keep them occupied.

Having the wedding outdoors is great, and the children will really appreciate it as well. They will not have to be stuck in a boring room or church where they have nothing to do. This way they can run around, play, have fun and not be a disturbance to everyone else during the ceremony or during the pre/post ceremony events. You can also relax and rest easy, knowing no one is bored and the kids are having fun.

Weddings are stressful occasions at the best of times, so be sure to plan ahead. You want a list of activities prepared well in advance, as well as any equipment you may need for those activities. Stake out the area too and decide which games will be safe and which the kids can play without creating any problems. This way, you can immediately set off the kids and tell them what their options are. They can decide what sounds the most appealing and whoever is going to supervise them can take them away. Just double check the surrounding area to make sure it is safe and no one can get lost.

Music is always a hallmark to a wedding, whether it is during the ceremony or during the reception, or both. Many outdoor weddings will just use a DJ for the music both during the ceremony and during the reception. One way to allow your outdoor wedding to stand out is to use live musicians for both the aisle and the subsequent party. For example, if your outdoor wedding is taking place in a rustic environment, and if there is a barn, you can have a guitarist sit up in the haystack, leg hanging over the edge, and strum on their guitar while the bride walks down the aisle. This is a small, subtle, yet lovely way to enhance the aisle walk.

For the party afterward, have a live band. Many people will hire a professional wedding band to play during their wedding, but spice things up by hiring a more unconventional band, like perhaps a jug band or a blue grass band. These options are both complementary to an outdoor setting, but are also distinct from normal wedding bands.

You can also jazz up your outside wedding by having both the ceremony and the part in the same place. In fact, try and secure a large chunk of land and incite your guests to camp out over night. Most of the time, people will attend a wedding, the party, and then go home. It will really liven things up, though, by also making the wedding into a camp out. This is something that people do not always do with an outdoor wedding, and will really help to set yours apart.

As far as decorations go, one great way to add flare your outdoor wedding is to use flowers that you have picked from around the area, rather than going with a florist. Take a small trip out into the country and look for a bunch of wildflowers. In fact, they do not even necessarily have to match each other. More and more, an array of wildflowers are being used at outdoor weddings, as it really helps establish that rustic feel, and also gives your whole wedding décor a unique flavor that people are not likely to see again elsewhere.

At the end of the day, your outdoor wedding is what you make of it. Being creative and daring is a wonderful option for this important day in your life, and there is nothing quite like looking back on your own wedding as the most beautiful, creative, and fun wedding you have ever been to.

#1.  Beneath the Trees: Instead of using an arch, you can find a nice spot where nice, huge trees and act   as your arch. This natural arch makes for great photos and plus it makes for a great shaded area.

#2. Poolside: That’s right! If you have your very own pool in your backyard or a hotel’s pool you can have your very own poolside reception. With some great lighting and a nice tent your wedding is sure to be a showstopper.

#3.  Secluded Meadow:  Let nature take its course and be the perfect stage for your wedding.  You and your guest will enjoy a serene, grassy field located in between mountains.

#4.  A Sail Boat: Sail away with the love of your life. Having your wedding on a sailboat will make a great venue for an outdoor ceremony. Just imagine sharing this moment with your closest family and friends, this could be the picture perfect wedding. Just make sure you bring a couple of umbrellas and parcels just in case you run into some rainy weather.

If you’re going on vacation with your boyfriend or girlfriend and the Grand Canyon will be part of your trip, there is no better way to add a little spice and memory to your vacation. Though you could technically propose any time and place, you want to make this moment one of the most special moments of your life. If you’re a boyfriend proposing to your girlfriend, you want to make this an unforgettable memory. Women think about their proposal starting at a very young age.

When someone proposes to the love of their life, they often take photos to help them remember what they were feeling, what the atmosphere was like and to have a memory to hold on to. If you plan on proposing at the skywalk, you will be able to create amazing photographs. As if the photos of the Grand Canyon aren’t special enough, you can make them even better by adding photos of your engagement.

Since a person only plans on proposing once in their lifetime, they want to make sure they do it right the first time and that it’s as special as possible. When you compare something simple like asking someone to marry you at home while eating a dinner, compared to asking someone to marry you while at the Grand Canyon, there is a big difference. Though it may be the same question, the way you go about doing it is so important.
You want to be able to blow your future spouse away. When you consider something special like the skywalk at the Grand Canyon, you’re boyfriend or girlfriend will be able to see that you took a lot of thought into proposing and didn’t take the easy way out. All this thought put into a proposal not only makes the moment more special, but it also creates even more love and excitement for the one proposing.

As you can see, there are some great reasons to consider proposing at the Grand Canyon skywalk. Not only is it a beautiful place to check out in general, but it’s one of the best ways you can pop the question! So, if you’ve been trying to figure out the best place to propose, one of them is definitely at the Grand Canyon in Arizona.

Finally your big day is making its way near and I am pretty sure you are thinking of exceptional ways to make your grand arrival to your wedding. Rather than showing up to your outdoor wedding in a limo, how about trying something new that goes hand in hand with your wedding theme.

Add some flare to your winter wonderland outdoor wedding by arriving in style in a sleigh. Before you make your way to the wedding, your guest should be standing in a two rows, waiting for your splendid arrival! This spectacular entrance would be worth your wild and certainly put a smile on your wedding guests’ faces!

If you are not too thrilled about having a winter wonderland theme and arriving in a sleigh—you could always go with the Victorian theme and arrive at your wedding by way of a horse-drawn carriage! This elegant entrance, will add that special touch to your wedding ceremony, sending your guest in a romantic trance and granting you the wedding of your dreams!

For all the hopeless romantic brides this one is just for you! Row into your dream garden wedding on a canoe and capture the hearts of your wedding guests. This swanky entrance will be an unforgettable one and will definitely set the mood for your garden theme wedding!

Lastly, you can spruce up your mountain wedding by landing in a helicopter. I am sure many of you are thinking, “I don’t know about going to my wedding in a helicopter”, but this bold arrival is wonderful for dare-devils and risk takers—it will definitely make for memorable photos! This extreme landing will go right along with your mountain wedding ceremony and will knock the socks off of your wedding guests!

There you have it, a few ways how you and your groom-to-be can arrive to your outdoor wedding in style! When you arrive to your wedding in your unique transportation of choice, you will certainly make a grand entrance into the hearts of your wedding guests!