How to Have a Winter Wedding
Being a nature lover in the Pacific Northwest is easy. We have mountains and lakes and beaches aplenty to make any outdoor enthusiast swoon. Getting married in nature? That’s a different thing entirely. So many couples seem to think nature means outdoors, and that outdoors means summer! But in the Pacific Northwest there are about two months, July and August, when “summer” is in full swing. That’s six to eight Saturdays a year that couples compete to have their outdoor wedding experience. If you’ve looked, you know how expensive locations and vendors can get during this prime time. But the Pacific Northwest has an evergreen reputation that is available year-round. We love the vibrant oranges of fall, the gorgeous tans and greens of winter, and the lush colors at the beginning of spring. So why not get married in the off-season? Here’s how.
THE REAL TAPESTRY COUPLE.
Recently, Lukas and Roxy were married at the Cattle Barn in Cle Elum, Washington in early winter. Their love was so evident on their faces, and it shined through the details of their wedding day. The Cattle Barn was the perfect place for Lukas and Roxy in the winter months because of its versatility and beauty. They were immersed in the wide open plains of Central Washington while remaining toasty warm in their barn venue space.
The Tapestry Team loved working in this space during the off-season because…
You get the keys Friday-Sunday to work all of your magic and party your hearts out.
There are RV hook-ups and plenty of land for overnight guests to stay the night.
The barn and patio are a blank, weather-adaptable canvas. We were able to create viking and hygge inspired space that reflected the bride and groom’s personalities and create intimate spaces for guests.
The longer rental period paired with the couple’s DIY spirit made this wedding into a winter wonderland, complete with patches of snow. After hosting their ceremony in the barn, they offered hot beverages, tomato soup, a panini station, and an easy hot toddy bar in a big tent on the Cattle Barn courtyard. These thoughtful choices made all the guests feel cozy, burrowing into the winter festivities and relaxing together. By housing a photo booth, lounge, and hot food and drinks on one side of the barn, with hay bales, spears, lawn games, and a keg on the other side of the barn, we were able to create a space that invited Lukas and Roxy 's guests to move around the property and play with the winter theme.
A unique aspect to this wedding was Lukas’s handmade viking ship featuring a jaw dropping charcuterie board (it went viral!). No matter how you feel about meat, it brought the couples personalities and passions to this celebration of their love for each other.
FIND YOUR PERFECT WINTER VENUE.
That same spirit of adventure and personalization can be applied to lots of off-season spaces in the Pacific Northwest. One of our favorite locations is Alpine Lakes High Camp, where you can plan a weekend wedding or elopement adventure. The snow in the winter begs for skis and snowboards; the blossoming of spring brings growth and new life to the mountainside; and the change of leaves and landscape in the fall is a transformational concerto. Imagine being escorted up the mountain on an 8-mile private road, joining your family and friends at the lodges and cabins, and celebrating the season with outdoor activities ranging from skiing, to hiking, to mountain biking, to relaxing in the sauna. Because of the PNW’s penchant for rain, so many venues in the area come with indoor and outdoor accommodations that allow for gatherings any time of year. If you’re ready to embrace the season, we can show you how.
WINTER WEDDING SAVINGS!
One of the biggest bonuses to getting married in the off-season is saving dollars! You’ll see less competition with other celebrations in venue rates, as well as off-season hospitality rates for guests. We are always trying to help couples figure out how to use their budgets in ways that make the most impact for them. We want your budget to be appropriately distributed based on your values. Spending a chunk of change on a venue just because of wedding season surge pricing may not always be worth it when the same venue would be available at a fraction of the price in November. There’s also more freedom in finding the exact date you want as well as a greater availability of vendors — including planners, coordinators, officiants, and venues — that are your ideal fit for your personalities and budget.
Many couples that get engaged around the holidays may become stressed at the idea of a planning timeline for a strictly summer wedding. “Do I plan a celebration in under 6 months?” or “Do I wait a year and a half before we can get married?” A winter wonderland (or fall, or early spring!) wedding allows you a cozy, one-year engagement and an easeful planning process. Remember: professionals are here to give you the freedom to create a marriage celebration in any season. If you are having a hard time creating an off-season vision, reach out to a planner!
— Kelleen, Tapestry Content Manager
Photos courtesy of Stefan and Audrey