15 Dreamy U.S. Venues to Inspire Your Winter Wedding

*Thanks to Siege Media for their help writing and creating this post.

Mother of the Bride, destination weddings are always beautiful and exciting for both the couple and their guests. Destination weddings give everyone the opportunity to take a mini vacation and explore the area where your wedding is being held.

When we think of destination weddings, a summer wedding at the beach or a vineyard event is what usually comes to mind. For something a bit more out-of-the-box, let’s consider some beautiful wedding venues perfect for a winter destination wedding. 

Planning a winter wedding can not only help you stay within budget but can also give you opportunities to get creative and plan a truly unique wedding day. As we all know, wedding costs can accumulate quickly, especially when you book your wedding during peak wedding season. This is why the winter season is perhaps the best time of year to have a budget-friendly wedding. You’ll also have more flexibility when it comes to vendors and venues since it will be a slower season for everyone. 

Winter weddings can help you add creative and warm details your guests are sure to love. Things like blankets or scarves as party favors, a hot cider station, or a hot chocolate bar are just a few fun favorites that will make your wedding cozy and memorable.

Here are a few winter wedding venues highlighted plus a link to them and more below: 

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. 

Treehouse Point – Issaquah, WA

One of the most unique venues on this list, Treehouse Point offers a breathtaking area in the middle of the forest full of adorable treehouses for your guests to stay in. Plan your wedding in one of their communal areas for an unforgettable event.

For photos of the above options as well as more venue ideas, check out the full list of winter wedding locations. 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.

Have fun with your daughter, MOB, as you consider these winter wonderland destination venues for her big day!

*You might also like to read Favor Help for Winter Weddings, Winter Wedding Cake Idea: Snowflakes!, and Winter Wedding Cake: Pinecones and Baby’s Breath!

*For info about my book Mother of the Bride and also my Wedding Inspiration cards, check out my Books/My Work page.

*The new issue of Life Notes, my quarterly inspirational newsletter with a giveaway in every regularly scheduled issue, will come out in early May. Sign-up is free and to the right! (If you’re on a mobile device, scroll to the bottom of the screen and click View Full Site to find it.)

*Thanks to CarRentals.com for the images.

Winter Wedding Cake: Pinecones and Baby’s Breath!

Mother of the Bride, is your darling daughter planning a wedding this winter or next winter? If she’s getting married in the next two or three months and hasn’t decided on a cake design yet, today’s simple style might be the one she’ll love. And if she’s planning for next winter, add this idea to the list of design options she’ll consider in the coming months.

First she’ll need to decide if she wants to incorporate a winter theme in her cake design. She may not want to choose a cake that’s seasonal in design—and that’s fine. A wedding cake doesn’t have to be dictated by the season. But if she’d like her cake to feature a winter touch, be sure to share this post with her.

One classic and perfect option for a winter wedding cake is to adorn it with pinecones and baby’s breath. The baby’s breath tucked into and around the pinecones will give the appearance of snow and will be perfect set against the backdrop of a pure white cake. The cake shown above is a country chic style, but pinecones and baby’s breath will work with other styles of cakes as well.

So MOB, if your winter wedding bride wants to add a touch of winter’s snow to her cake, suggest this design. And then run out and collect a few pine cones!

*You might also want to read Winter Wedding Cake Idea: Snowflakes!, Blogging Break Plus Favor Help for Winter Weddings, and Winter Wedding Favor: Dancing Socks! 

*Have you subscribed yet to Life Notes, my quarterly inspirational newsletter with a giveaway in every regularly scheduled issue? If not, sign-up is FREE and to the right! (If you’re on a mobile device, just scroll to the bottom of the screen and click View Full Site to find it.)

*Flickr photo by Graceful Cake Creations, Creative Commons License

Winter Wedding Favor: Dancing Socks!

I know it’s June and most people aren’t thinking of winter, but you and I both know, Mother of the Bride, that winter weddings are being planned as we speak, right? If your darling daughter has chosen a winter date for her big day, then this post is for you. Just turn the air conditioning up enough to make you shiver, and you’ll be in the mood for winter ideas in no time!

If your little bride-to-be hasn’t settled on a favor idea for her winter wedding bash, here’s an idea that might just set her feet to dancing. How about some warm and cuddly dancing socks so everyone can kick off their shoes and dance the night away in comfort? No frozen toes for your guests, right?

Grippy socks personalized with the bride’s and groom’s name and wedding date—and in the colors of the wedding, of course—are not only a fun memento from the wedding but are practical as well. Just do a google search of “personalized socks for wedding favors” or “personalized wedding socks” and you’ll find several ideas and options to choose from.

Why not pass this idea on to your daughter and see if she gets a little dance fever? Just be prepared to kick off your shoes and have fun, MOB!

*You might also like to read Wedding Favors That Grow: Tree Seedlings! and Favor Help for Winter Weddings.

*My photo

Blogging Break Plus Favor Help for Winter Weddings

24070092502_3c7c6eec75_zMy summer has been jam-packed, Mothers of the Bride, so I’m taking a blogging break until after Labor Day. Summer is busy for everyone, but launching my book Mother of the Bride and becoming Grandma to another set of twins has taken busy to a whole new level in my life. And if anyone understands busy, I know you will, MOBs!

But never fear, when I take a break, I always try to leave you with some help. Since those of you helping your daughters plan winter weddings have probably reached the stage where you’re beginning to think about favor ideas, I thought I’d share some favor help this time.

I hope the links below, MOBs, lead you to the perfect favors for your upcoming winter weddings!

30 Favor Ideas for Winter Weddings from Bridal Guide 

Top 9 Winter Wedding Favors from The Knot

18 Unique Winter Wedding Favor Ideas from Martha Stewart Weddings  

Winter Wedding Favor Ideas on Pinterest 

*You might also like to read Wedding Favors That Grow: Tree Seedlings! and A Break for Me, Great Links for You.

*Flickr photo by cat mayer, Creative Commons License