How to create an unforgettable celebration, no matter the time of year.
By: Debra WittWinter Wonder
Pulling off a successful winter wedding isn’t easy, but with the right location everything just falls into place. That’s certainly the case for the wise couple who found this private lodge in Montana. “It was perfection,” says Ashley Smith of Buzzworthy Events in San Francisco. “Guests only needed to park their car once for the weekend events, but they were anything but stuck in place. Skiing, a heated outdoor bar, snowmobiling, and taking a horseback ride to the rehearsal dinner were all on offer.” With the activities being handled by the resort, Smith and her team could focus on the smaller details. A white color scheme with just a hint of turquoise kept the focus on the landscape (and the bride!). “Everywhere you turned in the lodge you’d see warm wood and copper,” says Smith. “Bringing in the blue was a nice hint of something cheery, without detracting from the landscape.” She chose anemones and scabiosa to anchor arrangements, then scoured the property for loose branches and natural grasses to weave into the mix — even the bride’s bouquet. Gauzy-linen table coverings and crisp white place settings were an elegant counterpoint to all the rustic touches. Dinner featured a roasted beet salad with feta and grilled-to-order steak. But perhaps the culinary highpoint was the season-perfect hot chocolate bar, where guests could stir their own cup and top it with homemade marshmallows and chocolate shavings. “Guests felt pampered and taken care of throughout the evening,” says Smith. “It was a perfect winter wonder- land experience.” Smith’s top tip for a winter wedding: “Don’t feel confined to so-called winter hues: this celebration made good use of a summery turquoise.”
The awe-inspiring entrance to the Lone Mountain Ranch in Big Sky:
The lodge’s soaring ceiling and bold lines:
A winter-perfect view:
A mostly white color scheme lent an elegant contrast to the golden wood tones:
Vintage snow shoes and hand-calligraphed escort cards tucked into the powder:
Chocolate shavings and vanilla marshmallow squares by Kathleen DeManti at A Spoonful of Sugar Cakes:
A sleigh-ride sendoff:
Photo Credit: Britt Rene Photo
