1. Treat your guests to unexpected warmers
Welcome guests to the ceremony with a hot chocolate bar near the entrance and a warm, homemade chocolate chip cookie on each ceremony seat. Imagine a cocktail hour with a holiday-inspired signature drink, like a spiced thyme hot toddy or cocktails coordinated with the seasonal décor, like a deep red cranberry martini or sugarplum brandy. Small details like sugar snowflakes or edible berries are sure to be the perfect garnish for a winter warmer.
2. Incorporate a traditional winter pattern
Nothing is cozier, comfier or more welcoming than a heavy tartan blanket, perfect for your guests. This traditional pattern of royalty is making a comeback at weddings, and looks amazing with pinecone or evergreen accents – leave a basket of them out for guests to wrap up in, or consider a tartan tablecloth and centerpieces made of winter greenery and bright holly berries.
3. Get cozy with gourmet s’mores
Some wedding venues, like the lakefront Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe, boast on-site fire pits, or can even arrange for temporary fire pits to be used on a patio or during a reception. Treat your guests to gourmet seasonal s’more offerings, like pumpkin marshmallows with dark chocolate and berry toppings. You could even personalize your own chocolate and serve it on outdoor s’more carts by the fires.
4. Share the love (and warmth!)
You’ll probably be feeling warm and fuzzy on your wedding day, so why not help your guests feel the same? Mittens, hand warmers, hot drink mugs or embroidered blankets and scarves will be memorable – and useful! – favors for your guests.
5. Inspire your attire
Your wedding dress and your wedding party’s attire – and therefore, your photos – will be beautiful and romantic with added details like furry white muffs, faux-fur shawls and earmuffs. Or incorporate touches from the décor into your ensemble, like bright red berries and green holly in the bouquets or boutonnieres. Work with your photographer for a few creatively memorable shots by having your wedding party pose in tall winter boots, or gather around a fire pit at sunset.
6. Take the opportunity to hibernate
Choose a venue that can take care of all your winter wedding needs. That way, once you arrive, you won’t need to run around town in the snow to meet caterers or gather goods/arrange entertainment for your guests. A property like Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe Resort, Spa and Casino offers full hair, makeup and spa services, which means you can host your wedding at sunset and spend the morning warming up in the Jacuzzis, lounging in the sauna, and getting everyone’s hair and makeup done without ever leaving the venue. And guests will love the 24-hour on-site casino and babysitting services, too.
7. Finally, schedule more time for photos
A winter wedding is a flurry of romance, coziness and celebration, and you’ll want extra time to capture every moment. Choose a destination that’s naturally gorgeous in the winter. Think snowcapped mountains, sparkling icicles hanging from cozy cottages, and, if you’re lucky, fluffy white snowflakes. Add some simple décor options, like white candles, pinecones and evergreen sprigs to add a classy (and affordable) touch to the ceremony and reception and, you've just created your own breathtaking winter wonderland, which means you'll want all the time you can get to capture those memories for a lifetime.
For more winter wedding ideas, visit the Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe on Pinterest.
Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe Resort, Spa and Casino offers five unbelievable winter wedding venues, ranging from an intimate water garden with snow-capped pines to a lakeside cottage green surrounded by towering mountains and luxurious alpine cabins. And with a full-service on-site spa and salon, four restaurants, a 24-hour casino, ski shuttles and gear rentals, Camp Hyatt babysitting services and more, you and your guests will enjoy a stress-free experience.
And don’t forget – when you host your wedding at the Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe, you can earn up to five free honeymoon nights anywhere in the world. Learn more at LakeTahoe.Hyatt.com or visit us on Instagram and Pinterest.
