If you adore the romance of a snowy landscape and all the cozy things that go along with the chilly months – like snuggling around a roaring fire, warm beverages and moonlit strolls through quiet, snowy streets, then a winter wedding will likely be a perfect fit for you and your sweetheart! And there’s no better place to embrace the beauty of winter than in Ottawa!

There are oodles of reasons to love Canada’s Capital during the chilly months. Whether it’s a destination wedding, or a honeymoon in Ottawa, we’ve rounded up five great reasons to say yes to romance in the snowy capital. Read on and you just might be convinced to start making plans!

1. It’s a winter wonderland! There are countless ways to enjoy winter in Ottawa. Whether you are into skiing, snowboarding, skating or simply enjoying the splendors of nature on foot, you will find myriad ways to make the snowy landscape your playground.

2. The romantic Rideau! Did you know that Ottawa’s Rideau canal is the world’s largest skating rink? The Skateway is 7.8 kilometres long, and begins just steps from Canada’s Parliament Buildings.  Typically, the Skateway opens in January and, in February, many activities take place on the frozen canal during Winterlude. If you are looking for awesome winter photo shoots, lace up your skates and head down the canal!

3. Beavertails. You can’t visit the Rideau Canal without indulging in a Beavertail! What are Beavertails you ask? Let’s just say they’re not exactly good for your waistline, but after a vigorous skate with your sweetie on the Rideau, who is counting calories? Beavertails are a type of fried pastry that is shaped to resemble a beaver tail.  The pastry is coated with butter and cinnamon-sugar and then topped with a variety of flavors that include chocolate/hazelnut, maple or caramel. The couple below loved Beavertails so much, they included the treats in their engagement photos!

4. Arts and Culture. If you are having a destination wedding in Ottawa, you will love the fact that the city is home to heaps of amazing museums and galleries. From museums located on a working farm, in a brewpub or in a nuclear shelter four storeys underground, to ones that house impressive aircraft collections or art collections, your guests will have plenty to do during their visit to the nation’s capital. Why not set up a tour of the Royal Canadian Mint to teach your guests all about Canadian currency?

If you are looking for a unique venue for your Ottawa wedding,  you’ll be happy to know that many museums and galleries host wedding. We love this wedding held at the National Gallery:

5. The snuggle factor. Whether you are getting married, or you are simply looking for a romantic getaway,  there’s no better excuse than an Ottawa winter to grab a cozy blanket and snuggle up with your partner. It doesn’t get any more romantic than that, now does it?

Photo one: bartekandmagda.com; Photo two: Intuition Photography; Photo three and four: Elizabeth and Jane: Photo five and six: James Paul Correia Photography; Photo seven: amb photo

Bouquets fit for a winter wedding are truly gorgeous. You can use the flowers in your bouquet to complement your wintery decor and seasonal surroundings. Try to go for blooms that are in season to cut down on costs. Classic color pairings of red, white and green are a good place to start and add in some festive textural touches. We’ve picked out seven winter wedding bouquets for you to be inspired by.

1. Bold and Oversized

This is quite a simple bouquet in terms of the types of flowers that are used. The size of the bouquet and the boldness of the deep red blooms are what really makes it stand out.

2. Soft Tones

If you’re lucky enough to have a snow-filled day, or you’re going for a winter white look; this is a lovely combination. Using white anemone as the center of the bouquet, you can add dusty miller and stunning silver brunia to complete the arrangement. A great one, if you’re fond of smaller bouquets.

3. Festive Foliage

A bouquet of crisp green foliage and red berries is a wonderful fit for the occasion. This would also work for floral arrangements on the tables.

4. Lilies and Pine Cones

Adding pine cones to your bouquet adds a seasonal touch and some unexpected texture. It works well with brunia and dusty miller.

5. A Bunch of Holly

Holly berries make for an interesting alternative to a floral bouquet. They are synonymous with winter and we also love the idea of tying the bouquet with a small length of faux fur.

6. Dusty Berries 

This is such a simple bouquet with the berries and dusty miller really grabbing all of the attention. If you prefer a bigger bouquet, these could be used for your bridesmaids.

7. Winter Greens and Branches  

The dusty pink roses are a soft addition to this striking bouquet. Incorporating branches into your arrangements gives a rustic look that’s ideal for a cold-weather wedding.

Photo one: photojj.com; Photo two: ruffledblog.com; Photo three: pinterest.com; Photo four: lifeonprints.com; Photo five: stylemepretty.com; Photo six: weddingsunveiledmagazine.com; Photo seven: pinterest.com

Metallic copper is getting a lot of attention these days, but we happen to love its non-metallic counterpart equally as much. Warm and earthy, this burnt orange shade is obviously a great color choice for rustic weddings, but it’s more versatile than you might think, so don’t be too quick to rule it out if you’re looking for a more contemporary color scheme. To show you just how versatile it can be, we’ve put together five copper color palettes that are sure to please traditional and modern brides alike.

Paired here with a rich oxblood red, this luxurious copper color scheme is perfect for an elegant winter wedding.

If you want to incorporate copper into your spring wedding palette, it pairs exceptionally well with blue, adding a hint of earthiness to an otherwise delicate palette.

Another great spring palette, these 70’s inspired colors will definitely pique the interests of the more unconventional couples out there.

A minimalist 3 color palette, we love the simple elegance created by pairing cool and warm tones here.

Last, but not least, copper is perfect for fall and you can’t much more autumnal than this color scheme full of rich earthy tones.

Photo one: blissandbone.com; Photo two: elizabethannedesigns.com; Photo three: greenweddingshoes.com; Photo four: weddingchicks.com; Photo five: inspiredbythis.com

Vintage hankies are a lovely idea that brings both a sentimental and decorative touch to your wedding. You can find them in thrift stores, online, or ask  family and friends. They will come in handy for drying happy tears but you can also use them in other ways. We’ve picked out 11 ideas for you to incorporate vintage handkerchiefs.

1. In a Box

Hankies can be neatly packaged into a box on display at your ceremony. You can repurpose any box of a suitable shape and customize it by making a label with blackboard paint.

2. Hanging on Pegs

Use a reclaimed door for your outdoor ceremony as a display for the vintage hankies. It will really add to the look of a vintage-inspired wedding.

3. Printed Invitation 

If you want to use your handkerchiefs in a different way, you can print your invitations on them. You can then attach them to card to make them more sturdy, or keep them as they are and neatly fold them in envelopes.

4. Hankies as Decor 

For an afternoon tea or garden party theme, you might have bunting on your shopping list. Using hankies instead adds some texture and the vintage prints will make the bunting more eye-catching.

5. Individual Favors

Give your guests a meaningful favor by placing a handkerchief with a paper backing on each chair.

6. A Personal Touch

Say thank you to your bridesmaids with monogrammed hankies, this will make a lovely addition to a mini gift basket.

7. All Wrapped Up

If you’re giving your guests the ultimate treat, the gift of a mini pie, why not take it one step further by wrapping your favors up with a handkerchief?

8. Outside Frame

An old mirror or window can be easily transformed into a welcoming display.

9. Escort Cards

Make your vintage hankies work a little harder, by doubling them up as escort cards. All you need are handwritten name tags.

10. DIY Box 

It’s so easy to create a stunning display on your welcome table. Fill a box with complementary colored hankies, that slightly fan out with a burlap sign.

11. A Vintage Suitcase 

For the perfect finishing touch, a vintage suitcase is the ideal holder for your hankies.

Photo one: ruffledblog.com; Photo two: jen-rodriguez.com; Photo three: stylemepretty.com; Photo four: Intimate Weddings; Photo five: jamesmoes.com; Photo six: estateweddingsandevents.com; Photo seven: hgtv.com; Photo eight: Intimate Weddings; Photo nine: greenweddingshoes.com; Photo ten: paperantler.com; Photo eleven: weddingchicks.com

A Wednesday morning isn’t usually the first choice – or even a choice at all – for most couples when it comes to choosing a date and time for their wedding day, but for Alex and Jaclyn, it couldn’t have been more perfect. Not only were all their preferred vendors available for their midweek wedding, but many provided considerable discounts as well, helping the couple to keep their budget down. More importantly, however, their unconventional weekday choice helped them to limit their guest list to 15 and made for a perfect and relaxed wedding day with family, friends, and their rescue dog Mia!

Special thanks to Lane Baldwin for sending along the photos so we could share them with you.

Jaclyn, 24 & Alex, 24

Peninsula, Ohio

Wedding Date: June 18^th, 2014

Number of Guests: 15, plus our dog, an officiant, photographer, and a nurse

Wedding Cost: $2,500

Wedding Ceremony Location: Stone Cottage at Hines Hill

Wedding Reception Location: Reception was held October 25^th, 2014 at Hines Hill Conference Center

Why did you have an intimate wedding?

Alex and I wanted to avoid the excess and fuss of a large wedding. We found the idea of an elaborate wedding very unappealing. We wanted something simple, romantic, and personal; we wanted a wedding that reflected our relationship. Though we seriously considered eloping, we ultimately decided that we wanted to share our wedding day with those closest to us, so we invited parents, siblings, grandparents, two of my best friends, and our rescue dog, Mia.

What are some the challenges that you faced planning an intimate wedding?

We encountered very few challenges in our planning process. We started planning our June wedding at the end of February, so it was a relatively short planning period, but we never encountered issues because our wedding was during the week. Our date was selected for equal parts practicality and sentimentality. We wanted to get married in June because I (the bride) would be on summer break from graduate school. We chose the 18^th because we started dating on March 18^th, 2007 and for the first few years we were together, we would wish the other happy 18^th once a month. Because our date was on a Wednesday and we wanted a morning ceremony, all of our vendors were available. Also, most vendors give drastic discounts for weekday weddings, so we were able to keep our budget down.

The only major issue for us was finding my wedding dress. I didn’t want a traditional long dress, and the season limited my non-wedding dress options. In the end, I ordered a bridesmaid dress online and had it altered with a necklace-turned-belt and buttons to suit my style.

Was it difficult to pare down the guest list?

No, we knew we wanted to keep our guest list small so that we could really spend time with our families.

Did you have any ‘issues’ with the small guest list from friends and family? If so, how did you address them?

For the most part, everyone was very supportive. We’ve had a lot of people tell us they wish they had done something similar. A few people were offended that we did not invite them, but ultimately we knew that how we got married was our decision and we weren’t comfortable having a large wedding. We told our friends and extended families that we would be hosting a reception in the fall, so they could still celebrate with us. Our wedding was for us. Our reception was for our loved ones.

What were the highlights of the ceremony?

Our favorite part of our wedding was how relaxed it was. We chose to get married in a small cottage in the Cuyahoga Valley National Park; it was so beautiful that it required very little decoration. Though there had been really dark and menacing clouds just before the ceremony, the sky cleared and we were able to have our short and simple ceremony outside on the patio. While we took our pictures outside with Lane, our fantastic photographer, our family enjoyed croissants from our favorite bakery, fresh fruit, and lemonade. We joined them for blueberry cake, relaxation, and conversation before driving to Niagara Falls. Alex and I spent the whole day together, enjoying and celebrating our new marriage. It was an amazing day in which we had to do nothing but get married and enjoy being together.

What were the highlights of the reception?

The best part of our reception was getting to spend time with our friends and families. We had a lot of friends who traveled from out of town, and it was nice getting to focus on spending the weekend with them without having the wedding activities to worry about. By having our ceremony and our reception separately, we were able to truly experience the best parts of both. Our reception was held on the same property as the ceremony, so we were able to show our friends and family where we got married. We celebrated with badminton, barbecue, cupcakes, a bonfire, s’mores, and dancing.

What was the best thing about having an intimate wedding?

By simplifying the wedding celebration, we were able to focus on getting married rather than planning a wedding. By planning the wedding we wanted, rather than the one that was expected, we had a beautiful and personal day. We were able to really focus on each other and those closest to us.

It was also a really great bonding experience. We did almost everything ourselves along with the help of those closest to us, especially my mom. She helped me do everything from searching for tea sets at the Salvation Army, to finding and altering my dress, and making my bouquet. We were able to add personal touches by using the lace from her wedding dress to make the flower for my vintage hat and wrap around my bouquet. We also added buttons from her dress to my own to make it feel more personal.

What advice do you have for couples who are considering an intimate wedding?

Don’t let others pressure you into planning a wedding for someone else. It is not necessary to throw an extravagant party to start your lives together. Focusing on simplicity and respecting a budget can free you from some of the fuss of the wedding industry and inspire you to focus on what appeals to you personally.

Vendors:

Photographer: Lane Baldwin

Hat: Marta Glazen

Dress: BHLDN dress altered and styled by Miranda’s Vintage Bridal

Rings: Anne-Marie’s Fine Jewelry & Gifts

Officiant: Tim Greathouse

Cake: Stacked Akron

Croissants: The Blue Door Café & Bakery

Venue: Stone Cottage at Hines Hill, Conservancy Cuyahoga Valley National Park