Planning an Indoor-Outdoor Winter Wedding

If you’re dreaming of a white wedding, you can’t beat a winter wedding in Ohio. The freshly fallen snow here is as white as it gets, especially in the heart of the Zaleski State Forest.  For breathtaking photos and a frozen wedding ceremony that you and your guests will never forget, Forget Me Knot is the perfect place to plan your Ohio winter outdoor wedding.

Of course, unless your party favors include electric-heated vests and matching wool scarves, chances are your winter wedding will need to be an indoor-outdoor affair with plenty of planning to keep your party warm throughout the celebration. Most loved ones will gladly slip-on boots under their formalwear and brave the cold for your glittering snow-dusted ceremony

 

Match the Temperature to Your Outdoor Plans

Just how cold is it outside? Native Ohioans are pretty hearty when it comes to standing in the snow, but you can only ask your guests to stand in sub-zero temperatures for so long, especially in formalwear. On a mild winter afternoon with the sun warming your ceremony, you might plan entire outdoor activities outdoors after the ceremony.

However, if it’s a freezing day or an evening ceremony, you’ll want to plan the minimum amount of time with guests outdoors. Place your pre-ceremony cocktail hour and all of your reception activities indoors where guests can toast your nuptials and dance the night away in warmth and comfort.

Warm Up the Hall Before Guests Arrive

For a winter wedding, even the venue can be chilly before someone turns on the heat. While you are likely planning prep time for the wedding party, don’t forget to send someone early to make sure the heat is on before guests start arriving. A warm, welcoming wedding hall is exactly what your guests will be looking forward to after a breathtaking yet icy drive through the Zaleski State Forest in the dead of winter.

Provide a Delightful Variety of Hot Beverages

Hot beverages are essential for any winter celebration, and especially for your winter wedding. Provide your guests with bottomless carafes of hot cocoa, cider, and delicious berry teas. For many families, a hot coffee station with a lovely variety of creamers is just the thing to stay warm during your winter nuptials. Not to mention the excellent options for hot alcoholic drinks at the bar to really keep the adults toasty.

Light the Fireplace and Set Up Hearthside Seating

Here at Forget Me Knot, our hall features a beautiful electric fireplace that is safe and cozy for your guests to gather around. Winter weddings are the perfect time to enjoy the cozy warmth and flicker of flames as your guests warm up from brief jaunts outdoors. The electric fireplace is also a great feature for a conversational circle of chairs and ottomans. Make it easy for your guests to gather and comfortably socialize as they enjoy the warmth of the fireplace.

Advise Your Guests to Dress in Layers

Formalwear is one of the greatest challenges for winter weddings, for ladies especially. The best way to stay cool while tearing up the dance floor and keep warm during your snowy ceremony without a wardrobe change is to dress in layers. Gentlemen can combine light dress shirts with wool suits for a warm formal look while ladies may want to choose woven fabric dresses and heavy shawls for a versatile look. Everyone may want to bring their snow-ready shoes and warm socks. Heavy goats, even if they don’t match, should be welcome for when the party adventures outdoors for your ceremony and any outdoor winter activities.

 

Adorn Each Outdoor Chair with a Warm Blanket

The most popular outdoor aspect of a winter wedding is the ceremony. There is something beautiful, majestic, and truly special about being married on a bed of fresh snow under the open sky. Of course,  a wedding ceremony takes time and many of your guests may find themselves colder than expected while sitting in the audience.

The answer? A lovely fleece blanket in your wedding colors is draped over every chair. Not only does this make your chairs look elegant and festive, but it also invites guests to wrap up and keep warm so they can focus on how beautiful your ceremony will be.

Provide Warming Drinks Before the Outdoor Ceremony

Pass out a round of hot cocoa and Irish coffees for the whole party right before you head outdoors for your snow-dusted winter ceremony. While it may be cold outside, your guests will be bolstered against the cold with inner warmth from your hot drinks. This is not just tasty, it’s also a contentious gesture, especially for members of the family who are less cold-resistant and could use a little heat boost before braving the cold to tear up at the beauty of your outdoor winter wedding ceremony.

Take Turns Shooting Outdoor Group Photos

Photography is another unique challenge for a chilly indoor-outdoor wedding. Of course, you want to get some beautiful shots of your wedding party with a breathtaking backdrop of the snowy Zaleski State Forest. But you don’t have to take everyone outside at once. You know you’ll be doing mixed shots of your bridesmaids, groomsmen, parents of the couple, and all-together shots.

Rotate your photoshoot groups to give everyone a chance to go inside and warm up while others are being photographed. Don’t forget to give your photographer some time to warm up between photoshoots as well.

Provide Hot Catered Food & Drinks All Night Long

Forget Me Knot makes it easy to cater your wedding with a kitchen prep area and indoor bar. You can use this space combined with catering heating trays to keep certain dishes and snacks hot for the entire reception. Meatballs, ravioli, or grilled cheese triangles with hot tomato soup are all great warm-up snacks to help your guests stay energized and warm. For hot sweet treats, try warmed tarts, baked puddings, and mini chocolate lava cakes.

Hire a Great DJ to Keep Your Guests Warm and Dancing

Last but certainly not least, find a great DJ who can keep the energy and the dancing going all night long. Dancing is the best way to stay warm, even without hot drinks and hot food. A great DJ with a mix of modern hits and dance-worthy classics will have family members of every generation kicking up their heels throughout the reception. The transition from the wedding feast and cake cutting to a night of dancing and celebrating that your guests will never forget.

Here at Forget Me Knot, we would be honored to host your dream outdoor winter wedding with breathtaking forest vistas and a warm venue hall to make your own. Contact us today to explore your wedding planning opportunities for the winter wedding of your dreams.