Wintertime is the most magical time of year. The air is crisp, the snow is fresh, and the love is in the air. Eloping in winter may not be traditional, but it’s definitely a unique and memorable way to start your life together. Whether you’re surrounded by a blanket of fresh snow or taking in the stunning views of an icy landscape, there’s no denying the beauty of a winter elopement. And what could be more intimate than saying your vows in front of a roaring fireplace?
Eloping in the winter has a certain charm to it. There’s something undeniably romantic about exchanging vows in front of a crackling fireplace, surrounded by the soft flutter of snowflakes. Plus, you don’t have to worry about the crowds of people that you would find in warmer months. Intimate winter elopements are the perfect way to start your life together. Just the two of you, pledging your love to each other amidst the beauty of winter. What could be more perfect?
How did you meet?
Jon and I met on Tinder while I was visiting my family. We chatted for a few months but never planned to go on a date because we lived two and a half hours apart. Eventually, we met and talked for hours and hours and hours. Jon tells people that he felt so out of his league with me that he was never going to ask me on a second date – good thing I asked him a few days later.
What is your proposal story?
A year in a half later, he took me to the same coffee shop and proposed! The rest is history.
Tell us a little a bit about your wedding
There was no explicit theme or style, which honestly ended up being a theme on its own. We opted for black everything with pops of red because it accented our venue. Truthfully, we DIY’d and hodgepodge’d until something really beautiful and unique (and budget-friendly) came through! Our guiding inspiration was to not have anything in the wedding that people couldn’t use after our wedding throughout their regular lives.
What was the most important to the two of you while planning?
My husband and I eloped in December of 2020! Due to COVID, we could not safely plan a large gathering on the timeline that we had in mind. Rather than risk endless postponements, we opted to have 35 people in the room and go small! It was honestly a dream. I wouldn’t have changed anything about it.
What were your favorite parts of the day?
My favorite memory from our wedding was the moment that I arrived at the venue. We got married in this amazing cocktail bar in my hometown, Knoxville TN. Jon arrived before me so that he could hide until our first look. Then, he got so nervous and excited that he started sweating through his suit. When I arrived at Central Depot, my husband was waiting for me in the walk-in freezer. It was hilarious and totally eased the pre-vow jitters.
Please describe any DIY, handmade, or personal details.
The day before the wedding, my husband and I sat down with my grandmother in her kitchen and arranged the flowers together. Her mother, my great-grandmother, was a florist so she learned the tricks of the trade growing up. It was a really fun moment to be a family together and learn something from my grandmother before I married Jon. He was so excited about the process and so proud of our results, it made me that much more excited to marry him.
Not to brag, but I designed almost all of the stationary and favors. I have a history as a graphic designer and it was really exciting to pick out a “brand” for our wedding. Picking out artwork and fonts ended up being therapeutic throughout the whole mess of wedding planning.
Do you have any advice for couples planning their weddings now?
Don’t put money into anything that you won’t use after the wedding! It’s so easy to let your budget get out of control on cute, single-use items. I promise, your day will be magical without those monogrammed napkins! Don’t let your new marriage get bogged down with four boxes of uneaten custom M&M’s! Keeping this in mind kept our wedding manageable and memorable – life saving!