Many couples who opt for a destination whisk themselves and their guests away to somewhere warm, often specifically to get away from the cold. Other couples embrace winter for its beauty: cold, snow, and all. They cross their fingers for pillowy, white snow blanketing stunning grounds, with a crackling fire inside casting a warm glow across rustic wood and stone spaces.
Winter wedding venues offer beautiful backdrops for ceremonies and receptions, yet winter is the least popular season for weddings. According to The Knot, November through April is the least popular wedding season, with only 24% of couples sharing “I dos” nationwide during these months; December is the least popular month of all at just 1% of weddings.
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Winter may be a quieter season for weddings, but mountain destinations often see peak travel demand during the winter months. That means a winter wedding can double as a vacation for both the couple and for their guests, with skiing, snowshoeing, and other cold weather activities to enjoy before or after the big day.
Our travel advisors love these five winter wedding destinations; each resort offers couples multiple choices for ceremony and reception venues, as well as on-site activities and access to nearby winter attractions. Plus, every venue is pet-friendly, so you can include your dog in your ceremony if you want to!
Lake Placid Lodge
Lake Placid, New York
Best Resorts in New York, 2026 – Travel + Leisure World’s Best Awards
#1 Best Resort in Lake Placid, 2026 – U.S. News & World Report
Nestled on the southern tip of Lake Placid, this lodge resort is surrounded by the North Woods and the Whiteface Mountains. The property leans into its rustic luxury; inside, you’ll find stone fireplaces, hand-carved wood furnishings, and heavy, textured fabrics that make the space feel refined yet cozy. Guests can stay in the main lodge, in one of the overlook rooms just next door, in a lakeside suite, or in a private one- or two-bedroom cabin tucked into the property. In total, the lodge offers 30 guest accommodations.
The area has plenty to enjoy during winter. Whiteface Mountain is popular for downhill skiing, while Mt. Pisgah in nearby Saranac Lake has a more laid-back set of slopes for less experienced skiers. Cross-country skiing and snowshoeing are also available in the area, along with ice fishing and skating at the Olympic Skating Oval. For something a bit different, guests can try tobogganing on Mirror Lake, less than 10 minutes from the lodge.
Artisans, a lakeside restaurant built around Adirondack ingredients, Maggie’s Pub, and a dedicated wine cellar offer guests a range of food and drink options. Couples planning their wedding menu can pick from five different curated experiences, including passed appetizers, wine service at the table, and live cooking stations. For a truly private celebration, couples can reserve the entire property for an added cost.
Ceremony and Reception Spaces
Lake Placid Lodge offers a range of indoor and outdoor spaces for couples to choose from, each suited to a different guest count and style of celebration.
- Artisan’s Runway: This narrow, wood-lined enclosed patio sits steps from the lakeside Artisans restaurant and holds up to 75 guests. It features a large stone fireplace that heats up to a comfortable 70 degrees.
- Maggie’s Terrace: Located on the lodge’s ground floor, this stone-faced terrace looks out over the grounds and holds up to 40 guests, well suited to a smaller, more low-key gathering.
- The Moose Room: Also capped at 40 guests, this space centers around a wood-burning fireplace and works well for couples planning an intimate winter celebration.
- Enchanted Forest Room: This reception space seats up to 60 and carries a woodland theme throughout, including saplings and original artwork from a Broadway production of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.” Its adjoining terrace has two fireplaces and open views of the property.
- Adirondack Terrace: Just beside the Enchanted Forest Room, this tented terrace space holds up to 60 guests and includes two large stone fireplaces along with sweeping views of the lake and mountains.
- Firecove: Built into a stone grotto, Firecove is designed for the smallest gatherings, holding up to 12 people for an elopement or similarly quiet ceremony.
The Grafton Inn
Grafton, Vermont
#12 Best Hotel in New England – Condé Nast Traveler’s 2024 Readers’ Choice Award
Established in 1801 in the tiny southern Vermont town of Grafton, the Grafton Inn is one of the oldest continuously operating inns in the country. The property’s white painted wood clapboards, Federal and Greek Revival details, and timber beams stand out on the town’s Main Street.
The inn includes 42 individually decorated rooms and suites, each with its own look and feel, along with five separate guest houses just a short walk from the main building. Dining centers on Vermont’s farm-to-table roots, with year-round service at the Phelps Barn Pub and seasonal offerings at the 1801 Tavern and Pine Room Bar. Guests staying at the inn can expect a Vermont-style country breakfast each morning, coffee service to start the day, and afternoon refreshments in the main lobby. For downtime, a game room on site offers a pool table and ping pong.
Winter brings its own draw to the area. The Grafton Trails and Outdoor Center, accessible right through the hotel, offers skiing, snowshoeing, fat biking, and sleigh rides, along with trail passes and equipment rentals for guests who want to get outside during their stay.
Winter Wedding Packages
The Grafton Inn’s Winter Wonderland package, available November through March, is ideal for couples looking for a more intimate celebration. The package covers up to 50 guests across a five-hour event that includes the ceremony, cocktail hour, dinner, and reception. Couples get their choice of ceremony site and exclusive use of the Phelps Barn, a space defined by its wood-burning fireplaces, rustic beams, and soft lighting. A wedding cake or cupcakes are also included in the package.
Ceremony and Reception Spaces
Beyond the Winter Wonderland package, the Grafton Inn offers several distinct ceremony locations throughout the village.
- The Windham Foundation Room: Located just across the street from the inn, couples wed in front of a prominent stone hearth. The space can accommodate up to 100 guests.
- Grafton Community Church: This historic white steeple church is only a short walk from the inn and is known for its hand-stenciled interior and strong acoustics.
- Grafton Brick Meeting House: Couples can enjoy a grand yet personal setting with plenty of architectural detail in this restored 19th-century landmark.
- The Windham Parlor: Elopements and other smaller, more intimate ceremonies are ideal for the parlor, which features a cozy fireplace.
The Lodge at Breckenridge
Breckenridge, Colorado
Couples’ Choice Awards – WeddingWire, 2025 and 2026
Perched 10,200 feet above this mountain town, The Lodge at Breckenridge is a harmonious blend of mountain charm and modern comfort. The property is set against the Tenmile Range, offering gorgeous sweeping views of nearby peaks. There are 57 guestrooms, many featuring options such as adjoining rooms, private balconies, and in-room fireplaces. Suites and two- and three-bedroom cabins are also available.
Outdoor hot tubs and a newly added campfire spot give guests places to unwind after a day in the mountains. The Traverse Restaurant and Bar, located at the lodge, serves breakfast, happy hour, and dinner. A shuttle runs daily into town from 8am to 10pm, making it easy for guests to get around without a car.
Ceremony and Reception Space
The lodge offers several wedding spaces on site, available year-round, with the largest accommodating up to 150 guests. Each space serves a different part of the day, from getting ready to the ceremony itself to the reception that follows.
- The Foyer: With comfortable seating, a large fireplace, and floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking Breckenridge, the Foyer works well as a pre-ceremony mingling space or cocktail hour setting, before or after the main event.
- Sky View Deck: Couples say their vows here with the Rocky Mountains rising in the background, making it one of the most dramatic ceremony settings on the property. The deck also converts easily into reception space, keeping the transition between ceremony and celebration seamless.
- Mountain View Ballroom: This ballroom holds up to 150 guests and suits weddings as well as other private events. Clean, modern lines and generous natural light give the space an airy feel, and it comes equipped with updated audiovisual capabilities for a smooth reception experience.
- The Ready Room: Couples getting ready before the ceremony can use this space, filled with natural light and mirrors, while enjoying fresh fruit and champagne.
The Little Nell
Aspen, Colorado
The Best Overall Winner – SKI Magazine, 2025 Travel Awards
Top 10 Favorite Resorts in Colorado – Travel + Leisure, 2025
Sitting right at the base of Aspen Mountain, The Little Nell is a world-class luxury resort. The property embraces its proximity to the mountain, with its 92 guestrooms and suites available with either town-side views or mountain-side views. As Aspen’s only Five-Star, Five-Diamond hotel, it comes with a full concierge team and shuttle service to help guests get around town and to the mountain with ease.
The spa, named one of ELLE’s Best Spas in both 2024 and 2025, is the only ski-in, ski-out option in the area. Inside, three treatment suites include private changing rooms and steam showers, with two also offering an infrared and halo therapy sauna. Guests looking to relax further can use the heated outdoor pool and sauna, both open daily from 7am to 10pm, or the hot tub, which stays open around the clock.
For dining, options range from the Michelin-recommended Element 47 to the lively patio at Ajax Tavern, along with a dedicated wine bar and cellar. Skiers can also take advantage of first tracks down the mountain each morning, reserved for intermediate and advanced skiers looking to hit fresh powder before the crowds.
Ceremony and Reception Spaces
The Little Nell offers several distinct venues around Aspen, with capacity ranging from an intimate 20 guests up to a full 500-person reception.
- Wedding Overlook: Set atop Aspen Mountain and reached by a scenic gondola ride, this outdoor space gives couples sweeping views of the Elk Mountain Range as their ceremony backdrop.
- The Sundeck: Sitting at 11,212 feet, the Sundeck provides 10,000 square feet of combined indoor and outdoor event space. It can seat up to 250 guests or host a reception for as many as 500, with an open floor plan, a large rock fireplace, and 30-foot ceilings that frame panoramic mountain views throughout the room.
- The Aspen Mountain Club: This space offers Elk Mountain Range views from every angle, paired with modern art and upscale decor. It can host up to 250 guests for a cocktail-style reception, or seat up to 120 for a more formal dinner in its dining room. The dining room itself can be arranged to seat 76 guests with standard seating, or up to 108 using slim chairs, within a private 4,400-square-foot space available year-round.
- The Wine Bar: With an Art Deco feel, this space seats up to 80 guests or holds 135 for a reception. Guests can also spread out to the adjoining outdoor terrace, which overlooks the hotel’s courtyard and pool. The venue includes sommelier-selected wine pairings, a custom menu from the culinary team, and the option to use a vinyl-spinning DJ.
Graceland
Memphis, Tennessee
2nd Best Resort Hotel in the Continental U.S. – Travel + Leisure, 2026
Compared to the snowy mountain destinations on this list, Graceland offers a milder winter climate, with Memphis rarely seeing the kind of snow and cold found at ski country venues. Couples marrying here typically stay at the Graceland Guest House, the resort-style hotel located on property.
With 450 rooms in total, including 430 standard rooms and 20 themed specialty suites, the Guest House gives guests a full resort experience during their stay, complete with concerts, shows, and other on-site entertainment.
A shuttle runs between the Guest House and the mansion itself, giving guests easy access to explore the estate throughout their visit. Graceland’s team also works regularly with couples planning from out of town, helping arrange details like photography, videography, florals, catering, entertainment, and even classic car or limousine transportation.
Ceremony and Reception Spaces
Ceremonies at Graceland take place at the newly built Chapel in the Woods, with additional reception space available at the Guest House for couples who need more room.
- The Chapel in the Woods: Set on the historic grounds surrounding Elvis Presley’s estate, this white-painted wooden chapel was previously featured in the Hallmark Channel movie “Wedding at Graceland.” Inside, high beamed ceilings and floor-to-ceiling windows frame the surrounding forest behind the altar; couples exchange vows in front of guests seated in antique church pews. Up to 100 guests can fit comfortably inside. An intimate reception area at the rear of the chapel includes a table for displaying the wedding cake, while the adjoining patio gives couples extra space for photos or a smaller gathering right after the ceremony.
- Graceland Guest House Ballrooms and Theater: For larger receptions, the Guest House offers several ballroom spaces, along with a theater that can accommodate bigger guest counts, concerts, or other entertainment as part of the celebration.
A Few Tips for Traveling to Winter Wedding Locations
Often, it feels like the only predictable thing about winter weather is how unpredictable it can be. Snow, ice, and strong winds all impact flights, road conditions, and train schedules. Most guests attending a winter wedding will be relying on one of these modes of transportation to get to the event, if not a combination of them.
None of this takes away from how beautiful and memorable winter celebrations are, but the potential for less-than-ideal weather conditions warrants additional planning. Delays are common in winter travel, as are cancellations; both add unnecessary stress to what should be an exciting trip. A few simple tips can help couples and their guests avoid some of that hassle.
- Consider travel insurance to help protect the trip in case of delays, cancellations, or other disruptions.
- Plan to arrive at the destination a day or two before the wedding rather than cutting it close.
- Building in that extra time creates a buffer, so if a storm does cause delays, there is still room for everyone to arrive before the wedding itself.
Let Us Help Plan Your Winter Wedding Trip
Planning a winter wedding in a destination like this involves more moving parts than a typical wedding, from coordinating travel for your group to making sure everyone arrives safely and on time. Our travel advisors can help handle those details, working with you to plan the entire trip for your group, so you can focus on the day you have been looking forward to!
