Although Memorial Day weekend just kicked off the summer fun, I couldn’t resist sharing this fabulously stylish and creative woodland winter wedding in Lake Tahoe, California, since many of you out there are probably planning winter weddings as we speak! Groom Karl imagined a campfire-style wedding in the middle of the forest, while Christina envisioned something a bit more polished, so they looked to wedding planner Scott Corridan to create a chic event that suited both of their personalities. I fell head over heels in love with the hot cocoa, roasted chestnuts winter wedding fashion and modern woodland decor in these wedding photos by Viera Photographics!

The Couple: Christina and Karl

The Wedding: 1.29.11 – Northstar – Lake Tahoe, CA

What three adjectives best describe your wedding day? It was a snowy woodland adventure!

Was there a decor theme that ran through your wedding? What was the inspiration for that particular idea and how did it reflect you as a couple? The theme sprang from Karls idea of making our wedding feel like a hunting lodge in the forest. I was hoping for something a bit more polished and elegant. Ultimately, we both wanted a small winter wedding, where we could fit everyone in a small room together at just a few tables. Scott managed to bring these ideas together brilliantly. It felt like a chic woodland event.

What were some of the different ways you used decor elements to create the beautiful, cohesive event you were envisioning? For the ceremony, we relied on the natural setting of a snowy aspen grove with a creek running behind it on the Northstar golf course. For the reception, having a lot of flowers at a winter wedding did not make sense. So, Scott focused on bringing the reception alive with linens, tablescapes and candles. The linens were an assortment of bold black and white graphic prints. The tables were topped with lots of candles and interesting objects like, sculptures, antlers, etc. We had faux busts of animals suspended from the ceiling and twinkly lights everywhere.

Where did you choose to hold your wedding, and how did the location influence your decor decisions? We made the crazy decision to have our wedding outside … in the middle of winter … in Tahoe. Given that, we had to figure out a way to make things both cozy and elegant. As people arrived to the ceremony, they were greeted with hot cocoa, coffee, Baileys and roasted chestnuts. To keep the feel of the location natural, we interspersed chairs with wooden stumps for people to sit on and had others stand. Thus, when I walked down the aisle, it felt like I had just happened upon a magical gathering in a snowy aspen stand. It was beautiful.

Looking back, do you have a favorite project or successful decor idea from your wedding? Tell us what you loved about it! I outsourced the projects and decor. I was far from a DIY bride! So, I was stunned to see how beautifully all our zany ideas came together. The ceremony site itself, on a snowy slope with a creek running behind it and surrounded by aspens was stunning. I will never forget turning around after our log-sawing moment (a German tradition in which the newly-married couple saws through a log together to show how well they will work through problems in life together) and seeing almost everyone we love gathered around us in that beautiful spot.

The Wedding Team:

Photographer: Viera Photographics
Event Planner: Scott Corridan
Ceremony Venue: Northstar Golf Course
Reception Venue: Baxter’s Bistro at Northstar
Officiant: Vik Barad
Invitation Designer: Edition One Books
Catering: Baxter’s Bistro
Florist: Scott Corridan
Wedding Cake: Baxter’s Bistro
Wedding Dress: Priscilla of Boston
Bridal Accessories: Shrimpton Couture
Bridesmaids’ Apparel and Acessories: H&M
Groom and Groomsmen Apparel and Accessories: H&M
Hair and Make-up: Hair – Laura Seegmiller, Make-up – Kiss & Makeup
Live Music: Lake Tahoe Entertainment
Transportation: Northstar
Favors: Truffles
Rings: Chabo’s Jewelry

Christina and Karl, we absolutely love your chic and cozy wedding celebration!

Readers, want to learn more about creative wedding details? Check out our Wedding Inspiration Gallery!