Ideas and Tips to Plan the Ultimate Mountain Wedding!

When you accept your engagement, you feel like you're on cloud nine. It's an experience you'll always remember with excitement. Why not continue the tradition on your wedding day by holding the event in the mountains, a location that truly makes you feel like you're on top of the world?

Depending on your overall concept, a wedding day with a mountain theme might be rustic and comfortable or exquisite and extravagant. The mountains are one of the few locations for a wedding that can work well with both formal and informal themes. Additionally, you can be sure every wedding photo you take will have a fantastic backdrop. You're in the right place if you're prepared to start organizing your mountain wedding.

Here are some essential mountain wedding planning recommendations to help you get started, as well as suggestions and counsel from couples who used Flowersarch to realize their dreams.

How to plan a mountain wedding: tips & tricks

Like any destination wedding, there are certain unique factors to consider while planning a wedding in the mountains. Of course, selecting the perfect mountain location is the first step. Among the elements to take into account throughout your search are:

Your travel time

Like the mountains, mountain venues exist in various shapes and sizes, ranging from the rolling hills covered in trees in the smoky mountains to the dusty red peaks of the rocky mountains in Colorado. However, how far will it take you to get to them?

If your preferred location requires a longer drive or airplane flight, you'll also need to account for the cost of housing and transportation for you and your spouse, your wedding party, and your guests. Generally, you can anticipate fewer attendees at your destination wedding the farther it is from your home. With your closest friends and family present to support you, this might have the added benefit of being cozier and more intimate.

The trip to the aisle

Traveling to your preferred mountain town is just one aspect of the situation. Reaching your ceremony location can be a journey in and of itself if you're holding it on a higher peak or picturesque overlook.

That also raises the question of whether specific arrangements, such as a gondola trip or a short hike, are required to get to the ceremony location. Consider whether the location will be challenging for visitors with mobility impairments. Or, like Flowersarch's pair Cindy and Kelton, consider a location at the foot of the mountain so you may have the peaks in the background of your pictures.

The venue type

An outdoor wedding day can bring sunshine and fresh air to your ceremony. However, the fresh mountain air can feel even colder than bracing during the colder months. Therefore, think about picking a location with indoor and outdoor areas. For example, Abbey and Garrett, a Flowersarch couple, chose a resort for their Montana mountain wedding, which provided a lovely blend of natural scenery and an inside sanctuary for their wedding pictures.

According to another Flowersarch bride (also named Abby!), hotel wedding venues are great because they are convenient. "My parents always talked about how easy it was for the elderly to simply go upstairs to their room without waiting for a shuttle or anything else."

Services included

It would help to rely on local providers for a mountain destination wedding because you will be traveling outside your typical neighborhood. When traveling from out of town, finding solutions that meet your needs can take longer. However, you can scout the local talent on a quick pre-honeymoon vacation.

Working with a more comprehensive wedding location, such as a hotel, may be helpful in this situation. However, even if they don't directly provide all the services you'll require, they could still steer you on the correct path. Abby and Nick, a couple from Flowersarch, contacted the top merchants after asking their hotel for advice.

Your budget

Naturally, the locations within your pricing range also depend on your wedding budget.

Don't worry if an all-inclusive resort is out of your price range. You don't need a lot of cash to throw a mountain wedding. Many national parks, for example, feature pavilions where you can hold a wedding for a little price. You can even get married for free in some parks! However, you won't be the only one with access to your designated place. Therefore, be ready to share with hikers and tourists.

Can you get married on a hill?

Of course! There will undoubtedly be picturesque slopes in a mountain park that may work for a brief ceremony. However, setting up chairs on a hill could be logistically challenging. Therefore, any visitors might have to stand. A hill ceremony is more appropriate for an elopement or a small wedding with guests willing to hike in semi-formal clothing.

More mountain wedding planning tips & tricks

Selecting the location of your dreams is just half the fight. The following factors are equally important if you want your mountain wedding day to run smoothly.

Consider your wedding outfits.

When selecting your mountain wedding outfit, consider a few practical guidelines because the setting is surrounded by nature.

For example, consider a gown with a floor-length train if you intend to roam the woodland like a forest nymph. Alternatively, you may feel more at ease, fashionable, and prepared to play to your heart's content with a shorter dress and more functional shoes.

Additionally, you should pack a jacket or shawl to protect yourself from the chilly mountain wind. For example, Jess and Emily, a couple from Flowersarch, wore matching leather jackets for their wedding pictures in the mountains. They appear to be mountaineers setting out on the most exciting journey of their lives!

Plan your activities and entertainment.

You can use the chance to organize enjoyable mountain-themed outings with your soon-to-be extended family if guests are staying overnight! Here are some suggestions for enjoyable activities:

• Winter sports: Is a ski lodge the venue for your wedding? Think of skiing or snowboarding on the slopes to relieve your pre-wedding anxiety. You could always construct snow people or start a fierce snowball fight if you're not into throwing yourself down a hill. 
• Sight-seeing tours: Do you wish to see more of the mountains than what your destination has to offer? Take a bike ride, or a nature walk on the paths. If you want something more leisurely, think about taking a scenic drive instead.
• Axe-throwing: Nothing says "I love you" more than launching a piece of jagged metal at someone. Well, perhaps that is a little over the top. Throwing an axe is a fun and unusual way to bond before the wedding ceremony.
• Sunrise breakfast: Plan to enjoy a delicious breakfast with your family and guests at your wedding so that you can all watch the sunrise together. Having breakfast with both families on the morning of your wedding can help make the agreement official.
• Stargazing Night: On the other hand, you might think of spending the evening before your wedding relaxing by stargazing. You will understand the beauty of eternity when you look up at the sky and feel even more at ease knowing that you will spend it with the one you love.

Create a same-day schedule.

Depending on how far away your mountain destination is, you might not have Wi-Fi or cellphone service. That could make it difficult to communicate with your wedding party or providers. To keep everyone in agreement, try creating a timetable for the same day.

Flowersarch's bride, Maria, created a spreadsheet containing an hourly timetable for the wedding party, vendors, and important guests. This way, everyone knew when they were expected and where to gather for things like pictures. Even though she and her husband, Dylan, married on a boat, the same idea would work for a mountain wedding day.

Mountain wedding decor ideas & hacks

Hopefully, you have prepared a schedule for the day and have already selected your breathtaking mountain wedding location with many picturesque views. Let's discuss how the appropriate decorations can make it appear even more stunning.

Choose a wedding theme. 

Every gathering requires a theme. And if not a huge celebration, what is a wedding? The following theme suggestions could complement the alpine scenery:

RUSTIC

A rustic, homey wedding motif is ideal for the tranquility of a mountain resort. The aim is to make you and your guests feel at home. This can be accomplished using neutral color schemes like Rust & Sepia, natural wood, burlap tablecloths, and flickering lights.

Vintage

If you'd rather convey a more expensive feel, consider using the classic beauty of vintage-inspired style. You might set the mood with accessories like vintage china, gold, brass, or lace. If your location has the room (and a few mountain roads), you could even bring in a vintage car for pictures!

Fantasy

Do fairytale-like rolling woodlands surround you at your mountain venue? It's time to embrace your inner fairy princess and design a mountain wedding with a magical theme! You can use imaginative décor to achieve this. Imagine a lovely wedding color scheme, such as purple or gold, lots of glitter, and flickering candles that resemble fairy lights.

Choose faux flowers

A good assortment of flower arrangements is required for any wedding day to look genuinely unique. However, carrying a floral arch full of heavy blossoms up the edge of a sheer cliff can be challenging. Fortunately, there is a way to include floral charms in your mountain wedding: fake flowers.

Compared to real flowers, faux flowers are lighter. As a result, you may carry them to more difficult-to-reach places with ease or even fit them in a carry-on. They can also have the same colorful, realistic, and beautiful appearance as the genuine item. People will need help distinguishing between the two.

Let your wedding arch work with the scenery.

Your wedding arch will attract attention to you and your spouse during the ceremony. Additionally, it should improve the scenic background of your views at a mountain wedding. To enjoy the breathtaking view of the mountains, make sure the back of the arch is open and unobstructed by curtains.

Look at this geometric example by Cindy and Kelton, a couple from Flowersarch! Thanks to the open triangular wooden arch, you can see the stunning natural scenery without a veil, and the terracotta flowers mix well with the fall foliage.

Curate your tablescapes

Every element of your mountain wedding décor, including your tables, should follow the fundamental rule of working with your scenery. For example, use greenery garlands and log placemats to bind your tablets with a mountain forest.

You might also use taller table centerpieces, such as floral arrangements in an elevated vase, to pay homage to the mountain peaks. However, shorter flower arrangements that won't allow guests' sightlines can be preferred if your setting offers picturesque views.

Pick the perfect color palette.

One part of the equation is your wedding theme. The next step is to make it stand out by selecting a wedding color scheme for your décor and flowers. The following are excellent starting points for a mountain wedding:

Sunset Terracotta

Because they add color while maintaining a generally neutral appearance, terracotta flowers are very adaptable. They are elegant yet rustic, and they look amazing in the outdoors, particularly during the fall!

Burnt Orange & Scarlet

Picture taking vows in the midst of undulating autumnal hills. Warmer-colored flowers, such as crimson and burnt orange, can blend in with this breathtaking fall landscape and make it a seamless part of your wedding décor. These striking hues might also go well with the southwest's red rock mountains.

Teal & Orange

If you adore the coziness of burnt orange or terracotta, consider adding a splash of blue, such as teal, to this classic color scheme. In addition to providing an intriguing approach to distinguishing yourself from the natural surroundings, the colder tone will help contrast the palette.

Purple & Black

Would you choose a more somber style for your mountain wedding? Consider using a deeper color scheme, such as black and purple. Moodier mountains with trees surrounding them look great with these dark hues. It's a simple method to build a magical forest instantly!

White & Sage

Classic white is an excellent choice for any wedding, regardless of the season or style. It can mimic the icy woodland outside the windows of your lodge venue or conjure the peace of a snow-capped peak amid summer. It will also undoubtedly match your clothing!

More creative ideas for an unforgettable mountain wedding

Are you looking for more ideas to make your mountain wedding day unforgettable? Try these suggestions for a distinctive touch instead of moaning at the pun.

Warm up your guests.

If you're organizing a ceremony for the fall or winter, you'll need to find ways to warm your visitors from the chilly mountain air. Fortunately, there are lots of enjoyable ways to remain warm!

• A hot chocolate bar. A kettle of hot chocolate should be ready to pour. Add garnishes, such as sprinkles, marshmallows, or salted caramel for drizzling. Try keeping a cup rack with adorable designs handy as a decorative touch. It is scientifically proven that serving hot chocolate in an attractive cup improves its flavor by at least 20%.
• DIY S'mores. These delicious snacks are a delightful way to stay warm and toasty on gloomy mountain evenings, so they're not only for summer. They can also be an entertaining do-it-yourself activity for guests at the wedding! The ingredients and a small pan of hot rocks for roasting are all you need.
• Hot cocktails. Add hot mixed cocktails to your cocktail menu if you want to warm up with a little kick.
• A bonfire: Think about having a bonfire at your reception or gathering around a campfire if your location permits fires. When you have a huge candle, why need a candlelight dinner?

Pass out themed keepsakes.

You can express gratitude to your guests for traveling with you to your mountain destination by providing them with a small souvenir. Here are some suggestions for entertaining mountain wedding mementos:

• Local honey or syrup: Give your guests a bottle of maple syrup or wild honey to take home if the mountain region is known for its particular cuisine. Remember to preserve one for yourself to get a taste of your destination wedding.
• Miniature floral arrangements: Create little floral centerpieces that complement the wedding's design and give them to your guests as souvenirs. Once more, since your creations will endure forever, artificial flowers might be helpful in this situation!
• Customized Mountain Artwork: Think of collaborating with a local artist to give miniature prints or paintings of the alpine scenery. It is a lovely memento to include in a family scrapbook.

Stage a special photoshoot.

To complete your wedding album, you must make the most of all the picturesque locations on the mountain. Share these suggestions with your photographer!

Get close to the mountain.

On their wedding day, Cindy and Kelton took a detour to take pictures near the mountain's foot. The closer you come, the more majestic and gorgeous the mountain will appear in your photographs.

STEP ONTO THE VERGE 

The rest of your life is about to begin on your wedding day. Take a picture of a picturesque cliff like this sweet couple from Flowersarch. Avoid approaching the edge too closely, especially if it's high. Or, for safety, remain behind a guardrail.

RECRUIT A VEHICLE

Show the world that you and your companions are naturally adventurous by taking a picture in an adventurous car. For example, with a picturesque mountain in the backdrop, this Flowersarch couple snapped photos on the roof of their reliable vehicle.

Additionally, notice how the bride's light blue gown exquisitely accentuates the orange tones of the surroundings. Additionally, she incorporates some of that warm orange platte into her bridal outfit with the terracotta flowers in her hat.

Conclusion

As you can see, a mountain wedding day can be made interesting, enjoyable, and efficient in various ways. These suggestions will provide a solid foundation to build your ideal mountain wedding.

Flowersarch is the place to go if you're searching for flowers to accompany your destination wedding. You may take our travel-friendly and lightweight artificial flowers wherever your heart takes you. Additionally, they will endure forever, allowing you to bring a memento of your mountain destination wedding home with you. For more motivational images of actual couples using Flowersarch to follow their hearts, see our Instagram.