THE METHOW OFFERS UNIQUE OUTDOOR SETTINGS

By M arcy Sta M per

Kelsey Sheldon and Brian

Duchin always knew they wanted a winter wedding. “We tried to talk ourselves out of it, because we thought nobody would come,” Sheldon said. “But we decided that’s who we are and what makes us happy.”

So Sheldon and Duchin forged ahead, holding their ceremony on the Tawlks-Foster Suspension Bridge on the Methow Trails ski network. The couple and many of their guests skied the short distance to the bridge, while others snowshoed. For friends who weren’t experienced skiers, they recruited a ski instructor to go over the basics that morning.

In the end, just about everyone came out for the ceremony, Duchin said.

Friends who were avid skiers skied an even longer loop to join the ceremony, and only one miscalculated and didn’t get to the bridge in time, Duchin said. One friend skied in towing a sled with a large thermos filled with hot-buttered rum to keep everyone warm.

Because the bridge is a popular spot on the Community Trail, Sheldon and Duchin got the blessing of Methow Trails before finalizing their plans.

Sheldon was decked out in all-white ski clothes, and Duchin donned black ski pants with a formal shirt, tie and tuxedo vest. Guests bundled up and dressed for skiing. The bride and groom donned more traditionally elegant attire for the reception.

Although they’re dedicated snow-sports enthusiasts, Sheldon and Duchin are also active indoors year-round, having spent years as competitive ballroom dancers in Seattle. So, while many of their friends are graceful and athletic, they weren’t accustomed to snow, and some had never been on skis. But they all made it to the wedding. “They were such troopers — we were so impressed,” Sheldon said.

Sheldon and Duchin continued the seasonal theme at their reception at the Winthrop Barn Auditorium. A friend decorated the barn with an understated wintry motif, in shades of white and incorporating elements from nature. “We wanted to bring winter into the barn,” Duchin said.

To create a natural color theme, the couple’s friend draped gauzy white organza on the walls of the barn. She arranged beautiful whitebarked aspens that had shed their leaves around the room, and lit the base of the trees so they would cast their shadows on the fabric.

To bring the outdoors in, Sheldon and Duchin opted for evergreen centerpieces on the tables instead of fresh flowers. The entry to the barn was illuminated with glowing luminaria of candles set in ice cylinders.

Sheldon and Duchin’s wedding even helped support another classic winter tradition. After the event, their dance coach repurposed the white organza to create tutus for dancers in “The Nutcracker” ballet.

Dusted With Snow

Kaile and Andrew Ryan started dating in November and got engaged in November, so the month felt like a natural choice for their outdoor wedding.

For their ceremony, the couple chose a striking setting, getting married at a pond on the property of Andrew’s grandparents in a field sprinkled with frost. The pond was frozen, the hills were dusted with snow, and the bridesmaids wore fur stoles, Kaile said.

They made sure everyone was comfortable. Kaile’s father used a blowtorch to warm seats for the guests. Kaile cherishes a photo of everyone bundled up in blankets. “They look cozy, to be honest. I don’t remember being cold, with the excitement of it all,” she said.

Kaile and Andrew said their vows privately and then held a quick ceremony at the pond before heading indoors to the Twisp Valley Grange for their reception.

The natural setting and frosty weather were part of the rustic theme of the wedding, which included antlers decked out with lights, and cupcakes served on slabs of wood.

“We had a blast — it was sweet and intimate,” and friends and family helped with food and décor,

Kaile said. “I didn’t freeze my guests too bad.”

Mountain Weddings

People who want a wedding with peak winter activities can get married at the Loup Loup Ski Bowl, where couples can arrange for alpine or Nordic skiing, tubing, the luge or snowshoeing — or simply a reception at the ski lodge where they can enjoy the mountain scenery.

The Loup offers fully catered weddings in their new lodge. “We’re happy to accommodate a winter wedding,” Events Coordinator Jennifer Olsen said.

When the ski hill is open, a couple can have a small wedding ceremony at the lodge. For an all-encompassing affair, they can take over the lodge — and the entire ski hill — when the Loup is closed, contracting with the Loup’s staff to run the chairlift and other activities.

Catering at the Loup is now provided by Lone Point Cellars, a boutique winery based in Brewster that specializes in “a unique twist on comfort food,” Olsen said. Lone Point offers a range of options — from a casual après-ski wine, cheese and appetizer spread to a family-style buffet to an extravagant multicourse meal with wine pairings.

Lone Point also hosts weddings at its hilltop venue in Brewster. In the winter, people can choose “igloo” seating in transparent, insulated dining domes that overlook the Columbia River, Olsen said.

Winter Bouquets And Greenery

Sheldon and Duchin opted for simple evergreen boughs, but local floral designers can combine dried flowers and specially ordered fresh flowers even in the winter. For people who want seasonal arrangements, Autumn Jateff of Northern Farms blends flowers she’s dried from her garden with greenery such as cedar or fir branches.

For couples who want fresh blooms, there are many options for bouquets and floral highlights even in winter, including delicate, colorful alstroemerias (Peruvian lilies); pointy periwinkle-colored Eryngium; spider mums, roses, and daisies, Jateff said. Dusty miller, with its silvery-white frosty look, is ideal for a winter accent, as is fragrant eucalyptus.

Getting married in the winter can also mean more choices for venues, caterers, music and photography, since the season tends to be less busy. And it’s guaranteed to create year-round memories.