Sometimes, we here at White Oaks like to look to our professional vendor friends and partners for a little expertise in their field. We asked Amanda Cowley of Amanda Cowley Events for her input on special event planning in Niagara and how to bring all the wine country vibes indoors on your special day. Here’s what she had to say…

As a wedding planner in the Niagara Region I have the pleasure of being surrounded by the most incredibly diverse landscape. From classic sprawling vineyards, rolling hillsides, a lush escarpment, and lakeside views, to acres of farmland and forested space, there is no shortage of naturally organic backdrops to make a wedding in Niagara feel simply magical.

With that said, the number one question I’m often asked by couples who have chosen a ballroom or indoor wedding is how to bring that outdoor, wine country warmth, indoors, without making the space feel forced or unnatural.

Here are a few of my top tips to successful accomplishing this.

1. Determine your overarching look or theme and determine how you can naturally bring in outdoor elements to enhance that look. If you’re running with a classically elegant look, consider incorporating florals and foliage that can be found naturally in Niagara during that time of year. A sprig of berries tucked into a place setting can add a nod to grape harvesting season, while rich wooden details like table number holders or centerpiece vessels, can add a rustic, warm touch.

2. A defined ceremony space is a great place to start when pulling in outdoor elements. It’s the first point of contact a guest will experience when celebrating the day with you and is a great opportunity to set them up for what’s to come. Whether it’s an indoor ceremony during a late fall or winter wedding, or outdoors (as showcased in the image below), incorporating wooden details such as stands for statement floral arrangements, provides a rustic touch that feels fitting for Niagara.

3. Synonymous with wine country is romance and warmth which can easily be accomplished with the addition of ample candlelight. Encased in lanterns or standing alone in pillars, candlelight done in groupings gives everything a magical glow reminiscent of a Niagara summer night.

White Oaks provides a perfectly neutral backdrop to make any theme or look possible in their ballroom spaces, which makes it easy to allow your imagination to run free and embrace endless possibilities. Just remember to allow the details you choose to speak for themselves and to keep the overall vibe of the day infused from start to finish.

Credits:

LOCATION · WHITE OAKS RESORT & SPA, NIAGARA ON THE LAKE
PLANNING + STYLING · AMANDA COWLEY EVENTS
PHOTOGRAPHY · NATASCHIA WIELINK
VIDEOGRAPHY · TRUTH & TALES
FLORAL DESIGN · LUSH FLORALS
BEAUTY · ALLURE HAIR & MAKEUP
DECOR · GALA DECOR
PHOTO BACKDROP · DEFINING MOMENTS STATIONERY
RENTAL DECOR · EVENTS BY TNT
ENTERTAINMENT · LIQUID ENTERTAINMENT
CAKE · SWEET CELEBRATIONS