By Emily Porter and Bobby Oberlander
Photo by The Oberports.
Most people recognize West Virginia as a destination for those seeking adventure; rafting, hiking, biking and climbing are all popular throughout the year. What many may not know is that West Virginia is also a great wedding destination for all seasons. For couples looking to tie the knot, the natural beauty of the state shines in spring, summer, fall and winter. Whether couples aspire to have wedding photos with fiery fall foliage or pillowy, snow-capped mountains, West Virginia provides the perfect backdrop. Major cities like Charleston, Morgantown and Huntington are popular year-round, as they offer easy access to lodging and restaurants for travelers, but couples looking for more scenic areas may look to destinations like the New River Gorge—home to America’s newest national park—Canaan Valley and Snowshoe Mountain.
Photo by The Oberports.
Springtime weddings in the Mountain State are a great option for couples looking to take advantage of the burgeoning greenery while also avoiding the extreme temperatures encountered during the summer months. Couples who prefer bright color palettes filled with pinks, purples and whites will find a lot to love with outdoor portraits during a spring West Virginia wedding. Photographers are eternally obsessed with “putting a bloom on it,” and the blossoming flora makes exquisite backdrops for wedding photos. When considering a spring wedding in West Virginia, choosing a venue that provides options for indoor and outdoor ceremonies is a good idea, as the weather at this time of year can be unpredictable. It’s not uncommon for a beautiful spring day to give way to an unexpected downpour with little warning, so having an alternative will help keep everyone happier and drier.
Photo by The Oberports.
Summer is always a big wedding time as the mountains get no greener than they do at this time of year. One of the biggest advantages of having a wedding in the summertime is that it gives you a lot of time for outdoor photos with natural light as summer sunsets in West Virginia are close to 9 p.m. Summertime is perfect for photos statewide. Spots like the New River Gorge, Dolly Sods, Canaan Valley and Snowshoe Mountain are all great photographic backdrops during the summer. Weddings in the summer are usually hot and humid, so take that into consideration when planning your attire. Higher elevation destinations, like Snowshoe, are excellent summer destinations for weddings because they provide the lush greenery of summer with less humidity and extreme temperatures.
Photo by The Oberports.
Fall is undoubtedly the most popular season for weddings in West Virginia. Go for one fall drive through the mountains and you’ll quickly understand why this is the case. Brilliant red, orange and yellow foliage light up the mountains all through the state, giving wedding photos an explosion of color. Planning a wedding around foliage can be tricky, but in general, many areas around the state will see vibrant colors from late September through most of October. The New River Gorge area is always a popular destination for tourists and weddings, and this spot can be awe-inspiring with the autumnal colors in full swing. Dolly Sods is one of the most gorgeous locations in the state, and it’s doubly true during the fall, particularly in early fall. As part of the Allegheny Plateau, Dolly Sods provides a breathtaking view overlooking rolling hills that extend as far as the eye can see.
Photo by The Oberports.
If you’re looking to get married in the winter, you probably don’t mind the cold. It’s hard to predict when snow may occur, but couples are pretty much guaranteed a white wedding if they head to Snowshoe Mountain or the Canaan Valley area. Snowshoe provides a sweeping mountaintop vista that’s lovely year-round, but it’s especially magical when blanketed with snow. Canaan Valley has expansive fields that give way to towering mountains and waterfalls, and for weddings, at nearby resorts, you can even take the ski lift for photos on the mountain top. One perk to winter weddings is that most color palettes work well; if it snows, everything goes with white, and without snow, pops of color really shine against the neutral backdrop of bare trees. Choosing a venue with great views while cozying up indoors is ideal for a winter wedding in the Mountain State.
