Hanover Inn Dartmouth | Hanover, New Hampshire
December weddings have a warmth all their own. The days are shorter, candlelight feels more dramatic, and a thoughtfully chosen venue can make the entire celebration feel inviting before the first guest even arrives.
Nicole and Alex embraced everything the season had to offer for their winter wedding at Hanover Inn in Hanover, New Hampshire. Their emerald, burgundy, silver, and gold design complemented the venue’s existing holiday décor while personal photographs and family heirlooms made the celebration unmistakably theirs.
As their New Hampshire wedding planner, Inked Events coordinated the design, timeline, vendor communication, setup, and wedding-day logistics so the couple could remain present throughout the celebration.
Planning your own celebration? See the complete list of wedding vendors at the bottom of this post.
A December Wedding at Hanover Inn
Located across from the Dartmouth College Green, Hanover Inn Dartmouth is a historic New Hampshire wedding venue with elegant event spaces and a warm, welcoming atmosphere.
The location also held personal significance for Nicole, a Dartmouth graduate. Choosing Hanover Inn allowed the couple to celebrate in a place connected to an important part of her life.
In December, the inn was already decorated for the holidays. Instead of competing with those seasonal elements, we treated them as part of the wedding’s overall design. The existing greenery and décor complemented the couple’s rich winter palette and helped the celebration feel cohesive with its setting.
This is one of the advantages of planning a winter wedding at a venue that naturally embraces the season. The goal is not to cover or replace what is already there. It is to build upon it thoughtfully.
A Cozy Wedding Morning
Nicole and her wedding party began the morning in matching flannel shirts. It was a simple seasonal detail that created a relaxed atmosphere while everyone prepared for the ceremony.
Getting-ready clothing does not need to be elaborate to feel intentional. The flannel shirts were comfortable, photographed beautifully, and immediately established the cozy feeling that continued throughout the day.
An Intimate Fireplace Ceremony
Nicole and Alex held their ceremony in front of the fireplace, surrounded by windows and soft, intimate lighting.
The fireplace created a natural focal point without requiring an overly elaborate ceremony design. Its warmth invited guests into the moment and provided exactly the atmosphere the couple wanted for their December wedding.
Nicole and Alex met through mutual friends during the pandemic, making the closeness of the ceremony especially meaningful. The setting allowed the focus to remain on them, their vows, and the people who had gathered to witness their marriage.
Emerald, Burgundy and Gold Wedding Details
The wedding palette included dark emerald, burgundy, light gray, silver, and gold. It felt seasonal without relying on a traditional holiday color scheme.
The richer shades brought warmth and depth to the ballroom, while white linens and napkins kept the overall design polished and balanced.
Two Coordinating Tablescape Designs
Rather than using the same design on every table, we created two coordinating tablescapes.
Half of the guest tables featured pine Lennox linens paired with lush floral arrangements. The remaining tables were dressed in silver Duet linens and layered with candles, pine cones, and greenery.
White napkins connected the two designs and created consistency throughout the room.
Using two tablescape styles added visual interest without making the reception feel busy. Although the tables were not identical, they clearly belonged to the same overall design.
Personal Photograph Table Numbers
Instead of traditional table numbers, Nicole and Alex used photographs from different points in their relationship.
Each table featured another part of their story, giving guests something personal to discover as they found their seats. The photographs also served as natural conversation starters during the reception.
Details like these do more than decorate a room. They allow guests to experience the couple’s history and make the wedding feel connected to the people being celebrated.
A Family Wedding Gallery
Nicole and Alex also displayed wedding photographs of their parents and grandparents near the guest book.
The gallery gave guests a glimpse into their family histories and honored the relationships that came before their own. It was a quiet but meaningful reminder that their wedding was part of a much larger story.
Lighting That Changed with the Celebration
Crown Special Events provided the DJ services and uplighting for the reception.
During introductions and dinner, the ballroom was illuminated with cool blue lighting that complemented the winter setting. Once dancing began, the lighting shifted into a full spectrum of color.
That transition helped change the energy of the room naturally. The earlier lighting felt calm and atmospheric, while the later colors signaled that it was time to celebrate.
Thoughtful lighting does more than make a room look attractive. It can help guide guests through the different parts of the evening without interrupting the flow of the reception.
Winter Wedding Attire
Nicole’s attendants wore dark green dresses in individually selected styles. The shared color kept the wedding party cohesive, while the different silhouettes allowed each person to choose something comfortable and flattering. Shawls added warmth and complemented the winter setting.
The groomsmen wore classic black tuxedos with green pocket squares. Alex also wore a black tuxedo but was distinguished by a white pocket square and bow tie.
These small differences created a polished wedding-party look while allowing the couple to remain the clear focal point.
What Made This Hanover Inn Wedding Personal
The most memorable details from Nicole and Alex’s wedding were not simply decorative.
The venue connected the day to Nicole’s history at Dartmouth. Their table numbers shared photographs from throughout their relationship. Their family wedding gallery honored their parents and grandparents. Even the lighting was designed to move with the energy of the celebration.
Together, these choices made the wedding feel personal rather than themed.
That is what thoughtful wedding planning should accomplish. The design may be beautiful, but it should also reveal something about the people getting married.
Inked Events managed the vendor communication, timeline, setup, and transitions throughout the day so Nicole and Alex did not have to step away from their celebration to answer questions or solve logistical problems.
They could simply be present, together, exactly where they were supposed to be.
Planning a Winter Wedding in New Hampshire?
Winter weddings require a particular kind of planning. Daylight is limited, weather can affect transportation, and the transition between ceremony, photographs, and reception must be timed carefully.
When those logistics are handled thoughtfully, a winter wedding can feel incredibly warm, intimate, and memorable.
If you are planning a wedding at Hanover Inn or another New Hampshire or New England venue, Inked Events would love to help you bring it together.
Schedule your complimentary consultation →
The Vendor Team
Nicole and Alex’s Hanover Inn wedding was brought together by this talented team of New Hampshire and New England wedding professionals:
- Wedding planning and coordination: Inked Events
- Venue and catering: Hanover Inn Dartmouth
- Photography: Keith MacDonald Photography
- DJ and uplighting: Crown Special Events
- Floral design: Harrington Flowers
- Transportation: Butler’s Bus Service
- Hair: Hair Haven Studio
- Makeup: Makeup Junky by Hilda
- Linens: BBJ La Tavola
Inked Events is a New Hampshire wedding planning and design company serving couples throughout New England. NH Union Leader Readers’ Choice Winner, 2025 and 2026.
