Spring may be just around the corner, but for those of you getting a head start on planning a winter wedding for the 2010/11 season, here’s a little inspiration for a head start. Photographed by Erin Hearts Court, a husband and wife photo duo from LA, these American love birds, who have been known to fly north for that other Thanksgiving weekend, chose their fav Canadian respite for their wedding locale: Whistler, BC.

Both from big families, and therefore big celebrations and holidays, Sara and Reno spent their first vacation alone over Thanksgiving by escaping to the Great White North for a little skiing and alone time. It was where, Sara says, they really fell in love. Returning two years later they secured the spot as their ’special place’ on a second visit and then Reno proposed on a trip to Barcelona.

Despite some grievances, the couple chose to marry each other surrounded by the snow and the mountains where they’d always loved to escape together. Despite a little grief from family and friends (who were literally spread out across the US) an intimate group of about 30 people ended up attending the wedding for what Sara called, a “double elation” because it gave people and excuse to take a mini-break as well as celebrate the marriage.

This December, on their first anniversary, they plan to return again to the spot to re-live the memories of that special weekend.

Notes: Sara reported that finding the right professionals was easy – she’d known Erin (Erin Hearts Court) since her freshman year in university and the dress was the first one she tried on (the bridesmaids’ dresses were a little tougher however but came together beautifully with wraps from Anthropologie), they settled easily on the Fairmont’s Chateau Whistler for their location and from there, it was essentially word of mouth to find people like event planner Roxanne (Celebrate Events) and Rembrandt Designs Co. for flowers.