10 Things To Consider When Planning A Winter Wedding

Have you got your heart set on a wedding during the most wonderful time of the year? Winter weddings are perfect for couples who are after a wedding that makes the most of all things that glitter, velvet, reds and golds, and tasty festive treats! We’ve done our research and come up with the top ten things to think about when planning a winter wedding. 

Photo by Helen Abraham for Niamh and Bryan's Relaxed Petersham Nurseries Wedding

1) Winter can be a really busy time of year, especially around Christmas and New Year when events and staff parties are being held to celebrate the festive period. If you’re planning a wedding at this time of the year it is definitely a good idea to book your venue early to guarantee you get your first choice! You should also give guests plenty of warning by sending out invitations long enough in advance so that they have a chance to make the necessary arrangements at this busy time. 

Image Source: Grey Likes Weddings

2) When it comes to winter wedding attire, warmth is important! If you’re going to be outside for any point for transport or photographs then make sure you wrap up warm. Think thick tights for the bride and bridesmaids, bridal jackets and shawls, and thick socks for the groomsmen and perhaps even velvet tuxedo jackets for extra warmth.  

Image Source: Rustic Wedding Chic

3) Winter is a wonderful time of the year and theme to design your wedding décor around. If you’re going to channel the winter theme then think about choosing colours such as berry red, burgundy, cold, silver and blue! Also, if you love all things that sparkle than embrace glitter and everything shiny from centre pieces to hanging decor – if you can’t do it in winter then when can you?! If your wedding is to take place in December then incorporating a festive theme in your décor can be a great way to embrace a winter wedding; think candles, fairy lights, Christmas trees, bunting, and some romantic mistletoe. 

(Something to remember is that a wedding in November and December in a church is a great way to save on decor as odds are the church will already be decorated for the festive period.)

Image Source: Before The Big Day

4) Embracing a winter wedding is a great way to stylise your wedding stationery. Incorporating glitter, satin, and seasonal colours is a fab way to do this. If you don’t want to go down the Christmas route then why not use icy blues and sparkly glitter to capture the wintery feel of season.  

Photo by Bears Collective from Lara and Ben's Glamorous 1920's Speakeasy Inspired Wedding 

5) At this time of year daylight is at a minimum so if its darker when you’re leaving the church or venue then a top tip would be to swap confetti to sparklers. Give each of your guests a sparkler to hold instead of flowers or seeds to throw; the results will be a fun, memorable feature for your guests and some stunning wedding photos. 

Photo by Rebekkah Robert Photography for James and Nicola's Elegant Woodland Barn Wedding

6) Likewise, as daylight hours are reduced you should definitely think about the implications it could have on your wedding photographs. A piece of advice that’s popular amongst photographers is to take your wedding photos at midday, even if that means before the ceremony! The lighting will be at its best and you’ll get some beautiful photo’s. 

Image Source: Rock My Wedding 

7) Staying cosy in the cold winter months is a priority so depending on your venue it may be a good idea to invest in some portable heaters just in case the church or venue is a bit chilly on your big day! Having a few as back up can make a huge difference to you and your guests experience if it’s that little bit too cold. 

Image Source: Mountain Modern Life

8) Keeping with the cosy theme, think about providing hot drinks to your guests upon arrival! Hot chocolate and mulled wine are perfect warm drinks for the time of year and will be an extra detail that your guests will love! 

Image Source: Holly Mathis

9) At this time of year, it’s a given that almost every guest will have a coat or jacket so it’s definitely a good idea to organise a cloak room; especially if your venue doesn’t have one in place. Even a clothes rack at the entrance will make a huge difference and will prevent jackets from piling up and getting in the way! 

Image Source: Fab Mood

10) Wedding favours are the perfect way to say thank you to your guests so if you’re planning a winter wedding then why not tailor them to the season? Think blankets, mulled wine spices, candy canes, cookies, ginger bread kits, and mini bottles of baileys – all treats that everyone will love! 

Extras:

- Winter weather can be unpredictable so it’s a great idea to keep the timings of your big day slightly flexibly just in case the roads are icy or wet. This way you can make sure that all your guests will definitely be in attendance during the ceremony and reception. 

- Alongside this, it’s a great idea to make sure some transport is in place for your guests. The weather will be cold and the roads could be busy so if you organise some taxi’s or buses it may make a big difference if your ceremony and reception venues aren’t close to each other or a further away from town or city centres.

- Finally, bear in mind that most flowers won’t be in season in winter. This means they are likely to be hard to source or expensive. Why not consider some alternatives such as wreaths or holly.