Selecting a Location, Date, and Venue
Set your date as soon as possible. People tend to be busy with holiday-related events and traveling in the winter, so it’s possible some of your guests won’t be able to make it. If you're having a small wedding near your home, you may be able to have the wedding near the holidays without many conflicts. A larger wedding may benefit from being scheduled around a long weekend in February (like President's Day or Martin Luther King Day). Keep weather in mind when choosing a day and time. For instance, the sun sets much earlier in winter; if you want to have a romantic winter wedding at sunset, don’t forget to factor that in.
Choose a location where you can play up winter elements. You can have a beautiful wedding close to home and embrace all that your area has to offer in the wintertime. If you want something rustic and outdoors, consider a nearby forest, park, or vineyard. For an indoor venue, look for elements that allow you to incorporate a winter atmosphere, like large windows facing a forest of snow-covered trees. If you have your heart set on a destination wedding, consider the ease of transportation for your guests, the availability of hotels, and possible inclement weather issues for travelers.
Book a venue. Dates near holidays or long weekends may need to be booked up to a year in advance, while other winter dates are usually easier to book because of decreased demand. Consider a hunting lodge, a ski resort, or a rustic estate with a snowy pastoral scene to highlight the season. If you’re having a wedding in a church around the holidays, the church will already be beautifully decorated – you may be able to save some money on décor. Have a backup plan in place in the event of inclement weather.
Send out "Save the Dates" as soon as possible. Winter is a hectic time for many people because of holidays, family gatherings, obligations, and traveling. Send your Save the Dates out at least six months in advance to ensure your intended guests will be able to make it. Consider sending out Save the Dates electronically to get the announcement out to your guests quickly. You’ll save both time and money! Weddings around holidays may want to send out save the date announcements up to a year in advance.
Create winter-themed wedding invitations. You can play up the uniqueness of your chosen wedding date by including snowy scenes, holiday themes, snowflakes, or cozy fireside tableaux. If you can't find any templates that cater to this season, ask a local print shop to design a custom invitation. If you’ve already chosen wedding colors, use those on the invitations.
Choosing Décor and Dining Options
Pick winter-inspired wedding colors. Common winter wedding colors include snowy white, icy blue, crimson, jewel tones, forest green, and chocolate brown. Metallics, like silver and gold, also work well. To create a sophisticated winter wonderland atmosphere, go with shades of white, silver, and blue. For something more rustic, consider antique gold with emerald green or deep crimson. Consider choosing a light color and a bright color to play up the contrast and winter tones in your décor. An all-white winter wedding can also be stunning.
Bring the outdoors inside with your décor. Some locations make an outdoor wedding impossible in the winter; however, you can still create the look of winter wonderland by incorporating fir and pine trees, pine cones, snowflakes, frosted glass, seasonal foliage, red berries, woodland elements, and much more. If your date is around a holiday, choose a couple of your favorite decorations for a more festive atmosphere. For instance, you could use mistletoe and holly in your centerpieces. You can also go for a cozy feel with soft textures like velvet, cashmere and chenille. Choose thick, soft tablecloths and thickly cushioned chairs. Consider things like velvet drapes and a seating area with couches and fluffy pillows for your guests to take advantage of.
Play with lighting at the ceremony and reception. Winter is known for its firelight, so try to incorporate a fireplace, candles, or twinkling string lights. Candles add a romantic feel, and the soft lighting will add some ambiance. Sparkling chandeliers will add an icy touch, or go with candlelit chandeliers for a more rustic vibe. Suspending antique lanterns from the ceiling can create a lovely vintage feel.
Make sure you can control the thermostat in the reception hall. Temperature control is important because you want it to be cozy, but it can quickly become too warm with many people in one room. Ask the venue about their temperature controls and ventilation. You should be able to adjust your heat a number of times during the reception.
Choose a reception area that can accommodate guests' winter gear. Most of your guests will have heavy coats with them, along with mittens, hats, dripping umbrellas, and other winter accessories. To ensure they won't have to lug those items around with them, choose a reception venue that has plenty of closet and storage space.
Use seasonal elements in your bouquets and centerpieces. Use poinsettias, ivy, willow, thistle, leaves, and branches to enhance the flowers you plan to use. Seasonal berries and fragrant fresh herbs, like rosemary, also create a lovely winter feeling.
Hire a professional photographer who can play up winter elements. Interview photographers to see how they can use the snow or fireplace to play up the romance of the day. If you want to be outside for a few photographs, you want someone who can shoot photos well and quickly.
Serve guests warm cocktails. Many weddings feature a cocktail hour. Warm your guests up by having seasonal drinks like hot cider, hot chocolate, mulled wine, Irish coffee, or hot toddies. Another popular seasonal drink is eggnog, although it’s served cold. Consider adding this to your bar if you are getting married during the Christmas season.
Choose hearty food. Instead of serving salmon or chicken, you may want to do a roast, thick risotto, mashed potatoes, hearty greens, and rich soups. Afterward, have a winter-themed wedding cake. For other desserts, consider shortbread cookies, gingerbread, roasted chestnuts, or fruit cake.
Planning Attire
Go with thicker fabrics for outdoor weddings. A winter wedding outdoors is going to be chilly! When choosing attire for the wedding party, keep this in mind. Dresses for the bride and bridesmaids can be made of beautiful fabrics that are also warm, such as silk, velvet, brocade, pique, and moire. The groom and groomsman can keep warm in wool suits. Tweeds and tartans are also warm and can add some festivity to the wardrobe.
Plan your wardrobe accessories for the colder temperatures. Consider that the wedding party will probably need to arrive at the venue in the cold or take a few pictures outside. If you want to wear a strapless wedding dress, consider augmenting the wardrobe a matching wedding coat with a cute hat, earmuffs, fancy gloves, scarves, snow boots. Fur shrugs are glamorous and wintry. A winter cape can keep you warm while creating an air of sophistication. EXPERT TIP Karen Brown Karen Brown Wedding & Event Planner Karen Brown is the Founder and Creative Director of Karen Brown New York, a full service event planning company. Karen has planned hundreds of successful weddings, corporate parties, award ceremonies, product launches, galas, and fundraisers over the past decade throughout the United States, Mexico, and Canada. Karen Brown Karen Brown Wedding & Event Planner Find a cozy outerwear option that fits your personal style. Wedding and event planner Karen Brown says: "Depending on your dress and what you like, you can add a fur, leather, or wool jacket to your dress to stay warm for a winter wedding. You could also wear a lace, cotton-blend, or velvet bolero jacket, or even a custom denim jacket, if you'd like."
Be ready with weatherproof options. Winter weddings are at risk for inclement weather like heavy sleet, snow and ice. Bring ponchos, rubber rain boots, umbrellas, and other implements in the event you and your wedding party have to walk through any of it. You can always put on your glitzy heels once you’re safely indoors!
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