While most couples choose to get married in the warmer summer months, a beautiful winter wedding offers plenty of promise, too. Whether you want it to be festive before Christmas or a white-winter wedding, there are plenty of options to play with.
10 Reasons why you Should opt for a Winter Wedding
May to September is often considered the height of wedding season when the weather is (usually) warm and sunny. The warmer months mean green grass, full trees and a smaller chance of rain.
However, winter weddings are becoming almost as popular with soon-to-be-wed couples. So we’ve pulled together a list of reasons why you should consider getting hitched at this most wonderful time of year.
Snow on Your Wedding Day
If you’re lucky enough to get a dusting of snow on your big day, your photographs will really make your wedding look like a winter wonderland.
The further north you are, the higher your chances are for those magical moments, so look for venues in Scotland, or around Manchester or Yorkshire. Did you know that snow on your wedding day is also considered a sign of prosperity and fertility?
Romantic Evenings
With the nights drawing in, you can start your evening party that bit sooner, which means you have longer to enjoy it. Dress up your venue and get the atmosphere going from the moment dusk sets in. You can use fairy lights to create a whimsical setup and remember you can dress up exterior trees, too. Use candles to light walkways outside – and if your budget stretches to it, why not have a firework display after the speeches?
“The light can be amazing for a winter wedding, think of all those candles, tea lights, open fires and also the lanterns.” says Kelly Hood from Boho Weddings.
“Remember to book an early wedding ceremony, otherwise you will run out of daylight altogether. If you go for a 3pm ceremony the light will be gone by the time you get out of the church.
“Winter weddings also work well for smaller more intimate groups as you’ll already have a cosy atmosphere to start with.”
Make your Money go Further With a Winter Wedding
Choosing a winter wedding date gives you a big bargaining chip with your suppliers. Winter isn’t considered peak wedding season, so you’ll probably find your suppliers have more availability. Be sure to browse the internet to see what’s on offer – it’s worth trying to haggle this time of year. Plus, it can be easier to plan a Christmas wedding on a budget when we’re in saving mode for the winter months.
More Winter Wedding Venue Availability
If you’ve set your heart on a particular venue, you’ll probably find it easier to get a Saturday date in winter.
What’s more, it’s even easier to book your venue if you decide to get married midweek. Your guests will also find it easier to get accommodation locally and may decide to have a mini winter break as a result.
The Holiday Season
If you get married over the Christmas period and New Year, you’ll find that many people have taken time off work in any case, so if you want to have a mid-week wedding then go for it.
A wedding on New Year’s Eve can be super special. What better way to start off a new year than being new Mr & Mrs? Of course, winter isn’t just Christmas – you could get married over Valentine’s Day and still have a wintery theme.
A Seasonal Highlight
If you marry in the winter, it’s unlikely your guests will have been to as many weddings in the weeks leading up to your big day. They’ll be ready for a good party – unlike in summer, when your guests could become weary and fed up with weddings after endless weeks of celebrations!
Winter Wedding Warmers: Mulled Wine by the Fireside
Winter weddings mean you can find the perfect season-appropriate and opulent wedding venue. We’re thinking castles and stately homes that have big hallways and grand open fireplaces. Just think of how beautiful they would look if it snowed too.
As your guests arrive at the reception, serve mulled wine and mince pies in the warmth. If your venue has a Christmas tree, all the better. Very festive.
Honeymoon in the Tropics
If you marry during July and August, you’re likely to have to pay more for your honeymoon as it’s during the school holiday season. You’ll also have to avoid places like the Caribbean because of hurricanes.
Marry in December or the winter months and you won’t have this issue. Moreover, it’s the perfect time to visit the Maldives, South Africa or a Caribbean island. Who doesn’t love a bit of winter sun, eh?
Don’t get Hung up on the Weather
If you’re marrying in winter, you don’t need to worry about whether you’re going to have rain, sun or whether it’s going to be cold. Your focus will be on creating a perfect indoor wedding and there’s far less uncertainty with it.
You’ll be expecting winter weather, your guests will also be ready for it and you’ll have less space to have to try and dress. Furthermore, dressing outdoor venues can be quite cumbersome.
It’s a bonus if you get snowfall on your big day. However, the good thing about a winter wedding is that you’re not banking on the weather – we doubt you’ll be stalking the weather forecasts quite so fervently as you would if your wedding was in the summer.
Your Big Day Look
Finally, some of us have looks that just suit winter as a time of year more than summer. You can embrace the fair-skinned look without worrying about getting a pre-wedding tan. We would also recommend you enhance your big day look with accessories in rich plums, forest greens, berry reds and scarlets.
Winter Wedding Dos and Dont’s
Winter weddings can be truly magical, and while we’ve already discussed the many reasons to opt for a festive big day in the winter months, there are some winter wedding rules to follow.
DO: Wrap up warm!
Although you want to look gorgeous on your winter wedding day, chances are that during the wedding dress shopping you’re going to forget about the impending freezing temperatures.
If you’re feeling chilly during your wedding it’ll spoil your day, so opt for a faux fur shrug or sparkly cardigan for a touch of fabulousness. This counts for your bridesmaids and wedding guests, too. You want them to enjoy your day (and teeth chattering through the service can be pretty annoying).
DO: Accessorise accordingly
Before you choose your accessories, make sure they’re suited for a winter wedding. You may have fallen in love with those glitzy, sequin stilettos but are they going to be practical for snow or ice?
DO: Experiment with colours
If you don’t fancy going for a typical colour palette of whites, reds and greens don’t be afraid to experiment! Bold, rich colours will still look amazing, and your wedding will look seriously unique.
DO: Be inspired
If you’re struggling with how to decorate your wedding venue, be inspired by all things wintery. Pinterest will give you tons of ideas about how to create a magical, enchanting setting for your big day. Pinecones as place names, candles as centrepieces, Christmas pudding for dessert…the choices are endless.
DON’T: forget wedding insurance
Wedding insurance is a must-have – especially when it comes to winter weddings. Don’t let severe weather spoil your day, you’ll feel 100x better knowing you’ve got insurance if something does happen.
DON’T: worry
Most importantly don’t panic in the run-up to your winter wedding. Try not to worry about rain, snow or storms. Once you’ve sorted your wedding insurance, there’s nothing you can do to change the weather, so don’t let it ruin your excitement in the lead-up to the big day.
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