Winter weddings are just lovely. Yes, summer weddings are perhaps the most sought after but there’s a whole different feeling to a winter wedding. Maybe it’s the dark rolling earlier, the candles or extra fairy lights but they always feel so cosy. Especially if the venue has a roaring open fire. They are much needed light in the darker days. The nights may well be darker, but the love and the romance shines just as much. I do love photographing a winter wedding. I love this time of year and I believe that it’s a great time of year to get married, especially nearer to Christmas.
There are a lot of different reasons people might choose to have a winter wedding. You might be able to save some money by getting winter wedding packages, and your guests are more likely to be able to attend. Very few are swanning off on their jolly holidays in the winter and availability tends to be better so that’s a bonus!
Here’s my 2 pence piece on winter weddings.
Venue
Your venue will play a huge part in how you want to have your winter wedding. They are going to be the ones who create the majority of the atmosphere! If you are going venue hunting, you do need to consider the differences in holding a wedding there in different seasons. It’s no good going to view a venue in the middle of spring with all the flowers blooming and falling in love with it if you are going to get married in November, because the venue you choose will be a totally different venue in any other season. There are ways to get round this though. Have a look on google for photographers who have photographed a winter wedding at that venue or ask the venue to show you some photos so you can get a feel of how your venue will look at that time of year.
You might also want to consider the location. Although our winters tend to be more wet than anything else, is your venue going to be accessible if mother nature throws 8 inches of snow your way? It’s probably a good idea to be having the ceremony and reception at the same place if you can. Then, once everyone is there you can relax and enjoy your day.
With winter weddings, there is more chance that your time outside will be limited. Although I encourage my couples to get outside for photos at some point (armed with brollies and coats of course) during the day, you do want to consider whether your venue has some nice areas for photos inside.
And… make sure it’s warm…nothing kills a party quicker than shivering guests!
Styling
No one should tell you how your wedding should look. But, typically winter weddings are styled very different to summer weddings. It’s a perfect time for a bit of drama, to break out the big florals and foliage pieces, bold colours. And, of course…fairy lights and candles EVERYWHERE!
A fairy light wall makes a beautiful, romantic back drop. Line beams and banisters with fairy lights and place candles in every available crevice! It will do nothing but enhance the cosy feeling of a winter wedding.
If you fancy a more modern vibe go with whites and simply add dashes of colour using big statement foliage pieces and hints of metallics.
If hosting a wedding around Christmas time, you can use this to your advantage. The venue will already be beautifully decorated, have a magical festive feel and the photos will look stunning. It could help you save some of your budget for other areas. You can theme your favours around Christmas with tasty treats or miniature bottles of mulled wine. A Christmas wedding is a perfect way to kick off the party season! You could have a mulled wine and hot chocolate bar which would go down well with your guests.
Although you can choose whatever colour scheme your heart desires for your wedding, colour schemes around winter tend to be a lot more bold such as deep reds, bold blues or autumn colours (which I love!) which adds to the atmosphere.
And let’s not underestimate the advantages of long sleeved dresses and fluffy shrugs!
Not forgetting the grooms. Velvet, tweed and patterned fabrics are perfect for the time of year. Combined with a plain waistcoat for an extra layer looks smart.
The running of the day
Remember that sunset happens pretty early in the winter, so if you are wanting to use the grounds of your venue for either activities or photos, you will need to plan your timings carefully.
Although the weather can be unpredictable at any time of year, during the winter there is a greater chance of ice and snow. So make sure that you allow for extra travel time if you are travelling between venues or are getting ready at home before the ceremony.
Winter is the perfect time of year to have sparkler photos. These do have to be planned carefully though so discuss this thoroughly with your venue and your photographer. Those awesome shots don’t just happen by themselves and take more organisation than you might think! One big mistake I have seen a few times is not having enough lighters for everyone to light their sparklers at the same time. It’s a bit of an anti climax when some people’s sparklers have gone out before others have theirs lit! You will need someone to help coordinate this (a big booming voice helps!), and make sure that you have empty buckets on hand so that they can be disposed of safely.
Another thing to consider is that many registrars don’t allow flash to be used during ceremonies as it can be distracting. If you are having a ceremony in a dark lit room, It may well be super ambient but you might run the risk of your photographs being a bit dingy!
The Great British Weather
If you do plan to be outside at any point during the day, do ensure you are equipped to wrap up warm and have appropriate footwear! Mind you, I’d probably recommend that for a summer wedding as well! It’s a good idea to pack an emergency hair and makeup kit for touch ups throughout the day. Or find a makeup artist who can provide you with an essentials kit or even a full day service!
It’s a good idea to provide a coat check if your venue doesn’t offer this already. No one wants to be worrying about where they are going to put their wet, soggy coat.
If there are any activities that are going to take place outside, a fireworks display perhaps. Make sure that you keep your guests well informed so they can be prepared to go outside into the cold. Provide blankets for some extra coziness!
If you’re really lucky, you may get some snow which would make a winter wedding (in spite of the obvious logistical issues!) even more magical.
Don’t worry about rain – there’s just as much chance of it raining on your wedding day in the summer as there is for the winter! Instead, embrace it with brollies and wellies!
And Finally
If you choose to have a winter wedding, then you need to go for it. Don’t be the person who refuses to go outside because your hair might get a little windswept or your dress might get grubby. The weather, and time of year is part of your day, embrace it!
