“Winter is the time for comfort, for good food and warmth, for the touch of a friendly hand and for a talk beside the fire: it is time for home.” – Edith Sitwell

Congratulations on selecting your unique winter wedding date. For many people, the December thru February months can be a cold, unpredictable and a romantically cozy time of year. This season gives shorter daylight intervals, weather challenges and holiday celebrations. This is a unique time of year for a wedding with fewer competing weddings so it’s a great time to shine and be different. However, you will probably need to be more mindful of holiday seasons and family tradition dates when planning your wedding activities. Of course, love is always a reason to celebrate and brings joy to so many. No matter what date you choose your day will be special and memorable with your creative touches.
Below are five pointers that can help your planning:
1. The Winter flowers offer a variety of winter/holiday theme and richer colors. Below is a list of some typical Winter wedding flowers to consider for your big day
- Amaryllis
- Hypericum Berries
- Sweet Peas
- Camellias
- Carnations
- Anemones
- Ranunculus
- Roses
- Hellebores
- Poinsettias
- Gardenias
- Calla Lilies
- Anemone
- Dusty Miller
- Gladiolus
- Lily of the Valley
- Lisianthus
- Chrysanthemum
- Orchid
- Stephanotis
- Dahlia
If your favorite flower is too expensive, not in season, or you want a long-lasting keepsake, consider silk or another artificial flower as an alternative.
2. Wedding colors for Winter weddings are variety of wintery and richer colors. Here is a list of some typical Winter wedding colors
- Merlot
- Black
- Ivory/Winter White
- Gold
- Silver
- Blue
- Green
- Cranberry
- Copper
- Honey
- Red
- Burgundy
- Purple
- Grey
- Magenta
- Champagne
- Dusty Rose
- Teal
- Bronze
- Orange
- White
- Brown
- Mauve
3. For Winter wedding theme and décor options are unique and lends well to being creative. You will find lots of inspiration, examples, and offerings of the latest trends. Here are several common wedding theme and decor options for a Winter Wedding
- Winter Wonderland
- Cozy Lodge
- Candlelit Aisle
- Fireside Aisle
- Twinkling Lights
- Greenery
- Snowy
- Holiday
- Frosty Night
- Romantic
- Vintage
- Whimsical
- Rustic
- Travel
4. In the Winter season think comfort, warm, and holiday inspired foods. Below are some food & drink options to consider.
- Food theme stations with popular finger foods (i.e. sandwiches, chicken, pizza, etc…)
- Food assembly station (i.e. salad bars, cheese/meat assortment, carving station, charcuterie spreads, creative custom creations, etc…)
- Cold appetizers
- Buffets
- Dried fruit, figs, nuts, and veggie display
- Soups
- Casseroles
- Winter drink specialties such as apple ciders, spiced drinks, chai, coffees, cappuccinos, teas, hot chocolate, etc.
- Dessert assortment table (my personal favorite)
- Be creative. Consider including pies, doughnuts, bread pudding, cookies, apple fritters, shortbread, truffles, etc…
5. As Murphy’s law has taught us, anything that can go wrong will go wrong. Here are a few things you might want to consider to be prepared for in case things don’t go exactly to plan:
- Weather –
- Be sure to have a plan B to account for the change in weather conditions (i.e. cold, wind, rain, snow, etc…)
- Consider having provisions for your guests to help with weather conditions [i.e. rain, cold (heat lamps/fire pit/blankets/cover-ups), snow, etc…]
- Be aware of the sun position/high visibility and longer dark hours at venue or photo op locations
- Be sure to have extra layers or choose styles/accessories to keep bridal party and the happy couple warm throughout the festivities
- Book early for popular themes and snowy venues as they can fill up quickly
- Holiday weekend weddings –
- It might be helpful to have a resource or two available if you are planning a wedding during the holiday weekend since this is a busy time.
- Some guests might get frustrated or confused more easily, so consider having a designated travel agent or hotel representative to work with guests.
- Or consider delegating this to very responsible/knowledgeable wedding party member.
- It might be helpful to have a resource or two available if you are planning a wedding during the holiday weekend since this is a busy time.
I hope these tips are useful for your upcoming wedding. Enjoy the planning process and don’t let the stress keep you from appreciating the special moments leading up to your special day.
Article Sources:
- Bailey, Brianna. (N.D.). The Pros and Cons of Each Wedding Season. Retrieved from https://www.bridalguide.com/planning/the-details/season/pros-cons-wedding-season
- Bridal Guide. (N.D.). 25 Winter Wedding Ceremony Ideas. Retrieved from https://www.bridalguide.com/planning/the-details/season/winter-wedding-ceremony-ideas#185543
- Colors Bridesmaid. (June 2019). Top 8 Winter Wedding Color Palettes for 2020. Retrieved from https://www.colorsbridesmaid.com/blog/top-winter-wedding-color-palettes-for-2020/
- Donovan, Blair. (January 2018). 20 Wedding Themes for Every Bridal Style. Retrieved from https://www.brides.com/story/wedding-themes-for-every-bridal-style
- Green, Rachel. (July 2016). Helpful Tips For The Four Wedding Seasons. Retrieved from https://www.weddingsonline.ie/blog/four-wedding-seasons/
- Iacia, Samantha. (September 2018). 16 Winter Wedding Color Palettes for a Festive Celebration. Retrieved from https://www.weddingwire.com/wedding-ideas/winter-wedding-colors
- Keene, Meg. (October 2016). Winter Wedding Flower Guide. Retrieved from https://apracticalwedding.com/winter-flowers-for-weddings/
- Magnet Street. (N.D.) Wedding Color Trends. Retrieved from https://www.magnetstreet.com/wedding-color-trends
- Schreiber, Sarah. (N.D.). 22 Winter Wedding Color Palettes That Aren’t Just Red and Green. Retrieved from https://www.marthastewartweddings.com/627073/winter-wedding-color-palettes?
- Totten, Carly. (April 2019). 15 Winter Wedding Flowers. Retrieved from https://www.thespruce.com/winter-wedding-flowers-4582395