Are you dreaming of a wedding in the snow, in the heart of winter? Saying “I do” in December or January, close to the festive seasons of Christmas or New Year’s, is an excellent idea!
Discover why organizing your winter wedding is a great choice, along with our tips to make this magical day a success.
Winter Wedding
1. Why Organize a Winter Wedding?
a. Availability
The first excellent reason to organize a winter wedding: vendors’ calendars are not fully booked!
The off-season for weddings extends from November to the end of March. The reception venue, the church of your dreams, wedding planners, and caterers are much more available to discuss your plans.
You might even have multiple wedding dates to choose from! Note that during peak season, reception halls are reserved many months, even years, in advance.
Similarly, your loved ones’ schedules might be less busy during this season. Except for the Christmas holidays, your family and close friends often have fewer plans, vacations, events, and outings scheduled in winter than in summer.
b. Budget
Off-season often means lower prices. Vendors regularly offer significant discounts on their services between October and March.
By planning your wedding in winter, you can save a lot and perhaps reinvest the remaining budget into other expenses, like a stunning wedding dress or a dream honeymoon.
c. Warm Atmosphere
Saying “I do” under the snow, dining by candlelight and the warmth of a fireplace, taking your wedding photos in a snowy landscape—there are many advantages to getting married in winter!
At this time of year, the cozy atmosphere of Christmas is likely to grace your big day. You can easily incorporate some cozy decor elements like soft rugs and lovely throws, as well as lighting to warm up your reception venue and the ambiance: candles, string lights, and more.
2. How to Dress for a Winter Wedding?
Since temperatures are cooler this season, we recommend opting for a long-sleeved wedding dress. Elegant and timeless, this outfit will beautifully highlight you and is perfectly suited for a winter wedding!
Long-sleeved designs adorned with lace are very trendy, but you can also opt for a dress with ample sleeves, puffy tulle, or a tattoo effect.
If you prefer, nothing prevents you from choosing a gorgeous short-sleeved wedding dress, backless, or with a lovely neckline.
However, you’ll need to complete your outfit with essential accessories to brave the cold: a cashmere stole, a cape, a shawl, or a faux fur bolero.
Note that a winter wedding doesn’t necessarily mean a heavy outfit. Indeed, the time you’ll spend outdoors for photos will be less compared to the moments spent in your reception hall.
Above all, make sure to choose a wedding outfit that flatters you and in which you feel comfortable to enjoy a wonderful evening.
For the groom, consider a velvet or tweed suit and adopt seasonal colors like royal blue or forest green.
3. Which Reception Venue to Choose?
While in summer you might favor outdoor reception venues to welcome your guests, in winter, it’s better to have them well sheltered. For your cocktail hour and dinner, we advise choosing a spacious reception hall.
Similarly, if you wish to organize a secular ceremony, opt for an indoor wedding venue.
A winter wedding calls for a cozy atmosphere! A reception hall with exposed beams, stone walls, a large fireplace, or bay windows overlooking snowy mountains will be perfect. Don’t hesitate to visit several venues before making your choice.
Bring along a close friend, your wedding planner, or a specialized decorator who can advise you, guide you, and help you envision the perfect place for your winter wedding.
4. Our Decoration Ideas for a Winter Wedding
a. The Reception Hall
To create a magical atmosphere on your big day, opt for warm and cozy wedding decorations. Favor natural and soft materials to enhance your reception venue: wool, wood, cashmere, fleece, velvet, or faux fur will be perfect.
In terms of colors, choose festive seasonal tones that evoke Christmas, such as forest green or red. If you prefer a very chic palette, go for gold, silver, icy blue, or white tones.
To liven up the atmosphere, opt for pastel shades or choose a palette of natural tones enhanced with bold colors like orange.
To light up the evening and accentuate your cozy ambiance, scatter numerous candles throughout your reception hall. You can also hang some string lights or use lanterns to add an original decorative touch!
If you have chosen to organize a secular ceremony, set up some wooden chairs decorated with pine branches, a wedding aisle adorned with candles and faux snow. Dress up the authentic wedding arch with winter plants: branches, winter roses, heather, and more.
b. The Wedding Table
To dress and enhance your wedding tables, you can opt for simple tableware, placed on a beautiful white tablecloth or wooden slabs.
Complete this classic decor with some pine branches, mistletoe, holly, or other seasonal plants. Add some candles, lanterns, or hang lovely string lights above each wedding table.
To accompany this winter decor, customize some glass jars filled with chestnuts, cotton flowers, or place some pine cones around each plate. Finally, add a rustic touch to this table by decorating each guest’s wine glass with delicate leaves.
Provide some throws or blankets for guests to accentuate the cozy aspect of the evening.
Finally, enhance your wedding table with stationery perfectly matching your invitation and the rest of your decoration. Opt for creations with elegant white and gold tones.
Place the menus on each plate, slide the place cards onto small wooden slabs—let your imagination run wild!
c. Which Flowers to Choose for a Winter Wedding?
To decorate your tables, your reception hall, and for the bride’s bouquet, favor seasonal flowers and plants. Here are some examples of flowers to consider:
- Anemones
- Orchids
- Ranunculus
- Cotton flowers
- Winter honeysuckle
- Tulips
- Wild mountain flowers
- Camellias
- Carnations
- Hellebores (also called Christmas roses)
- Succulents
Create beautiful, colorful arrangements to enhance your tables.
Feel free to mix plants, natural elements, and flowers to create unforgettable bouquets! The bride’s bouquet can be reinvented with pine branches and some pine cones, soft cotton flowers, or wildflowers.
The groom’s boutonniere can also be adorned with an elegant rose or honeysuckle.
5. The Menu for a Winter Wedding
Embrace the winter theme all the way to the table by opting for a seasonal wedding menu. Favor local winter products and comforting family dishes: slow-cooked meats or fish presented in lovely casseroles.
Also, think about the great classics of mountain meals in the heart of winter: a raclette or a fondue to share can be perfectly suitable!
If you have opted for a buffet-style meal, offer a variety of dishes that will warm hearts: soups, cheeses, a hot wine or hot chocolate stand.
For dessert, you can stay classic with a wedding cake or a croquembouche, enhanced with a winter twist: decorations with pine cones, winter fruits, mistletoe branches.
6. Winter Wedding Stationery
To announce your “I do” this season, choose wedding stationery with winter tones.
Set the tone for a chic and romantic reception with a wedding invitation enhanced with elegant gold lettering and your most beautiful photo. If you’ve imagined a rustic-themed wedding, choose an invitation with lovely floral illustrations or featuring kraft paper.
7. In Summary
a. How to Organize a Winter Wedding?
Adopt warm and cozy decorations using natural materials and soft colors. Choose a reception venue well-protected against the cold but offering a beautiful view of the mountains or surrounding nature.
Select a seasonal menu and be sure to pamper your guests with small throws, hot chocolate stands, and more.
b. How to Dress for a Winter Wedding?
A long-sleeved wedding dress adorned with lace is perfect! Don’t forget to complete your outfit to face the cold: a faux fur bolero, a lovely coat, a cape.
c. What Theme for a Winter Wedding?
To match your union with the winter season, we advise adopting a chic, romantic, or minimalist wedding theme, with decorations enhanced with white and silver notes.
If you prefer, you can opt for a festive theme with traditional Christmas colors like red and forest green, or a rustic theme that highlights the superb seasonal plants (pine branches, holly) and natural materials like wood.
It’s up to you to decide!
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