Winter Weddings
If you have booked or are considering a winter wedding, then I applaud you. They have their challenges, but also their advantages and unexpected bonuses, and I thought it would be worth taking the time to tell you about some great perks of having one.
We can discuss the weather at length, but accurately predicting it more than a few days in advance of your wedding is, unfortunately, not possible. You are certainly more likely to benefit from good weather in the more predictable summer months, but it is always worth noting that in our fair land, it can be wet, cold and windy at any time of the year. If you are concerned about rain in particular, please check out my separate post on rainy weddings.
Perks of winter weddings
If you choose the right venue, it doesn’t matter if the wind is howling outside. Instead, you will be inside your beautiful venue, enjoying the cosy atmosphere, with a fire blazing, canapés, and warm drinks on offer. I particularly love it when couples deliberately lean into the idea of a winter wedding, by which I mean using the things associated quintessentially with winter. Here are a few ideas to inspire you.
Food and Drink
Canapés can be tweaked to suit a winter atmosphere. How about tiny espresso mugs filled with warm soup? You could even set up a ‘soup bar’ during the drinks reception, offering your favourite kinds of soup with optional herbs or croutons for guests to sprinkle over the top. A hand-warming and heart-warming option. Or what about mini Christmas puddings and tiny jacket potatoes? Your guests will appreciate the opportunity to warm up with something more substantial than is typically served at a summer wedding. Consider a ‘hot chocolate bar’ as well? Warm drinks are on offer, complete with all the trimmings, including marshmallows, chocolate chips, and cinnamon, to name a few.
Although a roast is not unheard of at a summer wedding, it is probably better suited to a winter wedding. Picture generous portions of vegetables placed on the tables, warm meats and lashings of gravy (seriously, you can never have enough gravy!). Many people find that they have a stronger appetite in winter, so feel free to indulge them with all the goodies.
For your evening buffet
Perhaps outdoor BBQs are out of the question, and food trucks may not be ideal in winter. You can still put on a hearty spread inside, again think comfort food over anything too ‘fancy’, quiches, tasty breads and dips, pizza and meats.
What to wear?
If you are a bride, it would certainly be sensible to consider your footwear. IF heels are essential to you, no problem at all, but you will need something sensible for possibly muddy or snowy conditions outside. Whilst most grooms probably won’t be wearing heels, a more practical kind of footwear could be a valuable option for you too!
The guys are usually the ones to suffer in the heat of a summer wedding. As long as you select your suit correctly, grooms and groomsmen should find themselves pretty comfortable.
Hooded capes, a tiny bit biased here, but have you seen the amazing velvety bridal capes that you can wear? Full disclosure, I nearly switched my own Spring wedding to the winter months just so that I could prance around in one feeling both snug and stylish! I love the Ufurria range myself!
OTHER BENEFITS
Creative Shots
After dark, or in inclement weather? Winter weddings offer a completely different dynamic with the light changing dramatically throughout the day. Fairy lights or festoon lights are often used to enhance and creatively utilise indoor spaces.
Autumnal Colours
Getting married in October – early December can mean that you benefit from the gorgeous colours of Britain’s Autumn. If it has been windy, they can all be gone by mid-December, but we can usually find some glorious colour to use all the way through to early December.
Packed dance-floors
On a fine summer’s evening, your guests will feel the lure of the grounds of your venue. A large percentage of them can be found lounging in the evening light at any point, sharing stories and a drink. It’s lovely to behold, but it usually also means a quiet dance floor. If you want a packed dance floor, I 100% recommend getting married in one of the chillier months.
More guests
Not a guarantee, as such, but in the Summer, many people are away on holiday. Sometimes guests may have received 2 or 3 invites to weddings on the same day and often feel obliged to choose the wedding of the closest relative, meaning they won’t be able to join you at your wedding (even if they would rather be there!)
Money saving and more choice
A significant benefit of winter weddings is that the dates are generally less competitive than those in the rest of the year. This means you will find that you have more choice and availability with everything from your venue to your band or DJ.
Savings are likely too! Many venues and suppliers offer more competitive rates in the winter months. There is less competition for the dates, and therefore, suppliers are usually (not always) happier to be a little more flexible. I offer great discounts on off-peak dates. Get in touch to find out more if you are considering an off-peak date.
A quick note at this point would be to say that some winter dates can still be very busy, so be prepared for some of the usual Summer pricing and demand if you are considering dates close to Christmas/New Year’s and also if Valentine’s Day falls on a weekend.
Christmas wedding
Everyone is always looking for a reason to party around Christmas, as they seek to catch up with distant family members and old friends. So, what better reason to celebrate than a wedding?
I cannot lie, I love a Christmas wedding! I love the way my couples incorporate little bits of a traditional Christmas into their own days. Christmas decorations make wonderful centre pieces, and wreaths can adorn the walls. Candles (venue permitting) offer a delectable atmosphere, and well-placed mistletoe can create some fantastic photo opportunities! Seeing guests around the wedding breakfast tables wearing their Christmas hats, pulling crackers and party poppers, never fails to put a smile on my face.
My advice for those planning a Christmas wedding is to secure the venue on your preferred date as soon as possible (Office Christmas parties can put venues in high demand). I would also suggest using January before your wedding to take advantage of the post-Christmas sales and stock up on any decorations, crackers, and favours.
AND NOT FORGETTING…
A New Year’s Eve Wedding
Mostly the same as a Christmas wedding! Bear in mind, though, that venues and suppliers may charge extra fees for a New Year’s Eve wedding as it is always a busy date for anyone in the events industry. I like the party atmosphere of a New Year’s wedding and don’t charge any additional fee for my usual packages. I do, however, tend to find that most couples want me to stay to midnight, and after seeing the chaotic merriment as the clock chimes midnight, I can understand why!
