Planning a Winter Wedding – Location, Theme, Invitations, Attire, Decorations, Menu, Favors
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While spring remains the most popular season in which to tie the knot, winter can be a beautiful time as well. The clean, crisp air, sparkling snow and holiday mood all combine to make winter a wonderful season in which to wed. Here are some ideas to help you plan a spectacular winter wedding:
Theme
Choosing a theme makes planning your wedding easier. With a theme, it’s simple to choose colors and coordinate everything from your attire to the decorations. Examples of winter wedding themes include
For a Christmas themed wedding, your color scheme would of course include red and green. A snowflake theme would of course feature lots of crystal snowflakes. For a Winter Wonderland theme, you could go for either frosty shades of white and silver or deep jewel tones like sapphire, ruby or emerald.
Location
There are many great places where you can hold your winter wedding. A church is always a traditional choice. However, a country inn, banquet hall, or even the home of a friend or family member can work nicely also. For a romantic and magical experience, arrive at your destination (or exit) in a horse drawn carriage. See more creative location ideas in our detailed article Winter Wedding Locations.
If you choose an outdoor location for your wedding, do read our tips for Planning an Outdoor Winter Wedding.
Invitations
When choosing invitations, match them to your color scheme. You could choose snowy white invitations adorned with embossed holly. Or, go for navy blue invitations featuring engraved white snowflakes. Make sure to include not only the wedding announcement but the location, time and dress code. Always request an RSVP, as it’s much easier to plan when you know how many guests to expect.
Transportation
The romantic winters give you a chance to skip the usual and opt for an old-world charm means of transportation. Think horse-drawn carriages or a sleigh.
And if you opt for a classic car, make sure the car has a heater. You wouldn’t wish to arrive chattering your teeth for your wedding.
Attire
A winter wedding is a great excuse to wear a stunning white fur stole or cape (preferably faux fur.) Or, try a frosty white cashmere cape draped over your shoulders. To mimic the sparkling appearance of snow, wear silver or platinum jewelry and adorn your hair with a pretty tiara. Try a diamond (real or fake) pendant shaped like a snowflake for an appropriate and glittery accent to any wedding gown.
Depending upon how severe or mild the cold weather outside is or the location of your wedding, you could opt for a full length lace jacket for mild weather or an indoor location and a fur muff for harsh weather or outdoor locations. Gloves look romantic with winter wedding dresses.
As for your gown, you can easily wear most any style you prefer. Pure white is always a great color for your bridal gown, especially in the winter months. For more ideas, see Winter Wedding Dresses.
Remember to dress your bridesmaids practically too. And the little flower girls and ring bearers will need utmost care to stay warm.
Decorations
Your decorations should coordinate with your theme and color scheme. Typical winter colors are green, red and silver for a real Christmas atmosphere. Want to keep it more neutral? Choose the combination of white, silver and /or gold for an elegant look. If you would like a modern contrasting color such as purple or fuchsia to choose, create a modern look.
Go for bunches of red and green balloons or blue and silver ones. Try draping pretty gathered fabric along the pews if you’re holding your wedding in a church. Fabrics can be velvet, tulle, or a combination of the two. Try two different types of fabric in contrasting or coordinating shades. For example, red and green or navy and silver are classic. Or, go for all white to create the illusion of snow. For great centerpieces, try cute snowglobes, miniature evergreen trees, or candles surrounded with floral wreaths or nestled in piles of fake snow.
Menu
Dinner: When choosing your menu, go for filling favorites. Baked ham, beef stew, and lots of delectable sides like macaroni and cheese and mashed potatoes with gravy are popular choices. Your guests will feel like they’re sitting down to a holiday feast! Serve Christmas cookies or cookies shaped like snowflakes.
Hot Beverages: A chocolate fondue or fountain makes for a really warm and comforting item on the menu of a winter wedding. Mulled wine for adults and hot chocolate for kids will be devoured hungrily on a cold day.
Dessert: Think down home comfort for dessert. How about a Dutch apple pie served with vanilla ice cream, and a nice piece of spice cake with coffee.
Wedding Cake: Your wedding cake is limited only by your imagination! Go for an all-white cake, or accent your cake with edible fake poinsettia or holly berries made from frosting.
Favors
Wedding favors are a great way to express gratitude to your guests and give them a souvenir of your ceremony. Try wrapping candies in a bundle of colorful tulle, secured with a satin ribbon. Or, hand out disposable cameras so that your guests can take their own photos. Packets of cider, tea or cocoa are always appropriate for winter weddings. Scented candles, miniature soaps or even little bottles of bubbles for guests to blow as you exit the wedding also make great favors!
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