Are you dreaming of a wedding in the snow, right in the heart of winter? Saying "I do" in December, January, close to Christmas or New Year’s festivities is an excellent idea! Discover why organizing your wedding in winter can be a great choice, along with our tips for making this magical day a success.
Table of Contents
- Why Organize a Winter Wedding?
- What to Wear for a Winter Wedding?
- What Venue to Choose for a Winter Wedding?
- Our Decoration Ideas for a Winter Wedding
- The Menu for a Winter Wedding
- Winter Wedding Stationery
- Summary
1. Why Organize a Winter Wedding?
a. Availability
The first excellent reason to organize a winter wedding is that the schedules of vendors are not fully booked!
The wedding low season runs from November to the end of March. Venues, your dream church, wedding planners, or caterers are thus much more available to discuss your plans. You might even have the choice of many wedding dates! Note that during the peak season, wedding venues are often reserved months or even years in advance.
Similarly, your loved ones' schedules might be less busy during this season. Apart from Christmas holidays, your family and close friends often have fewer plans, vacations, or events in winter compared to summer.
b. Budget
Low season means lower prices. Vendors often 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 part of your wedding budget into other expenses, such as a stunning wedding dress or a dream honeymoon…
c. Cozy Atmosphere
Saying “I do” in the snow, dining by candlelight and the warmth of a fireplace, taking wedding photos in a snowy landscape… There are many advantages to getting married in winter!
During this time of year, the festive ambiance of Christmas is likely to enrich your special day. You can easily add some cozy decor elements (plush rugs, pretty throws…), as well as lighting to warm up your venue and the atmosphere: candles, fairy lights…
2. What to Wear for a Winter Wedding?
Since temperatures are less mild this season, we recommend choosing a long-sleeved wedding dress. Elegant and timeless, this outfit will beautifully highlight you and is perfectly suited for a winter wedding!
Long-sleeved creations adorned with lace are very trendy, but you can also opt for a dress with wide sleeves, in poufy tulle, or with a tattoo effect. If you prefer, there's nothing stopping you from choosing a gorgeous short-sleeved dress, an open back, or a lovely décolleté.
You will, however, need to complement your outfit with essential accessories to brave the cold: a cashmere stole, a cape, a shawl, a fur bolero…
Note that a winter wedding does not necessarily mean warm clothing. The time you spend outside for photos will be less compared to the time spent in your reception venue. Make sure to choose a wedding outfit that enhances your appearance and in which you feel comfortable to enjoy a wonderful evening.
For the groom, consider a velvet or tweed suit and adopt seasonal colors: royal blue, fir green…
3. What Venue to Choose for a Winter Wedding?
While in summer you might prefer outdoor venues to host your guests… in winter, it’s better to have them well-protected. For your cocktail and dinner, we recommend choosing a large reception hall. Similarly, if you wish to organize a secular ceremony, opt for an indoor wedding venue.
A winter wedding calls for a cozy ambiance! A reception area with exposed beams, stone walls, a large fireplace, or large windows overlooking snow-covered mountains will be perfect. Don’t hesitate to visit several venues before making your choice.
Consider bringing along a relative, your wedding planner, or a specialized decorator who can advise you, guide you, and help you envision the perfect location for your winter wedding.
4. Our Decoration Ideas for a Winter Wedding
a. The Reception Area
To create a magical atmosphere on the big day, focus on a cozy and warm wedding decoration. Choose natural and soft materials to enhance your venue: wool, wood, cashmere, fleece, velvet, or fur will all be perfect.
For colors, choose festive seasonal tones that remind you of Christmas, such as fir green or red. If you prefer a very chic palette, go for shades of gold, silver, icy blue, or white. Finally, to brighten up the atmosphere, opt for pastel hues or a palette of natural tones enhanced with bolder colors such as orange.
To light up the evening and accentuate your cozy atmosphere, scatter many candles throughout your reception area. You can also hang some fairy lights or use lanterns to add a unique decorative touch!
If you’ve chosen to have a secular ceremony, set up some wooden chairs decorated with pine branches, a wedding aisle adorned with candles and faux snow. Dress the authentic wedding arch with winter greenery: branches, winter roses, heather…
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 slices.
Complete this classic decor with some pine branches, mistletoe, holly, or other seasonal plants. Add a few candles, lanterns, or hang beautiful fairy lights above each wedding table.
To complement this winter decoration, customize some glass jars filled with chestnuts, cotton flowers, or place some pine cones around each guest’s plate. Finally, add a rustic touch by decorating each guest’s wine glass with some delicate leaves.
Provide some throws or blankets for your guests to emphasize the cozy feel of the evening.
Finally, enhance your wedding table with stationery that perfectly matches your invitation and the rest of your decoration. Choose designs in elegant white and gold tones. Place the wedding menus on each plate, slip the place cards into small wooden slices… Let your imagination run wild!
Discover all of our table stationery
c. What Flowers to Choose for a Winter Wedding?
To decorate your tables, your reception area, and the bride’s bouquet, choose flowers and plants that are in season. Here are some examples of flowers to consider:
- • Anemones,
- • Orchids,
- • Ranunculus,
- • Cotton flowers,
- • Winter honeysuckle,
- • Tulips,
- • Mountain wildflowers,
- • Camelias,
- • Carnations,
- • Christmas roses,
- • Succulents…
Create beautiful colorful arrangements to enhance your tables.
Don’t hesitate to mix plants, natural elements, and flowers to create unforgettable bouquets! The bride’s bouquet can be revisited with pine branches and a few 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
Bring the winter to the table by opting for a seasonal wedding meal. Choose local winter products and comforting family dishes: stewed meats or fish, served in beautiful casseroles…
Also consider classic mountain winter dishes: a raclette or fondue to share can be perfect!
If you opt for a buffet, offer a variety of dishes that will warm hearts: soups, cheeses, a wine or hot chocolate stand…
For dessert, you can stay classic with a wedding cake or a croquembouche, enhanced with a little winter twist: decoration with pine cones, winter fruits, branches of mistletoe…
6. Winter Wedding Stationery
To announce your “I do” this season, choose wedding stationery with winter tones.
Set the tone for an elegant and romantic reception with an invitation adorned with elegant gold lettering and your most beautiful photo. If you’ve envisioned a country-themed wedding, choose an invitation with pretty floral illustrations or a kraft-look paper.
Choose your winter wedding invitations
5. Summary
a. How to Organize a Winter Wedding?
Opt for a warm and cozy decoration, using natural materials and soft colors. Choose a venue that is protected from the cold but with a beautiful view of the mountains or the surroundings. Choose a seasonal menu and make sure to pamper your guests with small throws, hot chocolate stands…
b. What to Wear for Your Winter Wedding?
A long-sleeved wedding dress adorned with lace is perfect! Don’t forget to complement your outfit to face the cold: a fur bolero, a nice coat, a cape…
c. What Theme for a Winter Wedding?
To align your wedding with the winter season, we recommend a chic, romantic, or minimalist theme, with decoration in white and silver accents. If you prefer, you can also opt for a festive theme with traditional Christmas colors like red and fir green, or a country theme, highlighting beautiful seasonal plants (pine branches, holly) and natural materials like wood. It’s up to you to decide!
