Wonderful Winter Wedding Ideas

Winter weddings, although not as popular as summer ones, are just as fabulous. In fact, some would argue that they are very more romantic and luxurious, especially if you have the snow we are currently having in Scotland!

Here are some ideas to consider if you decide to hold your nuptials in the winter months....

Colours

Reds and greens are the traditional colours used at winter weddings, in keeping with the season. However, if overdone, they can make your wedding feel Christmassy rather than a wedding celebration. How about silvers and whites, creating a classy and glamourous feel. Crystals from the candelabras, white ribbons and hurricane candles up the altar.

Flowers

Red roses, calla lilies, and amaryllis are decidedly winter wedding flowers, but if you step outside the flower box, and you'll find a variety of options for winter blooms. Consider fuller flowers, such as white hydrangeas and soft ranunculuses. White boutonnieres can be handsome when they're accented with greenery, but they also look great with a simple white ribbon. Add sparkle to your bouquet by wrapping the stems in ribbon embellished with crystals.

Invitations

Winter weddings often call for a more formal invitations. Colours aforementioned such as whites and silvers are good. Consider also navy blue or chocolate-brown. Or how about Plexiglas invites to reflect the ice & frost of winter?

Centerpieces

Glowing candles to add both warmth and romance to your reception site, and using mirrors under them will reflect the light beautifully. To go for something slightly out of the norm, how about ice sculptures? Grand, a talking point, and not often as expensive as you would think.

Drinks

A winter wedding calls for warm, comforting drinks. As an alternative to a champagne reception, how about hot chocolate with a nip of alcohol? Baileys with warm milk is a yummy alternative to this. Or how about winter themed cocktails, such as Snowballs? (Advocaat, lemonade & lime).

The Cake

Again, a cake trimmed in red or green ribbon looks pretty, but bakers who are willing to push the fondant envelope can reflect the winter in totally creative ways. How about a white, vintage-style cake, dusted with edible silver powder. For accents, have your baker add a white sugar ribbon and crystal drops cascading down one side of the cake.

Favours

Food wedding favours are always a hit. Give out small packages of chocolate-covered cranberries or roasted chestnuts. Or, for a twist on the chocolate fountain station, have your caterer set up a hot chocolate station. A wedding we did last year had a 'Favour Tree'. A huge Christmas tree was decorated in decorations, which guests could choose from to take home as a memento. I have the one I was given by the Bride & Groom on my tree this year, and it is a lovely reminder of their fabulous day.

Honeymoons

While many couples flee the wintery weather for warmer climes, snowy escape can be even more romantic. Consider renting a cosy log cabin in the snowy mountains of France. Snuggling in front of a log-fire with your loved one.....blissful.

Premier Wedding Planners offer free wedding consultations to enable you to meet us for the first time and to discuss your thoughts on the type of wedding you dream of having.

Lucy

First things first........When???

So you're engaged - yipee!!!! Your head will be buzzing with excitement - dreaming of how you'll look on your big day in your fabulous dress, who will be your bridesmaids, where you want to go on Honeymoon............STOP! Yes, these things are so exciting and most probably key factors in your wedding, however, without a venue and a date you haven't got anything! Please, ensure this is what you organise first. Obviously, this is where I step in and say you should enlist the help of a wedding planner! Many people think that hiring a professional is a luxury they just cannot afford. However, we can not only save you valuable time and take the stress out of the whole planning process, we can also help with ideas, recommend the best value & most reliable suppliers, and help smooth out any problems you may come across - remember - we have been there and seen it all before! We can also help pull in the reins when you are tempted to over-spend (& it is highly likely you will be, believe me!!!) When choosing a Wedding Planner the most important thing is finding someone you have a good rapport with & who shares your visions and dreams for your wedding. Cheryl and I believe we cater to everyone’s tastes - we are both highly motivated with an unfaltering attention to detail; yet while Cheryl is cool, calm and collected, I am super lively and bubbly!

Anyway - back to the date & venue. You probably have an idea of a possible date/month you would like, but you might need to be flexible on this. Firstly, if you are opting for a popular venue it might be booked (think Bride Wars - but it's not just The Plaza Hotel in New York that gets booked up years in advance!), especially if you are opting for one of the traditional wedding months. Consider your options.....do you really need to get married on a Saturday in August? Weekdays & Sundays are becoming more popular, and are definitely a cheaper option - as are out of season months. Remember to consider though those who work weekdays, or that a Sunday wedding might mean guest having to take Monday off.


As for choosing your month, winter weddings can be fabulous....snow, (fake) fur shrugs, fairy lights, glitter.... One of our clients got married between Christmas and New Year and had a 'Winter Wonderland' theme, one of the highlights being a Christmas tree decorated in favours that guests could choose from and take home. Every year I hang that favour on my tree and remember what a fantastic day it was (extra bonus - a favour that I can use/want to keep - but that's a story for another blog another time!!) Many of the guests spoke about how it was really nice to go to a wedding in the winter, as during the summer they felt that it had been a bit 'wedding-crazy' for them.


Time of the year can have a huge impact on the type of wedding you have. Many brides dream of a glorious summers day, flowers in bloom as she gets photographed on the lawn. However, just because you picked July this is not guaranteed!!! Please have a contingency plan at the ready for rain/hail/sleet/snow - just as Scotland can have beautiful weather, we can also have 4 seasons in 1 day. Also, try to take account of other events i.e. World Cup. You might not care much for football, yet you will be mighty upset if half the guests don't turn up, or sneak a radio into your ceremony to hear the scores! Another example of this is of a couple from the USA who wanted to get married in Edinburgh around the time of the military tattoo so their guests could spend a few days in the city after the ceremony to see it. It became, unfortunately, quite a costly decision, as flights and accommodation around this time is always more expensive. A bit of research at the beginning could save you a lot of grief in the long run. Discuss it with your partner and closest family & friends. Get your diaries out and pencil in a few potential dates. Take into consideration how long you would like/will need to plan your perfect day. Armed with these thought, start considering where you would like to say your vows