Winter weddings have grown hugely in popularity. The Summer months play host to a huge majority of weddings each year but the festive season can be a truly magical time of year to host a wedding and stand out from the crowd but it does bring its own set of considerations for the planning.
Personally, I’m a huge fan of winter weddings. There’s a lot of fun to be had with styling, aesthetics, and dining. At Sauveur we tend to avoid jewel tones and warmer colours and opt for something more striking, ethereal, and airy. It’s a wonderful antidote to the darker days. Bolder bridal fashion and dress codes with heavier fabrics and patterns can then really pop against a brighter, more gentle backdrop with colour brought into the design and lighting as the day develops. There’s something about winter weddings that embraces traditional design and we love to go for crisp white tablecloths, silverware, and candles sparkling in cut crystal glasses all captured by soft, flash-heavy photography.
For the after-dinner segment, think aged velvet drapes, neon signs, and cabaret tables with candle lamps. Whilst we love an ethereal feel, nothing beats retiring to a warm and heady after-dinner bar and dancefloor.
I’ve outlined below some key considerations when it comes to winter wedding planning.
Venue
A winter venue search can be very fruitful. Venues often have good availability over the winter months as their calendars are quieter. A lot of venues (in the UK and abroad) often have seasonal rates so you may be able to make some sought-after savings in your budget by looking in this period. Another helpful consideration when looking for a winter wedding venue is that you will primarily be looking at venues that can host everything inside which removes the requirement for a marquee and the logistics that come with it. Marquee winter weddings are certainly possible, but you will need to consider ample heating.
There are so many wonderful winter wedding venue options but these are accompanied with some key considerations when choosing the right location. I would always suggest visiting your venue when dark to get a taste for it once the sun sets which happens much earlier in the winter months. Venues can look very different when flooded with daylight to after-dark and you’ll want to make sure you’ve seen this.
Budget
Budget is at the forefront of everyone’s minds when planning a wedding and there are many great savings to be made when considering winter. Suppliers are typically quieter during this period so they may be more open to negotiation. Venues often have seasonal rates too, which can be beneficial to your budget. Selecting a venue that can host your winter wedding within its four walls can also remove the requirements for marquees and other temporary structures that often add significant amounts to budgets.
Weather
Of course, with winter, comes the weather! There is no doubt that the weather for a winter wedding is likely to be colder, darker, and wetter. These are all very important considerations when planning your day, selecting venues, and working out how your guests move around. I would argue, however, that you are less likely to have the disappointment of a wet summer day and that by planning around winter weather, you know exactly what you are going to get. Winter fashion is also a fantastic wedding dress code! Think black tie, furs, and warm winter colours.
Navigating Holidays
Whilst your guests’ diaries may generally be quieter over the winter months you may also have to contend with a holiday-heavy session. From Christmas to New Year as well as Dry January there are a number of holidays and periods that you may have to contend with. When considering dates it’s helpful to draw up a holiday calendar so you aren’t competing with anything, or inviting guests to something when they may have left the city (or country) for the holidays.
Guest Experience
The overall guest experience is paramount in any wedding planning. We spend hours mapping out where guests are, how they get around, and how everything ties together to ensure a perfectly smooth day. Whilst this is not strictly a con for winter weddings it does require extra attention. You will want to think carefully about how your guests move around to ensure they are kept warm and dry. And importantly, do not forget that your cloakroom will very likely be under strong demand!
Winter weddings are on the rise and with great reason; there’s a lot of fun to be had with styling, aesthetics, and dining.
Matthew
There’s something about winter weddings that embraces traditional design and we love to go for crisp white tablecloths, silverware, and candles sparkling in cut crystal glasses all captured by soft, flash-heavy photography.
