Winter is a particularly glamorous and magical season for a wedding. It invites you to play with its codes: Christmas sparkle, snowy white, mountains and roaring fires.
Of course, you'll hear things like "You're not really getting married in January? Why not June, like everyone else?" Precisely because you don't want to do what everyone else does!
Here is a quick look at the pros and cons of a winter wedding.
The theme
Magic and fairy tales: your wedding can become a true winter wonderland. If you dream of a princess wedding, you'll be in your element.
Nature themes are always popular. Winter means snow, skiing and sledging, so why not a mountain or cosy lodge theme? Warmth and authenticity will be the watchwords.
As winter brings snow to mind, you could also make white the colour of your day. If you marry under falling snow, the landscape and your wedding will be perfectly matched.
Well-travelled couples might take inspiration from a Nordic country: Sweden, Norway, Finland or Iceland.
The venue
In winter you often have more choice of venue: off-peak season means more available dates and frequently lower prices. Focus on indoor spaces, as parks, gardens and beaches are out.
Picture your reception in a building full of character, such as a country house, a castle or a manor with a grand fireplace. Elegance and cosiness guaranteed.
Prefer something closer to nature? A lodge in the Scottish Highlands or the Lake District, with views over snowy hills, offers a wonderfully warm atmosphere.
You could even marry at home. It takes space and organisation and only works for a small guest list, but it is deeply personal and leaves you completely free to choose the date.
Whatever you choose, plan a cloakroom: coats, scarves and hats need to be stored and easy to retrieve.
The catering
A winter wedding has two big advantages: caterers are more available (except between Christmas and New Year, which we'd advise against), and there are no worries about heat or keeping food cold.
The food should warm your guests without weighing them down: hot, hearty, yet refined.
For the drinks reception, think roasted chestnuts, mince pies, waffles or crêpes, served with mulled wine, hot cider, hot chocolate and tea. A festive touch everyone will love.
For the main course, go for slow-cooked dishes, roasts, gratins or pies. One rule: serve everything piping hot.
Everyone loves cheese in winter: how about a cheese tower wedding cake, decorated with foliage and flowers?
For the cake, snowflakes, pine cones or white flowers work beautifully. For a fairy-tale theme, a gingerbread house will end the meal on a playful note.
The decor
Winter lends itself to rich materials and colours for an unforgettable, festive atmosphere.
All-white decor, with silver or gold for sparkle, makes any venue enchanting. Candles, lanterns and fairy lights create a poetic mood. White roses and cotton stems add softness.
Nature lovers will use wood, fir branches and pine cones as place cards. Faux fur throws and raw materials make the decor authentic and cosy.
A little tip: place a blanket in your wedding colour on every chair. Your chilliest guests will thank you.
Accommodation
Some guests will travel a long way, and with icy roads nobody should have a long drive after the party. So plan accommodation.
If you hire a lodge, castle or hotel, guests can simply stay on site. Otherwise, book room blocks in nearby hotels or B&Bs well in advance.
For something special, treehouses, glamping pods with wood burners or cabins with hot tubs offer comfort and a real winter experience.
The atmosphere
The upside of winter: guests stay inside, join in the entertainment and fill the dance floor.
For a magical wedding: as it gets dark early, plan a sparkler send-off or a torch-lit moment outside. Skip sky lanterns: they are a fire risk and banned by many venues and councils in the UK.
For a well-travelled wedding: borrow customs from cold countries. In Finland, the bride dances in a circle of unmarried women and places her crown on one of them, a lovely alternative to the bouquet toss.
For a cosy wedding: choose intimate moments such as a close-up magician, or a winter photo booth with a mountain, ski lift or Christmas backdrop.
Transport
In cold weather, the choice of vehicles is smaller. If you marry in the mountains, how about a horse-drawn sleigh?
In town, a horse and carriage makes a grand entrance, while modern couples may prefer a vintage car or a classic Rolls-Royce.
Think about the end of the night too, and arrange transport home for your guests, such as a minibus shuttle.
Wedding favours
So your guests take home a lovely memory, a small favour is customary. In winter you're spoilt for choice: shortbread, gingerbread, honey, chocolate or a miniature of sloe gin.
For something lasting, choose pine-cone or snowflake candles, snow globes or a blanket embroidered with your names, which will remind your guests of your day every winter.
Presentation matters: a big red bow like a Christmas present, or a bauble as packaging, is perfect.
Outfits for the couple, wedding party and guests
You'll look stunning, but catching a cold the next day isn't very glamorous. Two options: a long-sleeved wedding dress with a high neckline, or pair your dream strapless gown with a faux fur stole, cape or bolero. Skip long trains if there is snow.
Rock 'n' roll brides can team the white dress with a leather jacket. Bold and modern. Our motto: choose what feels like you!
Ankle boots are ideal during the day, and you can change into heels in the evening.
The groom can wear a suit in warm fabric such as wool or tweed, perfectly tailored.
The wedding party and guests should opt for warm, elegant pieces and layers: coat and scarf outside, evening outfit inside.
The children
For children, winter is a magical season. Extend the Christmas magic with activities just for them: face painting, a magic show or a snowman contest if the weather allows. The children will have fun and their parents can enjoy the party.
Also set aside a quiet room where they can sleep.
And the day after?
The day after the wedding is usually spent with your closest family and friends, in a relaxed mood. Go for a frosty country walk, then gather round a long Sunday roast or a cheese fondue to relive the best day of your life together.
Winter has its pros and cons. It is the season of magic and cosiness: play with its codes, plan for the cold and make it the highlight of your big day.
So, are you tempted by a winter wedding?
