There’s just something about a winter wedding that just conjures images of magical winter wonderlands, even more so the closer to Christmas time it is. For a start, if the abundance of twinkling fairy lights, warm colour tones and candles wasn’t enough to make a cosy winter wedding, the early sunsets, and golden hour photos are more than enough to convince us.
However, being in the UK there are a few important things to consider. If you are newly engaged and are considering a winter wedding, then these helpful tips should help your day run as smoothly as possible. Wedding venue North Wales has a bespoke wedding planning service, and on-site wedding planner who ensures that your wedding is exactly as you had pictured it.
Give Enough Notice
Winter can be an expensive season, so it’s important to give some consideration to your guests. Similar to a summer wedding, they’ll more than likely already have some commitments, so it is already recommended that you send out save the date cards with plenty of notice to avoid your guests booking up their winter calendars. It is also a good idea to keep a wedding checklist at hand when you’re setting a date for the special day.
Timing is Everything
During the winter months, the sun can set as early as 4pm. If you don’t have a wedding planner to help you organise the big day, make sure that the duration of the ceremony, photography and the wedding party are high up on the priority checklist.
For example, if your ceremony is at 2pm-3pm, then you only have a short window of daylight to capture the photos. For winter weddings, it is recommended that the ceremony is planned for as close to midday as possible, to make sure that there is enough time to capture the special day with all your friends and family, whilst there is still beautiful natural light.
Plan for the Weather
A winter wedding can bring with it a certain amount of uncertainty surrounding the weather, especially for UK weddings. Sometimes, October can bring lots of gorgeous crisp days with spectacular sunsets, and other times it can be the beginning of a long, wet and cold winter season.
As a winter bride it is always best to have hope for the weather, but to also consider the ‘worst case scenario’ and put plans in place for it as much as possible.
Travelling in Wet Weather
When bad weather hits, it’s good to have as little travelling involved as absolutely possible on your big day. Plan to have your ceremony and reception at the same venue to avoid additional travelling stress for you and your guests. Wedding venue North Wales holds a civil licence so you can be legally married there, along with enjoying the location for your reception. This is something a bride planning a summer wedding will rarely need to even think about.
Festive Decor
Due to the time of year, the lighting might not always be on your side. To avoid a gloomy venue, incorporate indoor and outdoor lighting into your wedding decorations, such as; candles, fairy lights, or lanterns, all of which can help to provide a cosy feel.
Wrap Up Warm!
One unfortunate thing you can count on is that it’s going to be a bit on the chilly side; so investing in some warm accessories is a must. There are a lot of ways to stay warm without feeling as though you’re sacrificing your wedding outfit. Warn your guests and ask them to bring a coat or a jacket along with them; a nice and personal touch would be to offer your guests blankets to keep them snug as the night draws in.
Embrace the Season
After all is said and done, you wanted a winter wedding – so the best thing you can do on the day is embrace it. Sure, a summer bride will have the warmer weather, but those beautiful crisp frosty days which come with winter weddings will make magical photos to cherish for years.
