September 27, 2024
Destination Wedding Planner
· Wedding Planner Frankfurt
· Wedding Planner Cincinnati
Perks of Having a Winter Wedding | Westend Weddings | English
Let me start bold and just put it out there: Winter* weddings are more magical than summer weddings. I might be slightly biased because I absolutely love winter. Not the grey slush type of winter, but the hot chocolate, snowfall and iceskating type of winter. But how do you achieve this kind of winter wedding and why should everyone think about getting married in the darker months? Read ahead and let me convince you of why a wedding in winter might just be what you need.
why the weather does not count
A winter wedding has a charm to it that you cannot describe but have to feel.
WESTEND WEDDINGS
Let me paint you a picture: You have just said yes and get to your reception venue. You and your guests arrive at a white carpet, decorated with torches along the side and they have a mulled wine or a hot chocolate to warm up. There are elegant dresses, robes, scarves and coats everywhere and the men are dressed in smart tuxedos. At the end of the white carpet is a greenhouse with several Christmas trees. Chandeliers are hanging from the top and a jazz band is playing festive music. Dinner is a hearty and wintery menu, maybe a roast or a hearty soup. Your dance floor looks like an ice rink and guests can fill their drinks with ice from ice sculptures.
Alright, I just got carried away there but having a winter wedding does not mean missing out on atmosphere. With enough vision and creativity you can create something extraodinary no matter the weather. In my opinion there is no such thing as bad weather, just bad planning – and since I am the one planning your wedding, there is no bad weather 😉
Winter wedding vs. summer wedding
Of course I agree that there are certain things that you simply cannot have when getting married in winter, for example 30°C (85°F) and a pool party under the Tuscan Sun. However, there are also things that you cannot have when having a summer wedding that you might just not be aware of.
1. Let it snow! Personally, I think the possibility of snowfall on your wedding day is just about the best thing that could ever happen. Imagine there being a thick layer of snow or you going skiing the day after – how much fun would that be? While this is not a guarantee everywhere, there are certainly areas where this is highly likely.
2. Moody and cozy beats light and bright! The sun sets earlier in winter and while this might be something that you don’t like at first, there are positives about it. You can get your sunset couple’s pictures taken at a much earlier time of the day. This way you won’t need to sneak away during dinner and be gone for 30 minutes but you can incorporate it nicely into your timeline. The sun setting earlier also means more opportunity for an atmospheric and cozy dinner. You can include moody lighting and candles and don’t you agree that candles are better in the dark?
3. Happy New Year! You haven’t thought of that yet, have you? Winter time also means New Year’s Eve time and why not combine your wedding with New Year’s Eve! Whether it be a spectacular party on a rooftop in New York or an intimate gathering with fireworks in the Austrian Alps is totally up to you. Think of how special it would be to celebrate your wedding and start the year off in such a romantic way. Bonus: you get fireworks for free 😉
4. Dresscode: Cinderella! The options for your and your guests‘ outfits are endless. A huge benefit is that wedding dresses can be quite heavy and warm which is perfect for a wintery day. When having a summer wedding you always have to think about keeping your guests and yourself cool. Especially the men of the wedding party don’t have it easy in summer. If you get married in winter, however, you can go all out and wear all the feathers, sparkles and layers.
even more upsides to a winter wedding
If you are currently planning your wedding or have already gotten married, you will know that there is a wedding season. This season usually runs from April to September which is when most couples want to have their wedding. However, having a wedding season also means having a wedding off-season.
During the off-season venues tend to be less expensive so you will either save money or get more for it. They typically have less bookings and might be more accomodating to what you want. Some venues also have different rules when it comes to hosting, for example in summer they might require an exclusive use whereas in winter you might not need to pay for all of it.
Furthermore, all of the other vendors are not going to be as busy as during the summer months. Your favourite photographer might not have any capacity two years in advance but can shoot your winter wedding even if you enquire three months before. Not being as busy also means having more time for you as a couple. Some vendors also have reduced rates in the winter months which again either saves you money or lets you go over the top with other things.
Last but not least: the food and decoration! Mulled wine, hot chocolate, indulgent desserts and serving lamb or squash dishes simply hit different in winter. Think of all the options you have and tell me that it does not sound great. Decoration wise the sky is the limit – I’m still thinking about the ice sculptures from the beginning of the article.
In conclusion: Winter weddings are magical! If I haven’t convinced you so far, feel free to contact me and let’s talk about any questions you still have. And if you simply want to get married in summer: I will gladly plan that for you too 🙂
*winter in this case means the months of November to February above the equator.