Wintry Ideas to Make Your Winter Wedding Warm and Bright
Image by 8243857 courtesy of Pixabay.
The sparkle of snow, the fresh scent of pine, a warm cup of hot chocolate on a cold day; winter has it’s own special romance. Whether you love the cold, live for the holidays, or the timing is just convenient, winter is a wonderful time for a wedding or elopement. Below, we look at how to celebrate all the season has to offer, however big or small your event or budget.
Winter Color Palettes
Image by 12019 courtesy of Pixabay.
One of the first questions a planner or venue will ask is, “What are your wedding colors?” Having a small palette of colors to use for everything from invitations to accessories can help your event look unified, and simplify some of the many decisions you’ll have to make while wedding planning.
While we often associate winter with white snow and a general lack of color outside, the season brings a wide range of bold and contrasting colors from the brilliant red of holly berries to the cool blues of icicles to the soft pinks of a winter sunset. Websites like colorhunt.co and colorpalette.net offer premade collections of colors that have been specially chosen to compliment each other. If you have image editing software, you can even take a page from colorpalette.net's book and select colors from your favorite winter photos.
Winter Flowers
Image by Christiane courtesy of Pixabay.
Winter florals have far more to offer than just poinsettias and holly berries (not that there’s anything wrong with those). The season offers a surprising abundance of blooms to incorporate into your wedding flowers. While using in-season flowers can save you money and add wintry vibes to your big day, most florists are able to have out-of-season flowers imported. Florals are easy to scale with the size of your wedding and budget from a simple bouquet for an elopement to lavish centerpieces at a grand 200-person event, so they’re a great way to incorporate seasonal elements into your celebration.
Popular winter flowers include:
Amaryllis
Anemone
Camelia
Helebore (also known as a winter or Christmas rose)
Narcissus Paper White
Phalaenophsis Orchid
Stephanotis
Tulip
Star of Bethlehem
Snowdrops
Ranunculus
Sweet Pea
Hypericum Berry
Rose
Gardenia
Gerber Daisy
Carnation
Greenery and berries can add an extra seasonal touch to winter floral arrangements. While evergreens and pinecones often come to mind, delicate pussy willow branches, delicate heather, and even fragrant rosemary and thyme can add a non-traditional wintry element to your flowers. Dried florals and fruits are another great way to add color and texture.
Choose a Winter Theme
Image by Terri Cnudde courtesy of Pixabay.
A theme or aesthetic can provide direction for everything from your decor to your wedding favors. Themed events don’t have to feel like a Spider-Man-themed eighth birthday party; the aesthetic you choose can be subtly incorporated into flowers, accessories, or even food. While not everyone needs or wants a theme for their wedding, it can be a great jumping-off point if you’re struggling with the design aspects of wedding planning.
Possible winter themes include:
Winter Wonderland: Lean into the magical quality of winter with decor that celebrates the season. Sparkles that evoke the shimmer of fresh snow, bright whites, and whimsical greenery all help create this fairytale aesthetic.
Hygge: Hygge (pronounced “hoo-gah”) is a Danish and Norwegian word that describes the coziness and comfort that come from simple pleasures, often associated with colder times of year. Hygge is as much a state of mind as a style, but candles, hot cocoa, and soft blankets to keep your guests warm can set the mood.
Winter Holiday: There’s a reason midwinter is often generally referred to as “the holidays”: cultures all over the world have major holidays during the winter. This could be as minimal as incorporating poinsettias into your bouquet as a subtle nod to Christmas, or as dramatic as a New Year’s Eve ceremony with midnight I-do’s.
Skiing: The popularity of this theme surprised us, but the vintage ski chalet definitely has its own unique aesthetic. Old wooden skis, vintage posters, and even your location can set the stage for a ski-themed wedding. Areas like Gatlinburg have mountaintop chalet rentals with stunning views of the Smoky Mountains.
Plan a Winter Menu
Image by -Rita- und mit courtesy of Pixabay.
A seasonal menu can help set the tone for your event and nothing says winter like comfort food. Hearty winter vegetables like root vegetables, kale, and Brussels sprouts can keep your menu feeling fresh (and slightly more affordable). Classic winter flavors like fig and pomegranate or warm comforting foods are a great addition to a winter wedding menu. Holiday season treats like gingerbread, toasted marshmallows, or sticky toffee pudding will finish off your meal with a wintry twist.
If you’re serving alcohol at your event, you may want to incorporate a warm or winter-themed cocktail like mulled wine or eggnog. This is also a great time to serve some of your favorite non-alcoholic warm beverages like hot chocolate, mulled cider, or a selection of teas.
Keep the Shorter Days in Mind
Image by Jeremy Kyejo courtesy of Pixabay.
If you want the perfect sunset “I do,” you’re winter ceremony is going to have to start on the earlier side. In Nashville, the sunset will be at 4:32 PM this December 1st and the winter solstice will have almost five fewer hours of daylight than the longest day of the year, the summer solstice. Unless you’re planning a morning wedding, it’s important to make sure your location has adequate lighting for you and your guests once the sun goes down.
Short days are likely why so many winter holidays around the world center around light and fire. Incorporating light into your wedding is a great way to celebrate the season. This could be as simple as budget-friendly fairy lights or as elegant as a candle-lined aisle. You may even want to incorporate light directly into your ceremony with a candle unity ritual.
Plan for the Weather
Image by giorgi modzmanashvili courtesy of Pixabay.
Rain on your wedding day can certainly put a damper on things, but a major winter storm can put large swathes of the country into transportation deadlock. Even if your wedding is in sunny Orlando, Florida, severe weather in other parts of the country can cancel flights and leave guests stranded. Come up with a few backup plans for various weather scenarios.
It’s also important to keep the weather in mind when you’re planning your clothing and dress code. If you plan to take photos outside, make sure to include a warm layer in your outfit and a pair of sturdy boots to change into if you’ll be in an area with snow or (if you’re in Middle Tennessee) mud. This is a perfect opportunity to go glam with a faux fur shrug or cozy with a flannel wrap.
As an added touch, set up a coat-, boot-, or umbrella check to keep your space clean. While you can hire someone to manage it, simply setting aside a place for guests to store their bulky layers will help keep your event mud-free without adding to your expenses.
Just Because It’s Not Wedding Season Doesn’t Mean It’s Not Busy Season
Image by Garrett Hill courtesy of Pixabay.
While it may be the wedding “off-season,” that doesn’t mean there aren’t plenty of events happening during the winter months that will keep venues busy - or even booked up. This is especially true if you’re holding your wedding in an area that experiences a lot of seasonal tourism. Gatlinburg sees a surge in visitors looking to ski or snowboard in the mountains and Nashville attracted 210,000 people to celebrate New Year’s Eve in 2022. Hotels may be full or charging a premium and you may not get as much of a discount as you’d expect from venues for holding an off-season wedding.
Winter Wedding Favors
Image by tjasazornik courtesy of Pixabay.
Wedding favors are one of the easiest parts of your event to DIY and useful or consumable gifts are often the biggest hit with guests. Lean into the coziness of winter with packets of hot cocoa, tea, or mulling spices which can be easily personalized with a home printer and some patience or special ordered from a vendor. Hand warmers (reusable or disposable), candles, or matches evoke the warmth of the season. If you’re incorporating the holidays into your event, you might consider sending guests home with a couple of Christmas cookies - another potential DIY provided you have the time and skills - or a customized ornament. If you have a significant budget, a cozy blanket or shawl will keep your guests warm for years to come.
Book Your Winter Wedding Today!
Whether you host a grand, holiday-themed bash or a private elopement on a quiet, snowy afternoon, we hope your winter wedding is everything you’ve dreamed of. Remember, the only thing that truly matters is the love you share with your partner; the rest is just set dressing.
Looking for a great Nashville wedding officiant to make your marriage official? Get in touch with Zelda, one of Nashville’s most in-demand wedding officiants, for a chat about what you have in mind for your wedding, information on packages, or to book your elopement or wedding of any size.