Your ultimate guide to planning a winter wedding

Inspiration - 18.12.18

We love a winter wedding at Braxted Park, there is something magical about crisp mornings and sparkly evenings spent with the ones you love. But there are more benefits than that. Here are 10 reasons to say yes to planning a winter wedding.

 

So, you’re engaged! Congratulations… now is the time to start planning your wedding and one of the most key parts of your wedding planning journey is setting that all-important date. Whilst summer weddings are always popular, here at Braxted Park we have a soft spot for winter weddings. It’s the most wonderful time of the year and there’s nothing quite like a winter celebration. Whether you include subtle festive touches or go all out with glitz and glamour, winter weddings are filled with romance. Winter is often overlooked as a season to tie the knot, but here are 10 reasons why you should consider saying ‘I do’ at this magical time of year…

1. Planning a winter wedding usually results in more bang for your buck!

The winter season is typically quieter for suppliers and it’s considered ‘off-peak season’ meaning they’ll often have some offers on. This means you may be able to get more for your money, leaving some of the budget to splurge elsewhere. Make sure you do your research and search the internet for super-saving winter deals.

2. Celebrate during the holiday season

Booking a wedding over the Christmas period has its advantages. You’ll often find that many people have annual leave over the holidays, which opens up the opportunity to have a midweek wedding. Marrying during December holds extra magic as everyone feels festive and cheery. Even more special still, have you considered a New Year’s Eve wedding? This is certainly a date in the calendar that everyone is keen to party!

3. Create a cosy atmosphere

Planning a winter wedding is the perfect excuse to go all out with your decor. Church candles, neon signs, giant love letters and festoon lights add to the romance of the day. Draw guests inside with a cosy atmosphere with twinkling fairy lights. As an extra touch, put out baskets of blankets for guests to wrap up in. You could even welcome guests with a warming mulled wine during your drinks reception.

4. Sip with the season

Talking of drinks, serve welcome drinks like mulled cider or boozy hot chocolate to warm up your guests as they mingle. Alternatively, you could keep it classy with a glass of bubbles to celebrate the season. Don’t leave your guests outside in the cold. Make sure they can enjoy their drinks and canapés inside, even if you are choosing to have photographs outside.

5. Picture-perfect photo opportunities

If you’re lucky enough to wake up to a light dusting of snow on your big day, you’ll quite literally be walking in a winter wonderland. A flurry of snow will leave your venue looking picture-perfect and create a magical setting for your big day. Even if it doesn’t snow, hopefully, you’ll be spoilt with a crisp winter morning and soft, natural lighting. When planning a winter wedding, consider having an earlier ceremony and leaving longer for the drinks reception. Doing so will help to make the most of the daylight hours. Leave plenty of time to capture your photographs before the wedding breakfast. Remember, you’ll be able to capture creative and romantic night time shots in the early evening, leaving you to party the night away.

6. Hearty and indulgent food

Delve into warming canapés – like mini Yorkshire puddings filled with roast beef and warm goat’s cheese tarts – during your drinks reception. A winter wedding is the perfect excuse to serve up crowd-pleasing comfort food. For your wedding breakfast choose hearty options like beef wellington or savour a festive favourite, serving turkey with all the trimmings. In the evening, a winter celebration is a great opportunity to think creatively about hearty dishes like mini bangers and mash or individual portions of warming curry.

7. Make your colour palette pop!

Planning a winter wedding calls for rich colours or bold hues in your colour palette. Whether you opt for a traditional red and gold Christmas theme, or a wintry ice blue paired with glittering silver details, it’s guaranteed your colour palette will be magical. Don’t be afraid to incorporate a sprig of holly, frosted pinecones or winter berries into your bouquets and buttonholes to give your wedding blooms a unique element that ties in with the season.

8. Embrace the season

Winter brings with it rainy days, so be prepared with white brollies and suitable footwear. Don’t be afraid to get a little wet, some of the best wedding photographs are taken in the rain. Be prepared to move your timings around to miss a heavy downpour or make the most of a dry spell. Don’t let the possibility of inclement weather put you off though. Winter is an extraordinary time to get married, you just need to have a few backup plans in place so you don’t get caught off-guard.

9. Winter wardrobe

Ask your guests to dress in formal black tie for a wedding ball to remember. Bridesmaids can step out in full-length silk gowns, while groomsmen can dazzle in velvet suit jackets. Go all out with your wedding dress, from a diamanté encrusted fishtail gown to a sweeping ballgown. The colder season means you don’t have to worry about getting too hot. So embrace swaths of fabric and embellished details. If you want to capture photographs outside, keep a shrug or shawl close by to keep you warm and looking fabulous. Being cold and uncomfortable won’t make for great photographs. The same applies to your bridesmaids as well.

10. Heavenly honeymoon hotspots

If you book your big day during July and August you’ll inevitably have to pay more for your honeymoon. Assuming you want to jet off straight after the wedding, you’ll get stung with holiday season prices. If you’re planning to visit a long-haul destination, it’s often the rainy season during the British summer. To avoid these issues and escape the cold, marry during the winter months before heading to a far-flung honeymoon destination. Another reason to love a winter wedding!

If you are planning a winter wedding, don’t worry about breaking tradition and choosing an off-peak date. Winter is a wonderful time of year, whatever the weather. Your suppliers and guests will all be prepared for what the day brings. Most importantly, the day is about the two of you coming together in marriage, and everyone will remember it for just that. Spend the night before the wedding being pampered with friends, get a good amount of sleep, and wake up refreshed, ready for the best day of your life.

 

If you’re looking for the perfect venue to host your winter wedding, book a visit at Braxted Park, we would love to show you around. Simply give our friendly wedding team a call on 01621 770855 or contact us online.

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