Winter Weddings: 7 Finishing Touches
There’s something so romantic about an autumnal or winter wedding with the early nights making the setting perfect for candlelight, fireworks, cosy tweeds and crunching leaves.
There are many advantages to booking a wedding in winter from having something everyone can look forward to in the darker months to getting beautiful photos amongst the leaves, snow and festive decor.
Here are 7 finishing touches to consider when planning a winter wedding:
1. Keep your guests cosy and toasty.
Three piece thick wool suits for groomsmen, fur throws for bridesmaids and a basket of blankets or pashminas are an excellent touch if guests fancy heading outside or get chilly in their seat.
When determining a dress code for your entire wedding party, be sure to keep style and function in mind.
Yes, there are bridal jackets, boleros, and fur toppers, but there’s something so sweet and nonchalant about a sweater that can just be tossed on with ease.
2. Visit the venue at night.
Most viewings take place in the daytime but consider that with earlier evenings the majority of your reception will likely be taking place after the sun’s gone down.
Check out the lighting and whether it’s super cosy or borderline eerie. After you’ve booked, ask if your photographer can see it too in the evening so they can plan their shots.
3. Insurance insurance insurance.
Although beautiful, winter comes with its unruly and unpredictable weather so make sure you have insurance in the unlikely event you do need to postpone. To safeguard against this allow extra travel time for all guests and plan an alternative or ensure the venue is prepared for bad weather.
You should also have your rings insured leading up to the big day. All our rings come with 1 year’s free insurance – find out more here.
4. Seasonal flowers and decor.
Seasonal and dried blooms for bouquets and arrangements will look much more apt than tropical flowers flown in that won’t be at their best.
Autumnal bouquets of garden roses, dahlias and pampers grass in muted orange and pale pink tones with complimentary table settings can really bring the event together.
Wintery foliage and decor could include pine springs, ivy, holly and hypericum berries with bright reds in the bouquet.
5. Serve hot beverages.
Winter weddings may not be the setting for steins of ice cold crispy beer unless you want to re-create the full Apres Ski experience.
Serving mulled wine on entry over champagne, white wine toddy, smoke & cinnamon hot whiskey old fashioned’s throughout the day will keep guests piping hot.
A great touch we love is having a hot chocolate station kitted out with Baileys or Tia Maria and serving teas and coffees throughout.
6. Finishing jewellery touches.
From bespoke or shaped wedding rings to simple and sleek diamond tennis bracelets, there are many finishing touches to enhance your bridal jewellery. Keep any earrings and necklaces simple so as not to distract attention away from the dress and the rings.
A really romantic gesture are getting engravings on the inside of your rings holding a message only the two of you know about. All our rings come with a complimentary engraving when registered with TLC.
7. Check the venues heating.
It may seem obvious but do check there’s plenty of heating in your venue. A rustic cool barn could be an idyllic summer venue but not so cosy and slightly spidery in the darker months.
Ask what their plan is for heating and if they have outdoor heaters for guests who want fresh air. Seat older guests away from doorways with drafts.
You could ask to be put in touch with previous couples who’ve used the venue over winter for reviews or
Winter weddings can be truly beautiful and scenic as long as we prepare in the right way.
If you’re looking at purchasing your wedding rings we recommend you start the process six weeks before the wedding day to ensure there’s ample time for resizing, engraving and any bespoke additions.
There are so many options to consider when buying your rings so we’ve written a full wedding ring buying guide!