There’s definitely something magical about this time of the year – huddling around open fires, the crisp clear blue skies and light dusting of frost or snow across the landscape.  So it’s no surprise that more and more couples are opting for a winter wedding, but planning one does mean you have to make certain considerations that you may not have thought of.

So here’s our top tips for planning a winter wedding with style:

Give plenty of notice

Winter is a busy – and expensive – time of year because of the festive madness.  Just as those getting married in the Summer need to think about people jetting off on holidays and the like, don’t forget that your guests are likely to have a lot of other commitments at this time of year.  So get in early and make sure you send a Save The Date – we’re seeing a move towards digital versions, saving the big wow factor for the formal invitation – to give people plenty of time to plan and budget accordingly. This is true for your suppliers too.  There might be less weddings traditionally at this time of year, but Christmas and New Year is an incredibly busy time in the hospitality industry, so make sure you book your catering, bar and entertainment suppliers early to guarantee your first choices.

Wrap up warm

One of the first things it’s important to consider in any wedding, is your guest comfort and experience. Nobody has fun when they’re shivering, so work with your photographer to plan group shots in advance and ensure guests aren’t left standing around for hours outside.  And perhaps consider handing out warming drinks and blankets for guests whilst photographs are being taken.

Similarly, make sure that you plan your outfit with a consideration of the temperature.  You don’t want to have to abandon your couple shots for fear of catching pneumonia – opt for a cute cashmere cardigan or a glamorous faux fur coat to keep yourself warm but stylish. Smokers are likely to spend more time than most outside so also think about setting up a smokers’ corner, with warm blankets and perhaps a fire pit if practical.

Running Times

After the Winter Equinox you will lose the light at around 3 o’clock in the afternoon so it’s important to be mindful of this when planning your day.  Those intimate moments you spend together during your couple shots are incredibly special so make sure that you build in time to your day to have those all important shots in natural light.

That can mean planning an earlier ceremony time or perhaps working with your photographer for a First Look, to catch your couple shots ahead of the ceremony. Remember, if you do opt for an earlier ceremony, this can make for a long day for guests so make sure that you’re providing enough food throughout the day to soak up all that alcohol, and plan in plenty of interactive elements and little surprises for them!

Move with the times

It’s important to be realistic about when you’re getting married and what that means you will – and won’t – be able to do.  Getting married in a field for instance, probably isn’t the most practical (or enjoyable) of ideas for a Winter Wedding, but a beautiful country house or a cool, industrial city venue can be great options, just spend a little time thinking about the practicalities to maximise guest enjoyment. People are certainly going to be bringing coats and possibly gloves, scarves and hats with them, so make sure you have a cloakroom set up and work with your venue or catering staff to ensure the cloakroom is manned for guest arrival, to avoid long queues and hold ups. Use these elements to your advantage and create intimate little spaces throughout your venue filled with winterised elements like woollen blankets, some spare wellies for an impromptu snowfight outside, piles of logs and fir trees to give the space warmth and a lovely scent.

See the light

Lighting has an impact not only on your photographs but also on the styling and ambience of your venue.  By the time guests sit to eat the wedding breakfast, it will likely be dark.  Winter weddings lend themselves perfectly to romantic, magical affairs so don’t fight against that by turning on overhead, bright lights and dissipating all that atmosphere. Instead, go all out with the candlelight and fairy lights – stick to warm white tones and you’ll create a gorgeous, twinkling effect.  Plus you’ll be surprised at how much physical warmth candles will bring to a space!

Feed me

Work with your caterer to plan a meal that is warming and seasonal – winter food doesn’t have to be heavy and stodgy, there are some great seasonal options at this time of year so get creative. Similarly, forgo a champagne reception in favour of serving mulled wine and cider and why not investigate warm alcoholic cocktails for something a little different and wholly appreciated when the cold weather is biting.   For the evening, you could even set up a Hot Chocolate bar, with warm, steaming mugs that guests can personalise from a beautifully styled station – think marshmallows, coconut ice, rock candy sticks and maybe a dash of whisky or Baileys for a cheeky twist?!

Fabulous florals

Choose season appropriate blooms such as anemones, anthurium and roses then mix them up with a riot of foliage such as spruce branches, seeded eucalyptus, and items like mini pinecones. I love the mix of dramatic shades against natural greenery and woody shades.

Be prepared

Although true year-round in the UK, the winter months especially can bring unpredictable weather.  A snowy wedding day would certainly look beautiful in your photographs, but snow can wreak havoc with your plans so make sure that you offer your guests lots of local accommodation options and brief your suppliers to allow plenty of time for arrival and set up. Or better still, if budgets will stretch, book a wedding planner who can brief all suppliers on your behalf, to prepare and put into practice contingency plans on the day. With a bit of careful consideration and planning, there are endless opportunities to create a stylish, memorable and enjoyable winter wedding day.

For more inspiration visit our Pinterest Winter Weddings board.

Images: Winter Weddings